[ Owning a Porsche 996]
Neil Smith, Staffordshire
Neil Smith bought his 996 Carrera 4S seven years ago. ‘I do about 5000 miles each year, mainly going to lots of events with TIPEC,’ he says.
‘So far, the car has been as easy to run as a Mondeo and despite the performance available I average more than 30mpg. When I bought the 4S, I was underwhelmed by the driving experience… then I had the geometry set up correctly and it transformed the car.
‘There are 996s out there that have wrecked engines or have been in a crunch. Buy an accident-damaged Porsche and you’ll need to be a professional restorer. Even rebuilding a 996 flat-six is a job best left to the experts because various special tools are needed. A car with tired running gear can be overhauled on a DIY basis, but anything more than tired brakes, suspension or clutch might require expert guidance.’
Alex Tapley, Cambridgeshire
Regular Classic Cars photographer Alex Tapley owns one of the earliest 996s in the country. ‘I bought it a year ago,’ he says, ‘it’s one of the first dozen imported in late 1997, with engine number 996! I started out by looking for Boxsters for £5k-£6k, but figured four seats would be more practical.
‘I limited myself to £15k, looking for the best possible trade off between mileage and condition. The one I found had some history, but wasn’t comprehensive - a factor that helped to keep its price down - so I intend to find out more about it, especially given its unusual specification. It may have been a press car or a dealer demonstrator.
‘I took it to Autofarm for inspection. It needed its corroded brake lines replacing – an engine-out job – and while it was out I had the IMS bearing upgraded and a new clutch fitted, spending £6.5k in total. But it’s a long-term measure for a car I want to keep long-term and help my children make memories with, because the other cars in my life tend to be short-term loans that don’t stick around.
‘It’s currently on a classic policy for 4000 miles a year, but this may go up if I find myself using it more – I wouldn’t be afraid of taking it on a track. That said, although the galvanised bodywork resists rust well, I make a point of not taking it out when the roads are icy and salted. However, it lives outside under a cover and doesn’t seem to suffer, and they wear high mileages well.’