Porsche’s 996-generation 911 hasn’t had the easiest of lives. When it was new some Porsche fans criticized the soap-bar styling, the switch from air- to water-cooled engines and the fact that it shared substantial hardware with the cheaper Boxster.
And then there were the scare stories about engines going pop, either as a result of cylinder bore damage or the intermediate shaft bearing collapsing and taking the entire power unit with it.
As a result, and despite being excellent to drive, the 1998-2004 cars have mostly missed out on the Porsche price boom that has gripped the market over the last few years. But as Lee Sibley, editor of Total 911 magazine and the man behind the That 911 Guy YouTube channel explains, that’s all changing.
Yes, the wider world has finally cottoned on to just how good the 996 is. They still look great value next to an earlier 993, but values are climbing fast, so if you want one, now’s the time to jump in.
Related: Remember When The Porsche 911 Turbo Was Sold With A Six-Speed Manual?
Prices of Turbo versions of the 996 have already increased over the last few years, so we’re talking specifically about the Carrera model here. But do you go for the earlier 996.1 with its 3.4-liter flat six and runny-egg headlamps, or the later 996.2 with its Turbo-look face and extra 200 cc of capacity?
By his own admission Sibley goes full-geek in this video, giving us a deep dive on the pros and cons of each model. We get a detailed walkaround of each car, followed by a proper road test, meaning that by the time you hit the 18 minute mark, you should be pretty sure whether the 996.1 or 996.2 is the right choice for you – presuming those different headlamp designs haven’t already helped you make up your mind.
2000 Porsche 911 (996) Millennium Edition
