Porsche 911 Turbo

The completely redesigned Porsche 911, known internally as the 996, was unveiled at the IAA in 1997. For the enthusiast scene, the car was visually shocking, as it was more reminiscent of the Boxter than of its direct predecessor. Over time, however, even die-hard fans were won over by the new car, as it was better than its predecessors in almost every respect.

The days of air cooling were over, as the required exhaust emission limits could no longer be achieved and the noise level also had to be reduced. Since a new development was needed, Porsche created a completely new six-cylinder boxer engine with four-valve heads, four chain-driven camshafts, a manual intake manifold and integrated dry sump lubrication. From 3.4 liters of displacement, 300 hp at 6800 rpm and a maximum torque of 350 Nm at 4600 rpm could be extracted. A 6-speed gearbox and the new front suspension from the Boxter were installed to match the new engine.

The car grew by a whopping 18.5 cm in length and three cm in width, while the height was reduced by a few millimeters. Despite its greater mass, the 996 was a few kilos lighter than its predecessor.

In terms of design, chief designer Harm Lagaay had to make some compromises: Parts of the front, headlights, doors and a few parts of the interior had to be taken from the Boxster. The design was initially rather poorly received and even the reduction in drag coefficient from 0.34 to 0.30 could not change this. Fortunately, the test drivers' reports spoke volumes and earned the new 911 the respect it deserved. There was nothing but praise for the handling and the good driving dynamics also helped the 996 to first place in various comparative tests.

The 996 was available as a two- or four-wheel drive version right from the start and the turbo was added in 2000. Today, the 996 still lags somewhat behind its ancestors in terms of price, but the value is increasing and if you can afford a good example, you certainly can't go wrong with the 996.