2003 Porsche 911 Carrera (996) | The Stable Garage

The 996-generation 911 divided opinion when it launched. The "fried egg" headlights, the water-cooled engine, the shared front end with the Boxster. purists were outraged. But time has been kind to the 996, and today it's increasingly recognized as one of the great performance bargains and a genuinely excellent sports car. Our 2003 Carrera was a late-production car with the revised IMS bearing and the improved M96 engine. The 3.6-litre flat-six produced 320 horsepower. a significant jump from the 993. and the chassis was sharper, more precise, and more confidence-inspiring at the limit. The 996 was the car that proved Porsche could evolve without losing its soul. Yes, the engine was water-cooled, but it still sat behind the rear axle. Yes, the styling was different, but the driving experience was unmistakably 911. In many ways, the 996 was the bravest 911 Porsche ever made.