Porsche released the 996 generation 911 to critical acclaim in 1997. Their first ground-up design since Butzi's original 1960's sportscar, the new 911 was lighter, faster and quieter than before. The headlights weren't round anymore, and the engine was now watercooled, but renewed dynamics, performance and practicality won the hearts of minds of 175,000 people over the model's lifespan.

Fast forward 20 years however and the 996 appears to have fallen out of favour relative to the other models. Good examples start from £13,000 and the model competes with BMW M3s on the used marketplace. Ghaleb is here to talk you through what triggered this fall from grace, and whether the 996 is one of the great sportscar bargains of the 2020s, or a pot full of fools gold.

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00:00 Introduction
00:46 Historical Context
02:30 Engine
02:41 IMS Bearing
03:42 Bore Score
05:11 Cooling
06:26 Chain Guides
07:00 Miscellaneous Issues
07:20 Rear Main Oil Seal
07:54 Gearbox
08:38 Interior
10:02 Suspension
10:39 Brakes
10:59 Summary
11:20 Model Range
12:33 Conclusion