History of the 1998 - 2001 Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 996 Carrera 2 coupe was in production from 1999 until 2001 and is a rear-engine, two-door, four-seater car, although in typical 911 style the legroom in the rear seats is minimal.
When Porsche created the 996 Carrera 2, fans of the German manufacturer were skeptical due to the fact it was the first of the 911s to have ditched air cooling for water cooling.
The Porsche 911 996 Carrera 2 features a flat six 3.6-litre engine with 320 horsepower. When new, the price began at around £18,000. Finding one to purchase is a much easier task than with other 911s as it was not especially popular when produced.
The 996 Carrera 2 is responsive and adaptable to drive with good grip in acceleration and is good to drive on-track. It dedicates to provide a pleasurable driving experience, it boasts good fuel consumption, and its suspension is firm yet comfortable enough for daily use. One of the bonuses of this car is its flexibility. It’s just as at home on the road as it is on the track. However, it can suffer from problems with understeer due to the weight of the engine in the rear of the car.
It is recommended you take precautions when looking to buy and that you choose one with a clear past as damage or problems to the 996 Carrera 2 can result in you paying a lot of money to repair and reliability can be random. There have been reports of weak clutches on 996 Carrera 2s (even with low mileage) and concerns of reliability when reaching 62,000 miles. Parts can be difficult to come by online, however it is possible to find some out there.
The Porsche 911 996 Carrera 2 shows good value for money and is a real alternative for Porsche enthusiasts looking for something less than 20 years old.
Similar cars in the 996 market include the 911 996 GT3 Mk1, the 911 996 GT3 MK2, the 911 996 GT2, and the 911 996 GT3 RS.