A couple of things to add/clarify! 1. Sorry, yes I got distracted halfway through my review of the brakes and forgot to finish my point after a little blast! Specifically, where I felt there was room for improvement! The first time I drove the car (hard) I noticed that the brakes, whilst plenty capable, required quite a hefty stab of the pedal whilst many other cars appear to brake harder and sooner in the first half of the pedal travel. What's interesting now is that long term owners are pointing out that they're simply not over-servo'd like modern cars and that actually with spirited driving they give you more granular control. Funny how my only criticism might in fact play as a strength 😂 Secondly, most likely down to these particular pads/discs I'm assuming, I just found the brakes overheated and lost their effectiveness far more quickly than I'd have expected, but it was during a very enthusiastic drive. I didn't do the best job of explaining that, I do apologise! They're very capable but perhaps take getting used to rather than having instinctive pressure and for longer stints of enthusiastic drives could do with decent pads. 2. No one has commented about this but just so I've added clarity to the early budget section - I wouldn't say you need to have £15k+ ready for a total maintenance budget when you buy a 996 but it's more to indicate that 'cheap' 911s near the entry point will likely require a large number of these and it demonstrates why it's worth investing in those near the 20k end with lots of thorough maintenance. But also, as Tom has demonstrated, even with a nice 19k example be ready for large annual spends to give these the love they deserve. They're absolutely worth it, just save up more than you'd think first and choose wisely! Thanks for all the appreciation and kind words; credit and my own thanks go to @purple-porker-productions as an Assistant Editor for helping me with a good chunk of the groundwork of the edits! Thanks for helping keep up the regular output!
Lovely review! Have a 996.2, done 8 track days last two seasons, and brakes hold up just fine, zero fade, provided you got all, and I do mean all the right parts fitted. Overheating is most likely caused by el cheapo pads
I can give you plenty of advise on these, I had a carrera 2 which was mint, that I sold for £24k I now have a 996 turbo, I have spent £24k on maintenance and upgrades, they can get expensive. I spent that in a year
Great review Jimmy! One point on the brakes - 996s need a right old shove (which feels strange compared to overservoed modern cars) but they’ve got plenty of braking power when you do. Why? It’s to give you more braking modulation between (say) 60% and 80% of total braking power when you’re properly on it. Modern cars give you 90% of the total braking power in 10% of the travel. Makes them feel like they have good brakes but try to modulate them at those higher levels and then suddenly your pedal and control weights are all very inconsistent. But Porsche know the cars have to be set up to drive right when you’re properly ragging them - and THAT is the default setting. Pretty cool if you ask me 👍😄
Ahhhh that explains it, thank you very much! Without knowing that, they instinctively feel weak in the first half of the pedal travel! I also found they got hot pretty quickly and lost their effectiveness, which slightly tempered my confidence but I am aware that it's more likely down to the specific pads and likely aftermarket discs being used on a 21 year old car at this point!
@@petrolpoodleMight also be a tired master cylinder or old fluid. Common mod on these is to fit the GT3 master cylinder which means braking power holds up really well. Never noticed any fade at all in mine!
996.2 Targa owner here. I loved your commentary and you are spot on. Important bit is to check the history, and there is no way around maintenance cost. I own a 21 Lotus Evora GT as well, they are both fun in different ways. Any Porsche thats 20+ yrs old will need repair, and 996 is no exception. I daily my 996 and use the Evora for track mainly. If you can keep some money set aside for maintenance, it's a wonderful way to experience a 911.
Great perspective and I agree with the bulk of your observations. I've had my 01 C2 since new. At the time, my sons were six and eight and I took them for a drive in it the first day. From time to time they've already been driving it now for years. Bigger challenge may be figuring out which one of them gets it when I'm too far gone. Yeah, other 911s might be faster, more powerful, newer, or more desirable and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't lusted after a speed yellow 997 GT3, but I still smile every time I see it in my garage, let alone drive it. It's been well maintained and now I'm enjoying doing that part myself. Ironically, it's one of the lightest 911s which contributes to it feeling so nimble.
Thank you and I'm glad to hear I've got the majority of my observations right or in the right park! I would love to see an 01 C2 sat in my garage, I'm glad it's still making you smile 23 years later!
Love how you have the microphone on the exhaust, it makes the driving sequences more fun to watch. For me sound is almost 50% of the car experience and I enjoy your way of bringing it through your films :) Also, that bit about the maintenance costs at the start of film was good. All car films should start that way. A dose of realism!
Thank you so much, this comment means a lot! And I totally agree re: the sound, I wish it was something I'd worked out sooner in my videography journey/this channel alongside. I spent effort getting my microphone + EQing right for my talking segments and didn't think to take the extra time to mic up the car properly!
Thanks for this 996 review. Ive watched them all on UA-cam as I’m in the market for one in a short while. I always make a bee line for your reviews on any car. You have a great way of putting things across and which resonates with me. Your my favourite reviewer on UA-cam and I wish you the best. I’m sure you will do well.
Thank you SO much. This is one of my favourite comments I can remember reading, just really delightful and one of the rare ones I read aloud to my girlfriend. I really appreciate it and I'm so glad to be able to help/provide some entertainment I hope!
Great cars. Loved my 996.2 C2 but as we’re all saying, a big bill is never that far away, and that does have an impact on the ownership experience. After a couple of years I swapped for a spotless 1999 Impreza Turbo, kept it standard looking but put a hybrid turbo (325hp), a few suspension tweaks and better brakes - probably more fun to drive and far cheaper to maintain.
Ohhhh my lord what a superb choice! I grew up with my dad owning a '95 WRX and a '99 WRX STI Version V that was imported from Japan! 300bhp or so! I just adored those cars, they're still timelessly stunning today. How has yours been? If you ever want to see it on the channel, I'd be thrilled to give it the justice it deserves! petrolpoodle@gmail.com
Having sat as a passenger in this car, I can say I've not stopped thinking about it for months. The noise and sensation of speed was incredible. Good points on the Non-RMS IMS Bore scoring side of ownership too! Needs patience and budget to get the most out of these. Still want one!
