2004 Porsche 911 Targa Tiptronic S

First registered on the 1st of March 2004, this wonderful Porsche 911 Targa is the later Generation 2 model, so benefits from the larger engine and facelifted looks. Fully loaded it comes with a set of Sport Classic II split-rim alloy wheels (a £2,000 option all by themselves…), parking sensors, the PCM (Porsche Communication Management) system, satellite navigation and a Bose music system, air-conditioning, cruise control, aluminium instrument faces, the desirable ‘hard-back’ heated sport seats with electrical adjustment and memory, and an aluminium handbrake and gear lever.

The previous owner was a retired engineer who had the car for three years. So fastidious was he that every little job was attended to the moment it arose, something that was aided greatly by the fact that a friend of his owned a Porsche garage.

It joined the vendor’s Porsche collection as the first water-cooled 911 he’d ever owned. Determined to find an immaculate example with this specification and the black leather interior, he’s loved his time with the car – “every time I look at the speedo it’s always showing 25mph faster than it feels” – but feels that now is the time to pass it on to a new owner as he’s due to move back out to Florida shortly - where he will buy another 996…

Midnight Blue is a lovely colour for the model, being understated and elegant, lending the lines a timeless elegance that other, more vibrant, colours don’t. Being only a couple of shades away from black, you’d expect it to highlight even the most insignificant of flaws – and you’d be right.

Which is why the fact that this one presents so well comes as such a pleasant surprise; after all, any car that has six-figures on the odometer and 16 years under its belt could be excused slightly weary coachwork but this one genuinely looks like a three-year-old car rather than one that’s in the tail-end of its second decade.

Almost certainly the original paintwork - the original factory build sheet is still in place on the underside of the bonnet where its presence is a sure way to check that the vulnerable front end is original and undamaged - the sheen and finish is nothing short of miraculous.

As are the tight and even shutlines, dent and dink-free panels, and a degree of fit ‘n’ finish that shows why older Porsche 911s are the pick of the bunch if you want a semi-supercar that will still be delivering years after others will have rolled over and died.

The glass targa roof, badges, glazing and light lenses are all unmarked. Speaking of which, the body-colour retro-panels that cover the ‘fried egg’ headlamps simply pop off if you don’t like the look of them.

The Midnight Blue, 18-inch split-rim alloy wheels are in a great shape and are shod with good tyres, 225/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport on the front and 285/30ZR18 Nankang Ultra Sport NSII on the rear. The red brake calipers that peek out on all four corners bring a welcome touch of performance-oriented bling to an otherwise understated car.

Problems? Apart from the inevitable stonechips and minor marks that any car will accumulate over the years, in the owner’s own words: “If I am being hyper-critical, were I giving the car to my son the only improvement I’d consider is fitting some softer tyres on the front. The Michelins are super-grippy when warm - and of course they last well - but the NSII tyres on the rear stick so strongly right from cold and I’d maybe put them on the front, too.”

Only very gently creased, the 911’s black leather interior is as bombproof as urban legend suggests. The optional hard-backed sports seats, which are electrically adjustable and heated, look sensational and the electronic gubbins all work as well now as they did when they were fitted 16 years ago.

The rear seats are in an excellent condition, even if they are more suitable for children than adults. Still, they do fold down to form a very useful luggage area, so all is not lost.

Porsche overmats protect the very good carpets, and the door cards, electric sunscreen, and dashboard are all as good as the rest of the interior.

The ‘frunk’ is very neat and clean. Home to the space-saver spare wheel, tool kit, Porsche CD multi-changer, and some very good carpets, the underlying floor is solid and free of rust and corrosion.

Oh, and while the steering wheel-mounted buttons for the semi-automatic Tiptronic gearbox work perfectly, we are told that a paddleshift conversion is available for not a lot of money.

Work to do? Nothing. Nada. Not a thing.

