BRIAN'S 996

Many thanks to IT consultant, Brian Gunn, for pitching in with his lovely and early 1998 996 Carrera 2. In silver, it's the definitive launch colour and verymuch of its time. It's Brian's second Porsche, his first being a 986 Boxster.

Brian picked his 996 up last October and since then has put 10,000-miles on it. “It's pretty much my everyday car, he says. And howmuch? Well, youmight want tomake sure that you're seated at this point, but Brian paid just £11,000 for this two-owner car, which, at the time, had just 64,000-miles on the clock. Brian describes it as a “golf car” used mainly to transport owner and clubs to the golf club. Creaking suspension allowed Brian to whittle the price down and sure enough it required four new coffin arms and various other bushes and suspension arms, which just seemto wear out doing nothing. The result, though, is a perfect handling, standard 996.

“It's prettymuch all I need froma car. It's simple, it's got an engine, a gearbox and some brakes. There's very little to go wrong.” Brian does all his own spannering, changing the suspension and exhaust system himself. “It's pretty easy to work on, he says. “The only issues are corroded bolts. I had to cut a few off on the exhaust. The exhaust header studs have just turned into rusty blobs...”

These, of course, are the trials and tribulations on a car that in Brian's case is 19-years old. Yes, sure doesn't look it. Howmuch again? A word to the wise then fromthe 911 & Pw camp. Don't let the 996 boat sale off into the sunset. Sure there's a lot of 996 dross out there right now, some strange colours, specs and toomany Tiptronics, but good manual C2s are going to becom emuch sought after, just as any good manual, rear drive 911 has always been.