I was driving down the motorway yesterday evening, happily contemplating life, when I was passed by a 996. Now, some Porsche enthusiasts will claim that 996s are dull, even ugly, but I don’t agree. And this one was simply gorgeous. That brief glimpse left me buzzing with excitement.
You see, it was a 996 Carrera 4S finished in Seal Grey Metallic. Now, the 4S is, to my mind, the best looking of all 996s and Seal Grey is one of my favourite 911 colours. What a combination!
The Carrera 4s is, essentially, a Turbo bodyshell with a normal 3.6-litre engine but Turbo suspension and brakes. A poser’s car? Not at all. It has its own unique look, in that it doesn’t have Turbo side intakes or rear spoiler and – crucially – it’s the only 996 with a full-width rear reflector. This reflector had been a 911 trademark since the 1970s but was dropped when the 996 came along so, when it reappeared on the 4S, it made a lot of people very happy. Indeed, Porsche has recently resurrected the feature on the latest generation of 4 and 4S cars, it’s that popular.
The 996 Carrera 4S is a relatively rare car but, as with all 996s, it’s taken a hit on value recently. However, it’s still worth more than an equivalent standard Carrera and I believe that it’s a future classic that, in years to come, will be a sought after car. If you’re looking at a 996 to buy and keep for the long term, then this is the one to go for. Especially in Seal Grey – gorgeous!
