2003 Porsche 911 (996) Carrera 4S

This particular example is a 2003 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, which not only benefits from being a facelift model, but also boasts a number of featured carried over from the 911 Turbo, chief of which is the wider body styling and the aggressive rear arches, along with the front bumper, brakes and numerous other parts.

As one motoring outlet states, the C4S offers “Turbo levels of enjoyment without the fear factor” thanks to the all-wheel-drive system on offer from the Carrera 4 platform, combined with the 320bhp on tap from the 3.6-litre flat-six engine.

Finished in the attractive combination of Arctic Silver over a Metropole Blue interior, this C4S Cabriolet offers an engaging drive regardless of the weather, with the semi-automatic Tiptronic transmission allowing for effortless everyday cruising, with the option of a clutch-less manual shift for more engaging roads. Of particular note is the inclusion of the matching Arctic Silver factory hard top in the sale of the car, which is a very attractive feature for year-round use.

Purchased in July 2020 and forming part of the vendor’s expansive car collection, it has proven to be a useful and dependable ‘daily’ car during the vendor’s ownership, proving the saying of the 911 being a “usable supercar” to be perfectly true. In October 2020 the car was placed into storage due to a lack of use and the summer tyres being unsuitable for spirited driving in the winter, the vehicle was only removed from storage during March of this year.

During its current ownership, the car has also benefitted from the vendor’s incredible attention to detail, requiring all items to be replaced with OEM parts and working with the ethos of the vehicle “only being original once.” The Air-conditioning, stereo system and headlight lenses have all received attention during the last year, meaning these areas shouldn’t require any further attention for many years to come.

Having enjoyed the car throughout last summer and into Autumn, the vendor is now only putting this Carrera 4S up for sale due to having other automotive commitments.

It should be noted that a nearly-new stand and cover for the hard top is available with the auction, though separate collection would need to be arranged for these items.

Silver suits the lines of the 996 well, and highlights the wider rear arches and more aggressive lines of the C4S very well indeed. Overall, the paintwork on this C4S is in great condition throughout, with only the usual and expected smattering of stone chips to the front end, with a few large chips on the ‘frunk’ lid which have been photographed and shown in the gallery below. The rear arches behind the wheels show the usual wear from stones, salt and debris being thrown up whilst at speed, and the plastic lower front splitter has a number of scrapes and minor damage.

The hard top is in great shape, and the folding mohair soft top looks to be in good condition without any tears or rips to the material, though this would benefit from a re-dyeing to bring it back to its best, as it has barely been used on account of the hard top being present. Speaking of the hard top, there is a few marks around the mounting points on both the front and rear of the car, though these are hidden when the hard top is in place.

The wheels are in good shape with only a few very minor marks present along with considerable lacquer peel on the front nearside wheel. Overall, the wheels would benefit from a refurbishment to bring them in line with the rest of the bodywork, though they still present well from a distance. The Porsche decals appear to have worn off of some of the calipers, though this is only noticeable when the wheels are in the right position.

One minor issue on this C4S is the driver’s door handle, which gets stuck in the ‘open’ position. This is most likely due to a lack of lubrication, though should it be a more in-depth issue the vendor has been quoted around £40 for a new mechanism.

Inside, the Metropole Blue leather is in good condition with no rips or tears, though the front seats are beginning to show their age slightly, with only minor wear to the outer bolsters and the base of the drivers seat on the leading edge. The rear seats, by contrast, appear to have barely been used, and the carpets are all in great shape throughout.

As you’d expect from a car of this age and mileage, the ‘soft touch’ plastics, switches and high-traffic areas are beginning to exhibit signs of use, with the lower dashboard and door cards showcasing numerous scuffs from repeated use.

The desirable PCM navigation unit works correctly as far as we could tell, as does the electronic folding soft top and its associated mechanisms, with no hesitation or issues during our test. There are no warning lights on the dashboard, and all systems are working as Porsche intended.

Inside the door on the driver’s side are a number of small scratches - the vendor’s vehicle detailer states that these were likely caused by stilettos or other high-heels, which would also explain the make-up stains that were removed from the door cards following the vehicle’s purchase.

Heading underneath the turbo-styled bodywork of this C4S, everything looks to be in fantastic visual order. There is the usual expected ‘bloom’ of surface corrosion on areas such as the exhaust, but nothing that appears untoward, nor have any corrosion-related issues been flagged by servicing or MOT inspections. The sills are all in great shape, though the exhaust tips would benefit from a refurbishment to bring them back to their best.

The car starts easily and settles into a refined idle, with the characteristic bark of the flat-six easily commanded by the driver’s right foot, providing a welcome reminder that there is over 300 horses available ‘on demand’ should they be needed. While idling, there appears to be a ticking noise that is prevalent on the right-hand bank of the engine, though this does diminish once the vehicle is warm. There are also slightly sooty deposits from the left-hand exhaust tip, though once again nothing has been flagged during the most recent service in February 2020, nor in the recent MOT.

On the road, the all-wheel-drive system provides plenty of confidence-inspiring grip whatever the weather, making the C4S a wonderfully usable performance car. The Tiptronic gearbox benefits from a recently replaced control module and works exactly as it should, merrily shifting up and down the gears as needed. There are no noticeable knocks, bangs or other untoward noises that we picked up during our test drive, while the naturally aspirated flat-six engine was wonderfully responsive to our inputs.

Supplied with the vehicle is a plethora of paperwork containing numerous past MOT certificates, invoices for work carried out, and the requisite V5 ownership document.

The official Porsche service record is present along with the usual brand literature in the leather binder, however this appears to have never been used by any dealerships or servicing garages. There are numerous invoices for services carried out by Porsche specialists between 2011 when the 12,000 mile service was done, up until the most recent service during 2020.

Highlights of recent work carried out include a new Tiptronic transmission control module being fitted in 2020, a replacement nearside air-conditioning condenser in 2011 and replacement inlet tappets in banks 1-3 during 2013. The most recent major service took place in February 2020 and was conducted by Brookspeed of Eastleigh. The latest MOT certificate is dated 02 July 2020, and shows a clean pass with no advisories.

We include an online HPI report run at the auction start which shows no finance outstanding and no insurance markers for theft or damage.

With the 996 beginning to gain appreciation from even the most hardcore of Porsche enthusiasts, it is truly time for the first generation of water-cooled 911s to shine. The Carrera 4S (or C4S as it is often abbreviated to) offers a captivating driving experience with the safety of all-wheel-drive, wrapped up in the stunning wide body lines of the Turbo models.

Presenting in fine condition throughout and with a clean bill of health from its most recent MOT, this example shows plenty of promise as a weekend ‘fun’ car, or could be used as an engaging daily driver thanks to the addition of the hard top, making it a viable option for enjoyment regardless of the weather conditions.

We estimate that this 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet will fetch in the region of £20,500 and £30,500, and it would make a fine addition to any Porsche enthusiast’s garage.

Viewing is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us in Abingdon. 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’.