Why does everyone like the 996 so much?

I'm a Porsche newbie, but talking to some die-hard Porsche guys and reading up on this stuff, I get the impression that a lot of Porsche people particularly like the 996 generation of cars. Personally, they don't really do much for me - I love the classic 70s/80s Porsches, I love the Carrera GT, and I love the new 992, but everything in between I'm pretty lukewarm on. Can someone tell me why a lot of people like the 996 in particular?

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If they don't do much for you then what is the point of this exercise? You're on a 996 forum, so you'll hear everything from how they drive to how they look as why people like them. It's a very subjective thing.

What Porsches have you driven? Any? I think the main reason is the dollar spent to driving enjoyment ratio.

Last of the analog Porsches.

It's a real 911 that someone on a down to earth budget can afford entry into. Plus the headlights.

Cheapest 911 you can get.

First water cooled, actual working AC, great driver, analog experience, relatively easy to work on. But I think being on a 996 forum you might get a lot of biased opinions

Waitaminut!?!? You're telling me the 996 is not as hated as the internet would have me believe? If you haven't driven a well sorted example, go drive one. IMHO, a NA 996 provides some of the best driving enjoyment that you can fully exploit that isn't a turbo. Steering and chassis is fantastic. Also, LeMans.

Unless you are interested only in looks, you can't form a meaningful opinion of any 911 model without driving each one. In my experience, the late 60's/early 70's 911 "e" model is the best driving 911 in history because it was a lightweight high-performance sports car that you could toss around. The models after the 911e were faster and arguably "better", but they lost a lot of that lightweight sports car feel. The closest model to the 911e's driving feel, in my opinion and experience, is the 996 in its lightest form (coupe/6-speed/2wd). The 996 is lighter than the 993 and 964 models that came before it and are obviously much lighter than the models that came after. The base 996.1 is still a LOT heavier than the early 911e -- but the power steering combined with doubling the horsepower of the 911e erases a lot of that weight. It all depends on what you are looking for. If your reference for 911 perfection is the early 911e, it would be difficult to find better than the 996 c2/6sp/coupe. If your reference for 911 perfection is the raw power of something like a Turbo S, then a base 996 may not satisfy that. If you're interested in looks, there are other 911 models that look better than the 996. Figure out what's important to you (e.g. looks, power, lightweight sports car, etc), then evaluate the models against that. The most important thing is to drive the models you are interested in because they are all very different in how they drive.

I was always told the others way around still have one though and do not regret it it all, but only other Porsche I ever owened was a 944, and not a good one.

My opinion is it’s the last 911 that captured the essence of the original 911 as a complete package the lightest of the water cooled 911 great driving feel brakes that stop well good speed and comfort plus the lack of electronic nannies to numb the drivers experience

They feel classic without a lot of the typical classic ownership headaches - cost and scarcity. As others have mentioned they are "cheap" in the grand scheme of owning a Porsche 911 and there are lots of them so if yours blow up you can get another. They are small, not complicated, most of them are outdated in ways that don't matter in the 21st century (no 2000's 100-pixel screens.) Oh, yeah. They are also a 911 and drive like one.

You are wrong. Nobody likes the 996, especially Porsche people. Please spread this word. The 996 911, the least-loved porsche Hagerty Price Guide: "First of the water-cooled, Boxster-related 911s was the 996. It has spent some years as the least desirable 911 generation, with prices to match." Why the 996-Generation Porsche 911 Will Never Be Collectible

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I am absolutely a member of this club. Bought and still paying for it.

Well... All you have to do is drive an SC, 911, 964, 993 and then a 996 and it will become clear. The 996 is faster, lighter and better handling than it's older siblings, as well as more engaging to drive than the 997, 991 and 992. No techno wizardry with the 996, just pure driving experience like it should be. In addition, the 996 has been scrutinized and analyzed more than any other 911 model in history. As a result, we know everything that will go wrong with it and most likely when. More importantly, the 996 has one of the biggest aftermarket parts industry known to the porsche world, with every preventative solution and fix needed to address issues, with even more solutions on the way. From a visual standpoint, the 996 has aged extremely well with its classic 911 lines and the ability to make the 996 look meatier or even more svelte with aero variations and a plethora of wheel and suspension enhancements that are inexpensive in comparison to earlier and later models. Lastly, purchase cost of a 996 is currently relatively low. Same can be said for the service costs and parts. This won't be the case for long, but right now the 996 is in a sweet spot. Get it while you can.

