1998 Porsche 911 (996) Carrera coupe

The Porsche 911 (996) was first introduced in 1997 and represented a dramatic (and controversial) change for the company as it was the first water-cooled 911. The 996 was the first truly modern 911 - drive a 993 today and, by comparison, it will feel great but old, almost like a classic with its archaic switchgear and awkward ergonomics. The new car was far more practical too, with more space for touring, a roomier cabin and a structure that was 45% stiffer, yet despite all of this, the 996 was 50kg lighter than the outgoing model.

In 1998, 'Car and Driver' put the Carrera 2 up against the Ferrari 355 and the Porsche came out on top. Furthermore, it was prized as the 'EVO' Magazine car of the year with "its ability to be approachable and accessible like a sports car, but still with the ability to inspire awe like a supercar... on the road its purity of purpose, poise, finesse and honed athleticism allowed it to dominate a test that included the Ferrari F355 and Elise 135".

The pre-facelift 996 is the lightest of all water-cooled 911 variants, including the 996 GT3 which weighs 35kg more. Its 3.4-litre, 300 bhp engine is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox with the two-wheel drive version widely considered to be the purest 996.

This 996 Carrera Coupé was first registered on the 27th January 1998 and is presented in the attractive combination of Arctic Silver and Metropole Blue. It's a right-hand drive, UK-supplied car with a manual gearbox. Our fastidious vendor is a Porsche Club GB member and has always maintained the car thoroughly as can be seen by its service history file, showing both main dealer and marque specialists servicing work. The car has covered a documented 94,621 miles, with the last service being only in March 2016 at 93,945 miles. In 2014 at 92,752 miles the car benefitted from a major service, so in the last couple of years, it has covered less than two thousand miles. Our vendor states that the car performs very strongly and that the bodywork and wheels are in very good condition. There is some minor usage wear in places but is commensurate with age and mileage. This healthy 996 offers Porsche ownership for a very acceptable outlay.