Description

Model History

Launched in 1998, the 996 generation of the Porsche 911 aimed to bring the 911 platform into the modern millennia  – with a larger body, stronger steel used to reinforce the chassis and body shell, and moving the side mirrors to a fixed position. Models could either come with a 6-Speed manual transmission or an optional 5-Speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. Upon its debut at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show though, Porsche purists were enraged by Porsche’s decision to break tradition and, to the ire of some purists, take the soul out of the 911 – by replacing the air-cooled engine for a water-cooled engine to make the 911 more economical and to meet modern emission standards. Further dividing 911 fans was the new headlight design – which departed from the classic circular lens design to headlights that resembled a pair of fried eggs, leading to their aforementioned nickname within the Porsche community. As with any member of the 911 range, multiple versions of the 996 were made available during its production run. From a more powerful Turbo model to lightweight 911 GT3 and GT3RS models, the divisive looks and powertrain choice of the 996 did not affect this iteration selling over 175,000 units between 1997 to 2006.

History File

This is a 2000 Porsche 996.1 Carrera 2 Cabriolet, finished in Dark Blue with a Grey interior. This is an original Jebsen (Porsche Hong Kong) car. The only non-original modification done to this 996 Cabriolet is a Clarion touchscreen head unit – the rest of the interior, exterior, and drivetrain has remained untouched. As reported by the current keeper, the hardtop roof currently installed on this 996 Cabriolet is a fixed unit – to remove it requires the entire roof to be lifted up manually, though as they don’t drive with the roof exposed, they state this does not affect the normal use of the car. They also report the original soft top roof has been kept with this Cabriolet.

A partial service record on this Porsche includes the following – sometime in 2022, the current keeper had the car’s computer system replaced to resolve random warning lights that appeared on the instrument cluster (even though no faults were found mechanically) as well as ensuring it passed its latest MOT inspection. They also report regular fluid/oil changes have been performed under their ownership, and have replaced both door locks.

Imperfections to note on this car include the following: a subtle portion of bubbling is present on the top of the passenger side door (on the portion between the door panel), some visible kerb rash is present on the rear passenger side alloy wheel, and a squeak from the front underside can be heard – the cause is unknown. In addition, the current keeper reports that a fault is present with one of the rear windows – at times, it does not raise up after it has been fully lowered.

This 996.1 Carrera 2 Cabriolet has had 5 previous owners and has a current mileage of 54,872 km. Please note the current road licence has expired as of 15th February, 2023.

Exterior

Visual inspection found the Dark Blue paint finish to be in great condition on all of the body panels – as noted on inspection, some surface bubbling was found on the tip portion of the passenger side door (near the middlemost portion, next to the rubber window trim), but the rest of the body panels are free of any major surface blemishes or imperfections. Both the front and rear bumpers and side portions are free of any major imperfections. The hardtop roof is fully intact on all of its portions and insulates the inside cabin well. The headlights, tail lights, and side markers illuminate normally. The front trunk and rear engine cover open without any squeaks or difficulty and shut solidly – we also observed none of the latches or door hinges had any visible corrosion. All of the exterior Porsche badges are present – the surfaces of the ‘Carrera’ and Porsche badge on the front cargo lid do display some surface tiredness from natural age, but can benefit from fresh units if desired to restore their original appearance. As previously noted, some visible kerb rash is present on the rear right side alloy wheel, but these can be resolved with a wheel refurbishment to restore their original appearance – the rest of the 18” Turbo (I) alloy wheels are free of any surface imperfections.

Interior and Trim

An early 2000s-era Porsche interior greets the occupants of this 996 Cabriolet. Both front and rear leather seats finished in Grey upholstery remain firm and supportive of the occupants, with only the slightest of creases visible from regular use. All portions of the dashboard are fully intact with no serious wear observed on the leather or plastic surfaces. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob are still in great condition with no upholstery having peeled away. Both side door sills are still intact with no serious scuff marks visible; the same goes for the leather side door panels. All of the switchgear and buttons feel solid and do not stick. The touchscreen Clarion head unit and all of its functions operate normally. The LCD display for the air-conditioning system is clear to read with no missing pixels – the same applies to the LCD display in the instrument cluster.

Engine and Running Gear 

Starting up the 3.4L water-cooled flat-six engine is an effortless experience, with the strong note of the naturally aspirated engine clearly audible with no smoke from the exhaust tips observed. As reported by the current keeper, this Porsche is excellent to drive and has no mechanical issues to note of – the keeper remarks that this Porsche is a great sports car setup to be used and enjoyed every day. Power delivery from the flat-six engine is smooth across the rev range. The Tiptronic automatic transmission changes gear swiftly and smoothly in both automatic mode and when changed manually via the steering wheel-mounted controls. While the unidentified squeak from the front undercarriage can be heard when this car goes over imperfections in the road, this does not affect the normal driving experience of this Porsche cabriolet – the steering relays plenty of feedback to the driver and the ride offers the perfect balance of both a comfortable cruiser and engaging Porsche sports car.  The brakes provide plenty of stopping power to bring this Porsche to a halt. This 996.1 Cabriolet features a specially designed hardtop roof and is the perfect option for those wanting both the open-top driving experience of a 996-generation Porsche 911 when the weather is just right, as well as the added security of a fixed-hardtop for other occasions- now available at the Car Farm.

Buyer’s Premium:

5% of Winning Bid

(Minimum – HKD8,000.00)

(Maximum – HKD50,000.00)