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This... I think that the 996 is still considered by many the u911y_duck of the 911 generations. So we are kind of the "resistance"

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Its a shame, but money cant buy taste. Feel bad for those guys.

I am betting that the 911 Generations all have their pros and cons... 996 is like some have said the sweet spot currently, its the full on 911 experience for half the money, the versions before have become very expensive, and the newer 991 models are still all north of $75,000 with few exceptions, then there is the 997, which is the tweener, good ones are close to the 991 models in price, so for $30,000 plus you can get a really well sorted 996, i know because i just got one, for under $40,000.

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You�ve clearly never worked on one

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This was me until very recently. I had driven early 70's S and E, owned a 914 for 20 years (my "trainer"), drove a '92 964 (felt heavy and a little sluggish - certainly compared to the early 70's 911) and a 2011 cab/PDK, and spent the last three years following 997.2 options. I think part of the problem is the few 996 I saw in person had been heavily driven and looked worn and tired, and the headlights were too big of a departure from what I grew up seeing and wanting. But then as I broadened my research, I started hearing more about the positives of the 996, especially the early build MY99s. They had the analog appeal and the light weight I wanted from the air-cooled 911s, and half the cost of the 997.2s I was looking at. So I went this route, and I have no regrets. Loving it.

Every 911 has it's pro's and cons. The 996 is great because it was a steal for quite some time (and still is), but that's fading pretty quick for well kept examples. Early 996.1's don't seem to have too many problems, just the routine maintenance on a 20+ year old car. Good bit of it can be done in the garage from an average mechanic is a plus. Drove a 997 and I felt pretty equally about it, exterior better for sure, interior not so much, but that's easy to overlook. Loved the 993 drove but couldn't make the dollars make sense for a weekend car (probably did make sense thinking back now). 996 is a great middle ground for the Porsche 911 world, not that it will last though. Any Porsche fan would like all iterations of the 911, the ones that don't are not true enthusiasts in my mind. Anything 2015+ for any car just doesn't do it. Hated getting a new daily driver because of all the technology and found the oldest newest low mile truck available. The 996 brings back to simpler times, no radio, windows down, subtle exhaust symphony, and a girlfriend enjoying the long route to brunch.

My past history of owning red headed step children Porsche's continues to today . First I had a 1974 911S targa with the dreaded 2.7 litre . Never gave me a problem . Next was a 944S , another not a real Porsche . Fantastic car . Next was a 914 I converted to a six . Again not a real Porsche in the eyes of many . Next was a 911 SC . A great car . Next was a Boxster S which I still own . Another not a real Porsche or hair dressers car . I recently added a 99 C4 996 . I have enjoyed every one of these cars for what they were . I really don't care what anyone else thinks or says . My 996 is a great handling car with still a raw driving experience. Same for my Boxster S . I like how they drive/feel/look . I don't look up or down at anybody for whatever car they are passionate about . We are car guys and happen to enjoy Porsches . There are plenty of varieties in the lineup for everyone . It's all good 😊

Please stop talking about how great the 996 is. It's got weird headlights, there is fluid other than oil circulating inside the engine, it was built to a price. Horrible car.

I've personally always liked the looks, they have solid performance, do well in all weather conditions, are fun to drive, super practical for a sports car, reliable, and affordable. That combo makes them a VERY hard performance daily to beat. They even get solid gas mileage. They also have much better heat/A/C than the air cooled cars.

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I have a couple of theories. And the answer perhaps cannot be found in describing what is so good about the 996, but why you got this impression. True, they are the lowest cost 911s available. Therefore most of us buyers may not have the funds to buy a higher priced 911, and so we feel very lucky and satisfied that we were able to acquire a 911, and this make noise about our good fortune. Perhaps the folks who buy the higher priced 911s also have the funds to spend on maintenance -- i.e. they are less interested in DIY or working on them. And so the 996 gets a lot more attention for various aspects that simply aren't discussed in the other 911s. Whereas among the owners of the higher priced versions simply store them in the garage and stare at them each evening before bed. And the lower price of the 996, and the excellent drive-ability enables a lot of us to drive them daily or often which encourages more talk and activity -- strengthening your impression. And perhaps we are proud of owning the "past" stepchild which encourages a lot of companionship among the owners. In other words, perhaps your impression is driven less from the advantages of the 996, but the activity surrounding the 996. And then my opinion is the body shape, and the lines from various angles makes it look very close to the classic 911 -- something I don't get from the 997 and on.

