Porsche 996 (996) Turbo: Ads on test

Base-model Carreras may trump this car’s output these days, but they lack its raw appeal

Cost New £82,356 Price £49,995

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alues for good 996 Turbos have been hovering around the £40-50k mark for a while, which still represents a significant saving over a 993 Turbo. With this one wearing just the right amount of miles, we thought it was well worth checking out.

It looks beautiful – the Polar Silver Metallic paint is even across the body, with all the shutlines in just the right place. Even the front splitter, often the site of many a car park indiscretion, is free from blemishes. We couldn’t even find any stonechips on the nose.

The 18in Techno Light Silver alloy wheels are free from wear and tear, and new Michelin PilotSports encircle each one.

The interior is in similar fine fettle, with only minor creasing in the leather to report. Heated front seats, air conditioning and Bose stereo all work perfectly, as does the sunroof. We couldn’t find scratches or marks on the interior surfaces, not even nail marks behind the door pulls.

The engine (what you can see of it) is clean, with all fluids up to their correct positions. Looking at the thick servicing pack, it’s clear the previous custodians have lavished the cash keeping it in good nick. The service stamps are either yearly or every two years, from main dealers or recognised specialists, the last one being at Nine Excellence in September 2018. That included fresh discs and pads as part of a £1608.47 bill. A fresh exhaust was installed as part of a £3896 major service in 2016.

If you’ve never driven a 996 Turbo, or anything of its ilk, imagine what it must be like to be a wasp stuck to the front of a Tokyo bullet train. The sheer accelerative force – both from a standstill and in-gear – will leave you tapping your fingers at your desk and giggling a week later.

Those more used to supercar speeds will also enjoy its relative simplicity. It might not be as thrilling in the corners as a GT3, but for covering big distances the 996 Turbo is a simply astonishing conveyance.

We didn’t experience any odd vibrations or noises while driving the car, and the brakes and gearshift worked perfectly.

With manual Porsches always likely to command a premium over self-shifters, it can’t be long before we see such values take another leap. This example has been well-cared for and well used, and is raring to go.

Porsche 996 Turbo

Year:     2004
Mileage:    59,900
On sale at:     Targa Florio Cars
targafloriocars.com

Specifications
Engine:     3600cc, 6-cyl, DOHC
Transmission:    4WD, 6-speed manual
Power:     414bhp@6000rpm
Torque:     413b-ft@2700rpm
Weight:     1540kg

Performance
0-60mph:    3.9sec
Top speed:    189mph
Economy:     23mpg

Choose your Porsche 996 Turbo

1999: 911 996 Turbo is unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and goes on sale a year later. Its watercooled twin-turbocharged flat-six produces 415bhp/415lb-ft.

2002: Porsche offers the X50 option, which includes enlarged K24 turbochargers and intercoolers, a reprogrammed ECU and a new exhaust. Peak power is now up to 450bhp.

2004: The 996 Turbo Cabriolet is introduced.

2005: The 996 Turbo S is launched: X50-spec engine, carbon ceramic brakes, a six-disc CD changer and aluminium interior trim.

2005: The production run comes to an end.