The 996 was produced for nine years, from 1997 to 2006. With sales of 175,164 units during that time, it became the best-selling model in the car’s history and the major turning point in the 911’s evolution. However, despite these enormous sales, the 996, the 993’s successor, was also regarded as the loathed series, or at least it was first despised by Porsche enthusiasts, much to what happened in 1963 when the original 911 took the place of the 356’s undisputed favorite.
The 996 represented the first time that Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s distinguishing 911 features had been extensively altered; the biggest (and most divisive) alteration was the addition of new water-cooled boxer engines. Following the introduction of the convertible in 1998, the GT3 followed in 1999, and the Carerra 4S and Targa followed in 2001. The 4S lacked the rear wing and the gaping side air intakes but featured the wider, more sensuous hips of the Turbo. Additionally, it possessed four-wheel drive, just like all Porsche vehicles denoted with a “4”. To the delight of the general public (and myself! ), the oddly grey-mottled interior plastic components were painted in a soft black beginning in 1999. Power increased from 300 HP to 320 HP to 345 HP before peaking at 420 HP and the genuinely devastating 483 HP GT2. The storied 381HP GT3RS made its debut in 2004. It was a track-focused version with a redesigned crankcase and dry-sump lubrication.
A total of 104,312 996 Coupes, 65,700 Cabriolet body types, and 5,152 Targas were made. The Millennium Edition 911, one of the specialties, sold 911s. 1,963 units of the Anniversary Edition and 5,894 units of the GT3 were built in total. While just 1287 of the rare GT2’s were produced, the Turbo had a strong sales performance with 21,954 units produced.
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Unloved Porsche 911/996 models 175,000 sales, perhaps?
A characterless exhaust tone, headlights that resembled cooked eggs, and an incredibly soft suspension. The 996 was initially quite unpopular, but Wilfried Hallier, a Porsche dealer principal at the time, recalls that the car’s successor to the lovely 993 had a significant influence on Porsche salespeople.
The 996 was produced for nine years, from 1997 to 2006. With 175,262 sales during that time, it became the best-selling model in the automobile’s history and the major turning point in the evolution of the 911. However, despite these enormous sales, the 996, the 993’s successor, was also regarded as the loathed series, or at least it was first despised by Porsche enthusiasts, much to what happened in 1963 when the original 911 took the place of the 356’s undisputed favorite. The 996 represented the first time that Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s distinctive 911 features had undergone major modification; the biggest (and most criticized) alteration was the new water-cooled boxer engines.
911 Porsche
The 911 model that German automaker Porsche produced from 1997 to 2006 is known internally as the Porsche 996. The 997 took its place in 2004; however, the fast Turbo S, GT2 and GT3 models continued to be produced until 2006. With the first completely new chassis base since the original 911 and a new water-cooled engine, the 996 had little in common with its predecessor. Technically speaking, aside from the general layout, it represented a significant departure from the original automobile.
The front suspension, certain interior components, and the engine—all of which were expanded for the 996—were all shared with its entry-level brother, the roadster-only Boxster, which was released around the same time. The multi-link rear suspension, however, was adapted from the 993 that came before it. Porsche at the time was having financial difficulties, therefore the main reason for doing this was to save development expenses. A 30% cost reduction in the development of the car was the outcome of this decision.
The most notable departure from the traditional 911 series was the 996’s water-cooled engine, which took the place of the air-cooled engine at launch. The changeover became essential due to ever stricter emissions and noise rules, environmental concerns, increased expectations for refinement, and the requirement for a high-performance engine with four valves per cylinder. A fully new chassis with a slimmer body and a more sloped windscreen, a redesigned interior, and new “fried egg”-shaped headlamps in place of the former “bug eye” headlamps are among the other significant modifications. [Reference needed]
There are many options available because there are a lot of producers.
About 20,500 Porsche 996 Turbos were produced overall. This amount breaks down into around 3,500 996 Cabriolets and about 17,000 996 Turbo Coupes, all of which were offered starting in 2004. This indicates that there are many options available in the secondhand market. The good news is that prices are still very reasonable. There isn’t a car that offers better performance for the money for the medium five figure sums that you would need to invest, at least in Europe and the USA.
Naturally, even a 911 Turbo has its shortcomings. the limited range, for example, caused by the relatively tiny 64-liter fuel tank. Or the boot space, which the all-wheel drive system significantly reduces. The Porsche 996 Turbo, however, is more adaptable than any other sports vehicle of the early 2000s due to the combination of its features. It is well renowned for being durable, whether it is worn on a daily basis or for racing. Let’s face it, doesn’t that seem scary? Furthermore, isn’t it alluring to declare, “I drive a Porsche Turbo”?
What’s the value of a Porsche 996?
The perfect 996 for you will mostly depend on your usage requirements and budget. Prices can range from $10,000 for a base Carrera Cabrio with a lot of miles in poor condition to $120,000 for a GT3 with very few miles and great condition.
Want a vehicle with greater power but don’t want to spend the money on a Turbo, GT2, or GT3? You might choose the Carrera 4S over the 996. The 320-horsepower Carrera motor and the Turbo’s body and chassis are used to make up the deficit. No, there isn’t a big wing out back, but we promise you’ll still have fun. The 4S raises the cost of a standard Carrera in comparable condition by between $5,000 and $10,000. Strangely, Porsche has never offered this package with rear-wheel drive, so if you want that, you’ll need to search elsewhere in the lineup.
Considering a 996 for use on the tracks? You want a GT2 or GT3, respectively. With powerful brakes, gripping tires, and functional aerodynamics, both cars are built from the ground up to be pushed to the absolute maximum. Despite having less power, we believe the GT3 to be the better option since it offers a more well-rounded package and a more distinctive engine. Naturally, the GT-badged 996s command the highest rates on the used market, with prices ranging from $75,000 to $130,000 depending on the car’s mileage, customizations, and track time.
If you’re a collector, neither GT car will let you down. Although their prices are comparable, it’s important to note that Porsche produced four GT3 vehicles for every GT2 vehicle. Therefore, if rarity appeals to you, we advise choosing the GT2. Additionally, there are two 996s that were produced in limited quantities: a Millennium Edition based on the 2000 Carrera 4 (of which only 911 instances were made) and a 40th Anniversary Edition based on the 2003 Carrera (of which only 1963 examples were made). Although the Millennium car is more uncommon, the 40th Anniversary 911 is the more desirable one (to us, at least), as it came standard with a limited-slip differential, a sharper suspension, and 25 more horsepower than stock.
The Turbo variant is a fantastic value because it hasn’t maintained value as well as its GT-badged brothers. Finding high-mileage vehicles advertised for under $40,000 is not difficult, and you can get a lot of car for the money. A new four-cylinder Supra costs more than a 415-horsepower AWD Porsche 911. Count us in. What’s best? The 996 Turbo’s engine is not susceptible to catastrophic failure in the same way that normally aspirated vehicles from this generation are. (I’ll get to that in a second.)
Which motor powers the Porsche 996?
The 996’s 3.6-liter naturally aspirated engine’s power increased from 360 PS to 381 PS throughout time. The even sharper 911 GT3 RS was released in 2003. Porsche built a total of 175,262 Type 996 automobiles between 1997 and 2005.
A supercar, is the Porsche 996?
The 911 Turbo offers authentic supercar performance in a sleek and useful design, making it the stuff of legend. It was also notorious for its harsh handling in its early iterations. However, the 996 variant that debuted in 2000 was a distinct species. It was a highly advanced, all-weather, all-road supercar with four-wheel drive, a water-cooled engine, a smooth new bodyshell, and a drastically revised cabin. Additionally, despite ceasing production in 2005, it is still as speedy as anything on the road in practical terms. If you’re aware of the possible hazards, it’s also a very alluring used purchase.
The 996 marked a virtual revamp in comparison to the earlier 993 model. In terms of appearance, it advanced Porsche in a number of important yet subtle ways: the lines were smoothed out, the windscreen was raked back completely, the cabin was more spacious, and the facia finally appeared to have been styled, though some people preferred the traditional Porsche appearance. The construction pulled off the cunning balancing act of being lighter and 40% stiffer than the previous design. Additionally, the early 911 handling oddities were improved. The 996 Turbo was as sure-footed as any 190 mph automobile, unless you were absolutely willing to drive like an a$$. In a nutshell, it was the original 911 supercar.
The 996 generation was notable for being the first 911 to use water cooling, which enabled an engine redesign with four valves per cylinder to produce higher power outputs and significantly better fuel efficiency. But first, let’s get something straight. Even though the Turbo is water-cooled, it has a different engine than the standard 996s. The turbo engine, which is closely related to both the 996 GT3 and the GT1 racing (3.2 liters and 600 horsepower! ), can be traced back to the earlier air-cooled engines. Unlike the Turbo, the other 996 engines were entirely different in design and had gasket issues that may result in catastrophic breakdowns. This engine is quite powerful and can be adjusted to produce well over 500 horsepower if you so desire.
The Turbo’s standard output was 420 horsepower @ 6000 rpm. In 2002, you could get the X50 upgrade kit, which used several turbos, intercoolers, an altered ECU, and a stronger gearbox to increase the output to 450 horsepower. The body of the 2002 model, also referred to as the mk2, underwent changes that boosted stiffness, enhanced handling, and increased crash safety.
The flop-top debuted in 2003, with its stronger B-pillars and other modifications increasing the weight by 70 kg while maintaining nearly comparable performance metrics. The final model was the 2005 Turbo S, which came equipped with ceramic composite brakes (PCCB) that perform best when heated, making it perfect for trackdays and including the X50 setup as standard. The six-speed manual transmission is a classic Porsche gem, however Tiptronic semi-automatic transmissions were available with many Turbos. Although high 20s on a mild run are not unheard of, most owners average around 20 mpg, which is good for such a quick car. So there you have it—the rational supercar, the 996 Turbo! Here’s how to locate a quality one.
Is the Porsche 996 a vintage car?
Drivers of Porsche tend to be traditionalists. The water-cooled Porsche 996 was received with astonishment when it was introduced in 1997, much like how many devoted 356 drivers thought the initial 911 to be a tough departure from what they knew in 1964. However, it is now prized as a classic Porsche.
Today, the 911 is the undisputed Porsche, and collectors are vying with one another for early models. The value of the Porsche 911 is only rising.