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I have actually and what I meant is no driving aids, all my car has is ABS.

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Best way to have it. ABS and LSD. Don't need anything else.

@Pathy what say you?

I don�t know who you are talking to, but a diehard Porsche �guy� loves everything from the 356, through the 968, tractors, and even the Cayennes. Well maybe not the Cayennes, but certainly no Porsche person is going to hold the 996 above every other 911. Maybe the 996 is all they can afford? What cars do it for you, by the way? And why? And have you driven any of these cars you claim to love, such as the 992 or CGT?

Don't forget that there are a bunch us that have owned their 996 for 20 years. Paid a handsome price for it back in the day, and then put more than the purchase price in service and parts to keep it running in top form over that 20 years. There are alot of reasons why we love the 996. But those reasons are many and varied.

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That's how I feel too. Heck, there are probably Trabant forums out there somewhere... I'm 3+ years into my 955 Cayenne ownership and I'm definitely not a huge fan.

On a school grade schedule, I give the 996 an A on the chassis rigidity and build. The interior is a B because of the seating position and crappy rubberized coating on the plastic parts. Body and exterior, I would call an clear B+ to A-, which is acceptable for a 20 year old car. Now for the engine, the rating is lower, and seemingly why the car gets low ratings. The problems I have encountered with older 996s, besides the engines, are door handles, window regulators, turn signal stalk issues, and interior rubber coated part issues. Transmission issues also come into play, but the engine is usually the biggest and most expensive problem.

I was kinda kidding a bit, hoping to pull someone in who loves the Cayenne. There�s a bunch - and I mean a bunch - of folks who like the Cayenne. The fact you could get one in a manual is kinda cool, and a friend had a 957 GTS, and that was straight up awesome. It�s all relative. I have a BMW X3 and before that, a Q5, and I�d take a Cayenne or Macan over any other SUVs out there.

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Yeah, the manual ones are super cool and you can actually build the 955 into a very capable off-roaders/overlander. I had the opportunity to pick up a manual 955 in solid shape for $5k a couple years back and kinda regret not doing it. I saw a manual GTS sell for nearly $40k recently. Crazy times!

I have to say that I agree with all that's been shared on the plus and minus of 996 ownership / fandom. If someone is looking for a modern Porsche, the 996 continues to offer incredible 'bang for the buck.' BTW, I will say the OP comes across a bit 'trolling' with post especially with no follow-up replies to all the great insights. With that said, I'll assume there is general interest with the question and a desire to learn more.

Honestly, 996 owners are chuffed with themselves because they are the masters of "internet arbitrage" . The masses, who are educated by the internet, have a field day becoming echo chambers of 996 horrors, driving the values down further -- which only helps the infinitely smaller group, who have real-world experience with these cars, scoop up what is one of the best driving 911's ever, at ridiculous bargain prices. It is a delicate equilibrium that should not be disturbed .

Couldn't agree more with the above. In addition, it sounds like you haven't owned a 911 yet. When I got into 911 ownership I was only interested in the early models (65-73) but as I learned more about them, the later models started to make more sense and I began to like these too -- especially including the 996. The 911 in all its versions is just not a car that you can thoroughly digest without owning a bunch of them for a longer time. Even a test drive will not fully show what they are about.

My 996 looks, sounds and drives like a sports car; turns heads every time I go to the grocery store; doesn't break the bank; but most of all gives me miles of smiles! /X3

I Have owned several air cooled 911s, 72T coupe converted to RS spec with a 3.0 SC engine, 73-1/2 T and 78 SC. I now have 5 996s, 01 C2 (wife’s), 01 turbo, 02 C2 (roller getting a 4.0), 02 C4 cab (3.8 FSI Stage I) and 03 C2 (4.0 FSI Stage II, wife’s). The 996 is the best value in Porsches’ now and they are appreciating. I owned the 72 T for 14 yrs, did all the work myself and still regret selling it. It’s was a wonderful car to drive, light weight, excellent handling and with the 3.0 SC motor, had all the power of a 73 RS with MUCH more torque. I love the sound of the fan and the “thunk” of the doors closing. I would love to have another air cooled 911 for those reasons but can’t justify the prices they now command. All that being said, I think the 996 is a much better car in terms of handling, comfort (HVAC system), power and cost of maintenance. When they first arrived on the scene , I didn’t care for the interior looks and the engines looked funny without the cooling fan, but those things have grown on me. I continue to grow more fond of them everyday.

