Chapter 1 · Porsche 911 · by HBi Auto
Buying a Porsche 996 (1999–2005)
The 996 was the first water-cooled 911: bigger, more comfortable and far cheaper to build.
The 996 was the first water-cooled 911: bigger, more comfortable and far cheaper to build. The Carrera uses the M96 engine (3.4 litres, then 3.6 from 2002, when the facelift also brought the Turbo-style headlights). The Turbo, GT2 and GT3 use the race-derived Mezger engine instead, which is one of the toughest engines Porsche has made.
That split decides how to buy a 996. A Carrera is the most affordable way into a 911, but its engine history matters. A Turbo or GT3 is a different, much more robust car, and priced like it.
- Carrera engine
- Water-cooled M96, 3.4 then 3.6
- Turbo / GT engine
- Mezger flat-six
- Gearboxes
- 6-speed manual, 5-speed Tiptronic
- Buy for
- The lowest-cost way into a 911
- Cars on 911 Tracker
- 1,102
- Sales on record
- 1,057
Every 996 model
Pick a model for its market analytics, what to check and how to buy it.
996.1/.2 GT22002–2005median $212,00069 salesOpen ›
996.2 GT32004–2005median $117,000114 salesOpen ›
996.1 GT31999–2001median $112,0007 salesOpen ›
996.2 Turbo S2005median $78,50088 salesOpen ›
996.1/.2 Turbo2001–2005median $70,000773 salesOpen ›
996.1 Carrera1999–20010 sales on recordOpen ›
996.1 Carrera 41999–20010 sales on recordOpen ›
996.2 40th Anniversary20040 sales on recordOpen ›
996.2 Carrera2002–20050 sales on recordOpen ›996.2 Carrera 42002–20050 sales on recordOpen ›
996.2 Carrera 4S2002–20050 sales on recordOpen ›
996.2 GT3 RS2004–20056 sales on recordOpen ›
996.2 Targa2002–20050 sales on recordOpen ›What they sell for
Median sale price for each model over the last 24 months; models with 5 or more sales. Hover a bar for the number of sales.
996 sales per year
VIN-checked US sales recorded on 911 Tracker per year, as of Oct 30, 2026. Hover a bar for the median price that year (shown with 5 or more sales). 2026 is the year to date.
Show as a table
| Year | Sales | Median sale |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 | too few |
| 2016 | 10 | $44,500 |
| 2017 | 21 | $52,200 |
| 2018 | 64 | $48,200 |
| 2019 | 67 | $46,700 |
| 2020 | 91 | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 132 | $68,000 |
| 2022 | 164 | $67,500 |
| 2023 | 146 | $75,700 |
| 2024 | 120 | $66,200 |
| 2025 | 129 | $70,000 |
| 2026 | 110 | $92,500 |
911 Tracker, VIN-checked US sales, as of Oct 30, 2026.
What to look for
IMS bearing (Carrera)
The intermediate-shaft bearing on M96 engines can fail without warning. Many have been upgraded; ask for the invoice. Mezger cars do not have this problem.
Rear main seal
An oil leak between engine and gearbox. Common; often done together with the IMS and clutch.
Bore scoring
Scored cylinder walls on higher-mile engines. A borescope inspection settles it.
Coolant system
Radiators behind the front bumper collect debris and corrode; check them and the expansion tank.
Maintenance schedule
Maintenance planner
Pick the car, enter its miles and model year: the planner shows what is due now, the next services and the full schedule, whichever comes first, miles or years.
| What is done | 15k | 30k | 45k | 60k | 75k | 90k | 105k | 120k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil and filterEvery 15,000 mi, 2 yr · Single source · The factory interval when new, from one Porsche dealer outside the US | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Brake fluidEvery 2 yr · Porsche US | ||||||||
| Spark plugsEvery 4 yr · Porsche factory (converted from km) · Every 4 years; the US mileage was not found |
911 (996), 1999–2005: what is done, version by version
Turbo / GT2 / GT3 (Mezger engine):
Not verified yet: Most US intervals for the 996: air and cabin filters, drive belt, gearbox oils; The IMS bearing is not a factory service item; see common repairs.
Confidence: Low. Sources: 1, 2.
Intervals are whichever comes first, miles or years. "Porsche factory (converted from km)" means Porsche's own figure for another market, turned into miles with the same km-to-mile pairing Porsche uses in the US. Your car's own maintenance booklet is the final word. HBi Auto's recommendations for cars that are tracked, driven hard or stored are being added by our service team.
The 111-point checklist: 996
HBi Auto's full 111-point inspection, the same list our technicians sign on every car we certify. Tick as you go; your ticks stay on this device. Print it, or download the blank form (PDF) and take it to your inspection.
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Dealers we trust
Independent Porsche specialists we know and buy from.
Written by the 911 Buyers and HBi Auto team in Mocksville, NC. Market numbers come from 911 Tracker's VIN-checked US sales and say what they are based on; maintenance intervals say where each one comes from. This course is general information, not an inspection, an appraisal or legal or tax advice.