Today, well over 20 years after production ceased and it was replaced by the 997, more and more people are realizing that despite its drastic price increase on the global market, this very 996 is, at the end of the day, still the Porsche that offers the most “Porsche” for your money.
The 5-speed Tiptronic is now more suited than ever to the real world and everyday traffic. Anyone who still believes they can accelerate even a single meter or a tenth of a second faster with a manual transmission should reconsider and understand the conditions under which professional test drivers achieve those few tenths of a second less from 0-100 kph…That is the worst ordeal for any engine, any manual transmission, and above all, any manual clutch. Aside from the fact that a driver must first be able to execute such a procedure behind the wheel, the biggest hurdle is also overcoming one’s own inner demons! Deliberately mistreating the car is significantly easier for testers than for the owner of a Porsche…in the first case, the car goes back to the factory and everything is replaced. In the second case, the car goes to the repair shop and a few thousand euros are gone for a new clutch, etc….
The tiptronic, on the other hand, may take the car half a second longer to reach 100 kph, but it does so with any driver behind the wheel, regardless of their driving skills. All they have to do is step on the gas and watch. The automatic transmission does the rest. If necessary, even 10 times in a row and ready on demand.
But that’s just one of the features of a tiptronic. Beyond that, it allows the driver to forget about shifting gears in everyday driving. You can set up the navigation system, pick the right playlist, make a phone call, munch on an energy bar, or sip on a soda. Your shifting hand stays free, and you’re still driving a Porsche. Life can be that simple—as long as you don’t immediately feel like Walter Röhrl behind the wheel of a Porsche and view other drivers as opponents….
Back to our 996 Mk1 for sale:
Thirteen documented inspections over 26 years mean that this car has not merely been maintained, but almost cared for with a duty of care. Complete documentation is available; this coupe has never seen winter use—which is immediately evident from the underbody. The axles, suspension, brakes, transmission, and engine are in a condition more reminiscent of a carefully preserved year-old car than of a now-classic 911.
In short: not a “well-preserved” 996, but a Porsche that looks as though time accidentally skipped it over.
That is exactly what makes it so desirable today.
A detailed description and additional photos will follow shortly.
With best regards
Your dls team
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