2005 Porsche 966 Turbo S

As a 2005 Turbo S, ‘T444 UBO’ - and yes, the registration number, which reflects the car’s horsepower, does come with the car - gained the X50 upgrade as standard, which meant Porsche installed different turbochargers and intercoolers, a revised ECU, and the PCCB ceramic composite brakes.

Last serviced by the Porsche Centre Reading in October 2023 at a cost of almost £900, the work included six new sparkplugs, which means that’s one less thing to worry about. The vendor says: "...with that service. Porsche did a full health inspection and it got all Green 'ticks' throughout - that piece of paper is included with the service."

With only four previous keepers, the last of which had it for around five years, it’s only been in the hands of the seller since May this year – and while that would normally set the alarm bells sounding, he’s only selling his beloved 911 Turbo because his new rescue dog refuses to go in it…

We can surely all agree that letting his dream car go for this reason marks him as a prince among men – and given the best cars come from the best people, please read on because this is genuinely one of the very best 911 Turbos we’ve had pass through our hands.

And in the spirit of Christmas, he’s got sufficient faith in you lot to offer it with no reserve…

If you want a supercar that’ll just go and go and go, then a Porsche 911 is the one to buy – and if you doubt us then take a long hard look at these photos and tell us it looks like a car with eighteen years under its belt.

Because it all still hangs together and fits very well, doesn’t it? Tight and consistent shutlines combine with dent- and dink-free panels to give the smokey blue paint a suitably flawless canvas to shine upon.

And shine it does; our photographer is a talented chap but even he’d have to admit this thing practically shot itself…

The 18-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels are flawless too; driving a car with such low-profile tyres can be a challenge as the rims are so vulnerable but it appears to be one the seller has risen to.

And doesn’t it make a refreshing change to see yellow calipers rather than the more usual red clamping down on those gorgeous ceramic composite brake discs?

Of course, as you’ll have come to expect by now, the wheels are shod with matching tyres with Pirelli P-Zero Rosso fitted to all four corners. 

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The lamp lenses are unmarked, as is the window glazing and the windscreen. The badges are good too, including the centre caps on the wheels.

The sunroof also fits the aperture well, and opens and closes smoothly at the touch of a button.

All of which means there’s nothing for the new owner to do other than to continue to polish and love it.

The black leather interior is every bit as good as the coachwork. Only very lightly creased and utterly free of damage, the front seats are still as comfortable and supportive as ever.

The vestigial rear seats do have the odd indentation in them, but most people will leave them folded down and enjoy the split-level luggage compartment they create. This area is nicely carpeted too, which means the storage space is as good looking as it is practical.

The black leather door cards are excellent, as are the black carpets – and before you start worrying that it’s all a bit stark and minimal, please note the (very good) suede headlining that adds both texture and contrast.

The dashboard instruments and controls are still bright and clearly labelled, and everything still operates with the crispness we’ve come to expect from Porsche.

The centre console holds a CD rack, the Bose sound system sounds fabulous and even the glovebox is clean and beautifully presented. 

The frunk is neatly ordered and home to a tool roll, space-saver spare wheel, compressor, and a pouch for a spare litre of engine oil.

As for flaws, apart from the marks on the rear seats, there is small white mark on the nearside of the centre console and another on the driver’s door pull.

The 911’s maintenance history, which is a combination of Porsche main dealers and independent specialists, is even better than usual because it has been serviced more frequently in recent years even than Porsche demands: 

• 31.05.2006 and 8,992 miles – service by Porsche Centre Reading
• 01.10.2007 and 20,172 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Porsche Centre Cambridge
• 24.04.2009 and 31,459 miles – service by Porsche Centre Cambridge
• 21.01.2011 and 40,195 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Porsche Centre Cambridge
• 13.06.2014 and 45,688 miles – oil and filter service plus miscellaneous fettling by W. Andrews Limited, specialist vehicle engineers
• 22.04.2016 and (unknown) miles - new air-conditioning condensers and a new receiver dryer plus a new central coolant radiator by W. Andrews Limited, specialist vehicle engineers
• 19.05.2016 and 51,007 miles – service by Northway Porsche plus new sparkplugs, front brake pads, and two reconditioned turbochargers at a cost of almost £5,000
• 27.06.2017 and 53,374 miles – engine and gearbox service plus the air-conditioning system recharged by JAZ, an independent Porsche specialist
• 07.06.2018 and 54,838 miles – service by Porsche Centre Cambridge
• 09.07.2019 and 55,609 miles – service by Porsche Centre Cambridge
• 15.09.2020 and 56,699 miles – service by Porsche Centre Cambridge
• 14.09.2021 and 58,007 miles – service, fresh brake fluid, and the air-conditioning system recharged by Porsche Centre Cambridge
• 13.10.2023 and 59,624 miles – service by Porsche Centre Reading including new sparkplugs

The engine bay is as clean and tidy as you’d expect to see on a car as well-maintained as this.

It starts, runs, and drives as well as you’d imagine – and given its prodigious power and all-wheel-drive chassis, there are few faster ways of getting from A-to-B than this, even now. Throw a set of snow tyres on and it would be perfect for winter use too, even in the snow – and nothing would look cooler than this with a pair of skis strapped to it.

The underside does have some scrapes, but these look to be restricted to the plastic rather than anything more serious.

It looks strong and clean under there otherwise, although we do note some light corrosion to the suspension components and brackets. Given the value of the car, and the condition of everything else, it would be worth investing in professional rustproofing to clean it up and protect it going forward.

The Porsche’s MoT certificate, which is valid until September 2024, was issued with just the one advisory for having an engine cover fitted. So that’s no advisories really then, isn’t it?

It also comes with two keys, the full Porsche book pack and wallet, a bunch of expired MoT certificates, and a plethora of old invoice and bills to support the stamps in the service history booklet.

If you can see past the 996’s slightly awkward front end, you’re in for a real treat because they’re as good to drive and own as every other iteration – and *whispers* better than some of the more obvious choices.

Wonderfully easy to potter around in, they tend to make the air-cooled cars sound and feel somewhat agricultural - and yet, for all their practicality, the 996 Turbo S runs with the best of ‘em being lithe and nimble and as powerful as any sensible driver needs. 

Of course, this comes with the caveat that you must buy the right one. 

With so few owners, an impeccable service history, just 60,000 miles on the odometer, and being sold for the very best of reasons, the only drawback to this one is, well, actually we can’t see a single reason not to buy it. 

With all this in mind, we think that this one, as beautifully presented and fettled as any we’ve seen, will sell for somewhere between £45,000 and £55,000, which is a tiny sum for such a versatile, reliable, and thrilling sports car. 

Even better, the owner trusts you will repay his faith, so he’s offering it with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid.

In the meantime, he’s going to be spending the holiday season searching for a classic sportscar that the new member of the family can enjoy alongside him.

Can someone pass the tissues please? I appear to have something in my eye…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ near Abingdon; viewings are strictly by appointment, and we are open weekdays 10am-4pm, to arrange a time 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’.