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 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, with 5,152 of them being Targas.

History File

Presented to you at the Car Farm is a 2002 Porsche 996.2 Targa, finished in Arctic Silver Metallic, it is an original Jebsen Motors (Porsche Centre Hong Kong) vehicle. This example has been kept in full original condition with no modifications. The keeper reports that the Targa glass roof retracting function has stopped at the end of 2022, however the electronic shade works as it should. There is an engine code light that appears – the keeper has checked with their mechanic and confirms that there no engine or transmission issues, the cause of the engine warning light is a worn out sensor. This Targa has been maintained by a specialist garage in North Point with no accidents to report of. There are 4 previous owners, a current mileage of 113,555km and although the current road license is expired, the keeper will extend for another quarter.

Exterior

The Arctic Silver Metallic paint on this example is in overall good condition, as observed from the amount of light which reflects off of its body. As expected from a car of this age, there are minor imperfections on its body, as observed on the right hand side corner of the front bumper, stone chips across its front, on the side mirrors and door handles. There is a minor marking on the left fender of the rear bonnet – a good amount of TLC can rectify any of the minor visual imperfections. All of the body panels remain aligned and straight, with no signs of body panel gap. The factory original Porsche wheels display minor signs of kerb rash and patina on the (Carrera 4) wheel centre caps – none of which affect its ability to perform – please note despite the wheel centre caps – this 996.2 Targa is based on the Carrera 2 and is two-wheel drive. The surrounding window trim is in good condition – showing no signs of brittleness or fade. The lift back glass opens and closes as it should, enabling occupants to access approximately 230 litres of storage in the rear compartment.

Interior and Trim

Open up the doors of this 996.2 Targa, we are greeted with a fully original interior – including the factory original stereo head unit with cassette tape and CD included. All of the buttons are working as they should, with clear visibility of their text and icons, including the climate control system with digital display. The steering wheel and Tiptronic gear shift selector are in good condition, display minor signs of wear in the form of scratches, which are expected of a car of this age and through organic usage. Both of the front seats remain supportive and electronic adjustments work as they should, with the driver’s side showing  minor signs of wear, as observed on the outer side bolsters, and small tear on the bottom half of the seat connecting to the outer bolster – a similar but smaller tear observed on the same section on the passenger’s seat. The door sill plates remain in great shape, bearing the ‘Targa’ logo with minimal signs of scratches. The rear seats show little to no signs of usage, and fold down in a smooth manner. The door panels remain tightly secured to the door, with integrated side airbags.

Engine and Running Gear

At the turn of the key, the 3.6L M96 engine awakens with no hesitation – greeting us to the signature sounds of the flat-six with a steady idle. Engage to ‘D’ and the Targa sets off in a very smooth manner, including its (automatic and manual) gear changes which are responsive. Steering was agile with plenty of feedback and communication between the driver and this Targa – along with the brakes providing ample of stopping power. The overall driving experience was similar to a 996.2 Carrera 2, with the addition of the Targa top – brightening up the cabin space. The ride remained planted, with the majority of the weight felt at the rear. The engine was responsive and was eager to be revved across its whole RPM range. Here is the opportunity to take home a rare iteration of the 996 generation 911 – 1 of 5,152 Targas ever produced worldwide, now available to you at the Car Farm!

Buyer’s Premium:

5% of Winning Bid

(Minimum – HKD8,000.00)

(Maximum – HKD50,000.00)