Good points and good order of things from a car enthusiast’s perspective. These superb driving experiences are becoming rare in light of repair/maintenance frequency and costs as it takes away from the experience, but unmatched by artificial dynamics on offer today.
I bought a 01 996 C2 for $17k a couple months ago with about 124k miles on it. Well maintained, but already have about $10k earmarked to spend on it. That said, for $27k it will be mechanically sound (for a while) and in great condition. Best value around for a car of this caliber.
Great review! Spot on. You need cash aside for these cars. My 996.2 C2 manual is sublime but put money on it. New coilovers takes it to new heights. But there is also no substitute. Had a Cayman S -06 before which I tracked. Lots of fun but the rear weight in the 911 makes you drive/steer it with the gas, just addictive. The 996 generation is also, for me, the sweet spot in the 911 range. 997 and on is getting too modern. And the 996 drives miles better than the 993. Also like the gen 2 headlights and also the quirky interior, which means I can use my old CD:s again 😅 A keeper for sure. Just put the money on it that it deserves!
Well it’s Boxster every time for me as I love convertibles and I have recently bought my fourth, a 987.1 S with low miles in my favourite colour Cobalt Blue.
Thanks very much mate, it's always a bit nervewracking to make statements about people's pride and joys hoping you've definitely got the right grasp of the car! So this comes as a very welcomed comment!
Fantastic review, brilliant cinematography befitting a much much larger channel and well constructed. Lovely blend of humble, old school youtube with modern production. Very chill and I'm always happy to see one of your videos pop up! As much of a image rehab as the 996 has gone through, I feel like I'd struggle to justify a leggy 996 over waiting a bit longer on a 997. If you can't afford the jump in price from 996 to 997.... it's not that you can't afford the maintenance (on either of them) so much as it'll be expensive enough to create a pit of dread every time a mechanic is looking at the car. I was weighing one up before I settled on my Abarth 124 - but a sorted 997 definitely remains on the driveway bucket list for me. Like you said, if the budget forces you into a 996, I'd probably be looking outside of 911s. As an aside, that head-unit's massive Porsche logo wallpaper is certainly a choice. 🙈
This is one of my favourite comments I've read in a while, thank you so much my friend. Means a lot! Ooooo the Abarth 124, I bet that's brilliant fun! I've driven an ND MX-5 but not the Abarth! What's your review of it and your ownership experience so far?
Nice comments. As for 911s. I seem to lust after a 996 over a 997, knowing the later is a better car. One day I'll have a C4S or at the very least an aerokitted 3.4
@@petrolpoodle hilarious. I test drove both but the abarth had softened off on values enough that the main knock on it new (being a lot of money for an mx5) didn't really apply, and really it just feels a whole lot more special. sounds and (imo) looks better, and corners much flatter. Don't think anything modern sub 20k gets as much positive reaction from as wide a range of people, without making some serious concessions on usability/reliability. Overhearing a 5 year old at a traffic light tugging his dad asking to look at the "fewwawi" is a peak petrolhead moment for me. Main downside is some of the abarth parts are a pain to source now, but being able to use Mazda bits for almost anything non engine does help.
I owned my '99 for 22 yrs and it had 113k miles on it when it was lost. I paid real money for it when I bought it and it was still in warranty after comparing back-to-back with a used 993 c2 and aside the from the frameless windows not sounding as solid, the overall quality just felt higher and the oil cooled cars arent maintenance free either btw. Ofc it ultimately turned out to be a less-appreciated model and I missed out on the concomitant pricing appreciation of the older car....but wow did I have fun in mine! Road trips of 1800+miles, daily driven, used to transport a growing family (people complain about the back seats but they are SUPREMELY useful for kids up to about 13 and thin women! ;)) Really only minor stuff on mine over the years and most items coming up were age related bushings and what not. I ended up with 991 turbo and it is definitely a bigger, more serious and more involved car to drive.... I do miss my 996 believe it or not, may pick up a cayman for that particular itch at some point.
Great video. I've owned my 03 Boxster S for around 8 years but one day I hope to switch to a 996 Targa. All of those maintenance points you highlighted at the beginning pretty much apply to the Boxster too.
Thank you and luckily you're in a great position either way! I love the way the 986 drives so you could keep that forever and be happy. But one day if you jump to the Targa it'll certainly feel new enough and different enough to be an exciting new chapter
Excellent review, I've always liked the Targa, the hatchback makes it much easier to live with. A comparison with a 997.2 might be a good idea, just saying! :)
That would be brilliant! I'm also keen to review your lovely 997 against something of equivalent value too just for the fun of it! Really looking forward to getting the chance to drive it soon!
The mic on the exhaust makes a big difference, really conveys the noise very well, made the video very entertaining to watch. Out of interest, was the sound as good in person as it was for me listening through some fairly expensive headphones? I used to have a Boxster S 3.2 with the standard exhaust and it was too quiet, had another with a backbox and was good with roof down but droned like hell roof up, not good. This sounded mega!
Thank you, I'm glad to hear it makes the effort worth it! It really is as good in person, it sounds utterly magical! And I remember a decade ago going out in a 911 996 with a standard exhaust and it didn't leave an impression on me like this Miltek backbox did!
I've driven this car too, it sounds nicer in the flesh, you feel it. I had a 996 3.4 with the exhaust mod and I have a 986 2.5 with a Dansk. This Targa sounded noticeably fruitier, but no drone. Love it.
Absolutely love mine, possibly won’t love the invoice from Hartech when I receive it but as I plan on keeping it for the foreseeable future I can’t say I regret the expense.
Well done for taking the plunge and saving a car. When the time comes for me to buy a car, having an invoice from that place would be a big weight off my mind. What have you got, What's the plans?
@@purple-porker-productions 03 C4. Unfortunately it’s a full rebuild, nikasil liners etc. Car had very good history, all the usual suspects already having been attended to. The IMS bearing failed despite being replaced only 16k previously. Hartech machine out the aperture on the casing to accommodate a larger bearing of their own design, most people (me included) assume that just replacing the bearing like for like is adequate. Turns out it definitely isn’t the case. It’s an excuse for the capacity increase to 3.9 though, I’m trying to turn this into a positive situation 😂 The true positive is knowing that the engine should be absolutely solid for a long time to come. We’re lucky to have access to Hartech in the uk.
