Porsche 996 911 Carrera 2 | Water-cooled revolution | Future Classics with Becky Evans S2 E2

The Porsche 996 didn’t have the best starts in life with a lot of the 911 community rejecting the changes. Water-cooling and those fried egg headlights were just too much change for the loyal Porsche fans. However, enough time has passed where it is finally being appreciated for being a properly fun performance car.

This means it is firmly placed in the future classics category and we’ll let Becky Evans tell you why.

Have you grown to appreciate the 996?

#Porsche #996 #911#gwontheroad

[motorclaimguru]

The 3.4 cable throttle, twin gear IMS shaft, is the absolute best 996 to buy. Get one with the M030 pack with an lsd, Dansk exhaust, IPD Plenum and throttle body and remap, you have a weapon. No electronic nannies, narrow body, and a true delight to drive. That was my last car previous to the 996 Turbo I have, the Carrera 2 was arguably the more playful and better drive.

[floobadoo]

People who hate on the 996 are people who've never driven any 911.

[phattyhales]

I have a 2000 Millennium Edition that recently cleared 195k miles. These things are awesome cars! Mine gets tracked, driven in snow, road tripped in, and generally daily driven. It's not been without faults though. Replaced the transmission when the 2nd gear synchro went out at 177k miles and the engine did indeed blow up on track at 191k. But even with the cost of those expensive replacement items (things that any high mileage car will eventually need) I am still under the cost of what a 997 costs at today's prices and they really aren't noticeably slower than one either.

[MorningNapalm]

About gen. 1 vs gen. 2, keep in mind that the second generation had many more problems with the IMS and bore scoring, due to the smaller bearing and less metal between cylinders.

[philipluff]

Great honest Review Becky. It's a proper 911. I have a 2001 996.1 C2 and it's the best car I've ever driven. I will never sell it.

[kostasd]

Picked up a '99 C2 cabrio 9 months ago with 134K miles on it, and have logged 5K miles since. Absolutely LOVE the car! Will be keeping my eyes open for a coupe next...these cars are a blast to drive!

[johnnavarro]

Absolutely love my 996.2 C4, always wanted a 911 as far back as I can remember (50 odd years)😂. We tried lots of variations old and new but the 996 just felt right, small, nimble and still analog and oh so rewarding to drive 🍳🍳🦆.

[aaronperspective]

I've owned a 996 C2 since 1999. It really is a wonderful car. I'm about to purchase a 992 C2S and am planning to keep my 996 parked next to it for many years to come!

[juhakivekas]

I dont think anyone questions how they drive. They are fantastic in handling. They are a clear improvement in handling from 993 which was a huge step itself in handling. The 996 you can trail brake without any worries.

Between 3.4 and 3.6. The early 3.4 were with double row IMSB which has as low failing rate as plain bearings in the earlier engines (According to Eisen Class Act documents - based on over 50 000 US imported 996 and Boxsters). Also when they went for the increased torque (read heat load) at low and mid range in the 3.6 they pretty much created the problem of bore scoring at the 5th and 6th cylinders because the water flow balance holes needed to be opened - thus compromising the last cyls in the water loop.

Anyway, 3.4 or 3.6, you need to love it. Take care of the engine, preventive maintenance recommended. But reading the internet stories what you forget easily is that these cars have fantastic chassis and suspension. The Carrera suspension are by geometey still basically same in the latest Carreras as they were in 996 - apart from the optional 4ws and GT3’s double wishbone front suspension (which still hast the same roll center height and initial camber gain but has a lot less sensitive RC height vs. ride height. And the wishbone systems has a less friction than the sticking MacPherson.)

[markburbidge]

Took delivery of my 996 Carrera 2 in 1998. Just coming up to 25 years ownership and can't praise it enough. In 2001, I had sport suspension added and sport cats ( which added 20bhp ) and a Gemballa exhaust plus the car was lowered which is not an issue due the hard suspension. It has now coming up to 98, 000 miles but still looks great and I kept the amber indicators etc. I could not understand why people changed them as it made the car look slightly bland.

[Revival]

The design has aged very well. The ambers look great! The real purists understand the design change😉

[JimBob_]

Few modern Porsches have round headlights and nobody has a bad word to say. I like the flowing lines and classic look with the amber indicators.

[MorningNapalm]

I think the car is stunning, including the headlights. I wish people would push aside their prejudices and just look at it with neutral eyes. Compact, fast, great handling, great power delivery, there is so much right with this car. The 997 by comparison had oval headlights but was just boring.

[fairfaxa]

Great Video Becky. Having owned a 85 930, 71 2.2T, 74 MFI Carrera and a stack of other sports cars over the years, I can honestly say my 10/97 built 3.4 Manual, Throttle cable RWD Carrera (pre Traction control) is a REAL JOY, and by far exceeds the ownership and driving experiences of any of the others I've owned. It feels massively capable; it's fast, nimble, with exceptional braking, steering, and throttle response and in Arctic Silver with the original orange lights (i.e the lights they used at LeMans) is really starting to turn heads these days. The 996 is the lightest ever water cooled car, and the lightest ever 911 with 300 NA H/P. I just love it.... Drive one (like you stole it) and proves yourself wrong!

[corychecketts]

I've been driving mine almost daily for the past six years. I have zero intention of replacing it or selling it. Awesome driving experience.

[keithingram]

I bought one of these in 1999- it was one of the earliest to arrive in the UK and it was a FANTASTIC car- I'm 6'3 and I could fit in a treat- the acceleration was phenomenal, the handling superb and the grip extraordinary.

[younghem]

The hatred for the headlights have made these amazing cars more affordable for actual enthusiasts. Love my 996.1

[mikekcarey]

I have owned a 996.1c2 for 7 years and love it still, , , when I bought it I knew I wanted a 911 but didn’t know much about them found out quickly air-cooled was out of budget so test drove three cars a c4s a leggy 997.1 and my 996.1 not knowing that the internet would put her bottom of the list. I bought it, I loved the c2 over four wheel drive more alive and agile and loved the classic look of the 996 over the 997 which felt old fashioned in side as the tech had dated my 996 has no tech to age central locking and heated rear window only buttons to play with maybe in hindsight the c4s would have been a better purchase but it’s not all about money

[hugohugo]

Changed mine for a 996 Turbo which I’ve owned for years now. Huge value for money.

[harrysweep]

I never thought she was ugly at all -in fact I think 996 is my fav of the whole line up just because of the runny egg distinction! it’s different looking but still tasteful