The older 911's have become investment platforms and for boutique vendors who restomod them, the modern 911's have become bloated luxo barges for fat businessmen who want touchscreens and gadgets. 996 and 997 are in the middle straddling the two groups and don't command crazy money to purchase. Also they are very nice to drive for cars with power steering, although I've never driven a 997 with electric PS

Not to mention the sound of the car cooling down after you turn it off.

Because they drive really really well

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"Guiltily ticking in your driveway" is one description that I really liked. The 996 equivalent is the smell of warm cosmoline and melted rubber bits on the exhaust.

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Let me fix this for you... in the multiverse! Jokes aside, 996 has a really retro slender lines to it, its still got hips but not the in your face type like the 997 and onward. Like the original designer said, the 996 curves were done more like the original skinny bodied 911, which is why most conversions or headlight covers on the 996 looks horrible, they dont line up with the waistline properly! What if the original 996 had turned out like this ?

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That pic would look great in our track pics thread hint, hint, wink, wink To stay on topic - if you love a car for what it does as a car, there is very little NOT to love about a 996. It is an absolute joy as a drivers car. If you are about the badge, well then the 996 is the low man on the 911 totem pole there and for everyone that loves it for what they see as the prestige of ownership, it's likely there's someone on the other side of the fence.

My old man has a 997.2 Carrera S, his brother has an '87 Carrera vert. Both manuals. The 997.2 does not feel as solid or "heavy" as the 996 (even though my 996 is lighter). There is something "plastic-y" about cars beyond that '08-ish era in my opinion. It feels jumpy - almost like it's on a sugar high. The '87 just feels like you're..... driving a sweet sportscar from the 80's. Hard to explain. The interior smells musty and sometimes of gas. Everything feels old - but a "cool" old. My 996, to me, feels like I'm driving something that has the durability of an 80's sportscar, but just enough of that "plastic-y" / "techy" feel to put me in the next decade, while still being old enough to make it feel analog.

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Pathy, where yah been. You are missing akot of good stuff. Hope you didn't decide to buy a honda?!

Perfect combination of driving experience and enough comfort. My first drive in my early 99 coupe was 1300 miles from Wisconsin to Houston. I was surprised as how comfortable the car was, straight thru no overnight stay. On that same drive banging gears at 3 am in the morning , repeated triple digits experiences. Car is super stable at 100 mph plus. My wife doesn�t like this car too much, but she loves the triple black turbo. I�m fortunate enough that I can own both cars and get the pleasure of driving them back to back. I originally taught about selling the 99 after getting the turbo, but I get so much fun and joy driving the car that I decided to keep them both. How others see the cars, the 99 I get a bunch of thumbs up, what year is it and a lot times question about certain car details, the wheels, the front spoiler, the ducktail. The turbo, everybody wants to race me. The 996 is the type of car experience that grows on you. Anyway today I�m stretching the legs of the turbo to move it out of the way. But today and tomorrow cars and coffee (biers for me) I�m driving the cable throttle 99.

I'm almost 40. The 996 came out when I was teenager when I was first getting into cars. In my mind for many years before I got really interested in Porsches, this has been what a 911 is. This also explains my preference for other cars from this era like the B5 Audi S4, mkIII/mkIV VWs, and E36 BMWs.

I think it�s interesting that the least favorite 911 version in this video is one that he actually bought.

And he tapped into what is actually the best thing about the 996. It drives like an older 911 . Modern performance and a modern chassis but old school feel. I shopped 997s and have a bunch of seat time in them but the 996 feels more agile, light on its feet and visceral. Yes I won't argue the 996 is better looking than the 997 but from behind the wheel the 996 is a better driving experience in my opinion. Especially at street speeds.

Definitely the driving experience is key for me. Plus the fact that it's the black sheep of the 911 family is something I relate too.