I have owned, (2nd owner ) a 2003 C4 Targa since 2017 and love it, all black and a 6 speed. IMS was taken care of by the 1st owner in 2008,full rebuild by a specialist in Canada. Got it with 94380km, its now at 163961km. I am saving up for a 997 Targa C4 , and a ~entry spec Boxster from 2005 to 2013 , as my wife wants a convertible.
These are great cars. Amazing things to drive. After a couple of 987 Boxsters I changed to a 996 C2 and have never looked back. I’ve had it about 4 years and have spent plenty on maintenance, most recently coolant lines but it’s worth every penny!
I have owned my 996 C4S for 18 months now and totally agree with all your comments and thoughts on the 996 (except for the brakes!). These are amazing rewarding cars that will only ever go up in value as more people "get it"! 😎
Thanks, Steve, and I'm glad to hear! You'll also be glad to hear I've updated my opinions on the brakes in the pinned comment! I didn't realise there's actually an upside to the brakes not being as overservo'd as today's usual preference - the extra granular control for fast driving!
If you are good DIY mechanic you can wrench on 996s and keep the running for fraction of the cost repair shops charge. Pulling gearbox on the 996 myself this winter. Great video.
Sorry for the late reply! I hope the gearbox has been successful if you've got to it by now. And I totally agree re: them being a fantastic proposition for mechanic-types!
Thank you! And it really was, to be honest at times it felt like it could easily get away from me haha! I'm reviewing that very one soon, so I'm looking forward to it even moreso!
@@petrolpoodle Wonderful. I own one (i3s), and I highly rated it for B roads despite the lack of steering feel and poorly supported seats. keep up the great job!
Owned a 964, a 944, a 993 and a 996.2 The sound of the 993 is lovely, driving the 996 cannot be beaten. Glad no else likes them as I managed to pick one up for half the cost of what I sold the 993 for. Have 4 cars and the Carrera 2 would be the last to sell...
I loved my 996 Carrera 2, but the absolutely-inevitable engine problems - plus quite a few age-related issues like those you rightly list - led me ultimately to sell it. I went to an NA Lotus Evora, which is actually a very similar car, but with a Toyota engine and is actually even nicer to drive (check out EVO COTY 2009 to see what it beat to win!). Yours is a very fair video; they are great cars to drive, but possibly not to own.
Thank you very much! And you don't need to convince me, I'm still having my dreams occupied by the beautiful Evora S I reviewed in the summer! What a superb car, just incredible machines to drive - big congrats!
987 Cayman S owner here looking to get into a 996. I need the rear seats! Driven a few. They do feel special. Very little difference in my opinion between a £10k car and a £17k car apart from someone thinking theirs is worth £7k more! They are all medium/high risk. A £17k car can have just as many issues as a £10k car. It is in the history. Buy the history and the servicing and the at comes for free!
I'd mostly agree there! I think the things that make a 996 worth 10k are likely a combo of simply super high mileage and very patchy history hahaha so I doubt there are many at the 10k end that would have had 20k in maintenance spent on them but who knows, perhaps there are some gems! Also a fair point about the 17k end if one were to simply buy on mileage and low owners without paying attention to detailed history/preventative maintenance records!
I was warned that the brakes are fine, but under assisted. To be honest, 500 miles later, I don’t notice. It’s got excellent brakes. Excellent everything.
Sorry, yes I got distracted halfway through my review of the brakes and forgot to finish my point after a little blast! Specifically, where I feel there's room for improvement! The first time I drove the car (hard) I noticed that the brakes, whilst plenty capable, required quite a hefty stab of the pedal whilst many other cars appear to brake harder and sooner in the first half of the pedal travel. Secondly, most likely down to these particular pads/discs I'm assuming, I just found the brakes overheated and lost their effectiveness far more quickly than I'd have expected, but it was during a very enthusiastic drive. Very much agree that they probably just take getting used to rather than having instinctive pressure and for longer stints of enthusiastic drives could do with decent pads.
It happened to me too. Just plain speed yellow 996 Carrera Cabriolet with a black roof and 17 inch wheels even and yet I fell in love and she was mine for $20,000 and Worth every single penny. If you’re reading this do it
996 is a brilliant car to drive but just because you can buy one for $20-30K, you still have to maintain it like the near six-figure car it was when new.
In our PCA club several track their near stock 996's. What don't you like about the brakes, you didn't give any specifics. On track, with some high temp fluid and track compounds it's more than adequate.
Sorry, yes I got distracted halfway through my review of the brakes and forgot to finish my point after a little blast! Specifically, where I feel there's room for improvement! The first time I drove the car (hard) I noticed that the brakes, whilst plenty capable, required quite a hefty stab of the pedal whilst many other cars appear to brake harder and sooner in the first half of the pedal travel. Secondly, most likely down to these particular pads/discs I'm assuming, I just found the brakes overheated and lost their effectiveness far more quickly than I'd have expected, but it was during a very enthusiastic drive. Very much agree that they probably just take getting used to rather than having instinctive pressure and for longer stints of enthusiastic drives could do with decent pads.
@@petrolpoodle @petrolpoodle Haha, no worries, thx for replying. Yeah I have a GR corolla and NA Miata,both with fantastic brakes, but prefer the 996/986. It does take more pressure but I find it has more resolution. When practicing left foot braking it's much easier easier in the Porsche than my GRC because it's over boosted and lacks the finer resolution of the porsche. Ps bought a nice 986S off BaT last month, and your boxster review along with a couple others were instrumental in getting me excited enough to pull the trigger. After having a well sorted 996, I wasn't sure I would like the Boxster. So far I like it much more.
@LifeSOSlive ahhhh amazing! I'm so glad to hear! And I've had another owner explain the additional levels of control you get with the 996 brakes once you know how they operate, and that not being over boosted is a plus! Funny how my only criticism of the perfect car turns out to be a hidden strength 😂 😂 😂
From a driving perspective, my only complaint about that car is you have to depress the clutch from here to Kentucky just to shift. Makes quick shifting slower. The original NSX, or even a Miata, have these clutches w less travel and you can power through shifts and take out a punk in a Ferrari wanting to get frisky at a light
I can see the C4S being a superb pick of the bunch - the lovely wider stance for aesthetics, extra grip and confidence in the winter even at the cost of weight etc. I'm sure they drive 90% as well!
