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Porsche Guides: 997, 996, 987 & 986

Everything you need to know about the 997, 996, 987 Boxster/Cayman, and 986 Boxster — from IMS bearing solutions and buyer's guides to torque specs, DIY procedures, and parts recommendations. Built for owners who work on their own cars.

  1. October 27, 2026 · Porsche Porsche 997 Bore Scoring: What 98 Owner Reports Show The Rennlist 997 bore scoring poll thread, read in full and counted: which cylinders owners named, the warning signs, how they checked, and the fixes they chose.
  2. October 27, 2026 · Porsche Porsche 997 IMS Bearing Failures: What 419 Owner Reports Show The biggest 997 IMS thread on Rennlist, read in full and counted: failures by model year, the 2005 split, warning signs owners describe, and what they did next.
  3. October 26, 2026 · Porsche Best First Porsche Under $40k (October 2026) Six used Porsches with a classic.com benchmark under $40,000, and the issue to check first on each.
  4. October 25, 2026 · Porsche Best Used Porsches for DIY Owners (October 2026) Six used Porsches that suit hands-on owners, with October 2026 market benchmarks and the issue to check first.
  5. October 25, 2026 · Porsche German Enthusiast Cars That Got Cheaper This Year Five German used cars with asking prices well below last year, per CarGurus data, and what to check on each.
  6. October 24, 2026 · BMW, Porsche Manual German Cars Under $25k Worth Buying Now (October 2026) Six manual German cars with October 2026 market prices under $25,000 and the sourced issue to check on each.
  7. October 24, 2026 · Porsche Porsches You Can Still Buy Under $30k (October 2026) Six used Porsches with market benchmarks under $30,000 in October 2026, each with the issue to check before you buy.
  8. October 23, 2026 · Porsche, BMW 7 Cheap German Sports Cars That Are Still Good Buys (October 2026) Seven Porsche and BMW sports cars you can still buy for under about $35,000, with what good ones cost right now and the problem to check on each.
  9. October 23, 2026 · Porsche Porsche 997.1 Carrera Buyer's Guide (2005 to 2008): What to Pay and What to Check What 2005 to 2008 911 Carreras sell for now, which versions to look for, the engine problems that matter, and what to check before you buy.
  10. June 23, 2026 · Porsche The Complete Guide to Repairing Porsche PDK Transmission Problems Complete Porsche PDK repair guide for 997.2, 987.2, 991.1, and 981 owners. Learn common PDK fault codes, distance sensor failures, valve body repairs, pressure sensors, fluid service, and PIWIS calibration before replacing the transmission.
  11. April 10, 2026 · Porsche The Porsche 996 IMS Bearing: Risk, Reality, and What to Do About It Every prospective 996 buyer eventually has the conversation. Sometimes it comes from a well-meaning acquaintance who once heard something about Porsches and engines. Sometimes it's the third Rennlist thread you've read at midnight before putting in an offer. Sometimes it's a PPI report with a paragraph that starts "the IMS bearing..." and suddenly the whole deal feels different.
  12. March 13, 2026 · Porsche Best Brake Pads for Porsche 986 and 987 Boxster/Cayman: Street, Track, and Everything Between Stock Porsche brake pads are engineered for average use — and that means they're a compromise. If you're driving a 986 Boxster or 987 Boxster/Cayman with any enthusiasm, or planning even one track day, you owe it to yourself to upgrade. The good news: the 986/987 brake platform is well-supported by every major pad manufacturer, and the community consensus on what works is very clear.
  13. March 12, 2026 · Porsche Best IMS Bearing Solution for Porsche 986 & 987: What the Forums Actually Recommend If you own a Porsche 986 Boxster, 987 Boxster, or 987 Cayman — or you're about to buy one — the IMS bearing is the first thing every forum will tell you to research. It's a legitimate concern. But after spending time in the Rennlist, 986Forum, and Planet-9 threads, the picture is clearer than the noise suggests. Here's what experienced owners actually choose, and why.
  14. March 6, 2026 · Porsche Porsche 997.1 Carrera S Brake Replacement — Complete DIY Guide (Rotors, Pads & Hardware) This is a complete brake replacement walkthrough for the 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (997.1) with standard steel brakes — rotors, pads, wear sensors, and all the hardware. The procedure is largely identical for 2005–2008 997.1 Carrera S, Carrera 4S, Targa 4S, and Cabriolet models running steel brakes.
  15. March 4, 2026 · Porsche Porsche 987 Boxster and Cayman Common Torque Specifications (Maintenance and DIY Jobs) Complete torque spec reference for Porsche 987 Boxster and Cayman (2005–2012) — all variants, both generations. Covers 987.1 (M96/M97, IMS risk) and 987.2 (MA1, IMS-free): wheels, engine, drivetrain, brakes, suspension, and axle nuts. Values in ft-lbs and Nm.
  16. March 4, 2026 · Porsche Porsche 986 Boxster Common Torque Specifications (Maintenance and DIY Jobs) Complete Porsche 986 Boxster torque specifications for all variants (1997–2004): 2.5L, 2.7L, and Boxster S 3.2L. Every common DIY job covered: oil drain, spark plugs, wheel bolts, suspension, brakes, flywheel — sourced and verified.
  17. March 4, 2026 · Porsche Porsche 996 Common Torque Specifications (Maintenance and DIY Jobs) Complete Porsche 996 torque specifications for all variants (1998–2005): Carrera, C4, C4S, Turbo, GT2, and GT3. Every major DIY job covered — oil drain, spark plugs, wheel bolts, suspension, brakes, flywheel, and more. Source-verified with conflict flags where specs differ.
  18. July 15, 2025 · Porsche Porsche 997.1 Common Torque Specifications (Maintenance and DIY Jobs) Nothing fancy. We’ve gathered every common 997.1 DIY spec, from wheel bolts to water-pump screws, in both ft-lbs and Nm, each paired with its source link.
  19. July 12, 2025 · Porsche, Opinion Paddle out. Even if it looks bad. I don't surf, but a friend once told me something about surfing that changed how I think about life. "Paddle out. Even if it looks bad." I'm in my mid-30s now, and I've spent way too many years making excuses not to pursue my passions — especially driving. We're not going to live forever, and if we don't do the things that bring us joy even when the opportunity is right there, we're bound to die even sooner.
  20. May 23, 2025 · Porsche, Opinion Little Bastard Helped James Dean Search for Something Real I used to think James Dean was just another Hollywood rebel who got addicted to cars. Then I learned about his relationship with Little Bastard, his Porsche 550 Spyder, and realized he was just trying to feel whole (like most of us).
  21. May 13, 2025 · Porsche How to Set Seat and Mirror Memory in a Porsche 997 I had a hell of a time finding the simple instructions to do this every time I wanted to make a change. There’s a few threads on Rennlist, but making and bookmarking my own article without the “forum-fluff” was honestly easier.
  22. March 24, 2025 · Porsche, Opinion Science has Proven Porsche’s “There is No Substitute” Slogan Porsche wasn't lying — there really is no substitute, but you won't understand that until your 20th drive. Most people think they're looking at the same car for 60 years, but what they're actually seeing is 124,800 hours of refinement that can't be engineered around. You either get it or you don't, and that's ok.