2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Tiptronic (996)

HIGHLIGHTS

Removable hardtop
Very well presented
IMS upgrade
Excellent history

THE APPEAL

The Porsche 996 was the successor to the 993, produced from 1998 to 2005. It was the first 911 to be offered with a water-cooled engine, although the new look received some criticism for the 'fried egg headlights.' This was lessened when the facelift model was released, and the orange indicators were less noticeable. One of the models in the 996 line-up is the convertible, with a fully removable hard top offering the best of both worlds all year round.

This stunning Lapis blue Carrera 4 convertible, with only 51,661 miles covered, comes with an excellent service history supported by service stamps and invoices. As a 2003 model, it also receives the later 3.6-litre engine and is coupled with the smooth Tiptronic gearbox. The car has recently been given an interim oil and filter change, ready for the new lucky custodian looking to become a 911 owner.

THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK

V5C is present
Just four previous keepers
Registered 11th November 2003
Original owner’s handbooks
Original service book with 14 service stamps and eight brake fluid stamps
Extensive collection of invoices for parts and works carried out
Previous MOT certificates
The current MOT is valid until 19th January 2024
Recent interim oil and filter service
Please note the V5 registration JMS 1C has now been removed from the car, and it is registered with S60 ANM

THE INTERIOR

Grey ruffled leather electric front seats present very well with minimal signs of wear
The rear seats are in good order and don’t look to have been used an enormous amount
The door cards and quarter panels are in good order
The dashboard is also finished in grey; there are a couple of minor marks around the stereo/heater panel, but nothing excessive
The instruments are working as you would expect, with no warning lights displayed, and the odometer shows a reading of 51,661 miles
The steering wheel is in excellent condition
Optional cruise control fitted
The switchgear is in excellent condition with no real wear to be seen and is reported to work correctly
Upgraded head unit to a double din Sony by a previous keeper, but the original factory unit is included
The centre console has a few light scratches
The handbrake has a tiny amount of wear to the leather on either side of the Porsche script
The carpets are in good, clean condition and have been covered with a set of fitted Porsche mats
Inside the boot presents well

THE EXTERIOR

Finished in the wonderful Lapis blue Metallic
The paintwork presents very well
There are some very minor chips, mainly to the front end, in keeping with the mileage of the 911
The shut lines are equal, and there are no dings or dents to point out
The windows appear to be free from any noticeable scratches
Window trims look to be in good condition
The Bi-xenon headlights are free from any damage to the lenses
Rear parking sensors
The rear lights are in good order with no splits or cracks
The removable hard top is in excellent condition
The fabric roof is also in excellent order, with just some minor creases, as you would expect
18” Porsche Twist alloy wheels are in good condition with no corrosion to the faces
Bridgestone tyres have a good amount of tread remaining

THE MECHANICS

3.6 litre flat six
The 911 fires up without hesitation, and the vendor doesn’t report any issues with the running of the car
Fitted with a five-speed Tiptronic gearbox, the change is smooth. You can also opt for changing gears via the steering wheel-mounted buttons, which work correctly
The vendor replaced the following parts approximately 5,000 miles ago:
- IMS upgrade
- New water pump
- Air - oil separator
- TEK OE exhaust system
- Bilstein rear shockabsorbers fitted
- Front and rear brake discs and pads
- Handbrake shoes
- Oil pressure switch
- Bump stops
- Rear drop links
- Track rod ends
- Inner tie rods
- Four wishbone arms
- Indicator stalk unit
With the above parts replaced, the car handles as it should, with no untoward noises coming from the suspension
The brakes are reported to bring the car to a stop quickly and in a straight line

SUMMARY

For anyone looking to become a Porsche 911 owner, at the moment, the 996 Carrera is probably the most affordable way of entering 911 ownership.

There are a few things to consider before taking that step, and luckily for you, this lovely 2003 example ticks the right boxes. The condition is excellent, it has low ownership and fantastic service history, and it’s a cabriolet with a hard top, making it perfect for use in the cooler months.

BEFORE YOU BUY

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