Sorry for starting another car dilemma thread, but here goes...

2 possible 997s:
1) 2008 C2 with 14,000 miles - seen in person. It's practically flawless. Also comes with a set of winter tires (sans wheels) in good shape.
2) 2006 C2S with 19,000 miles - have not seen it in person, but looks good in pictures (Don't they all?).

Cars are similar in almost every other way. Options, colors, etc. The 2006 is $3K cheaper, so the price is even basically a wash - around $50K.

The build date on the 2006 is 03/06, so it may or may not have the updated IMS bearings. (Is there any way to easily find out? Can a PPI tell me?)

So which would you buy? Is the S worth the 2 year age difference and possible tricky IMS issues? I'll have a 6 year extended warranty on whichever car I buy, so that helps...for 6 years.


P.S. Can you tell I'm getting close to purchase? I'm finally coming out of lurker mode...

 

You should have the latest IMS on your car. Mine was delivered to me on March, 2006 and has the latest design on it.

 

One other interesting note is that the 2006 car was purchased new in March of 2007 (according to carfax) with 98 miles on it. It originally passed inspection in late April of 2006. Dealer's test drive car???

The 2008 was purchased new in October of 2007, so first sales on these cars is really only 7 months apart...

 

you'll likely never regret more horsepower..

 

True, but are there any concerns I should have with a 2006 car with only 19,000 miles? I'm worried about IMS failures... Is a 2006 car with the upgraded bearings equal enough to a 2008 car that it's a wash?

 

Almost all MY 06 cars have the new bearing so there's no difference there.

06-08 the cars are almost identical, so the best value is in 06 if you don't mind the extra bit of age. IMO the S (vs non-S) is worth a lot.

 

If both are the same with: clean PPI, new IMS bearing, similar miles, good condition, and similar options - get the S. But let us know what you find once you've checked both out in person.

 

If you get the non-S, just think how you'll feel every time you see an "S" on the road.
As SBPORSCHE said, "You'll likely never regret more horsepower."

 

If you haven't already done so drive an S and non S on the same day. That should convince you of which works for you. My guess along with others is that you will pick the S.

 

I'd get the S. if you are getting CPO and a PPI, you have peace of mind for a while.

 

Well there's no CPO, but I will be buying an extended warranty that should cover me in case the unexpected happens...

 

the extended warranty on the 2006 will be more expensive than on the 2008 especially if the later is still under factory warranty. You can find a 08 c2s with miles in the low 40's for the same money and get a factory warranty on that...

 

That's a phone call I'm making tomorrow. But so far, I've found that warranty costs depend more on mileage than model year.

For example, for the 2007 and 2008 models I've so far checked into:
6 years or 60,000 more miles, exclusionary, $250 deductible.
Up to 25,000 existing miles: $3600
Up to 35,000 existing miles: $4800
Up to 45,000 existing miles: $8000 (that's right $8K!)

Tomorrow I'll check to see if it's also $3600 for the 2006, 19,000 mile car.

So I'm only looking at cars under 35K miles.

Costco, baby. Costco.

 

I checked with Costco on the extended warranty pricing. Their prices are solely based on the car's current mileage. The model year cutoff is 2003, but aside from that it's all about miles.

So the 2006 C2S is the same price for 6 years, 60K additional miles as the 2008.

 

Just signed up with Costco (thank you!) 2005 997.1 C2, 9769 miles for $2085 6 years 60k (as I recall). $250 deductible which lowered a lot.

Half of Fidelity, no waiting period (covered today), 60 day money back and confidence with Costco name behind it.

I just wasn't having fun driving this car with a 20k IMS issue in the back of my head.