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I like this response a lot; maybe the best answer to what I was asking. As someone who is NOT a wealthy businessman, or loaded with tons of extra money, but wants to get into Porsche, this actually makes me want to investigate the 996/997 models more. I was initially drawn to the brand by the opposing poles of the car's life - the classic beauty of the older 60s/70s generations and the high performance and luxury of the newer 992 Turbo. I discounted everything in between. But on face value, and taking into account financial considerations, it might actually be more worthwhile to target something in between and find enjoyment therein.

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Even if you take the financial aspect out, the "in between" position of the 996 is still the sweet spot, at least when it comes to driving enjoyment. It has the lightweight sports car elements of the old cars, way better performance and creature comforts, and none of the complexity of the new. Some may prefer the new cars, of course, because everybody has their own priorities for what is important to them -- but I suspect nearly all of those who have not driven the right 996 have the wrong presumptions and don't know what they are missing.

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Plenty of reasonably priced 996's and 997's out there for now. Certain specs, lower miles, etc., are staring to command some pretty high prices compared to a few years ago, doubt prices will go backwards either. Just like other Porsche models could be bought for pennies on the dollar, pretty much all of those tunes changed over time, no more cheap 993's or 964's. There are many reasons to enjoy every iteration of 911, once you drive a 996 you'll see why so many of us actually prefer one, because of how it drives. Buy one before all the doubters finally wake up.

My barely organized thoughts on why a 996 is�: They�re just so much fun to drive! The 996 can thrill any driver of any level, even at something less than ludicrous speed. I haven�t experienced many cars that make me say, �I can�t believe this thing is 20 years old.� Modern rubber sure helps to keep 996 performance relevant. The other big deal for me is the plethora of information on how to maintain and repair a 996 of any flavor. Analog isn�t a bad thing for my binary mind and two-bit wallet. Shake a little of this, add a dash of that and anyone can transform their 996 into a whole lot of personalized, four wheel bliss for under $50,000. Every time I think about upgrading this or replacing that, I get in the dang thing and drive the snot out of it. Sure I�d like to plop some cash down on some bigger brakes and some Apex or E88 wheels. But, holy crap, the stock brakes are really, really good! The Carrera IIs are simple, elegant, strong and light. All-in-all the car is easy to work on. Probably too easy for upgrade money to go to waste because jail time waits for the feckless fool who regularly uses the car to full potential on the street as-is, even base models. Truth is, I also love the E46 M3 and 360 Modena. What a trio! If I ever put together a proper garage, I�d froth at the mouth to own one of each. For most of my life, 911s were made of Unobtanium. Now I drive one that makes me grin like I�m 16 riding shotgun in a 512 BB again. Bigger ain�t always better. If I didn�t drive a 996�

I'll bite. I'm not really the cars and coffee type. As someone who likes to drive on the track, a 996 is the 911 I can afford to put into a wall at the track and write it off.

One of the things I love about my 996 is the tightness of the entire car. Doors go "thunk" when you close them, on a bumpy road there is not one single rattle in a 19 year old car, the handling in a spirited drive on a twisty is excellent, the engine sounds on a hard acceleration are thrilling (and OEM exhausts), all the glass is crystal clear. My car has been well kept and obviously driven less at 41,xxx when I bought it last year. But it really does exude quality.

We need a new emoji of a fish hook reeling in, but this one will do.

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I'm learning this right now as well. I've had the car for less than two weeks now, and I still haven't come close to testing fully what it seems capable of doing. Bombing around the winding roads here and was caught off guard by a turn much tighter than I anticipated, had a brief moment of 'oh ****' as I hit the turn, and it flowed through it as if to mock me. "That all ya got?" All the thoughts of mods and upgrades I had prior to buying it seem gratuitous now. Maybe one day if I ever learn to push the envelope, but this is as quick and tight (and light) as I could have hoped for, even after spending a day driving a 997.2. It would just make getting arrested that much easier. Every day someone will gawk and remark they can't believe this is a 23 year old car. And every day I drive it, I think the same thing.

Ha, I had that once in my Boxster S. Came off a highway ramp and didn�t realize the ramp was a 160 degree turn to the right. I had to brake and turn, no choice, and the rear started to come around. Then the front started to push, and I was in a 4-wheel side. But the car was controllable, so I ended up sliding all the way through the turn. I probably looked like an a$$ to everyone else around me, but at least the car was communicating the way a really good car can. I didn�t realize the 996 does this as well. It�s really impressive the way the modern 911s handle, and even with that weight in the back, the car handles awesome when pushed too hard.

