CHECKLIST VALUE AT A GLANCE Condition Price Performance Overall

BACKGROUND The 996 was always controversial in its lifetime. No matter that the new 911 was junior supercar fast – 4.7s for the 0–60 dash and 174mph on the Autobahn, its detractors, who were vocal, decried its “bland” styling and what they saw as the sanitising of “their”911. When cooling problems and then later the IMS appeared, they had a field day. But Porsche was never distracted selling the cheaper-to-build and more accessible 996 at twice the rate of the 993. Since those days aftermarket fixes have abounded and the relentless addition of more and more technology between driver and road with each new model means that attitudes to the 996 have changed: now the entry to 911 motoring, the 996 is today appreciated for its neat, clean design and, if its cabin feels dated, it is still a proper analogue sports car in the 911 tradition. Not many will say that about the 992 which dwarfs that first water cooled 911.

WHERE IS IT?

eporsch.co.uk 01483 487738

FOR

Solid, well presented manual gearbox car in very rare (original) colour. Consistent service history

AGAINST

For many the C2 offers a more pure driving experience.

VERDICT

Eminently usable entry-level 911 unlikely to depreciate further