1998 Porsche 911 C2

First registered on 20 May 1998, this pre-facelift, cable-throttle 996 Coupé is finished in the timeless colour combination of silver over a dark blue leather interior, and boasts the rare and desirable MO30 ‘sports’ suspension kit, along with a handful of other desirable factory options:

- MO30 Suspension

- Sports option package (Including 030, 375, 376)

- Heated seats

- Sunroof

- Limited-slip differential

- Traction Control (ASR)

- Traction Control (ABD)

- Sports seats, electrically adjustable, two-way

- 18” Hollow-spoke wheels

Purchased by our vendor from renowned specialist Friends Green Porsche when the car was on ~99,000 miles, this C2 has been used as his daily driver since purchase, requiring nothing more than a new set of rear tyres (Michelin Pilot Sports) and a new battery.

Part of this mechanical excellence is down to the extensive works carried out by FGP prior to the vendor’s purchase, which included the following highlights:

- Major service, including brake fluid change

- Replacement/upgrade of the IMS bearing

- Clutch renewal along with fitment of a new RMS

- Suspension refresh including new front top mounts, front top bearings and front bump stops

- New ignition switch

- New coil pack heat shields

- Air-conditioning re-gas

- New ignition switch

A full breakdown of the prep work prior to sale has been included in the gallery below.

Other than the upgraded stereo, stainless-steel sports exhaust and 15mm lowering springs, this 996 is exactly as it left the factory, and is a great example of a useable, enjoyable and driver-focused 996 C2, which is only being sold due to the owner also having a 987 Boxster, and being unable to justify owning both at once.

Silver has always been a strong choice for the aerodynamically-minded lines of the 996, and we have to say that the overall design has aged stunningly well, in our opinion anyway!

Looking along the flanks of the car, we can’t see any signs of impact damage, dents or scuffs, nor any obviously misaligned panels that would spoil the otherwise slippery surfaces of this driver-focused C2. If we’re being particularly picky, the frunk seems to sit slightly skewed when shut, but this could possibly be remedied with some minor adjustment.

The paintwork, on the whole, is in very good condition for a vehicle of this age and mileage, though there is the expected smattering of stone chips, light usage marks and light wear commensurate for a vehicle with over 100,000 miles of enjoyment on the odometer.

As far as we could see, there were no signs of any bubbling or corrosion around the arches, door handles or roof pillars.

Up front, the iconic ‘fried egg’ headlights show some damage to the nearside item in the lower-left corner where it meets the ‘frunk’ whilst both headlight units are clouded slightly.

In the rear, there are no signs of any scuffs to the bodywork, whilst the spoiler raises and lowers without issue.

Below the arches, the ‘turbo’ style wheels look good, though there are a few areas of kerb rash which the next owner may wish to address.

Inside, the Metropol Blue leather interior remains in good order throughout, as testament to Porsche’s excellent build quality of the period.

Naturally, there are some scuffs, creases and the odd rip to the front seats as you may expect to find on a car of this age and mileage, but nothing that a specialist wouldn’t be able to address.

In the rear, the bucket seats look far less troubled by the passage of time and miles than the front items (though this could simply be due to the seats being suitable only for the smallest of passengers, and often being folded down for luggage space) whilst up above the headlining shows no sign of any damage, sagging or water staining.

Elsewhere, the high-traffic areas such as the door cards, inner sill covers, gearstick and steering wheel exhibit a typical usage patina, but nothing that we wouldn’t expect to find on a well-used, but cherished example of an early 996.

During our test drive, all systems appear to be working as they should be, including the sunroof, upgraded JVC stereo and the brace of gauges ahead of the driver.

Firing into life with a characteristic dry ‘howl’ of a flat-six engine before settling into a lovely smooth idle, the 3.4-litre M96 engine in the rear of this 996 appeared to be in rude mechanical health, with no signs of any smoking, idle hunting or other strange behaviours noted.

In fact, the only issue we would possibly have diagnosed is the voltage gauge sitting at ~13 from cold, whereas it should start up at 14 and stay in the 13.5-14v range depending on the load from the electrical system, though this did not impact the car’s behaviour at all, and it was happy to re-start both cold and hot.

On the road, there were no signs of any clunks, knocks or other noises from the suspension, whilst the short-shift kit fitted to the car prior to collection from FGP tightens up the shift action fantastically, with both the gearbox and clutch action feeling very good indeed.

Looking underneath the car, there is the typical smattering of ‘bloom’ and crust from a car that is now over 20 years old, but nothing that looks to be too concerning in our view.

The most recent MoT exam - dated 17 January 2022 - showed a pass with the following advisory items:

- Rear brake disc worn

- All four coil springs corroded

- Slight play in offside front suspension arm ball joint

Included with the vehicle is an impressive history folder, spanning both works carried out in the current ownership and also prior to the vendor’s time with the vehicle, including the pre-sale work carried out by Friends Green Porsche.

As always, we’ve photographed all of the documentation and this can be found at the end of the gallery below. For those in a hurry, however, please find some highlights below:

- The V5 registered keepers document, showing a total of 7 former keepers

- MoT certificates

- Pre-sale invoice of itemised works by Friends Green Porsche, including fitment of a 997 GT3 short-shift mechanism

- Numerous invoicing for servicing, miscellaneous works and diagnosis works, from a mix of specialists and OPC centres

- Stamped service record, with a total of 16 stamps, the latest from FGP at 99,601 miles in January 2021

- Owners manual

- One key, plus a spare/emergency blade

Boasting an absolutely fantastic, driver-focused specification, numerous desirable options and a strong service history, this early cable-throttle 996 is a true driver’s delight, which is eminently useable and enjoyable year-round.

Offered with an estimate of £16,000 to £20,000 this is, for many, the ultimate Carrera 2 specification 996, and one not to be missed.

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