My top reasons for liking the 996 1. Bang for the buck. IMO lots of car for not a ton of money. 2. AC that actually works and blows cold. 3. Still very DIY friendly. Not much on the 996 that an average home mechanic cant handle. 4. Physical size. After the 996 the 911 just got too large for me. I have a Carerra 3.2 as well, and honestly I think aside from looks, my 996 blows it away across the board.

Noticed your location, thought I�d say hello from another 996 owner (relatively new, January 2022) in Ormond Beach. Love the car so far!

- As others have said the 996 is affordable to us less than wealthy types. - It has that analog feel that makes sports cars fun to drive and not just look at. Lots of these newer cars are so good they get boring. I also hate anything with a turbo, NA only for me. - They are easy to work on! Just buy a durametric and you can basically do everything yourself. - NO stupid electronics like all these new cars have. I hate touch screens, apps, power trunk latches, electronic steering, electronic e brake, start stop, the list goes on. I like simplicity! - Parts are not expensive for them. - I think they look amazing! That is just me though, to each their own.

because I'm poor and it was all I could afford

LOL Your statement is probably true for 70% of 996 owners Including my cheap azz HAHA

Amen, poor but nonetheless passionate about the brand and model.

I know several local guys who opted for a 996 and they're not poor by any stretch... the 30%. Two of them bought after driving mine but also having a pre 996 P cars, they didn't particularly like the 997.1 and felt anything after that is really Porsche in name. With that said, my good friend ended up with a very clean 997.1S and recognizes the analog coolness of the 996 but prefers the ride of the 997 which is something I completely understand.

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Poorer every week. Getting 200 dollared to death. Exchange rate and shipping to Canada stings! Hating to love my 996. Like the pretty girl you really, really, really should stay clear of�.if it wasn�t for that hour of fun now and then.

Then the condom breaks LOL 😂

In the end, it really comes down to why you purchased a 996. I wanted an air cooled. Never a targa, always a coupe. Being in Canada, limited selection, and I really wanted a speedo in km, not them american miles (lol). Finally just gave up and decided to go water pumper. I tried to like the 997.1. Outside looks great. I could not stand the inside of the 997. The completely outdated NAV with that stupid keypad for the phone, different grays and blacks. I like the plainness of interior of the 996. My car is black on black. Yeah, the plastic may look a little cheap but I still prefer it to the 997 interior. Liking air cooled, I find the 996 similar to early air cooled cars. I never wanted the whale wing or wide *** air cooled. I bought what I wanted. The 997.2 was just too modern for my tastes. To put it into perspective, I drive a jeep wrangler. Although loaded with every interior option, it is still quite plain. I'm not a "Porsche Poser." I'm actually embarrassed to drive a Porsche because others judge Porsche drivers as entitled a$$holes. I drive a Porsche because I fell in love with their looks at a young age and visiting Europe, 2 of my uncles had rear engined cars: Beetle and a Renault. I think the engine should always be in the rear. I still think one day I still may own an air cooled ..... Beetle. Unfortunately, many Porsche drivers buy a Porsche because it is a Porsche - a status symbol. Same thing has happened to the g-Wagon. I remember seeing civilian g-Wagons in the late 80's and thinking that would be the perfect vehicle for me since I do a lot of outdoor activities. Now it is the ultimate poser SUV. I also have alot of people ask me about driving a Jeep Wrangler. Again, 90% of people drive them for being a Jeep Wrangler. But big tires and lifts, yet never go off-road. My stock Jeep Wrangler goes off road regularly. Actually not to go off roading but rather to get to places to do a bunch of other activities.

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This was me too. I had an '05 Rubicon I loved, kept it stock, and loved bombing around the snowdrifts in MN when everyone else was stuck in their garages. Bought it new and never thought I'd ever sell it, but when we relocated to NW Illinois and I saw what the roads were like here, I sold it to put toward my Porsche Fund so I'd have enough for 997.2, plus a little extra for sorting (but not enough to replace a failed PDK). I also fell in love with the early air-cooled for how light and nimble they were, and though I had my heart (and funds) set on a 997.2, I couldn't resist pulling the trigger when a chance at an early build 996 in my specs came up after reading more and more about them. I can say it really has been much truer than the 997.2 to the feel of those early 911s I remember driving, and I just love how simple and analog and compact it all looks and feels. Maybe if I was trying to impress the country club crowd a newer 911 could have made more sense, but no one here would know the difference between a 996 and a 991, and it's strictly between me and the Long and Winding Roads. For this, light and nimble rules. Zero second thoughts. And funny you mention finding a Canadian spec 911. Mine is a Canadian spec 996, and I no longer mind that the speedo and water temp (and probably oil level) are all metric. At first I thought I'd look into getting the dials swapped to US standard, but three weeks in and I no longer care. I get a MPH digital speedo under the tach, which is good enough me.

