I’ve found cars I wanted several times, but the price, specs, and condition never quite aligned—it’s frustrating. What applies to both the 996 and 997 is that before anything else, there’s a huge price variance based on condition. The exterior, interior, mileage, manual or automatic, color, and rarity of options—these factors all determine the price. A well-kept Carrera can cost more than a poorly maintained Turbo. I realized that for this model, condition directly determines value. The DB8 and S2000 are the same way. With these kinds of cars, you have to be extremely careful in your selection. If you end up with a problem car, you’ll be dealing with headaches endlessly. Seeing the actual car in person is absolutely crucial. The information you can gather online just doesn’t cut it. The interior, the smell, the sound—you can only really evaluate a car by seeing the specific unit with your own eyes.
Out of the 10+ cars I’ve seen, one 996 C4S Tiptronic really stood out. Single owner, 40,000 km, all dealer maintenance, extensive service records, no unusual noises, completely stock.
The 996 has presence. That thin, wide silhouette and the colors are striking.
The rear is spectacular too. What I had written about three years ago in summer is now becoming reality. Let me explore what the 911 996 is, how it differs from Honda, and feel it for myself.