I own a 992.1 and 996 3.4 which I never sold because I would get only few bucks for it. I still like driving it and sometimes I like it even better than the modern car. It is hard to describe, but todays sport cars have become in a way just too good, too fast, too capable to the extent where you almost never experience the real limits of the car on public roads. Or maybe it is just more fun to drive the slower car fast than the faster car slow.
@@C4S911 Agreed. Look how many of these are still around, not garage Queens like a Ferrari, high mileage ones too. They are very reliable, I've owned three mediocre 996/986s and they have never broken down on me.
@@purple-porker-productions yup! The engines from the 996 and 986 are solid! Those cars are still around and most are still running on their original engines
OOOOO Jesus that's a really tough question!!! Well, I think about £10-12k would get you all the Mk3 MX-5 with all of the above you could ever want/need. And it's an even better driving experience, hands down! Just utterly sublime driving purity. Also amazing peace of mind to own and low running costs! So given my reliability anxiety PTSD I would lean towards the MX-5, hoooooooweever, the 911 offers far greater comfort and actual real world usability with the addition of a far better sounding engine and a certain element of specialness/charm on top. So I feel like their Venn Diagram begins to separate a bit in terms of being pitched against each other. 10-12k budget easy, get the MX-5! 20k budget + plenty of spending money, I think the 911 is what I'd go for. I think hahaha!
They are a solution to all the people who moaned about the 996.1/986 headlights. They originally came from the GT1 so some really good racing heritage. I much prefer the originals than these crying looking ones.
@petrolpoodle yeah I'd still get the IMS done as a preventative measure. Would be daft to pay all that for the suspension, coolant lines etc then have it go bang and destroy the engine! One other thing, any car of this age is going to need this kind of work isn't it? I've just spent about 3k dealing with my old TT.
I actually do appreciate you clicking on just to comment this, as unlikely as that sounds. The thing is that literally all elements of the title are completely true though and the video delivers on what the title says - it's the least loved, I didn't like Porsches before and now I do - and finally they're surprisingly expensive to run and it seems to surprise anyone that you tell. I hate clickbait titles myself and if you check the titles of the rest of my uploads you'll see it's not really my style, but in this instance the costs to run these can be so incredibly wild that it really is worth framing the title around in my opinion. Having done this for 4 years now, if you just title 'Porsche 911 996 Review' or 'Should you buy a 996?' the unpaid shoot you spent 4 hours researching/scripting for, a shoot day filming, 8-12 hours editing ends up being watched by about 3000 people and your 2.5 days of effort (letalone insurance and fuel and kit costs) bring in literally about £0.89. So there's a balancing act of finding the angle to bring people in without going full "You WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED". It is useful to know though that this is now nearing the line of clickbait (never in 4 years had this comment before and you're the first on this video) and I shall definitely take it on board, so thank you.
A couple of things to add/clarify!
1. Sorry, yes I got distracted halfway through my review of the brakes and forgot to finish my point after a little blast! Specifically, where I felt there was room for improvement! The first time I drove the car (hard) I noticed that the brakes, whilst plenty capable, required quite a hefty stab of the pedal whilst many other cars appear to brake harder and sooner in the first half of the pedal travel. What's interesting now is that long term owners are pointing out that they're simply not over-servo'd like modern cars and that actually with spirited driving they give you more granular control. Funny how my only criticism might in fact play as a strength 😂
Secondly, most likely down to these particular pads/discs I'm assuming, I just found the brakes overheated and lost their effectiveness far more quickly than I'd have expected, but it was during a very enthusiastic drive.
I didn't do the best job of explaining that, I do apologise! They're very capable but perhaps take getting used to rather than having instinctive pressure and for longer stints of enthusiastic drives could do with decent pads.
2. No one has commented about this but just so I've added clarity to the early budget section - I wouldn't say you need to have £15k+ ready for a total maintenance budget when you buy a 996 but it's more to indicate that 'cheap' 911s near the entry point will likely require a large number of these and it demonstrates why it's worth investing in those near the 20k end with lots of thorough maintenance. But also, as Tom has demonstrated, even with a nice 19k example be ready for large annual spends to give these the love they deserve. They're absolutely worth it, just save up more than you'd think first and choose wisely!
Thanks for all the appreciation and kind words; credit and my own thanks go to @purple-porker-productions as an Assistant Editor for helping me with a good chunk of the groundwork of the edits! Thanks for helping keep up the regular output!
Lovely review! Have a 996.2, done 8 track days last two seasons, and brakes hold up just fine, zero fade, provided you got all, and I do mean all the right parts fitted. Overheating is most likely caused by el cheapo pads
@@brembopollypor9965 I thought that might be the case! And thank you for your kind words, glad to hear you've had 8 fantastic track days!
I can give you plenty of advise on these, I had a carrera 2 which was mint, that I sold for £24k I now have a 996 turbo, I have spent £24k on maintenance and upgrades, they can get expensive. I spent that in a year
Production quality is impeccable...did not expect this to be small channel. Nice work
Thank you so much, that's a real boost to my day, I'm not going to lie! Thank you!
Great review Jimmy! One point on the brakes - 996s need a right old shove (which feels strange compared to overservoed modern cars) but they’ve got plenty of braking power when you do.
Why? It’s to give you more braking modulation between (say) 60% and 80% of total braking power when you’re properly on it. Modern cars give you 90% of the total braking power in 10% of the travel. Makes them feel like they have good brakes but try to modulate them at those higher levels and then suddenly your pedal and control weights are all very inconsistent.
But Porsche know the cars have to be set up to drive right when you’re properly ragging them - and THAT is the default setting. Pretty cool if you ask me 👍😄
Ahhhh that explains it, thank you very much! Without knowing that, they instinctively feel weak in the first half of the pedal travel! I also found they got hot pretty quickly and lost their effectiveness, which slightly tempered my confidence but I am aware that it's more likely down to the specific pads and likely aftermarket discs being used on a 21 year old car at this point!
