2002 Porsche 911 (996) Carrera 4 S

Full disclosure, this 911 996 C4S is the personal car of one of our esteemed specialists here at HQ.

He bought it about 18 months ago and is only selling because, well, it’s not ideal transport for his dog.

We have driven the car and can attest to its thoroughly well-screwed-together feel and its undimmed ability to start, go, keep going, get quicker, carry on getting quicker, brake and stop with all the pedigree engineering precision, poise and balance you would hope and expect to find in a properly sorted and cared-for 996 C4S.

We imagine that when Gunther and Wolfgang waved this one goodbye from the end of the production line at Zuffenhausen, they felt deservedly proud of themselves.

The bodywork is straight, true and devoid of any dinks, dents, creases, ripples or folds that shouldn’t be there.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are consistent and even, too, and the doors close with plenty of trademark Teutonic heft and certainty.

In our experience, silver is just about the most forgiving hue after white and the finish on this Polar Silver car is no exception.

Throughout, the paintwork has managed to retain plenty of shine and depth of lustre, notwithstanding use and the passage of time.

There are one or two minor stone chips in the usual places – front valance, around the nose of the car, on the forward-facing aspects of the rear arches – but even those are pretty few and far between.

We found one tiny spot of blistering on the o/s/r wheel-arch, consisting of a few micro-blisters (as opposed to a proper bubble).

There’s also a touched-up scratch on the o/s/f wing just below the fuel filler flap.

The wheels appear to have done a diligent job of avoiding contact with kerbs or other roadside obstacles, with only the n/s/r item having any scuffs or nicks to show for its years of service.

The tyres - Pirelli P-Zero at the rear, Falken at the front - look to have a decent amount of life left in them.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all in very good order, as far as we can tell.

It’s a very similar story of good curation, quality and preservation on the inside, where the overall condition is more a reflection of the car’s very reasonable mileage than its age.

Very few manufacturers can compete with Porsche when it comes to high-quality seats that are supremely fit for their sporting purpose.

Yes, there are a few creases around the bolsters, much as there are on the vendor, but the seats are firm, comfortable, supportive and free of any holes, rips, tears or other aberrations.

As is nearly always the case with a 911, the rear seats don’t look as if they’ve ever been called upon to support much more than the weight of a Panama hat or a slim volume of poetry.

The leather seats may look black but they’re actually a very dark shade known as Metropole Blue.

The black plastics on and around the dashboard and elsewhere have stoically resisted any temptations to fade or crack, and we like the lightness of ambience introduced by the silver inserts on the steering wheel and around the centre console.

The steering wheel, gear selector and handbrake are all in fine fettle.

As far as we’re aware, all of the refreshingly analogue buttons, knobs, switches, dials, levers and instruments do what they’re supposed to do without complaint, delay or dissent.

The head unit is an aftermarket item.

The handle for the glove box works as intended but, should you be unlucky enough to encounter one of Britain’s very rare pot-holes, it is sometimes inclined to fall off.

The door cards are good, save for the odd scuff here and there on the door handles, and the carpets and mats have endured with commendable stoicism and fortitude.

The headlining is as good as the rest of it, as is the neat and tidy frunk, which contains a space-saver spare wheel and a tool roll.

Obviously, there’s not much reward to be had from peering into the engine bay of a 911, but what we can see appears to be present, correct, clean, dry and orderly.

The undersides are largely hidden behind protective cowls, trays and shrouds but, again, what we can see has given us no cause to frown, tut or otherwise question the car’s integrity, character, motives or personal hygiene.

While the car’s service book and its stamps have gone AWOL at some point, it does come with plenty of more recent bills, invoices and receipts for work carried out.

The vendor parted company with £1,835 in May 2026 at marque specialist Maundrell & Co.

In addition to giving the car a very comprehensive service, they replaced the power steering pump.

In January 2026, the vendor had a new ABS loom fitted and the n/s/f CV boot replaced.

In June 2025, the car was the grateful recipient of new front discs and pads.

In April 2025, it was fitted with new A/C condensers and re-gassed.

For those among you who are fretting about the IMS bearing and the state of the bores, we have the following reassuring news – which is supported with invoices.

In February 2019 (or 15,000 miles ago) as part of an engine-out operation by Specialist Cars of Malton to fix an oil leak from the rear main seal, the IMS bearing was inspected, checked and found to be in very good order.

In 2017 the bores were checked and also found to be in irreproachable condition.

In addition to a V5C, recent HPI check and a pack of manuals and guides, the car comes with an MoT certificate - with no advisories whatsoever - that’s valid until 29th January 2027.

As one of THE MARKET’s specialists, the vendor is not in the habit of buying dodgy cars with dubious history, which should give you some reassurance.

Not least because he bought the car knowing it had Cat D status.

Now then.

As the august motoring institution that is the RAC states on its website, “It’s important to remember a Cat D car will have been written off only because it is uneconomical to fix, not because any potential damage was so great it could not be driven again.”

We don’t know the circumstances behind the car’s Cat D status, which was given to the car in 2003.

But we do know that there are a few things to bear in mind in relation to this particular marque and the model.

This was a nearly new Porsche 911 996 C4S when the unfortunate incident occurred.

In other words, it was a very expensive car.

So, replacing the ashtray and one of the vanity mirrors would probably cost more than a Daihatsu Dunno or a Ssangyong Sorry.

Also, the initial repair estimate will have been given in the knowledge that it was for insurance purposes, and that usually means adding a few noughts for good measure in our experience.

For many, the C4S was the sweet spot of the 996 range.

It came with enough of a power hike to set it apart from the cheaper Carrera, but without the massive expense of the weapons-grade Turbo.

And with the power delivered through all four wheels, it was supremely sure-footed and predictable.

This particular example has been owned and enjoyed by one of THE MARKET’s own specialists.

It had its IMS bearing and bores given a clean bill of health around 15,000 miles ago.

It is in very good condition all-round and is a pleasure to drive.

What’s not to like?

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £13,000 - £18,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.