986.2
The facelift: heated glass rear window, better interior, 228 and 258 hp. The one to buy.
- Years
- 2003–2004
- Trims
- 2
- Power
- 228–258 hp
- Known issues
- 8
- Lightest
- 2,822 lb
- Quickest 0–60
- 5.5 s
Overview
The 2003 facelift fixed the things owners actually complained about. The plastic rear window became heated glass, the interior materials improved markedly, the nose and lights were revised, and power rose to 228 hp in the base car and 258 in the S.
The improvement per dollar over a 2002 car is larger than the price gap between them, which makes this the era to target if you are buying a 986 rather than restoring one. It is the most complete version of a car that was already the best-balanced thing Porsche sold.
The M96 engine risk does not go away — intermediate shaft and bore scoring remain the inspection priorities — and the drains still need clearing every year regardless of how good the rest of the car is.
The range
2 Sorted by output| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Weight | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadster | 2003–2004 | 2.7 L | 228 | 192 | 6.2 | 2,822 | RWD |
| Roadster | 2003–2004 | 3.2 L | 258 | 229 | 5.5 | 2,911 | RWD |
Power in hp, torque in lb-ft, 0–60 in seconds, weight in pounds. Hover a badge for what it means.
Year by year
2Known issues
8- IMS bearing failure Critical
All 986. The bearing design changed through the run, which determines whether a retrofit is even possible.
- Blocked drains and water ingress Critical
All 986, and the single most under-appreciated killer of cheap ones.
- Cylinder bore scoring Critical
M96 engines, more commonly reported on the 3.2 S than the smaller base engines.
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All 986.
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All 986.
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All 986.
- Ignition switch failure Minor
All 986, subject of a service campaign.
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All 986.