@@petrolpoodleMight also be a tired master cylinder or old fluid. Common mod on these is to fit the GT3 master cylinder which means braking power holds up really well. Never noticed any fade at all in mine!
996.2 Targa owner here. I loved your commentary and you are spot on. Important bit is to check the history, and there is no way around maintenance cost. I own a 21 Lotus Evora GT as well, they are both fun in different ways. Any Porsche thats 20+ yrs old will need repair, and 996 is no exception. I daily my 996 and use the Evora for track mainly. If you can keep some money set aside for maintenance, it's a wonderful way to experience a 911.
Thank you so much, my friend!
Oooooo god that's a dream garage isn't it! 2 incredible ways to get around!!
Currently looking for a 996, been watching tons of reviews and this is the best I’ve found, awesome content
Great perspective and I agree with the bulk of your observations. I've had my 01 C2 since new. At the time, my sons were six and eight and I took them for a drive in it the first day. From time to time they've already been driving it now for years. Bigger challenge may be figuring out which one of them gets it when I'm too far gone. Yeah, other 911s might be faster, more powerful, newer, or more desirable and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't lusted after a speed yellow 997 GT3, but I still smile every time I see it in my garage, let alone drive it. It's been well maintained and now I'm enjoying doing that part myself. Ironically, it's one of the lightest 911s which contributes to it feeling so nimble.
Thank you and I'm glad to hear I've got the majority of my observations right or in the right park!
I would love to see an 01 C2 sat in my garage, I'm glad it's still making you smile 23 years later!
Love how you have the microphone on the exhaust, it makes the driving sequences more fun to watch. For me sound is almost 50% of the car experience and I enjoy your way of bringing it through your films :) Also, that bit about the maintenance costs at the start of film was good. All car films should start that way. A dose of realism!
Thank you so much, this comment means a lot! And I totally agree re: the sound, I wish it was something I'd worked out sooner in my videography journey/this channel alongside. I spent effort getting my microphone + EQing right for my talking segments and didn't think to take the extra time to mic up the car properly!
Thanks for this 996 review. Ive watched them all on UA-cam as I’m in the market for one in a short while. I always make a bee line for your reviews on any car. You have a great way of putting things across and which resonates with me. Your my favourite reviewer on UA-cam and I wish you the best. I’m sure you will do well.
Thank you SO much. This is one of my favourite comments I can remember reading, just really delightful and one of the rare ones I read aloud to my girlfriend. I really appreciate it and I'm so glad to be able to help/provide some entertainment I hope!
Great cars. Loved my 996.2 C2 but as we’re all saying, a big bill is never that far away, and that does have an impact on the ownership experience. After a couple of years I swapped for a spotless 1999 Impreza Turbo, kept it standard looking but put a hybrid turbo (325hp), a few suspension tweaks and better brakes - probably more fun to drive and far cheaper to maintain.
Ohhhh my lord what a superb choice! I grew up with my dad owning a '95 WRX and a '99 WRX STI Version V that was imported from Japan! 300bhp or so! I just adored those cars, they're still timelessly stunning today. How has yours been?
If you ever want to see it on the channel, I'd be thrilled to give it the justice it deserves! petrolpoodle@gmail.com
Having sat as a passenger in this car, I can say I've not stopped thinking about it for months. The noise and sensation of speed was incredible. Good points on the Non-RMS IMS Bore scoring side of ownership too! Needs patience and budget to get the most out of these. Still want one!
I know, it's really left its teeth marks in me too!
Good points and good order of things from a car enthusiast’s perspective. These superb driving experiences are becoming rare in light of repair/maintenance frequency and costs as it takes away from the experience, but unmatched by artificial dynamics on offer today.
Thanks, John! And that's perfectly put!
I bought a 01 996 C2 for $17k a couple months ago with about 124k miles on it. Well maintained, but already have about $10k earmarked to spend on it. That said, for $27k it will be mechanically sound (for a while) and in great condition. Best value around for a car of this caliber.
Exactly! They're so special they're worth the spend when you know it's coming and have factored it in!
Great review! Spot on. You need cash aside for these cars. My 996.2 C2 manual is sublime but put money on it. New coilovers takes it to new heights. But there is also no substitute. Had a Cayman S -06 before which I tracked. Lots of fun but the rear weight in the 911 makes you drive/steer it with the gas, just addictive. The 996 generation is also, for me, the sweet spot in the 911 range. 997 and on is getting too modern. And the 996 drives miles better than the 993. Also like the gen 2 headlights and also the quirky interior, which means I can use my old CD:s again 😅 A keeper for sure. Just put the money on it that it deserves!
Oh, btw. The cable throttle thing in the gen 1 is funny. Have you ever heard anyone complaining about the gas response in the 996.2 GT3 vs gen 1 gt3?
Well it’s Boxster every time for me as I love convertibles and I have recently bought my fourth, a 987.1 S with low miles in my favourite colour Cobalt Blue.
Thank you, Mattias! And oh my god, I can't imagine it with lovely coilovers, it must be majestic!
Nice job with this video as a 996 owner you summed it up perfectly
Thanks very much mate, it's always a bit nervewracking to make statements about people's pride and joys hoping you've definitely got the right grasp of the car! So this comes as a very welcomed comment!
Fantastic review, brilliant cinematography befitting a much much larger channel and well constructed. Lovely blend of humble, old school youtube with modern production. Very chill and I'm always happy to see one of your videos pop up!
As much of a image rehab as the 996 has gone through, I feel like I'd struggle to justify a leggy 996 over waiting a bit longer on a 997. If you can't afford the jump in price from 996 to 997.... it's not that you can't afford the maintenance (on either of them) so much as it'll be expensive enough to create a pit of dread every time a mechanic is looking at the car. I was weighing one up before I settled on my Abarth 124 - but a sorted 997 definitely remains on the driveway bucket list for me. Like you said, if the budget forces you into a 996, I'd probably be looking outside of 911s.
As an aside, that head-unit's massive Porsche logo wallpaper is certainly a choice. 🙈
This is one of my favourite comments I've read in a while, thank you so much my friend. Means a lot!
