For the Turbo, Porsche supplied leather seats as standard, along with air conditioning and a no-cost optional electric sunroof. The stereo was the best Porsche had to offer at the time, which was then upgraded to a Bose system in 2002. An auto-dimming rear view mirror added with rain sensor for the auto wipers at the same time.
A Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system was an option and brought satellite navigation to the Turbo. When new and for a while after it ceased production, a Turbo without sat-nav was hard to sell, but as the system has become dated it's now no longer the desirable option is once was. Porsche updated the PCM to PCM2 in 2004, when it became standard equipment for the Turbo.
Interior is plush and generally hard wearing
The electrically adjusted front seats have a position memory, but some owners complain the seats lack sufficient support for track driving or long distance comfort. A no-cost option from Porsche when the 996 Turbo was new were Sports front seats, but these do without electric adjustment or memory function. However, many owners prefer the Sport seats for comfort.
The driver's seat outer bolster might be worn on very high mileage cars, but the 996 Turbo's interior should be smart thanks to durable materials. Some of the plastics can feel a little flimsy compared to the latest 911's but everything should work smoothly. For 2002, an opening glovebox on the passenger side was fitted, along with twin pop-out cupholders and soft-touch plastics. Just as importantly, Porsche also improved the ventilation in the cabin, which helps in hot weather.
Owner's view
"I chose the cabriolet. They don't handle quite as well as the hard-top, but if you get a kick from putting the roof down after a hard day's work and smelling the countryside as you travel home the cabriolet delivers in spades. The wind-break is very effective but prevents use of the rear seats when fitted. Fortunately, it folds neatly into a bag that can be stored in the front luggage compartment without losing much of the limited storage volume."
Declan O'Riordan