Reminder: 996’s Are Dirt Cheap Porsche Fun
Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap: Porsche 996 values still at rock bottom.
The 996 is likely the least loved car in the entire history of the Porsche brand. It may also be the ugliest. Though early Panameras are pretty close battle in the ugly fight. It’s not air-cooled, so no purist points, either. However, it’s the cheapest way to get into a 911, so it has that going for it.
This Craigslist find highlights exactly everything that is wrong, and subsequently right with the 996. The Intermediate Shaft Bearing failures that plagued the 996 generation cars has been addressed with the requisite parts to make it a non-issue. This particular car also has relatively low miles, just over 100,000, and a clean title. Yet, the asking price is $13,500 and it’s been listed for sale for over a month. Sure, it’s the slightly less desirable C4, and it is a convertible, but it’s a clean, manual car.
With 300 horsepower from it’s 3.4L engine, the base Carrera can still hustle, thanks to it’s 2,900lb curb weight. This German sports car should still be good for a 5 second blast from 0-60. Of course, you have to drop the top and listen to the flat six howl as you do it.
In case the add disappears, likely from old age (it’s been listed for a month now), I took a screenshot:
Despite the reliability repairs addressed, this 996 was undoubtedly trade hands for bottom dollar. If you can handle the ugly factor, it’s hard to deny the value proposition a 996 offers.
