2003 Porsche 911 Turbo (996)

Highlights

• Extensive service history
• Midnight Blue Metallic paintwork
• 3.6-litre flat-six with six-speed manual gearbox
• All-wheel drive
• Just serviced at a cost of £8.5k

Overview

Porsche’s devotion to the air-cooled engine was admirably long lived. They strove to keep it going for as long as possible, but in the end they had no choice but to modernise. So the 996 was introduced as the first generation of the 911 to feature a water-cooled engine, which inevitably ruffled a few feathers.

Looking back now from our lofty perch far in the future — where we accept water-cooled 911s just as readily as we accept contactless payments and vegan sausage rolls — it’s easy to forget just how seismic a shift this was at the time. And when the Turbo version of the 996 came on the scene, it blew us all away again with its superbly manageable handling, and impressive all-wheel drive grip.

The car we see here is a particularly desirable example, with its smart Midnight Blue paintwork setting it apart from the ubiquitous silver of its contemporaries. And it is accompanied by a wagonload of paperwork detailing the car’s careful maintenance record. It has been serviced pretty much every year since it was new, and there are plenty of invoices to provide hours of night-time reading.

One particularly comforting bedtime story for bidders is told by the latest service invoice which totals £8,571 and includes not just a full service but also the replacement of the front shocks, springs and top mounts, rear springs, a new O2 sensor and renewal of the brake pipes, amongst other items. It’s also been treated to a full alignment check to make sure that it drives just as it should following the suspension work.

So if you’re looking for a well-historied high-performance 911 which can still hold its own on today’s roads, then this 996 Turbo is an excellent candidate.

History and documentation

• Registered 11 Apr 2003
• Stamped service book with services as follows: Mar 2005 @ 7,736 miles, Mar 2006 @ 12,610 miles, Apr 2007 @ 19,057 miles, May 2008 @ 30,574 miles, Mar 2009 @ 41,992 miles, May 2010 @ 49,750 miles, May 2011 @ 51,835 miles, May 2013 @ 55,729 miles, Oct 2016 @ 58,900 miles, Oct 2017 @ 59,166 miles, Aug 2019 @ 63,104 miles, Aug 2020 @ 65,071 miles, Sep 2021 @ 66,731 miles, Aug 2022 @ 68,169 miles, Sep 2023 @ 69,388 miles, Aug 2024 @ 71,933 miles
• Original document pack in leather wallet
• Porsche certificate of authenticity, with a build date of 25 Mar 2003
• Original sales invoice with options list
• Extensive collection of servicing invoices including the latest for over £8.5k
• Two keys
• Five registered former keepers
• Purchased buy the current keeper from Porsche Teeside in 2018
• Current MOT expires 17 Sep 2024
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear
• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• This Porsche’s interior features ‘Graphite’ leather upholstery
• It remains in generally very good condition for its age, with some wear to the driver’s seat bolster
• The centre console features a few small scratches
• Air conditioning serviced in Jun 2019
• Electronically adjustable front seats with memory function
• The door cards are clean and tidy
• Clear analogue instruments sit in front of the driver
• Pioneer touchscreen head unit with Android Auto and Apple Car Play
• The original standard stereo will be supplied with the car
• The seller informs us that the original wiring remains useable, should the next owner wish to revert to the original unit
• Rear parking sensors
• Sun roof
• The headlining is very clean and tidy
• The front floor mats feature the Porsche logo
• Tracker fitted from new
• Under the bonnet, the luggage compartment is spacious and fully carpeted
• CD changer still fitted

Exterior

• Finished in Midnight Blue Metallic paint
• Generally, the car’s paint appears to be in good condition for its age
• There are some small stone chips and scratches to the paint, but nothing major
• Some areas of paintwork have been touched up
• The body panels appear to be straight
• 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels
• The wheels show a little kerb damage, and the centre caps all have some flaking
• Rear tyres were replaced last year
• There is some corrosion on the suspension components, as noted on the most recent MOT
• Front windscreen glass well preserved, with no major chips or scratches that we could see
• New Bosch wiper blades fitted in Feb 2024
• The front splitter has been changed for one from a Carrera 4S, in order to gain a little ground clearance
• The original splitter remains with the car
• White Porsche branded indoor car cover included in the sale
• ZunSport mesh grilles are fitted to prevent debris reaching the radiators

Mechanical

• 3,596 cc flat-six petrol engine
• Twin turbochargers
• Produces 414 bhp and 415 lb ft
• Six-speed manual transmission, with Porsche short shifter
• All-wheel drive
• 0-62 mph in 4.2 seconds
• top speed of 190 mph
• The most recent service invoice in Sep 2023 included an engine oil and filter change, a new brake pipe, and diagonal brace bar
• The seller reports that the car starts easily and runs very smoothly, with good oil pressure and turbo boost
• Service just completed included the replacement of all the springs, new front shocks, and much more besides
• There is a slight drive belt squeak, which has reportedly been investigated by two garages, who assured the vendor that it is inconsequential
• Slight oil leak from one of the turbo sumps
• Extensive service history, with invoices on file

Summary

After 20 years on the road any car will have a few issues which need sorting. And even this 996, with its impressive maintenance log, won’t be immune to wear and tear. But in return it’ll certainly reward you with many miles of turbocharged, all-wheel drive fun.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire