2001 Porsche 911 (996) Carrera

Buying a 911 of any age is all about condition, specification and above all history. Buy the wrong 911 and it will bite you but buy the right one and it will delight you!

We are certain this 2001 Carrera will fall fair and square into the latter camp. It’s a goodie and make no mistake.

Owned by a lady owner for the last four years, she part exchanged it for another exciting car from our established trade seller.

The seller has used the car over the last few months and says that it has run really well without any known faults, but now it has returned to stock and is ready for a new owner. 

A fully stamped service book shows that regular servicing has been carried out by both main dealers and latterly marque specialists. The all-important IMS bearing has been changed in 2017, so no worries on that score. Phew!

Lapis Blue – what a lovely hue! Makes a pleasant change from silver, grey and other rather plain colours and to our eyes shows off the 911’s curves to good effect.

For a 20-year-old car, the paintwork is in remarkably good condition, the sign no doubt of careful ownership.

Inevitably there are a few marks here and there which should be noted. You will spot some of these on the front and rear bumpers, but they do nothing to spoil the overall look and are easily banished by a good bodyshop if such things matter.

There are also a couple of stone chips on the front boot lid, close to the Porsche badge and another close to the windscreen. The keen eye will also spot a scratch on the nearside, just aft of the door. Some lighter scratches exist elsewhere.

The familiar 911 5-spoke alloy wheels look in nice condition and we suspect they will have been refurbished at some point. Premium Continental tyres are fitted all round. We always say that matching quality rubber equates to careful and considered classic car ownership.

We might also mention that the rubber surround on the rear window is a little grubby and looks to be lifting slightly in places.

Porsche build their cars to last, and it therefore will come as no surprise to find that the 996’s interior is still in great condition even after 20 years of use.

The driver’s seat has a some creasing to the offside bolster, but other than that there is just a lovely gentle patina from years of careful use. Keep using the hide food to keep the leather supple.

The front seats boast electric adjustment, so the ideal driving position should be easy to find.

Yes, there is seating for four, but let’s just say the rear perches are best occupied by children or used for extra luggage space.

Carpets and mats tone in nicely and once again are in fine fettle. The Porsche mats could do with a good steam clean, however.

The front boot is trimmed with practical carpet and with careful packing, it is surprising how much luggage can be squeezed in. A space saver spare wheel and tool kit are present and correct. You will also note the fitment of a CD autochanger.

The engine compartment shows all the hallmarks of careful ownership. There’s lots to see and all of it good. Specialist maintenance is the key here and the service book confirms this.

We always include plenty of pictures of a car’s underside and that is the case here. Other than a little light surface corrosion to bolt heads, we cannot spot anything untoward. Take a little time and look for yourself.

The 911 fires up with ease and settles down into that classic flat six thrum. Our car is fitted with the slick six speed manual gearbox, a much better option than the Tiptronic. So much more the driver’s car and surely that’s the main reason for buying a 911 in the first place?

Sharp steering and razor-sharp handling are other reasons to love the 911. A dynamic masterpiece! The ride quality is surprisingly compliant too.

We always like to see a well stamped service book, especially on a car like a Porsche 911. Main dealer stamps for the first six years is the order of the day here, followed by specialists – the usual pattern.

Annual servicing has been carried out in since 2012, culminating in the last which was done in October 2020 by Jetstream Motorsports at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground. Since then, the car has covered just 700 miles.

We can also see a sticker in the service book confirming the IMS bearing was changed in 2017 at 71,971 miles by Tower Porsche in London, who were looking after the car at the time. Our seller saw fit to contact them to confirm that the work was indeed carried out, which they did.

A raft of MoT certificates accompanies the car, confirming the modest miles covered in recent years. The last test was carried out in November of last year and was passed without any advisories.

We also note a new Bosch battery was fitted in August of last year.

We think this car will be a great introduction to Porsche 911 ownership. Manual gears equate to a more involving driving experience, and with plenty of power to deploy, there is fun to be had holding on to each gear, whilst enjoying the sound of the powerful engine at full chat.

All 911s benefit from Porsche’s legendary build quality and are practical enough to use as everyday transport should you so choose. And why would you not?

Our car has been well serviced in recent years, had the potentially troublesome IMS bearing replaced and should be all set for many years of fun ahead.

And let’s not forget about the lovely colour combination, a real head-turner if ever there was one.

The price for all this 911 goodness? We estimate the car will sell for between £15,000 and £20,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at our headquarters near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, so to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.