Ooooo the Abarth 124, I bet that's brilliant fun! I've driven an ND MX-5 but not the Abarth! What's your review of it and your ownership experience so far?
Nice comments.
As for 911s. I seem to lust after a 996 over a 997, knowing the later is a better car. One day I'll have a C4S or at the very least an aerokitted 3.4
@@petrolpoodle hilarious. I test drove both but the abarth had softened off on values enough that the main knock on it new (being a lot of money for an mx5) didn't really apply, and really it just feels a whole lot more special. sounds and (imo) looks better, and corners much flatter. Don't think anything modern sub 20k gets as much positive reaction from as wide a range of people, without making some serious concessions on usability/reliability. Overhearing a 5 year old at a traffic light tugging his dad asking to look at the "fewwawi" is a peak petrolhead moment for me.
Main downside is some of the abarth parts are a pain to source now, but being able to use Mazda bits for almost anything non engine does help.
I owned my '99 for 22 yrs and it had 113k miles on it when it was lost. I paid real money for it when I bought it and it was still in warranty after comparing back-to-back with a used 993 c2 and aside the from the frameless windows not sounding as solid, the overall quality just felt higher and the oil cooled cars arent maintenance free either btw. Ofc it ultimately turned out to be a less-appreciated model and I missed out on the concomitant pricing appreciation of the older car....but wow did I have fun in mine! Road trips of 1800+miles, daily driven, used to transport a growing family (people complain about the back seats but they are SUPREMELY useful for kids up to about 13 and thin women! ;)) Really only minor stuff on mine over the years and most items coming up were age related bushings and what not. I ended up with 991 turbo and it is definitely a bigger, more serious and more involved car to drive.... I do miss my 996 believe it or not, may pick up a cayman for that particular itch at some point.
Like your presentation style and you are spot on with how the car feels!
Thank you very much!
Very well presented video of a very good vehicle. Well done
Thanks very much, Charlie!
Great video. I've owned my 03 Boxster S for around 8 years but one day I hope to switch to a 996 Targa. All of those maintenance points you highlighted at the beginning pretty much apply to the Boxster too.
I have owned a 996 C2 and two 986 Boxsters. I love my Boxster but everyday I try and man-maths my way back into a 911.
Thank you and luckily you're in a great position either way! I love the way the 986 drives so you could keep that forever and be happy. But one day if you jump to the Targa it'll certainly feel new enough and different enough to be an exciting new chapter
Excellent review
Thank you kindly!
Maintenance potential figures were sobering!
Excellent review, I've always liked the Targa, the hatchback makes it much easier to live with. A comparison with a 997.2 might be a good idea, just saying! :)
That would be brilliant! I'm also keen to review your lovely 997 against something of equivalent value too just for the fun of it!
Really looking forward to getting the chance to drive it soon!
The mic on the exhaust makes a big difference, really conveys the noise very well, made the video very entertaining to watch. Out of interest, was the sound as good in person as it was for me listening through some fairly expensive headphones? I used to have a Boxster S 3.2 with the standard exhaust and it was too quiet, had another with a backbox and was good with roof down but droned like hell roof up, not good. This sounded mega!
Thank you, I'm glad to hear it makes the effort worth it!
It really is as good in person, it sounds utterly magical! And I remember a decade ago going out in a 911 996 with a standard exhaust and it didn't leave an impression on me like this Miltek backbox did!
I've driven this car too, it sounds nicer in the flesh, you feel it. I had a 996 3.4 with the exhaust mod and I have a 986 2.5 with a Dansk. This Targa sounded noticeably fruitier, but no drone. Love it.
Absolutely love mine, possibly won’t love the invoice from Hartech when I receive it but as I plan on keeping it for the foreseeable future I can’t say I regret the expense.
Oooooo Hartech doing a rebuild from a repair perspective or are you having it bored out a little with a power increase?
Necessitated the rebuild but gone for the capacity increase at the same time. 👍
Well done for taking the plunge and saving a car. When the time comes for me to buy a car, having an invoice from that place would be a big weight off my mind.
What have you got, What's the plans?
@@purple-porker-productions 03 C4. Unfortunately it’s a full rebuild, nikasil liners etc. Car had very good history, all the usual suspects already having been attended to. The IMS bearing failed despite being replaced only 16k previously. Hartech machine out the aperture on the casing to accommodate a larger bearing of their own design, most people (me included) assume that just replacing the bearing like for like is adequate. Turns out it definitely isn’t the case.
It’s an excuse for the capacity increase to 3.9 though, I’m trying to turn this into a positive situation 😂
The true positive is knowing that the engine should be absolutely solid for a long time to come. We’re lucky to have access to Hartech in the uk.
I have owned, (2nd owner ) a 2003 C4 Targa since 2017 and love it, all black and a 6 speed. IMS was taken care of by the 1st owner in 2008,full rebuild by a specialist in Canada. Got it with 94380km, its now at 163961km. I am saving up for a 997 Targa C4 , and a ~entry spec Boxster from 2005 to 2013 , as my wife wants a convertible.
These are great cars. Amazing things to drive. After a couple of 987 Boxsters I changed to a 996 C2 and have never looked back. I’ve had it about 4 years and have spent plenty on maintenance, most recently coolant lines but it’s worth every penny!
I have owned my 996 C4S for 18 months now and totally agree with all your comments and thoughts on the 996 (except for the brakes!). These are amazing rewarding cars that will only ever go up in value as more people "get it"! 😎
That's my dream car. One day
Thanks, Steve, and I'm glad to hear! You'll also be glad to hear I've updated my opinions on the brakes in the pinned comment! I didn't realise there's actually an upside to the brakes not being as overservo'd as today's usual preference - the extra granular control for fast driving!
@@petrolpoodle Yes, I saw your "brakes" comments after I posted!
If you are good DIY mechanic you can wrench on 996s and keep the running for fraction of the cost repair shops charge. Pulling gearbox on the 996 myself this winter. Great video.
This mostly what I do with my 986. Sourcing parts from good aftermarket companies. Although sometimes things are cheaper directly from Porsche.
