986 550 spyder 50th anniversary edition

[Windy_Miller]

anyone got one?

i know it’s ostensibly a 986 BxS with some ‘tweaks’ and not that dissimilar mechanically to my previous 987 CS (other than engine), but any specifics to look out for?

obviously all the usual stuff - front coolant X-over pipes, rads and condensers, brake pipes, rear discs inner surfaces, clutch wear / gear linkages and cables, lower sills ‘gravel rash’ corrosion etc…

im lacking a sense of mechanical interaction with the eminently capable 718GTS4.0PDK, am missing my manual 987S, and have long coveted the 986 spyder anniversary car (manual with coco brown interior of course ??) as a modern ‘near classic’. So I’m now trying to justify a ‘2nd, 2nd car’ ??

Are these prone to IMS / RMS issues at all? ?????

Thanks in advance for any perspectives and pointers. ????

Jason

 

[Derek H]

Hi Jason, hope you're well. We met a couple of times a few years back on Cayman OC meets.

I had a 986 550 Anniversary about 12 years ago before I bought my Guards Red 987 Cayman S. I've subsequently owned a 981 Cayman S PDK for the last 5 years and still miss the mechanical interaction/engagement and more "analogue" feeling of my manual 986 and 987 so I think I understand where you're coming from.

I sold my 550 Anniversary in 2012 so it hadn't started to suffer the age/mileage related issues that many of them may now have but I really enjoyed the car and have occasionally contemplated getting another. I've kept a casual eye on the usual forums (Boxa.net is very good) and I'm not aware that the 550 Anniversary suffers any more issues than any other 986 variant. IMS bearing failure is a possibility but not something that would put me off. I'd be much more concerned about potential bore scoring on the M97 3.4 engine in the gen 1 987.

My only real negative recollection of the 550 Anni is I found the 986 Sports seats far less comfortable than the 987/981 equivalents, to the extent that I'd probably look to change them if I did buy another. But great cars and I'd have to pay about 50% more than I sold mine for to buy it back with the same mileage.

Another option if you want something really raw and engaging alongside the Cayman is a Caterham 7. My 981 is like a limo in comparison and wouldn't see where my 420R went up to about 100 MPH!

 

[INVICTUS]

I have one (not in Cocoa) and although it is quite old now it's a beautiful little car. The paint really makes it look so much better although some may say it's just paint but it makes a significant difference. it does feel small but also very pure. Sound is sublime. Go for it!

 

[kitchens]

Also had one nice car no issues bought it with warranty from a private buyer only 18mths old I likes the GT Silver mine had the grey/black interior and roof not so keen on the cocoa combo .I have had 7 Boxster's current ones 987 Spyder and 981 .