2004 Porsche 911 3.6 CARRERA 4

Apart from this car’s outstanding condition - which you will see from the photos - this 2004 example possesses two very everyday touring-friendly features; all wheel-drive and a tiptronic gearbox. Now I know we’re all supposed to think of the ‘Nine-Eleven’ as the last real drivers car, a (not as) light weight (as it used to be) point-to point sports car for the country lanes and mountain passes. And that it still can be. But…it has lots of other qualities too, one being that, if you’re more of a touring driver, that very clever semi-auto ’box can make for much more relaxed but still very swift progress. And, of course, the all-wheel drive system can add a whole other level of push when you’re on the twisty bits, as well as make you that bit more sure-footed on the slippery bits. So, as a touring-cum-sportster, this black-on-black example fits the niche rather well.

Coupled to this, it has a sensible mileage for the year, a pleasingly unremarkable service history (no questions like; why did they replace the engine three times), and - again, as you can see - such a great look. And the roof comes off. Tasty.

This so very black 911 creates a very good impression. The pure lines remain very much intact, with no inconsistencies in the panel work or shut lines to spoil the shape - just take a look across the flanks. Panel gaps are consistent side to side and doors, boot, bonnet - and petrol filler cap - all line up perfectly with the surfaces around them.

The paintwork retains a deep gloss all round with the deep front and rear deformable bumpers blending in perfectly with the steel panels. What few adornments there are to the body – wing mirrors and inset door handles, blend nicely into the whole, with no untidy joins or seams. The mirrors have no scratches at their outer edges. Badging too – ‘Carrera’ in brushed metal – remains tidy.

Door handles show no key or fingernail marks and the edges and join lines here and around the mirrors are free of ingrained dirt or faults in the finish. Lifting the filler cap reveals no stains or accumulated fuel residue - it’s very clean here - as are door cavity gaps around the hinges. You will also notice that the car’s production stickers and user signage in these spaces appears almost as good as new.

The Porsche’s cabin has faired much better than many an 80,000-miler. The seats look to be in excellent condition, with hides all round retaining their deep black pigment. There is a distinct lack of creasing in most of the leather – though understandably a little more on the lower seat side cushions and the bolsters. The high sides of the tall sports seats hold their original graceful curves all round. Like many a 911, the rear seats don’t appear to have been used much at all.

There is a distinct lack of handling marks around switches, steering wheel and gear selector, and the stitching to seats, doors and trim details remains tight and un-frayed.

The (brushed) metal highlights and trim also remain in good condition - no chips or scratches - as do the Carrera-logo’d plastic sill covers. The carpets throughout the cabin are clean, retaining all their original colour and maintaining a good pile to the material.

The fabric-topped rear deck (roof down) is in good shape, with only one or two very small scuffs or fraying. There is also a little rubbing to finish at the corner edges of windscreen top, but, other than this, rubber and plastic seals around the roof and doors look to be very healthy.

Understandably, there is a little more wear to the car’s finish around the edges and underside of the body - but it is just that - a little - one or two chips. There is no corrosion in the wheel arches and the underside of the body appears strong and very much intact.

Suspension parts look to be in very good order, showing no corrosion. Fuel and brake lines look good and the exhaust displays the usual light surface covering of surface rust. The split rim alloy wheels are very presentable - a few chips on the outer rims - while the brake assemblies behind are again almost totally corrosion free. Tyres are very good.

One of the most notable areas - on a very clean car - has to be the engine bay, which is in almost pristine condition. All black plastic - and rubber - parts show no signs of fading, cracking or perishing. The fan cowling and its fastening screws don’t appear to have suffered from any heat damage, and the wiring too looks supple and clean. All ancillaries look remarkably clean - there are no oil stains anywhere in the engine bay, with no signs of anything having dripped onto the exhaust pipes below the engine.

The undersides of the bonnet and boot lids are very clean. The only fault being perhaps a slight untidiness to the paint around the oval holes in the inner skin - a very minor detail.

Quite reasonably, the Porsche’s history is confined to its service book, which is well stamped, initially from main agents and latterly from marque specialists. Not much to pore over, but nothing to worry about either.

If you look back at the ‘vehicle’ section above, you’ll see why we think this is Porsche offers such a beautifully balanced ‘touring’ package, made all the more appealing by the car’s condition and colour combination. As a tiptronic, it will probably be a little cheaper than its manual gearboxed stable mates, but its integral Porscheness and condition will ensure it remains a sound modern classic investment.

We would expect the cabriolet to command between £18,000 and £22,000, and kept in the same excellent condition, maybe return a premium to the buyer.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the owner in Hockley, Essex; 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’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.