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YOUR RESEARCH996 X51 or anniversary targa - does it exist?
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Replace later
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That does not mean there was not one out there that was swapped later.
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But the order guide for the 2004 targa does show X51 as an option, so there are probably a few out there at least.
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I'm in the market for a 996 targa, and if I found an X51 or anniversary edition, I'd be willing to pay a bit more than for the standard car. But I'm wondering if they exist at all, or are so rare that it makes no sense to wait for one to go on sale.
Anyone know if such cars exist, and if so, if they exist in any reasonable numbers?
Thanks for any insight into this!
X51 was a pretty rare option, largely because it had a $14,000 price tag and only bumped 25HP (vs a 60HP bump with the GT3 and a 95HP bump with the Turbo)
My guess is that the few buyers interested in ponying up that kind of cash for a slight increase in performance were probably not-so-interested in the targa's extra weight and top-heaviness... But the order guide for the 2004 targa does show X51 as an option, so there are probably a few out there at least.
Pretty sure the anniversary editions came in coupe only.
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As a side note, the only X51 optioned car I looked at during my search last year also had a factory aero kit. I wasn't interested in the car as it had major body and frame work done, but at a combined original cost of $22K just for those two options, why would any original purchaser go that route instead of just bumping up to a GT3 for another $10K more? Yummy dry-sump bulletproof motor, big brakes, LSD, adjustable suspension, a heaping helping of coolness, etc.
Answers:
1. 40th Anniversary Jahre Edition are all coupes and all are X51. Very few options like power seats and PCM. Sport Seats with PCM seems to be very rare as most sport seat cars don't have nav and most power seat cars do.
2. You did not ask about transmission, but all X51 cars are manuals. It was not available with a tip.
3. To my knowledge, no one ever ordered an X51 engine on a Targa from the factory. The most common cars I've seen with the X51 option skipping the 40th Jahre is a C4S coupe. I have seen a few and a couple C2S coupes. That does not mean there was not one out there that was swapped later.
4. Excluding the 40th Jahre, there were less than 100 X51 option cars in the US. They are rare, period. If you find one, expect to $5-7K more. Just looking for a 40th Jahre would be your best option as it already has the most desirable options: X51, sports suspension, 18" wheels, full leather, etc. They in addition came with a limited slip that was not available if you just found a X51 option car. 40th Jahres are also holding their value now pretty well.
40th AE is my vote, but I'm partial of course. There are only 1953 examples worldwide, but I have seen roughly 6 bought/sold on this board alone in last 6 months... so they do turn. I'll sell mine as soon as I get my cousin's 2007 GT3 RS when he's ready to move up... it will be for sale then if you want to wait... ha!
Hmmm.... are you sure? Based on my research a while ago, I saw some 40th Anniversary cars that DID NOT have the sport exhaust (as part of the hood sticker). And from RL, there are factory X51's C4S' that DID NOT come with the sport exhaust as per the hood sticker.
I am corrected. I have the 2004 911 Brochure and the 40th Jahre order guide and went back through them. PSE was only standard on the 40th Jahre and a separate option from the X51 engine option on other models. Same if you ordered an X51 engine upgrade kit from the Techequipe catalog. Here is the info on the Jahre:
Base price of the Jahre was $89,800
Unique standard features were:
- GT Silver Exterior Color
- X51 engine with sport exhaust
- 6-sp manual only
- Sport chassis
- Mechanical LSD
- Polished 18" 5-spoke wheels
- PSM
- Enlarge front cooling openings (i.e. C4S front bumper)
- Aero Package Rocker Extensions
- Special Anniversary Badging
- Natural Gray full leather interior
- Aluminum Gauge Rings
- GT Silver Painted Center Console, Seat Backs, Parking Brake and Dash Strips
- Heated Sport Seats
- Bi-xenon headlights
Here is the full list of options that were available on the 40th Jahre:
- Rear Window Wiper $345
- Bose Stereo $795 (Sound plus was standard)
- Remote CD Change $715
- Natural Gray Floor Mats $115
- Power Comfort Seats with Memory $1550
- PCM $2680
Here is a good page with an overview on the 40th Jahre:
http://www.etusivu.info/Porsche-911-...nniversary.htm
One other interesting thing is the curb weight of a C4S Coupe is 276 lbs heavier than a comparable C2 Coupe. A C4S with an X51 engine only has the same performance figures as a regular 3.6l 320 hp C2 as a result. Because of the lighter weight and the additional equipment, my vote would be to look for a Jahre if focusing on an X51 car.
There are a few errors in that description... "Engine Type: Naturally Aspirated, Air Cooled, Flat 6 Cylinder"
My 40AE has all options except rear wiper... there is no sport exhaust button on the dash anywhere and the mufflers sound the same as my friends C2 with standard exhaust... just sayin!
I stand corrected... 1963 examples produced for world-wide distribution.
2nd fastest naturally aspirated 911 after GT3 at the time was cool! And only a hair over 3000 lbs... man I love this car! The matching luggage is a nice touch too!
I have one and its for sale. New X51 engine installed in Feb2011, has 28k miles on new engine, 76k on the car. Fab speed exhaust and tips, K&N intake, 2010 sport rims. Asking $34,000
There was no C2S variant of the 996.
Also, early 996 MK II cars equipped with factory sport exhaust didn't have a button on the dash to control it. I'm not sure if this is the case for the 40th anniversary cars, but I know it's true for some C4S cars.
The 40ae option list makes me so mad. Mine has every option, I'm sure because the original owner figured moar is better. Wish I wasn't racing with the miserable comfort seats and the weight of the rear wiper and the useless cd changer. I do like the PCM though. Car weighs 3197 with about half a tank of gas and no driver.
