2002 Porsche 911 TARGA TIPTRONIC S

This 996 911 has had just 3 former keepers and covered only 36,600 miles in its 18 years, and the condition is superb. The Porsche has a complete set of service stamps and has the appearance of a car that has been well cared for throughout its life, and looks to have had little use for several years when it was not very old.

Black paint shows the iconic shape well and the first owner ticked plenty of option boxes to make a very well kitted out car.

The paint is excellent with a deep gloss to the metallic black, we believe it is Basalt black which was introduced in 2002, looking around the car, admittedly on a wet day, we didn’t spot and chips or scratches around the bodywork, even the bonnet appears free of stone chips, the bonnet badge and model script badge on the boot are mint and the panel gaps are steel rule straight and there are no signs of damage or corrosion that we could find.

The 18” alloys look just right on this car and only one has any kerb rash, just a small 3cm mark on the near side rear, and all four wheels are wearing Continental Sport Contact tyres, another sign that someone was looking after this car.

Being a Targa model, it has the full glass roof which retracts into the rear area when the roof is closed the rear window can be opened tailgate style to load into the back seat area. The large glass area is all good with no chips or cracks.

At the back there is an automated spoiler which can raise and lower automatically, or as has been done for now, set to remain raised and channel its inner whale tail.

The interior of this 996 is incredibly well appointed with full black leather and electric seats complemented by carbon fibre trim across the cabin, featuring on the carbon and leather steering wheel and from sill treads and door pulls to dash and console finishers.

Incredibly high spec for 2002, there is a colour screen sat nav along with the usual CD player in the dash and a CD changer and sub-woofer in the front trunk as the car has the Bose audio upgrade.

The black carpet is in as new condition, having always been protected by original dealer fit, Porsche embossed carpet mats and the headlining and retractable sunshade are also in perfect shape.

On the steering wheel there are a couple of small scratches in the carbon fibre, perhaps from the driver wearing a ring.

The car appears very solid with no signs of corrosion or accident damage,that we could find, and only one wheel has a mark on the rim. The engine fires easily and idles without fuss or overheating and revs with the distinctive boxer rasp unique to these cars.

The car has five stamps in the service book, from a mix of main dealer and independent specialist - this is never a bad thing as the marque specialists are often brand enthusiasts and the lower prices don’t deter those extra less essential jobs. The last service was carried out in 2018, at flagship main dealer Porsche Silverstone , just over 1000 miles ago. The vendor also states, that the battery was changed earlier this year, though we did notice is was low on charge upon our visit.

The auto gearshift changes smoothly, and on the short drive the power steering and brakes worked quietly and correctly and as expected, there were no signs of leaks under the car. We had to jump-start the car when we drove it so a new battery would probably be a good idea before the winter.

There is a quirk with the car’s history that the V5 shows it as silver, but the paint has all the appearance of original Porsche factory paint, a particularly hard finish and no outward signs of the car having been taken apart to be painted.

It has been noted before that a look at the tyres gives a good idea of how a car has been maintained, and a matching set of premium brand Continental Sport Contact tyres, staggered wider at the rear, which have good tread remaining on them.

The overall condition of this 911 is excellent and this little used 996 is in superb shape. The carbon and leather interior makes sitting in it feel special and the Targa roof gives the best aspects of both open top motoring but retains the weatherproofing and body stiffness of a coupe. The automatic is of course personal preference, and some may prefer the easy driving nature of an auto.

The 996 has been about the most affordable 911 for some time but prices have started to follow the Porsche trend and are rising, and while cars should be bought for enjoyment rather than just as an investment, it’s nice to think that your next collector car could pay for itself while you’re enjoying it! We expect this beauty will achieve between £22,500 - £25,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Milton Keynes; 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’.