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I live in a very car hobby neighbourhood surprisingly. I walk my dog quite a bit and there are so many cars under blankets. At least 10 911's within a 5 minute walk from all generations. I had a corvette driver stop by as I was washing my 911. He thought it was a 2016 lol. I'm even thinking of having a porsche get together right on my street since I have had the opportunity to meet many of them.

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Ummmmm PLEASE, anyone, correct me if my understanding is wrong, BUT..... there HAVE NEVER been "air cooled cars (READ: 911s)", they were like Suzuki early model GSX-Rs, with SACS technology they borrowed from Porsche "Suzuki Advanced Cooling System" with air and oil cooling engines. VW Bugs were air-cooled cars, NOT Porsche 911s before 1999. Pre-1999 they're ALL oil-cooled 911s... now idk but I think the 924 is also oil-cooled not "air-cooled"?!

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I had a GSX1100R back when they first came out. With oil cooling sacs. Never new it was 'borrowed' tech from Porsche. lol. thanks for sharing that info... interesting Loved That GSXR1100, it was a beast. Ran like a raped ape, and you sat ' in ' the bike not on top like most all others... making knee dragging handling confidence inspiring. Won many races on that bike.

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Yes, remember though the 1988 and 1989 models were called "Slingshots" easy to flip shifting linkage for reverse "GP-shifting" and BECAUSE of SACS, the 5-spd "Gixxer 1100" weighed 434 lbs, and the 6-spd 750 weighed 429 lbs, whereby my Hurricane 600 weighed 397 lbs with 87 hp!!! whereas the Slingshots had 125/112 hp!!! When they went the way of the 996 with water-cooling, they gained only 6/18 hp along with 30/29 lbs!!! HOWEVER, they Dyno'd at end of 45 minutes race, a LOT closer to "cold" bhp versus the heat sinking SACS bikes. ALSO, they lessened the front rake, a lot fewer crashes on both street and track, but, not too dissimilar to our 996, a LOT hated the new looks and heavier weight...... UNTIL Mat Mladin joined Suzuki and then Ben Spies. So there's a lot of parallels here between the GSX-R and the Porsche 911!!! But they (Suzuki) went from having Schwantz in AMA, to Lawson and Polen then Scott Russell and DuHamel all on other Makes, and it made a lot of Suzuki diehard fans extremely angry!!! But one thing to always remember, most folks forget about F-USA and Editor John Ulrich's DOMINANT Team Hammer and ultimate domination those same said years, otherwise Suzuki in America may have died?! Ps never let anyone forget the 1100 had 5-spd, and 750 had 6-spd!!! What's quite interesting, looking up 1992 AMA race results, my 1997 CBR600 F3 race bike, with only 97.3 rwhp, in 2015 at club level racing, was FASTER lap times at Texas World Speedway, by a bit, then the winner was on a 750cc race bike getting paid millions/yr LOL in other words, the tire technology from 1992 till 2015 was ASTRONOMICAL in advances!!! My friend and coach, 6 yrs earlier, Ty Howard's forever fastest lap record at TWS, on a 2009 KTM RC8R 1190 V-Twin, averaged more than 24 mph FASTER lap speed than that AMA winner did back in 1992!!! BACK to the 996, it is the essential 911 to own IF you're a true driver and want smiles for miles!!! If you just want to LOOK like you can drive, get newer models, IF you want to have needless repairs or upkeep gallore, have an oil-cooled 911?! But for me, I LOVED my Arena Red 1999 996 water-cooled 911, 6-spd with short-throw shifter, stiffer clutch and sports exhaust WITHOUT civilized button installed LOL

Quotes source post: 19301508

On a higher level of Physics, I would argue that all road going 911 engines are actually "air cooled" meaning the "AMBIENT AIR" is the actual source of cooling, even when the medium liquid to transfer the heat from the engine to AIR is either oil or water...or just air to air ... I would argue that the only "TRUE WATER COOLED ENGINES " are Marine engines that operate in a body of water ie. LAKE,RIVER,OCEAN, which is the main source of cooling/heat transfer ... I think it is important to remember the original/main source for cooling/heat transfer.. That can be argued on the different levels, but to correct the 924 statement on the lower level of physics,( splitting hairs) , the 924 engine would be considered a "water cooled" engine not "oil cooled"...