Sorry for the late reply! I hope the gearbox has been successful if you've got to it by now. And I totally agree re: them being a fantastic proposition for mechanic-types!
Love the Battle to Boreham Street road, you can really let the car stretch its legs
Great review! A great car, but terribly sensible as it seems. That i3 was flowing along well with the 911 down the road :)
Thank you! And it really was, to be honest at times it felt like it could easily get away from me haha! I'm reviewing that very one soon, so I'm looking forward to it even moreso!
@@petrolpoodle Wonderful. I own one (i3s), and I highly rated it for B roads despite the lack of steering feel and poorly supported seats. keep up the great job!
@vitormvpinto Oooo the S is supposed to be properly brilliant!
And thank you so much 😊
It may have been flowing along well on the outside, but I was holding on for dear life on the inside, and I was driving! 😂
@@purple-porker-productions 🤣
Coolant pipes bore sore and a clutch thats what will stop them after that the calipers and shocks been there on a 997 4s
And steel liners don't work on an open deck block had a failed engine rebuild
Owned a 964, a 944, a 993 and a 996.2 The sound of the 993 is lovely, driving the 996 cannot be beaten. Glad no else likes them as I managed to pick one up for half the cost of what I sold the 993 for. Have 4 cars and the Carrera 2 would be the last to sell...
Well done!
Thanks very much pal!
Great review
Thank you :)
Really good video about the costs about these cars. Not these bullshit about IMS and RMS
Thank you, the huge credit goes to @rundmc1 as I was nowhere near as clued up without his help!
I loved my 996 Carrera 2, but the absolutely-inevitable engine problems - plus quite a few age-related issues like those you rightly list - led me ultimately to sell it. I went to an NA Lotus Evora, which is actually a very similar car, but with a Toyota engine and is actually even nicer to drive (check out EVO COTY 2009 to see what it beat to win!). Yours is a very fair video; they are great cars to drive, but possibly not to own.
Thank you very much! And you don't need to convince me, I'm still having my dreams occupied by the beautiful Evora S I reviewed in the summer! What a superb car, just incredible machines to drive - big congrats!
987 Cayman S owner here looking to get into a 996. I need the rear seats! Driven a few. They do feel special. Very little difference in my opinion between a £10k car and a £17k car apart from someone thinking theirs is worth £7k more! They are all medium/high risk. A £17k car can have just as many issues as a £10k car. It is in the history. Buy the history and the servicing and the at comes for free!
I'd mostly agree there! I think the things that make a 996 worth 10k are likely a combo of simply super high mileage and very patchy history hahaha so I doubt there are many at the 10k end that would have had 20k in maintenance spent on them but who knows, perhaps there are some gems!
Also a fair point about the 17k end if one were to simply buy on mileage and low owners without paying attention to detailed history/preventative maintenance records!
I was warned that the brakes are fine, but under assisted. To be honest, 500 miles later, I don’t notice. It’s got excellent brakes. Excellent everything.
Sorry, yes I got distracted halfway through my review of the brakes and forgot to finish my point after a little blast! Specifically, where I feel there's room for improvement! The first time I drove the car (hard) I noticed that the brakes, whilst plenty capable, required quite a hefty stab of the pedal whilst many other cars appear to brake harder and sooner in the first half of the pedal travel. Secondly, most likely down to these particular pads/discs I'm assuming, I just found the brakes overheated and lost their effectiveness far more quickly than I'd have expected, but it was during a very enthusiastic drive.
Very much agree that they probably just take getting used to rather than having instinctive pressure and for longer stints of enthusiastic drives could do with decent pads.
I have always found in my Porsches that you need to be very forceful but they always stop well.
This video kind of motivates me getting one ❤
Fantastic, and I hope so! They're bloody wonderful!
I love those 996s, they are Future Classics❤
For sure.
Amen!
Rule number one....There are no cheap Porsches 😂😂
Yep, I'm living proof after buying a 986 for £1500. By the time it's finished it will have cost twice as much as just buying a good one to start with.
I can imagine that even buying a Porsche calendar requires maintenance hahahaha but aren't they worth it when you have the funds ready haha!
It happened to me too. Just plain speed yellow 996 Carrera Cabriolet with a black roof and 17 inch wheels even and yet I fell in love and she was mine for $20,000 and Worth every single penny. If you’re reading this do it
What a delightful spec! I hope you still have it and are enjoying it to this day!
Im tempted by a 996 C2 to replace my E46 M3 CS and enjoyed the insight regarding running costs. Evora S is a greqt shout but ive just got the 911 itch
Do it. I've owned three 330ci msports, and although not in the same league as a M3CS they were very good cars. But I would have a 911 again, anyday.
996 is a brilliant car to drive but just because you can buy one for $20-30K, you still have to maintain it like the near six-figure car it was when new.
Absolutely, and if anything it's more expensive to run now than it was new, given that everything had a nice long shelf life ahead of it haha!
Agreed 100%. Still the best car I've owned, will not be the last.
In our PCA club several track their near stock 996's. What don't you like about the brakes, you didn't give any specifics. On track, with some high temp fluid and track compounds it's more than adequate.
Sorry, yes I got distracted halfway through my review of the brakes and forgot to finish my point after a little blast! Specifically, where I feel there's room for improvement! The first time I drove the car (hard) I noticed that the brakes, whilst plenty capable, required quite a hefty stab of the pedal whilst many other cars appear to brake harder and sooner in the first half of the pedal travel. Secondly, most likely down to these particular pads/discs I'm assuming, I just found the brakes overheated and lost their effectiveness far more quickly than I'd have expected, but it was during a very enthusiastic drive.
Very much agree that they probably just take getting used to rather than having instinctive pressure and for longer stints of enthusiastic drives could do with decent pads.
@@petrolpoodle @petrolpoodle Haha, no worries, thx for replying. Yeah I have a GR corolla and NA Miata,both with fantastic brakes, but prefer the 996/986. It does take more pressure but I find it has more resolution. When practicing left foot braking it's much easier easier in the Porsche than my GRC because it's over boosted and lacks the finer resolution of the porsche. Ps bought a nice 986S off BaT last month, and your boxster review along with a couple others were instrumental in getting me excited enough to pull the trigger. After having a well sorted 996, I wasn't sure I would like the Boxster. So far I like it much more.
