besides price and miles...what are the major differences and why one over the other...tks

 

First of all the 996 didn't exist in 2005, unless you are referring to a Turbo or GT3. If it is a 04 996 vs a 08 997, go for the 08 hands down.

 

997 for many reasons including the improved interior and headlight design.

 

Agreed.......hands down!
The comforts of the 997 are awesome,however if the 996 is at your price point.....then do it!
Just get a Porsche,you will not regret it!

Stacy

 

Differences between the late 996's and 997's are substantial. The exterior and interior are totally different. Beyond cosmetics there is a power difference between the 996 3.6 and 997 3.6 and a big power difference if we are talking about the 997S with the 3.8.

If you have a choice between a 05 997 and a 06,07,08 997 then get the later years. The 05 did not get the redesigned IMS which is a point of failure in the M96/97 engines. However, even with this "flaw" (lack of a better word) the 05 engines are reliable and you should not be swayed if the 05 is at your price max.

Jason

 

The 997 is a more refined, powerful and evolved version of the Rev 1 watercooled 996. Style, interior and exterior, is subjective, but many feel that the 997 is an upgrade in that regard as well.
All that said, I test drove an excellent version of a 996 Cab before I bought my 997. It was still excellent and you would not be suffering.
To me, the color of the 996's more dramatically affect the look of the car than 997's. The car I sampled was a mid-metallic grey (darker than silver) and it looked great.

 

Note that in a bizarre quirk, there are '05 996's. The 996 and 997 actually overlapped in the '05 model year.
The differences are pretty big, but the biggest difference I really found was the interior.

 

thanks all...the 05 is a 996. just wondering at this point whether to go with the 05...30k less than the 08 which is brand new at a dealer...and wait a few years and see what porsche comes out with or get a 09 or 10 at that point

 

I have yet to see a 2005 996 other then a GT3 or Turbo. According to Wiki the production cycle ended in 2004

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsc...edirected=true

perhaps the left over 04's were sold as 05's, but haven't seen on for sale anywhere.

 

In the hundreds of cars I looked through, I found a couple that were '05 996's. They were a considerable discount to the 997s. A Porsche dealer told me the same, that they produced some 996's into '05.
My own 2 cents, but I wouldn't imagine the 996 going into the annals of Porsche history as a classic. The early ones had some big engine problems and no one was enamored with styling that was mirrored in the Boxster. I think the 997 interior and other improvements will make it much more desirable going forward.
That said, a 996 can get you a P car for a lot less money. I believe the '03 is particular to avoid, due to engine failures that occurred either in that year or one of the other 996 years.
The new '08's at dealers tend to be not such good values because they've been there forever and the dealers are not comfortable losing enough money on them to move them. Other forum members have had better luck picking up end of the year '09's for up to 20% off.

 

the C4S for model year 05 was also a 996 I believe.

To the original poster --big difference and too many things to list . The short version points to a more sophisticated engine, a more refined body structure, less potential for repair, better quality interior, warranty. and the headlights alone on the 996 are not only ugly but the xenon thieves can get them off in the time it takes you to sneeze.

Hands down 08 997!!!!

 

05 996 includes TT, GT3, CS4, cabs and targa. Pretty much only 05 997 available was the base C2 and C2S. C4 came in 2006 I believe.

Difference between a C2 996 and a C2 997 are mostly interior. performance gained only 5 hp. interior improvements include a proper nav (still not touch screen until 997.2), optional bluetooth etc.

If you go with a 996, make sure it comes with warranty remaining. check for repeating RMS fixes. the water resevoir is a common failure too.

 

IMHO the 997 has the better looking body style. 996 interior no
Comparison to the 997.

 

That's an easy one. Three years of improvements to everything in the car.