The engine bay is very clean and tidy. Well serviced over the years, its history is recorded as follows:

• 17.02.05 and 4,669 miles – service by Porsche Centre Silverstone

• 30.12.05 and 9,325 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Porsche Centre West London

• 09.01.07 and 15,577 miles – service by Porsche Centre East London

• 21.12.07 and 22,162 miles – service by Porscheworx Engineering

• 02.06.08 and 24,009 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Porsche Centre Reading

• 22.06.09 and 32,248 miles – service by Porsche Centre West London

• 09.03.10 and 45,170 miles – service, new spark plugs and fresh brake fluid by Porsche Centre West London

• 15.12.10 and 57,242 miles - service by Porsche Centre West London

• 29.11.11 and 69,761 miles - service by Porsche Centre West London

• 27.09.12 and 79,349 miles – service and fresh brake fluid by Porsche Torque

• 18.07.13 and 90,235 miles – service and new spark plugs by Porsche Torque

• 24.02.14 and 99,314 miles – service by Porsche Torque

• 26.08.15 and 105,766 miles – service by Porsche Centre East London

• 20.12.17 and 112,036 miles – service

• 21.08.19 and 116,273 miles – service plus a new waterpump and fresh gearbox and differential oil

• 02.03.20 – new front brake discs and pads

• 06.11.20 and 117,737 miles – oil service by Dorrill Auto Services

As you can see, it starts well, ticks over beautifully and revs like a demon. It drives as it should too but we’re preaching to the converted by now, aren’t we?

Oh, and as for the dreaded IMS bearing failure, as the Porsche Club puts it: ‘This is a strange case where the reality is radically different than the perceived risk’. You doubt them, how about the time 911 expert Matt Bell told ClassicsWorks ‘If it hasn’t failed in the first 50,000 miles it probably isn’t going to.’

Nonetheless, as a prudent man, the vendor submits oil samples from all his cars on a regular basis, and the latest results (100 miles ago and shown in photo #245) are:

Aluminium: Ideal maximum 20 ppm - THIS ENGINE 2 ppm

Copper: Ideal maximum 50 ppm - THIS ENGINE 13 ppm

Lead: Ideal maximum 50 ppm - THIS ENGINE 3 ppm

The underside is solid and free of structural rot and corrosion. The underseal is still in a good condition but there does appear to be evidence of a very small amount of oil on the underside of the engine, but absolutely no sign of oil leaking onto the floor below. We would encourage & welcome you to visit The Market HQ in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, to view this stunning Porsche for yourselves.  

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

The 911’s MOT certificate, which is valid until August 2021, reinforces the car’s mileage, showing a consistent rise over the years. This year’s advisories, which interrupted an otherwise six-year clear run, have been attended to already, something that goes to the heart of how well this Porsche has been maintained.

It has a number of expired MOT certificates plus its original owner’s handbook, the stamped service history, book pack, and storage wallet plus three 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.

NB: The cherished number will not come with the car and it has now been re-registered on it's original registration "LJ04 EPP".

The Porsche 996 might be the ginger stepchild of the modern classic world but if, like every sane enthusiast, you can look past the slightly awkward frontend then you’re in for a real treat because they’re as brilliant to drive and own as every other iteration – and *whispers* better than some.

Because they’re so wonderfully easy to potter around in, they can make the air-cooled cars sound and feel somewhat agricultural. And yet, for all their sensibleness, when it’s time to play the 996 runs with the best of ‘em being lithe and nimble and as powerful as any sane driver needs.

Of course, this comes with the caveat that you must buy the right one, and this is very definitely made of The Right Stuff. Beautifully maintained, it comes to us via a man we know well, a man we know looks after his cars properly and, even more importantly, takes his time in selecting them in the first place, which means he’s already done the heavy lifting if you are engaged in a search for the best-of-the-best.

And yet, because it’s a 996 its appeal is (unnecessarily) more limited than some, which does wonders for the price if you’re looking to buy. This one, for example, as beautifully presented and fettled as any we’ve seen, will sell for somewhere between £12,000 and £16,000, which is a tiny sum for such a versatile, reliable, and thrilling sports car.

And, because their time has yet to come, we wouldn’t be at all surprised to find that you might do very well out of it in the medium to long-term…

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’.