In 2016, I sold my 964 Cabriolet to buy the best 996 C2 manual transmission I could find after a long search. In 2002, the 911 had been given a very sporty configuration by its first owner in Leipzig, with an X74 sports package, side skirts, 18-inch turbo rims (visible in two of the photos), a dream in gloss black. The accident-free car had – and still has – a clean history that can be traced back to numerous invoices and TÜV reports. All work was always entered in the service book, and the uni-black paintwork was – and still is – free of repainting. In 2016, the car had only 43,350 verifiable kilometers on the clock. I met a nice previous owner, also a Porsche enthusiast, who was the third owner at the time and who understood the car and had taken good care of it for eight years. I have continued the logbook he started for this car to this day. An 111-point check at the Porsche Center confirmed my good impression of the car, so we agreed—and I became the fourth owner. The retrofitted 4S front apron is still the only part of the car that has been repainted. The original apron, which has never been repainted, is packed away and stored; it will be included with the sale.
4,200 km later, at only 47,500 km, the infamous piston tilt occurred in 2017. So: complete engine rebuild with new pistons and reconditioned cylinder running surfaces at PoMoTec GmbH. Then, in 2019, the worst-case scenario occurred: at 61,400 km, there was suddenly insufficient oil pressure; the new Nikasil coating was defective. However, warranty service was no longer possible due to the interim insolvency of the now former M96 specialist company. So: another engine rebuild, this time by a solvent specialist: Axel von Blittersdorff in Hamburg, who swears by steel bushings and converted the original engine to this absolutely stable variant. These two rebuilds cost around €26,000, but the 911 remained the same model and thus still interesting for collectors in the future.
Since then, the 996 has been running perfectly, delivering sensational performance and driving like a year-old car. No oil consumption is measurable. Thanks to the original sports suspension, the car is 30 mm lower and has a sporty, firm ride.
The visually unobtrusive Supersprint sports exhaust rounds off the sporty, elegant appearance of this car with a beautiful sound. Up to approx. 3,000 rpm, the sound is discreet, albeit with the typical rumbling of a 911. At higher revs, the 3.6-liter displacement produces a sporty, throaty sound that is not intrusive, but always gives you goose bumps. The corresponding ABE (general operating permit) is safely stored in the glove compartment. Music can also be played via the PCM1 + original sound package if required. The CD changer is located under the trunk lid, and there is a cassette deck, but I only use it on standby. With this technology + Bluetooth adapter, you can still get by just fine even after 23 years, although the factory-fitted navigation system seems a little underdeveloped by today's standards.
In homage to the old 911s, four brand-new 18-inch Fuchs rims with colored hub caps and four new Michelin tires were added in 2021. I also had the center panels and backs of the sports seats upholstered with the 911's signature houndstooth fabric, a rare feature for this model generation and incredibly stylish, in my opinion. The Guards Red seat belts provide a nice color contrast to the car's original aluminum and stainless steel package, and the Porsche umbrella in the glove compartment on the passenger side is a very rare extra. Even in the interior, there is no longer any visual or tactile evidence of the former economy of the first 996 generation; everything is high-quality and well-made.
The 996 now has a verified mileage of 74,700 km, was last expertly serviced by Axel v. Blittersdorff in October 2024, is reliable, and still looks brand new. Almost like a 23-year-old year-old car. The car radiates that it has always been maintained without regard to cost and modified in a manner typical of a 911.
So if you are looking for a rear-wheel drive, manual transmission, unspent 911 coupé with a revised engine, low mileage, and a sporty, elegant look, which has always been well maintained and documented, is a joy to drive, and looks good in any collection, then this could be the car for you. The price difference between this 911 and comparable (!) 964, 993, 997, and 991 models is still significant. For now...!
P.S: I have provided all information to the best of my knowledge and belief. As a private individual, I cannot offer any guarantee or warranty.
P.P.S. The professional photos are from www.celinbausch.de
2003 
