2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Manual (996)

Highlights

• Factory-fitted Carrera aerokit

• Significant expenditure in current ownership

• Sunroof, cruise control

• Aftermarket CarPlay upgrade

• BBS split wheels

Overview

This 996 is a handsome looking car. This water-cooled 911 has aged gracefully, and it now sits firmly in the camp of cars that are looking better and better with each passing year. The minimalist design allows it to slip under the radar without attracting too much attention, while the well-proportioned rear spoiler adds just the right amount of flair. 

This particular 996 is a second-generation example, with ‘tear drop’ headlights. The .2 also received a minor interior revision, a slight boost in power, and a few other aesthetic enhancements, as well as a displacement upgrade from 3.4 to 3.6-litres. This water-cooled engine produces 315 bhp, which is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. 

Whilst many 996s were well-optioned from the factory, the genuine Porsche Aerokits are rare items, making this example all the more desirable. The ‘Carrera’ Aerokit fitted to this car (designated XAG) makes the already attractive 996.2 even better looking, as you can see.

Purchased by the vendor just over a year ago and with significant expenditure during his ownership to bring it up to scratch, a reassuringly sizeable stack of paperwork accompanies the car. The decision has now been made to move this 996 on once more, due to the seller now being based overseas, meaning this flat-six hero is raring to be driven with gusto. 

History and documentation

• Registered 01 Mar 2002

• Stamped service book with services as follows: May 2004 @ 10,724 miles, Feb 2005 @ 11,400 miles, Jun 2006 @ 12,812 miles, Jun 2007 @ 16,924 miles, Apr 2008 @ 28,488 miles, Mar 2009 @ 38,162 miles, Mar 2010 @ 53,382 miles, Mar 2011 @ 59,491 miles, Mar 2012 @ 64,649 miles, Sep 2013 @ 68,735 miles, Sep 2014 @ 71,918 miles, Jan 2015 @ 73,371 miles, Aug 2016 @ 80,306 miles, Jun 2017 @ 84,567 miles, Aug 2017 @ 84,990, Apr 2018 (no mileage noted), Jun 2018 @ 88,995 miles, Jun 2022 @ 102,225 miles (inc brake pipes, 200-cell sports cats, new Rms)

• Brake fluid changes stamped as follows: Feb 2005 @ 11,400 miles, Jun 2007 @ 16,924 miles, Mar 2009 @ 316,162 miles, Mar 2011 @ 59,491 miles, Mar 2012 @ 64,645 miles, Sep 2017 (no mileage recorded)

• Standard suspension replaced with coilovers in early 2018

• Extensive set of original documentation

• Leather Porsche document wallet 

• Collection of invoices, tax discs and old MOT certificates

• Two keys

• Current MOT expires 26 Sep 2025

• V5 present in owner’s name

• The owner is retaining the private plate and the car will revert to its age appropriate plate KT02MDF

• HPI clear 

• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Revised and facelifted 996.2 interior in good overall order

• Sunroof in full working order

• Cruise control

• Pioneer double-din headunit with Apple CarPlay connectivity 

• The high-traffic areas such as the shifter are showing a little age-related patina

• The cover for the 12v socket on the dashboard is missing

• Looking closely, there are usual smattering of indentations and scratches on the door cards and handles

• Both seats exhibit a typical level of wear including scuffs to the outer bolsters

• The rear seats look to be in very good order

• Up front, the boot is clean and tidy throughout, and has a hardwired NOCO battery conditioner

• The specification sticker is present under the bonnet, confirming that the Carrera Aerokit was a factory-fitted option

• The seller states there are no known interior faults

Exterior

• Factory-fitted 996.2 Aerokit in very good condition

• Silver paintwork with silver wheels – a timeless combination

• Desirable BBS split-rim wheels shod in Michelin (front) and Pirelli (rear) tyres

• The seller states the tyres have ‘a few thousand miles’ of use on them

• The bodywork looks to be in excellent shape throughout, with no reported impact damage and no obvious dents, dings or mis-aligned panels

• Up-close, the usual smattering of stone chips to the front end and exposed edges are present

• Elsewhere, there is a patch of lacquer peel or paint damage behind the offside front wheel

• The lower edge of the front bumper wears a number of larger stone chips and small scuffs

• We noted an area of paint bubbling on the leading edge of the bonnet, below the Porsche crest

• There are a number of light scratches around the upper edges of both the front and rear bumpers

• The seller notes there is a small bubble of corrosion on the roof rails

• Both headlights have become slightly hazy/yellowed

• All four wheels present well, though there are some light abrasions to the lips, and the mirror-finish has dulled over the years

• One of the split-rim bolts is missing on the nearside front wheel

• Both sills and the offside rear arch were repaired in Aug 2024 at a cost of £2,593.68

• Both rear wheel arches and both sills were repainted and undersealed in Sep 2024 at a cost of £2,175.84

Mechanical

• 3.6-litre M96 water-cooled flat-six engine

• Produces 315bhp and 273ft-lb of torque

• Six-speed manual transmission

• All-wheel drive ‘Carrera 4’ 

• IMS upgrade and clutch fitted in Aug 2017 @ 84,990 miles by marque specialist Porschacare

• New battery Mar 2024

• New bonnet actuator Mar 2024

• Minor service and other works in Jan 2024 including replacement of coolant hoses, heater pipes, RMS, IMS seal. New clutch, replacement exhaust silencer mounts and joints, coolant header tank, sump pan sealant, and a coolant flush

• At the rear, the engine bay looks to be clean and tidy throughout, with evidence of silicone hosing replacing the original intake pipework

• The seller tells us that the car ‘starts perfectly every time and is kept on a battery conditioner when not in use’ and that it ‘starts, stops and goes with no issues’

• There are MOT advisories as follows: NSR upper anti-roll bar dust cover deteriorated, outer ball joint for NSR lower arm split, slight play in the offside steering rack joint, the nearside front anti-roll bar drop link fouling the shock absorber, corroded rear jacking points and offside/nearside front subframe mounting points being corroded 

• The seller states that there are ‘no other known areas of corrosion’ following the work completed in 2024

• No other reported mechanical faults

Summary

This Carrera 4 offers everyday usability, great power, a communicative chassis, and all-wheel drive. And it has the added advantage of a factory-fitted Carrera Aerokit and BBS split-rim wheels. It’s a handsome example of an all-weather sports car, which has received significant recent expenditure.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Chelmsford, Essex.