yes, the air cooled 911 was quite the war horse. however, the engines still leaked oil..it's the flat 6 configuration and the fact that they vibrate quite a bit. another problem was the maximum displacement. anything over 3.6 liters on an air cooled 911 could not be put into a street car. 3.6 liters was the engineering maximum...thus you have the classic turbo 3.6. as soon as porsche plugged their water pumper into the boxster test mules for the customers it was simply a matter of time before air cooling was to become a relic. it's sad because i feel that those air coolers where the best of the breed. the 996 engine is not that impressive considering all of the problems.

 

I seriously considered a Boxter before purchasing my SLK. The hard top and low maintainance costs sold me on the MB.