2005 Porsche 911 Carrera C4S

This 2005 metallic black with a black interior model has a 320bhp 3.6 litre flat-six engine and Tiptronic gearbox. This is the Carrera 4S model, or just C4S as it’s known by enthusiasts, and it shares the four-wheel-drive system and wide-body look of the Turbo as well as the brakes and suspension.

It is in very good overall condition, drives and handles as it should and has a history and provenance that speak to a life well lived under the stewardship of owners who lavished both care and, as and when necessary, expenditure upon it.

Yes, there’s a scuff here and a scratch there, but fewer than either age or mileage really warrant and, in any case, they are minor in both scale and conspicuousness.

The vendor has had it for about 18 months and was attracted to it by the black/black spec and the fact that it is in good nick with a reassuring history. Something of a classic car enthusiast, he’s found himself lacking the time and opportunity to do justice to his ownership of the car and is therefore selling it on so that someone else gets the chance to enjoy it.

The two owners prior to the vendor were doctors, one of whom sold it to the other. It’s safe to say that its condition at least partly reflects the fact that it’s been owned by people who had the cash to make sure it was properly maintained and fettled at all times.

The metallic black paintwork is in very good condition overall and mostly has an impressive depth of shine and lustre to it. Neither the vendor nor we can find any reason to think that the paintwork is less than original.

The panels are smooth and largely unblemished – save for one small dink and some light scratches on the n/s rear wing. The panel gaps and shut lines are as even, crisp and ‘thunk’ inducing as you’d hope and expect of any Zuffenhausen offering.

The ‘fried egg’ headlight cowls are starting to show just the very first signs of milkiness, but this is barely noticeable and is fairly simple to redress. All four tyres have plenty of tread remaining and the original alloys are good apart from one of two nicks where the car may have become momentarily over-familiar with a kerb.

Although the paintwork and finish are generally of a very good standard, there are a couple of places on the bonnet where the lacquer has been tarnished. The vendor tells us that this is due to the droppings of a pigeon that really needs some avian gastrointestinal advice or, at least, a bit more fibre in its diet. There are also minor some scuffs to the front valance, as you might expect, and a few other scratches etc as you might expect.

So, in a nutshell, from the outside it’s a good looking car with no rust or obvious cosmetic faults that we can find. You might well be more than happy to live with the very few scratches, scuffs and blemishes it does have, or you might relish the chance to get it immaculate without having to expend very much time or money at all. You decide.

It’s as black as the inside of a raven’s coal bunker on a moonless night.

This classy, understated interior really is in fine condition, with only a light patina to the leather seats and nothing to complain about in the carpets, mats, dashboard, headlining, door cards or centre console departments.

The rear seats and carpets are in top condition and don’t look to have welcomed many visitors over the years, as you might expect from the part of a 911 that’s really only suitable for the very young, the very small, the very flexible or the very masochistic.

Everything works as it should, including the ice cold AC and all interior lights.

There is a top-of-the-range aftermarket Alpine head unit (with remote) which was fitted at a cost of around £2000.

The vendor is unsure whether or not the car has had a tracker fitted.

Were we being really picky, and that’s our job, we might point out that the headlamp switch requires a positive turn in order to properly engage with a click. Not exactly a deal breaker, is it?

The luggage storage space under the bonnet is clean and tidy, and there is a space saver wheel with toolkit and triangle.

The undersides are straight, rust free save from surface dusting on the exhaust system, and everything is undamaged and intact.

The engine bay, as with all 911s, is so crowded and cramped that a quick view doesn’t tell you much. That said, all appears to be as it should.

Now, to the thorny issue of the IMS bearing. While there is nothing in the history to suggest that the recommended larger bearing has been retrofitted at any point, there is clearly also nothing in the history to suggest that the IMS bearing has ever caused an issue.

Some detailed research into which bearings were standard across what range of engine codes between which dates might provide some reassurance. It might not. All we can say is that the car has been well maintained and it’s covered 80,000 miles without the IMS bearing ever making itself known to anyone.

So, there you go.

Expenditure in relatively recent times includes:

* New lifting mechanism and sender for rear spoiler – 2012

* New water pump – 2013

* New o/s front tyre – 2017

* New n/s front tyre – 2018

The comprehensive service history includes:

* Porsche Sutton Coldfield – 7.2.07 – 11,514miles

* Porsche Nottingham – 3.10.07 – 28,205 miles

* Porsche Nottingham – 19.5.08 – 35,729 miles

* Porsche Reading – 4.7.09 – 50,531 miles

* Finlay Gorham – 9.9.11 – 58,222 miles

* Autostrasse – 30.8.12 – 63,269 miles

* Lakeside Porsche – 29.8.13 – 67, 393 miles

* Lakeside Porsche – 7.9.15 – 71,915 miles

* Chris & Chris Motors – 22.3.18 – 78,468

* Chris & Chris Motors – 14.3.19 – 79,675

It has a current MOT certificate, with no advisories, which is valid until 21.3.21.

It still has its original manuals and handbooks. It comes with two sets of keys.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

And please be reassured, we’ve undertaken a full COVID-assessment and put into place strict control measure to enable us to safely facilitate a no-contact, socially distanced viewing that includes disinfection of the vehicle before and after your viewing.

We’ve looked long and hard at this car for faults, or things to worry about, or stories that don’t quite add up, and we can’t find anything other than very minor, primarily cosmetic issues that are definitely under the heading of wear’n’tear.

It drives very well and has been well looked after throughout its documented life by people with both the desire and the wherewithal to do it properly.

This, we’re confident, is a good, solid example of a truly mould-breaking (at least for Porsche) car.

Whether you chose to fret over over the perennial 996 IMS bearing issue is entirely up you, as is how much research you want to do into types of bearing, dates, engine codes and where this model sits on that continuum.

Whatever, the usual codicils and provisos that matter most with any car - history, condition, provenance, obvious care - are all present, correct and more than apparent with this car.

We’re happy to offer this car for an estimate of £14 – 20,000 with, as always, a lower reserve.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near 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’.