6 months with a 996

The 996 is widely seen as the least desirable 911 to own.

In the 911 canon it commits heresy because it dares to be water cooled.

Yet all 911s since 1998 have been water cooled so that is no longer an oddity.
Engine problems have been widely over emphasised and the backing of a warranty from a Porsche specialist means that peace of mind is available.
Alternatively, there are fixes available for the infamous IMS bearing.

Price is a factor firmly in favour of this particular 911.
Yet no 911 is a cheap car.
The 911 I bought last July is a 2003 Carrera which is still worth a third of its value when it was new.
In comparison the BMW 3 series it replaced ,also a 2003 model, fetched an eighth of its new value.

Yet air cooled 911’s trade for many times their original value.
I used to own a 993C2S. I bought it for £36000 in 2004 and sold it for £24,000 in 2009.
I recently saw an identical model, with 100,000 miles on the clock for £55000.

So if you want a relatively affordable 911 then your choice is limited to a 996.
So ,after six months, what is it like to run a 996 as an everyday car.

DRIVING. PLEASURE

This is a genuine 911.
It grips like no other car.
It picks up with ferocity when required and the dashboard and looks are pure 911.

I personally think that the fried egg headlights now look rather good.

Compared to the 991 this is a much smaller car which makes it nimble and agile.
When you are stuck in urban traffic then the cars manners are impeccable .
It will sooth but will also pick up the sporting mantle when required.
My 993 was even smaller and during torrential rain ,on the M25 it had to be driven at low speed because it was impossible to see through the spray.
The 996, on the other hand, can still be driven at motorway speeds in those conditions.

RELIABILITY

This is a thirteen year old car so one might expect one or two foibles.
When I purchased the car,a solenoid for the bonnet needed replacing and a small misfire needed to be sorted out.
Since then the only other expense has been for a new battery.

Running costs are reasonable.
Insurance for the year is £600.
Depreciation is not an issue.
However,the car is not parsimonious.
It does 18 mpg around town and 28mpg on the open road .
I will report back on servicing costs once it is serviced at the end of the month.

OWNERSHIP
I am smitten with my 996.
It turns every drive into an occasion.
It fits a weekly shop and will carry enough bags for a weekend getaway.
The kids fit in the back and love the car as much as I do .
In conclusion this is the ideal tonic for a mid life crisis!
Highly recommended!