Type 996 Porsche 911

We have experienced and reported on quite a few 911s on our blog, from the original 911 to the 73 Carrera to the 992 GT3, but for some reason there have been very few articles on the 996 and 997.

As for the 996, there is only oneReview of the late Carrera 4Sbut this is not a report of the original condition, as the unit had a different suspension and wheels.

This time, theI had the opportunity to test drive a 996 early Carrera 4 in good original condition.I would like to report on this.

It is a very rare Zenith blue colored 2000.Although the car has about 80,000 kilometers on it, the exterior is very beautiful.The body still has plenty of luster, and although the interior has some age-related deterioration, it is evident that the car has been handled with care.

The teardrop headlights, which frankly looked uncomfortable at the time of their release, are the coolest thing I've ever seen.911 GT1I personally like this design very much because it reminds me of the AndOverall width is 1,770 mm, just the right sizeIt is.

Viewed from directly above, the front and rear tips are narrowed, giving the car an egg-shaped design. And the rear fender bulges are very modest.Compactness that can be called the "narrow" of water-coolingis irresistible.

The doors are big and heavy, but when they are closed, they no longer sound like the vaults they used to until the 993 model. The door closes with a low sound, just like a modern 911.Sitting down on the seat, it is a very soft and fluffy seat.

Even in the air-cooled era, Porsche seats had a soft seat surface, but it was as if they were made even larger and thicker. It is as if you are in a luxury coupe.

When I started the engine, I thought, 'I'm not going to be able toBloon!The 3.4-liter, 300 PS engine wakes up with a subdued "A" sound.

Shift the Tiptronic into D range and start slowly.

This is 911 handling!

The ride is very mild. Suspension hit is very soft.At very low speeds, it rides like a saloon.As we gradually increase the pace, the feet, which had been saloon-soft, gradually become more grounded. It is clear that the car is firmly grasping the road surface.

When we went over a big step, there was a certain amount of "thumping! sound, and there is also a "Oh, I knew it was 911.I think, 'I'm not going to be able to do it.

The engine sound is very quiet at low rpm, but that is only inside. When I later heard the sound when starting off from outside, it was quite nice and pleasant sounding at a good volume. Since I had the impression that the car had soft feet, I cautiously entered the first curve just to be sure.

But I soon learned that there was no need to worry about that.It is still a true 911 leg.The foot, which felt soft, turned the steering wheel, and as soon as the load was applied to the outside, it stopped rolling with a snap and became ready for battle.

Further traction would beThe gnarly feeling of the tires flexing on the steering wheel is linearly perceptible.

It is as if you were using an expensive steering wheel controller (steering wheel) on a race simulator, and you can see the road surface conditions and the load on the car in a linear fashion. This is the 911.

In addition, theThis car is a four-wheel drive Carrera 4.As long as the front tires are facing in the right direction, all you have to do is step on the accelerator pedal and the car exits the corner as if nothing has happened, exactly the same behavior as the 4WD Carrera 4GTS in the 991 and 992.

The steering wheel is turned off, the load is applied with moderate roll, the roll stops with a snap, the car turns while applying lateral Gs, and finally exits with strong vertical traction. This sequence of movements is very rhythmical.The more the car is driven, the more perfectly the driver and the car are in tune with each other.

It is as if the car is telling the driver the timing through the suspension and steering. This is not an exaggeration, but a real 911 feeling.

It's a lot of fun.Even though this is my first time driving a 911, the more I drive, the more in tune I feel with myself. When I successfully exit one corner, I feel even more comfortable entering the next corner. This continuous rhythm is wonderfully pleasant.

This sensation is hard to experience in a modern, cyborgically fast 911. Or, to be more precise, it can be experienced in a modern 911, but it requires a high speed range, such as on a race track. HoweverThe 996 is entertaining even at the pace of an amateur enjoying winding roads.That is one of the main attractions.

Tiptronic and Engine

Tiptronic's shifting manners are also excellent.It is very different from the Tiptronic up to the 993, and has evolved significantly from the 996.In addition, shifting shocks have been reduced and are very smooth. The shocks are very mild, especially when downshifting, and the response to manual operation with the switch on the steering wheel is also much better.

Although the gearshift speeds are not as fast as PDK, I must assure you that it is fully capable of sport driving with manual operation, and I did not think it was not enjoyable at all. In fact, it wasI was able to open the gas pedal and concentrate on the steering wheel operation, which was a lot of fun.

Even in AT mode, if the accelerator is pressed down quickly, it kicks down and instantly enters the acceleration regime. The engine is very smooth andThe engine sound at high rpm is wonderfully pleasant.

The engine sounds of the 981 and 991 are good, but the pure sound of the engine is wonderful. It is a sound that is full-grained and truly "pleasing," and no matter how long you listen to it, you will never get tired of the engine sound.

The engine is rated at 300 hp, but I got the impression that there was a bit more. It is not incredibly fast, of course, but it has the acceleration and response that would put a 911 to shame.Physically speaking, it is slower than a 981GTS, but about as fast as a bare 981.It was.

The 996 is an unfortunate classic. Now is the time to buy one.

Now, this 911 was actually a used car that was sold, but priced at less than 3 million yen. (Already sold out at the time of writing this blog)

It is said that the reason for the low price of the 996 is its teardrop headlights, the problem of the broken intermediate shaft (commonly known as the "Intami problem"), and the No. 6 cylinder problem. As for the teardrop headlights, it is a matter of taste.I was uncomfortable with it when it was launched, but now it seems very cool.

The times have finally caught up with the design, or rather, it even looks rather new when you see it now, so I hope you will take a good look at the actual product.

As for the Intami problem, the probability of its occurrence seems to be low in the 996th term.And in fact, it seems that Porsche Japan's service campaign (not a recall) has only been applicable since the later stages. And if you are worried about it, I don't think you need to worry too much as many stores will replace the bearings that cause that problem.

andThe number 6 cylinder problem, although the incidence is low, in some 996 and 997s, the number 6 cylinder is scratched, eventually causing a strange noise and the piston to swivel.In some cases, overhaul is required. However, according to information from a Porsche store I know, the incidence is even lower for the 996 3.4L.

I have heard glimpses of this problem as well. In this context, I would like to say, in my complete personal opinion, that you should be careful with low-mileage cars. In the used car market, low mileage cars fetch high prices.

However, theAt this age, we should be wary of cars with too low mileage.Low mileage means either little opportunity to drive or a little bit of driving.

First of all, less chance to run means that the engine oil will fall out of the engine during long term storage, resulting in a dry start every time. Then, theFriction in the cylinder and moving parts increases, which is never good for the engine.

In addition, if the vehicle is ridden frequently, especially in Japan, there is a lot of stop-and-go driving, and the vehicle will be running at no more than 2,000 rpm. This means that the coolant cannot be circulated sufficiently to cool the No. 6 cylinder in question.

Conversely, if the engine is stopped before it warms up to the proper temperature, the oil and other components will not rise to the proper temperature, and moisture will accumulate without evaporating, causing the oil to deteriorate quickly.

In addition, according to Uwe Makrutsky, who heads the factory restoration department at Porsche Classics.They should run at least 100 km per month.

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So if you are buying a used car around 996.Recommend buying one that has been driven some distance and has good maintenance records.I would go for a car with at least 50,000 km and in original condition with good maintenance records.

Fortunately, with the price of classic Porsches soaring, the 996 is still inexpensive.For less than the price of a new domestic sports car, you can enjoy a wonderful, high-quality driving experience that makes it seem like a first-class industrial product.If you are considering it, I suggest you buy it as soon as possible if you find a good unit. The time to buy is now.