@LifeSOSlive ahhhh amazing! I'm so glad to hear! And I've had another owner explain the additional levels of control you get with the 996 brakes once you know how they operate, and that not being over boosted is a plus!
Funny how my only criticism of the perfect car turns out to be a hidden strength 😂 😂 😂
From a driving perspective, my only complaint about that car is you have to depress the clutch from here to Kentucky just to shift. Makes quick shifting slower. The original NSX, or even a Miata, have these clutches w less travel and you can power through shifts and take out a punk in a Ferrari wanting to get frisky at a light
This made me laugh, I love that description hahaha!
Lightbulb moments are great😊 Deferred maintenance comes with most Porsches. That’s why there’s no such thing as a cheap Porsche 🥂
Fair play to yu mate in the i3 😂👍
Do the maintenance yourself. I've done all of mine so cost a fraction of what you quoted and is an car easy to work on. .
Plus, if you have kids and you want them to love Porsche, starts w a 911 w back seats
My cousin @purple-porker-productions (in the i3 camera car!) had his 911 996 with his kids in the back in the early days too!
@@petrolpoodlei use mine as only car for school runs, road trips and pretty much anything with a 4 y.o. in the back seat
This is why I want to switch out my Cayman S for one.
They are good, and super value. The Targa gets very hot in the summer. C4S is the ultimate 996, Turbo too complex and doesn't sound good.
996 GT3 RS is the ultimate 996. C4S is a heavier, slower C2.
I can see the C4S being a superb pick of the bunch - the lovely wider stance for aesthetics, extra grip and confidence in the winter even at the cost of weight etc. I'm sure they drive 90% as well!
C4S is a dream car for me.
@@petrolpoodle yes, the wide body is beautiful. Fun car.
@@petrolpoodle Well done on the review, very professional and knowledgeable. Easy to watch.
I own a 992.1 and 996 3.4 which I never sold because I would get only few bucks for it. I still like driving it and sometimes I like it even better than the modern car. It is hard to describe, but todays sport cars have become in a way just too good, too fast, too capable to the extent where you almost never experience the real limits of the car on public roads. Or maybe it is just more fun to drive the slower car fast than the faster car slow.
I love this. Thats exactly it. Modern cars are just too fast and too capable.
BORE SCORING is the biggest issue with these!!
Wrong! Bore scoring happens more often on the 997s and 987s
@@C4S911 Agreed. Look how many of these are still around, not garage Queens like a Ferrari, high mileage ones too. They are very reliable, I've owned three mediocre 996/986s and they have never broken down on me.
@@purple-porker-productions yup! The engines from the 996 and 986 are solid! Those cars are still around and most are still running on their original engines
This or a very good mk3 MX5 with BBR addons, exhausts, tune and Coilover Suspension? Probably a Similar Price point.
OOOOO Jesus that's a really tough question!!!
Well, I think about £10-12k would get you all the Mk3 MX-5 with all of the above you could ever want/need. And it's an even better driving experience, hands down! Just utterly sublime driving purity. Also amazing peace of mind to own and low running costs!
So given my reliability anxiety PTSD I would lean towards the MX-5, hoooooooweever, the 911 offers far greater comfort and actual real world usability with the addition of a far better sounding engine and a certain element of specialness/charm on top. So I feel like their Venn Diagram begins to separate a bit in terms of being pitched against each other.
10-12k budget easy, get the MX-5!
20k budget + plenty of spending money, I think the 911 is what I'd go for. I think hahaha!
This all day long. Although after driving a BBR200 it did question my Boxster ownership a little.
Evo need to nurture you ...natural presenter.
Thank you so much mate, that's super kind! I wish I had the journalistic prowess of a true evo writer but I enormously appreciate the kind words!
Whoever came up with those headlights should be jailed. I hope they were at least fired.
They are a solution to all the people who moaned about the 996.1/986 headlights. They originally came from the GT1 so some really good racing heritage. I much prefer the originals than these crying looking ones.
Or fried
3%.
If you had a bag of 100 M&Ms and 3 were arsenic pills, would you grab an M&M?
Most people don't get risk.
I know, it still scares me despite being 3 percent 😂!
@petrolpoodle yeah I'd still get the IMS done as a preventative measure. Would be daft to pay all that for the suspension, coolant lines etc then have it go bang and destroy the engine!
One other thing, any car of this age is going to need this kind of work isn't it? I've just spent about 3k dealing with my old TT.
at 3:51 you say nearly 30 year old 911....the car you are in in no more than 22 years old....that's a far cry from nearly 30 years old
I'm referring to the introduction of the 996 being 1997, and my review is of the 996 as a whole not really specifying the facelift element granularly.
Get a cayman 987.2
The amount of 987.2 you get with a similar healthy 911 budget - it makes a huge case for itself!
I like the 996 just like the next guy, but nothing puts me off like clickbait titles. Hard pass.
Why is it clickbait? You might need to borrow money if it goes wrong, it happens. Stay, watch the video, you might be surprised.
I actually do appreciate you clicking on just to comment this, as unlikely as that sounds.
The thing is that literally all elements of the title are completely true though and the video delivers on what the title says - it's the least loved, I didn't like Porsches before and now I do - and finally they're surprisingly expensive to run and it seems to surprise anyone that you tell.
I hate clickbait titles myself and if you check the titles of the rest of my uploads you'll see it's not really my style, but in this instance the costs to run these can be so incredibly wild that it really is worth framing the title around in my opinion.
Having done this for 4 years now, if you just title 'Porsche 911 996 Review' or 'Should you buy a 996?' the unpaid shoot you spent 4 hours researching/scripting for, a shoot day filming, 8-12 hours editing ends up being watched by about 3000 people and your 2.5 days of effort (letalone insurance and fuel and kit costs) bring in literally about £0.89. So there's a balancing act of finding the angle to bring people in without going full "You WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED".
It is useful to know though that this is now nearing the line of clickbait (never in 4 years had this comment before and you're the first on this video) and I shall definitely take it on board, so thank you.