TRIED&TESTED
With international Porsche adventurist, Johnny Tipler
Registered in Liverpool on September 1 2000, this is one of the very first 996 Turbos to come to the UK and it lived for much of its life in the North West. Finished in Arctic Silver, very much the favoured colour of the first 996 generation, this car is relatively highly specified: a black carbon interior pack and hardback sports seats (also heated) make it stand out among the usual run of dark 996 interiors as does the optional sun roof. The only addition to offset otherwise perfect originality is a Bluetooth connection, which as the seller points out is easily enough removed. For an eighteen-year-old this 911 looks very smart. Partial respraying, to be expected at this age, has been done correctly, though the fastidious owner might want to rub down and repaint the last few inches of the vulnerable front arches just behind the wheels where spraying appears to have gone over mild corrosion. The wheels themselves have evidently been painted recently and are immaculate. The cabin is equally impressive: the plastics in worn 996 interiors can look rather shiny, but here surfaces that began as matt have largely remained so. The bolstered seats and steering wheel in particular are in remarkably good shape and all the interior needs is some proper Porsche floormats.the boot is clean, the tools and emergency wheel unused.
The turbo has has eight owners, the service book shows they have largely been diligent and there are 13 stamps, though mostly not specialist. The mileage pattern is conventional with most mileage in the early years. Many people bought Porsche Turbos and traded them after very little use, as has occurred with this example. Porsche Turbo engines last well: In 1997 the Motorsport department argued it could not race the new M96 unit because ‘integrated dry sump’ or not, it suffered oil starvation at track speeds. A completely new engine for the 996 GT3 was developed and, to offset its costs, it was produced for the Turbo as well. The main failing at the age of this car is corrosion of components often attributable to a build-up of moisture from lack of use. Seller Steve Bull recognised these symptoms in this otherwise sound car and carried out extensive mechanical refurbishment which included re-piping of the fuel system and fitting a new turbo; the other turbo had been replaced earlier.
On the road, this preparation has evidently paid off; the Turbo fires and idles evenly and underway progress is smooth if not quite serene: the ride is undisturbed by road iregularities and the steering feels as precise as a far newer Porsche. The Turbo tracks correctly and pulls up straight under heavy braking with no suggestion of anything untoward anywhere. Left to its own devices the Tiptronic transmission responds perfectly to the driver’s right foot and, when asked, the 996T will fly, otherwise this is an easy car in which to cover rapid, but relaxed mileages. Cabin and chassis are agreeably free of annoying rattles and overall condition and performance belie the car’s age. French classified ads often carry the rider ‘curieux s’abstenir’ which is politer than our ‘no time wasters’, and while any seller wants a sale, what this well preserved and presented Turbo really deserves is an appeciative owner who will know how to use and enjoy it.