A Case for the Slightly Ugly 911

What is wrong with the Porsche 996? It is a true supercar, with the ignition key on the left side of the dash like a LeMans racer, its tachometer is in the middle of the cluster, four pot brakes, a stiff, lightweight chassis, a horizontally opposed engine, a six speed stick, and a massive wing that folds into the rear decklid. I can’t find the flaw, but I must be wrong, because everybody else in the world hates it.

Porsche is known for making superb sports cars. Porsche has a successful factory backed racing program with forays into Formula One, endurance racing, and the WRC, and that technology translates directly to their production cars. Porsche invented the modern sports car with the 959, using all wheel drive and computers to bend the laws of physics. Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, and James Dean were Porsche guys. So how can this company, who has a fan base larger than Adel, create a product that is universally hated?

The reason the 996 is not loved is due to the way it was made. The company was in trouble in the early 90’s. The recession had weakened the company to the point of insolvency. Their products were universally lauded, but Porsche was hardly profitable. Even if Porsche had been able to make cars as easily as tacos, the market was changing. The United States, the largest car market in the world, had moved on from sports cars to sports utilities, which further depressed Porsche sales. In an attempt to remain in business, Porsche turned to Toyota, the worlds most stable auto maker, for advice.

The Boxster and 996 model 911 were the first products of the "new" Porsche.  As a result, Porsche guys saw the 996 as a Toyota, not special enough to be a 911, especially since it used the same front end as the less expensive Boxster. The 996 used the same suspension and transmission as the last air cooled 911, but had a new body, engine, and interior. Porsche guys liked their 911's because they could feel superior to every body else.  A Porsche guy could pilot a 911 without crashing it, but they could also turn on the radio or air conditioning or open the sunroof. All tasks which escape the ability of normal humans. The 996 made the 911 accessible to anybody that could write a check. And many checks were written. Without the Boxster, Cayenne, and 996, Porsche would be an interesting chapter in automotive history, not the most profitable car manufacturer in the world.

So why can I get a Porsche supercar for less money than the Pokemon on wheels known as the Chevrolet Spark? Because guys like me have been banging on for years that the 996 is ugly and unreliable. The truth is the car is as reliable as any other European car of the same vintage, and the headlights can be modified with a cheap set of headlight covers. Sure, it is not as attractive as a 1973 911RS, but not many things are, and owning an air cooled Porsche has left the realm of possibility for most enthusiasts. The 996 was popular enough, common enough, and had enough reliability issues that it has succumbed to depreciation.


The idea of daily driving a practical supercar is very appealing. I am sure that is why Porsche sold every one they could make back in the early 2000's. Purpose built supercars like the 911 or Ferrari F355 or Lamborghini Gallardo are necessarily different than regular cars. The focus is on performance, no matter what the cost. Most cars focus on the cost, no matter what the cost. The fact that I can consider owning a car like this is quite intoxicating. I would not suggest that just anybody buy a 996, they are more maintenance intensive than the Chevy Spark and if you are not able to perform some of the work yourself, any savings from buying cheap will quickly disappear in maintenance costs.

My plan would be to find a well maintained base 996, install the upgraded IMS bearing with a new clutch, check all valvetrain components and plastic engine parts, slap on a new set of shocks and brake pads, and of course cover those admittedly ugly headlights. With proper maintenance and upgrades, the 996 will last forever. They are high quality vehicles, no matter what the internet tells you. Not that I want the unimpressed scriveners out there to quit making fun of the 996, that just keeps them cheap for those of us that know better.