The Porsche 911 turned 50 last year, prompting us to reflect back on the incredible innovations and design risks the car has brought about since its conception in 1963. The rear-engine design, horizontally-opposed flat-six power plant, and sumptuous fastback styling haven’t changed since, and elements of the original 1960’s 911s still shine through in today’s highly advanced 991. For those of us looking to experience a bit of the Porsche legacy without the $150,000 plus price tag, consider this 1999 996 variant 911 for sale on Craigslist in Oconee County, Georgia.
An original, 1-owner 996 with 34,100 miles from new, this 911 is likely one of the most looked-after 911s from the era. The owner claims that the car has been, “always garaged, Porsche serviced, Mobil 1 every 3-5K, hand washed.” The engine compartment, interior, and exterior paint look to be in showroom condition, and the car’s Michelin Pilots look to have 90% tread or higher. Most importantly, however, is that this example is equipped with the purist 6-speed manual transmission rather than the problematic Tiptronic unit that Porsche produced at the time. In a world where manual transmissions are quickly disappearing at the hands of DCTs, the driver connection that this 911 will offer is attractive.
The 996 represents the first model of 911 that included water-cooled technology, a switch that elicited a huge uproar amongst Porsche purists worldwide. The shift, however, allowed for decreased emissions and engine noise while offering a larger performance potential. This particular 996, being a model year 1999, is the first year of 996 production after the switch from the 993–in addition, being a Carrera 2 model, this car is the most bare-bones 911 offered by Porsche at the time. As a result, its curb weight is just over 2,900 pounds, a figure that should make for a tossable ride when paired with its 296 horsepower 3.4-liter H-6.
The 996 body style continued to be successful throughout its life cycle, with this body style being the basis for the famous 996 GT3, Turbo, and Turbo S–the Turbo S sported a 450 horsepower 3.6-liter H-6 and carbon ceramic brakes. The 996 and its variations catapulted Porsche and its 911 into supercar territory, where the company has remained since, releasing most recently the 560 horsepower 991 Turbo S.
This clean, no-stories, meticulously-maintained 996 is a beautiful example of the simplicity and driver connection of the Porsche brand. And at just $26,900, this 911 is well in reach of anyone looking to introduce themselves into the Porsche lifestyle.
Please enjoy this TFLcar.com video review of the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S.
Frank caught automotive fever early in life. Hailing from a long line of car fanatics, he was able to recite the year and model of every car that passed him by age five. His passion and love for the automobile have only grown since then. When not thinking about cars, he is reading, writing, learning, or dreaming about them. His area of expertise is in the realm of German and Italian cars, of which Porsche is a favorite. Frank currently resides in the heart of NASCAR country in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his family. He enjoys driving exotic cars in the beautiful Carolina weather.
