Porsche 911 (996): All Models Including Turbo and GT 1997 to 2005 (Ultimate Buyers' Guide) [Paperback]

This book is an excellent resource for anyone who owns a 996 or is considering buying one. It describes all the 996 variants, their chronology, their options, and both strong and weak points. The book is well organized, the writing is clear, and the illustrations are ample.

Here are some points I noted from the book:

(1) The 996 was the most major overhaul ever in the history of the 911 series. It runs from 1998 to 2005.

(2) The 996 performs, handles, and rides better than its predecessor, along with being larger yet lighter, though possibly at the expense of some feel and driver involvement. This has been the typical response with each new generation of the 911.

(3) The 996 has about 60% to 62% of the weight in the rear, but without the precarious handling of older 911 generations.

(4) The 996 was the first 911 to use a water-cooled engine. The base 996 3.4L engine originally produced 300 hp. The 996 received a facelift and other improvements in 2002, including an increase to base 3.6L and 320 hp. To get more power, you have to go with a Turbo (420 hp), Turbo S (450 hp), GT3 (360 or 381 hp), or GT2 (456 or 483 hp). Also, the 2004 40th Anniversary model has 345 hp and other performance upgrades, and is one of the best 996 variants.

(5) The 6-speed manual transmission is considered to be very good. A clutch typically lasts about 50K miles.

(6) Porsche Stability Management (PSM) is an excellent system which is standard with AWD and became optional in other cars starting in 2000. Its threshold for engagement is set fairly high.

(7) AWD normally applies about 35% of power to the front, and this varies from 5% to 40%.

(8) Although 17-inch wheels are standard in some 996 variants, 18-inch wheels are highly preferable with respect to both performance and appearance.

(9) The 996 has excellent brakes.

(10) The C4S is one the best performing 996 variants, and beats both the C2 and C4 on the track even though the engine doesn't have more power. It includes a sport chassis lowered by 10 mm, a wide body (same as the Turbo), and better brakes. The S is only available with AWD (ie, there is no C2S). However, both the C4 and C4S are heavier than the C2, so the C2 arguably offers a purer 911 experience.

(11) The Turbo and Turbo S offer very high performance and tend to be a good value, often not costing much more than the C4S. The GT2 is a compromise between the GT3 and Turbo, and also tends to be a good value.

(12) The sport chassis is an option on some 996 variants, and is highly desirable.

(13) More modest exterior colors are more popular, whereas flashy colors like red, green, and yellow are less popular and reduce price. Darker colors are more popular for the interior. The aerokit is a popular option.

(14) Before buying, get an expert pre-purchase inspection done, and also look for a good service history.

(15) Interior trim noise isn't uncommon in the 996.

(16) A small percentage of 996s have experienced engine failure, though most such engines were replaced under warranty. The intermediate and rear main oil seals were a weak point, and preferably they've been replaced with upgraded versions.

(17) Mods tend to reduce price, and can also reduce reliability.

(18) The 996 is robust enough to handle track use, though such use does increase wear. The GT3 and GT3 RS are ideally suited for the track, surpassing even the Turbo, Turbo S, and GT2, though not as livable on a daily basis.

This is an excellent source for information about the 996. It is not a technical book, but it provides a thorough description of the car's design, interior and exterior features, options, model codes, etc. Definitely worth buying if you are in the market for one of these cars, or if you already own one.