2001 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (996)

Highlights

• Carrera 4 Cabriolet 
• Tiptronic transmission
• Grey leather
• Genuine 32,000 miles from new
• Hard top included

Overview

Until recently, the water-cooled 996 was very much the overlooked 911, its more conventional engine (albeit still horizontally opposed) removing what some believed to be an essential strand of Porsche DNA. 

And while some 911 purists sniff at that, other fans of the marque recognise it for what it was – Porsche finally bringing the 911 up-to-date, while maintaining a number of key elements of its essential DNA, namely the iconic coupe-body profile, the six-cylinder engine in its rump and the upmarket but accessible supercar image that the 911 had portrayed so well since its inception.

It was also a fabulous car to drive, arguably the finest handling car of the 1990s providing you didn’t over-provoke it, at which point it would do another classically 911 thing and fly backwards into the weeds.

If anything, though, the 996 was the perfect compromise. It was rapid and entertaining like a 911 should be, but it was also docile and easy to drive around town, especially when equipped with the Tiptronic semi-auto box – a 911 with the flexibility of a manual and thumb-shift gear changes, but with just the two pedals, meaning that it’s as happy lapping the M25 as it is lapping the Nürburgring. 

 It proved a hit with the wider motoring public and worldwide sales figures of over 175,000 made it one of Porsche’s most popular cars ever.

 There are two types of ‘standard’ 996 - the Carrera 2 and the Carrera 4 (rear and all-wheel-drive), with the choice of wide or narrow body, and coupé, cabriolet or targa body styles. They're all great, so the decision around which one to go for is an entirely personal thing.

 This one’s a narrow-bodied Carrera 4 cabriolet Tiptronic in one of the classic colours – Cobalt Blue – with a genuine low mileage of under 32,000 from new. 

It’s a great way into 911 ownership – stylish, usable and a wise investment, as well as being a fine choice of fun-to-drive modern classic.  

 History and documentation

• Full UK V5C in the name of the vendor
• First registered 1 March 2001
• MOT until 10 March 2026 
• Lots of invoices documenting recent and historic work
• Two keys
• Original Porsche book pack and manuals
• Service book stamped as follows: 2002 @ 3,440 miles (main dealer), 2005 @ 8,380 miles (main dealer), 2006 @ 11,076 miles (specialist), 2008 @ 14,400 miles (specialist), 2009 @ 16,800 miles (main dealer), 2010 @ 19,128 miles (main dealer), 2011 @ 21,003 miles (main dealer), 2014 @ 23,595 miles (main dealer), 2015 @ 24,091 miles (main dealer), 2016 @ 24,495 miles (main dealer), 2017 @ 24,509 miles (main dealer), 2018 @ 26,882 miles (main dealer)
• Substantial Main Dealer repairs carried out in 2021 and 2023
• Serviced by (specialist) in April 2025 when all advisories outlined in MOT were addressed and rectified

Interior

• Grey leather trim in very smart overall condition, 
• Some very light wear to driver’s seat right-hand bolster
• Superb carpets and door trims
• Excellent dash and headlining
• All dials and controls work as intended
• Climate control
• Spacesaver spare wheel and original tool kit

Exterior

• Stunning Lapis Blue Metallic
• Original 18-inch alloys – recently refurbished all-round, but with one small mark on one rim
• Continental ContiSport tyres all round – newly fitted in March 2025
• Clear, transparent and non-cloudy headlights
• There is evidence of very light corrosion on the inside edge of both rear wheelarches 
• Fully operational electric mohair roof
• Accessory windbreak

Mechanical

•  3.4-litre water-cooled flat-six
• Five-speed Tiptronic transmission
• 300bhp M96 engine
• Well-maintained example with genuine low mileage and comprehensive service history
• Recent rear brake discs
• Spares included are a set of six coils and a passenger side window mechanism
• Currently the engine management light is on and a garage service has been booked to resolve the issue, which will hopefully be resolved before the auction concludes

Summary

Porsche 911s are addictive. Just ask the vendor of this one, who has fallen so madly in love with 911 motoring that they’ve already upgraded to a more potent one after six months of ownership.   

 Now, it’s a chance for this car to get under your skin – and we’re pretty sure it will. Not only is it a truly rewarding and wonderful car to drive, but it’s also a lovely, low mileage example that appears to have been impeccably well-maintained. 

 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. The car is located in Flint, North Wales.