Porsche 996: The unique black sheep of the 911 series

Porsche 996: The unique black sheep of the 911 series

The Porsche 911 series is unarguably some of the most sought after sport cars in history. Out of the models available in the series, the 996 manufactured between 1997-2004 is one of the least favourites out of the lot. It was the first car in the series to be built excluding the air-cooled flat six engine that the 911 was so famous for. It was also the first in the series to drop the iconic elliptical headlights replacing them with a wider shape.

At the time it was launched the Porsche 996 didn’t receive the hype that the other models in the series received. Even though it had less demand back in the day, in today’s market the Porsche 996 is a very popular choice at Japanese auction house. Although air-cooled cars are still very much in demand, the 996 haven’t failed to attract car enthusiasts around the world.

Performance of the 996
The Porsche 996 was not only the first in its series to have a water-cooled engine but it also claimed brand new suspension and chassis. The result is a larger car, but with a smoother body. While the previous models had tendency to over-steer when steep turns, this is eliminated from the 996. One of the reasons that the carmaker switched from the famous air cooler to water-cooled engine is due to the increasingly strict emission standards. However, at the same time they were able to add four valves per cylinder, which resulted in the car becoming even more popular.

Common issues
One of the most known issues of the Porsche 996 is the issue with the IMS bearing. Due to the way it was fixed, the bearing could not be lubricated as a result, it would dry out and crash. It was noted that the out of the cars produced within 2000-2005, only 10 percent of the models faced this issue. Since it happens randomly, there is no indication for the owner to be of alert. So when you look for a Porsche 996, make sure to get a model that has the IMS bearing issue resolved. If you find a car you like without the replaced IMS then bargain for the price and get a replacement done from the amount you save from the sale.

Bodywork of the 996
The bodywork of the Porsche 996 is excellent and the company offered a 10 year rust free warranty. Rust is very rare in this model unless it’s a badly fixed damage on it. You may not be able to find a car that is completely accident-free but the important part is that the repair is done properly and the correct spare parts are used.

Whatever car you plan to buy, it’s important to do your own research. Reach out to other owners of the 996 and get their feedback about the car. If you plan to buy from an auto auction Japan then check for their records and then make the final decision.