Should you buy a Porsche 996 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic? The 996 is a very controversial car, and it’s easily the most hated 911 out there despite the fact it is a very good car that has a lot of members’ clubs dedicated to it. The 996 was the first time that Porsche revamped the 911 as a whole with a slightly different body shape, new front-end, new engine, new interior, new parts, and of course the introduction of water cooling as opposed to air cooling for the engine.
The Carrera 2 Tiptronic is the cheapest 911 money can buy with many going for under $10,000. For many people who dream of a 911, this is probably the only way they will get to fulfill that dream. With rising living costs, gas prices, and more owning your dream car is getting harder and harder. Not to mention the increasing costs of car prices as a whole.
But why is the Carrera 2 Tiptronic so cheap? After all, its predecessor is say almost 5 times more expensive than it. The main reason is the fact is desirability. The 996 Tiptronic Carrera 2 isn’t the most desirable of 911 and couple that with supposed mechanical issues and build quality concerns, this car has fallen down the ranks of popularity amongst collectors. However, this car has found its way into the garages of proper driving enthusiasts who appreciate the car for what it is.
So then, is the Carrera 2 996 Tiptronic any good? Or is it just a dog?
It Drives Well
Just like any other 911, the 996 Carrera 2 Tiptronic drives well. Under the hood is a 300hp 3.4 liter flat-6 which was later increased to 3.6 liters in the second-generation model. The 3.4-liter model hits 60 in 5.2 seconds whilst the 3.6-liter car does it in 4.8 seconds. Flat out speed was over 170 mph.
These figures are not too shabby even for this day and age. It’s more or less the same as most hot hatchbacks which cost way more than one of these.
The car handles nicely around bends thanks to its engine layout. The suspension from the factory is pretty good though, many owners have gone to the effort of fitting new suspension to enhance the ride and feel of the car. There are plenty of companies out there that offer suspension and handling packages for this car. The front suspension of the 996 is shared with Porsche’s entry-level sports car the Boxster, which was launched at the same time as the 996 911. However, the rear multi-link suspension was kept from the 993 generation 911. Porsche did this in order to save costs.
The gearbox at first in the Tiptronic 996 911 Carrera 2 models was a Mercedes 5-speed automatic, which was not bad. However, during the 2002 facelift, these cars got a ZF automatic which was smoother. The automatic gearbox is not as fun as the manual gearbox, and shift times can be quite slow. However, overall it isn’t as bad as some people think. In some ways, it makes the car far more usable, especially in stop-and-start traffic.
What Are The Problems?
The 996 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic has got a few problems. Both mechanical and with reputation. The main mechanical issue is the IMS (intermediate shaft) which drives the engine’s camshaft. The IMS was vulnerable to breaking, and failure of the ball bearing within the IMS would lead to engine failure.
If an IMS bearing fails, the engine could be contaminated by debris from that failure. The cam-timing can also be affected in extreme cases which leads to valve and piston impact. As a result, the whole engine would need rebuilding or replacing.
However, Porsche reports that only a small percentage of cars suffered from this and that people should not be so worried. If in doubt, you can always have the IMS ball bearing replaced at a decent price. The job itself isn’t too hard nor are the parts hard to get hold of.
The reputation issue of the 996 911 generation, is one that is subject to opinion. Porsche at the time of making the 996 911 had huge financial difficulties, and as such, they developed the 996 911 generation alongside the all-new smaller Boxster sports car that came out a year prior to the 996 911. Parts shared included the whole front end which caused major controversy as owners stated it made their more expensive cars look like the cheaper model. Many interior components were also shared too. Porsche overall managed to save 30% on the project as a whole by doing this.
Next is the overall build quality which isn’t too bad for a normal car but for a Porsche is a little questionable. The fit and finish were not as good as the previous 993 generation car and everything felt a bit more rattly. There were a few more squeaks in different areas too which didn’t impress owners that much. Overall, the whole interior was. just not as nice as other 911 models, which again comes down to financial issues.
What Type of 911 Are Carrera 2 Tiptronic Models Cheapest?
If you decide to go for a 996 911 Carrera Tiptronic 2, then chances are you will consider some of the cheaper examples too. The cheapest cars are obviously non-runners. The cheapest running 996 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic models are usually pre-facelift cars with high mileage and maybe questionable part service history. Furthermore, they may not also have the IMS ball bearing replaced either. Overall bodywork of these cars can be shabby and rust can be seen in some areas too.
The cheapest cars are probably on places like Craigslist or eBay and they probably are beaters. These cars may be ideal for restoration projects and more since parts are readily available and these cars are not too expensive.
The more expensive you go in the price range, the better the car will be usually. If you want a mint 996 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic with low miles and good spec, then expect to pay say $30,000.
The 996 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic is also pretty cheap to run for a sports car. Gas isn’t too bad so the car can be used every day with no problems at all. It’s a very easy car to drive and you won’t get any hassle with it whatsoever from other people.