“If you could own any car in the world, what color would you choose?” said a magazine advertisement from Porsche in 2001. “Not another car in the world could feel like this. Explosive, yet smooth to the redline.”
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera cabriolet listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Fort Myers, Florida. (Click here to view the listing)
“One of the finest examples of this model anywhere,” the listing begins. “Immaculate original paint. Not a single stone chip.”
The “996” was the fifth iteration of Porsche’s iconic 911 sports car. It was produced from 1997 through 2006, so it is now approaching classic status. Much like we’ve seen via the widespread “RADwood” movement for 1980s and 1990s cars, there is rising collector interest in vehicles from the early 2000s. In particular, well-maintained examples with lower miles are hot-ticket items. Luckily for you, this car checks both of those boxes.
As one would expect from a high-end brand like Porsche, the car is well appointed via heated and power-adjustable seats, a Harman Kardon audio system and automatic climate control. The instrumentation in the 911 was built around an emphasis on performance, which explains why the 8,000-rpm tachometer was front and center in the display.
Power comes from a naturally aspirated, rear-mounted, 3.4-liter flat-six mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Porsche rated the powertrain at 296 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque when new, and one of the key engineering features of the engine was its “VarioCam” variable valve timing. This technology adjusts the timing of the intake camshaft to vary the opening and closing of the valves. As a result, performance was enhanced and fuel efficiency was improved. Modern Porsches still use a version of the same feature.
The car’s odometer shows 27,488 miles, and the seller calls out some specific maintenance notes: In particular, the IMS (or intermediate shaft) bearing has been replaced. The bearing is a known failure point in certain water-cooled Porsche models from the millennial era, so having the work already completed adds to peace of mind.
When it was new, the 2001 Carrera coupe carried an original retail price of about $67,000. The asking price for this low-mileage classic version is $35,500. So, if you’re in the market for a silver bullet, look no further. Better yet, make it Meridian Metallic.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