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Good to know on the 924, it was told me, that untruth, by a mail man who said their mail jeeps used the Porsche 924 engine?! But isn't it technically a VW/Audi engine the 924 actually uses?! But I had always wondered how an oil cooled engine could handle all that stop and go?! As for the "higher level of physics" you'd lose that argument quickly, first off, when the Porsche is initially started, one would correctly argue that it's "air warming" at that stage.... so you cannot argue that all are air-cooled when in fact the air is not necessarily cooling anything?! Also, start a pre-1999 Porsche 911, and just let it sit there with full tank of gas, eventually it'll overheat and stop?! See how physics works??? But one does appreciate the attempt at levity, assuming that's TRULY what you were going for, and for that I thank you.

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Just so you know, Porschetech3 is in the top 0.1% of Porsche gurus on this forum. Anyway, oil, air, water, doesn�t matter. Almost all 4-cycle gas-powered ICE engines use oil to transfer heat away from some critical components (piston squirters to name one, bearing surfaces to name another). And then after that, regardless of if there�s an air-to-water heat exchanger or not, water-to-water in between, in the end, they use air to finally remove the heat. Don�t overthink it. Yes, idling any 911 could result in over temp if the fans don�t provide enough airflow, the fans are broken, etc., and that especially includes the 996 and some prior models as well. Many 996 owners have posted about rising engine temps in stop and go traffic. The main reason for this is simply airflow (not enough).

Quotes source posts: 19303526, 19303652

The 924 engine was a VW/Audi engine and used as a joint venture under contract as the last joint project of the contract between Porsche and VW/Audi ...The cylinder head was a Porsche design, and Audi discontinued the engine in 1985 and Porsche used a "de-tuned" 944 engine in the 924... I don't think I would lose that argument, because in true physics, "cooling" or "cold" is a misnomer. The correct term is simply" heat transfer". You cannot make cold or add coolness, you can only extract heat/transfer heat.. All road going ICE vehicles transfer heat to AIR, whether it goes directly to air or goes to oil or water before it goes to AIR... Marine ICE vessels transfer heat to WATER... I think it is important to remember due to M96 engines are designed to be as light/efficient as possible with the heat transfer that is not over designed, and a major cause of rod bearing failure is thermal runaway...

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Two of the highest recommended/renown Porsche specialty shops in the Mid-west both drove my 996 and diagnosed my issues with a recommendation to replace or rebuild the transmission. Porschetech3 heard my description and said, "It sounds as if might be the valve body." It was the valve body.

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Actually, in the case of the 996, it's usually leaves

I owned a air cooled and had to go water cooled....Plus Gone in 60 seconds made me want a 996, I ended getting a 996.2 Targa

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Not to revive an old thread but does anyone know if this is real/how it was done? Looks killer!

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Its not real, I wish it was! would 100% do that

Nice Photoshop work on that photo, but I honestly prefer the original 996.1 lights (especially the all white flavors) over the ovals (despite the improved blending via Photoshop).

Everybody likes the 996 because it has good lines, has suberb handling, more power than you need for the street and it's aged extremely well. You can dress it up with 996 aero, you can dress it down without, and you can even cross dress it if you are into that stuff with non 996 parts just like the picture shows and it still looks good. All for a good price.

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Have to agree with this. Yes the design makes the car still look current or almost new. But the main thing is somehow the 996 has much higher quality build and materials than the earlier cars. I drove a 911SC for 11 years, and a 968 for about 14 years. And the interior on both of the cars was so much worse the the 996: the door cards sagged just by looking at them, the carpets started looking bad even in places that weren't used, dash cracks, seat leather got rash and splits much easier, etc. When we see 996s for sale or in person, if they have had some basic care, they still look like new - after more than 20 years.