Porsche 996 Years to Avoid (and the Best Years to Buy)

Rankings

1. 1
   1999Avg $28,758 12-mo -5.0%

   n=243 sold

   Sep 14, '261999 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet$46k

   Sep 12, '261999 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet$19k

   Sep 4, '261999 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet$38k
2. 2
   2000Avg $31,337 12-mo -10.7%

   n=166 sold

   Sep 12, '262000 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet$25k

   Sep 8, '262000 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet$26k

   Sep 3, '262000 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe 6-Speed$36k
3. 3
   2001Avg $50,139 12-mo +10.0%

   n=256 sold

   Sep 12, '262001 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet$38k

   Sep 10, '262001 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Coupe 6-Speed$39k

   Sep 9, '262001 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe 6-Speed$30k
4. 4
   2002Avg $52,421 12-mo +33.5%

   n=246 sold

   Sep 11, '262002 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe 6-Speed$84k

   Sep 10, '262002 Porsche 911 Carrera$24k

   Sep 2, '262002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe$39k
5. 5
   2003Avg $52,139 12-mo +15.5%

   n=225 sold

   Sep 14, '262003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Tiptronic$30k

   Sep 14, '262003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet$37k

   Sep 11, '262003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet$22k
6. 6
   2004Avg $63,607 12-mo +16.9%

   n=267 sold

   Sep 11, '262004 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe 6-Speed$25k

   Sep 10, '262004 Porsche 911 40th Anniversary 6-Speed$47k

   Sep 9, '262004 Porsche 911 GT3$134k
7. 7
   2005Avg $82,770 12-mo +47.0%

   n=63 sold

   Sep 10, '262005 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet$134k

   Aug 27, '262005 Porsche 911 (996) GT3 Clubsport$131k

   Aug 26, '262005 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet$199k

Comparison

How to Choose

• There is no truly forbidden 996 year — the IMS risk is real but manageable on every Carrera, and the retrofit is $2K-$3K done with a clutch.
• 1999 cars have the more durable dual-row bearing and the lowest buy-in ($29K average in our data) — the stealth value pick if the rest of the car checks out.
• 2000-2001 cars are transitional and 2002-2004 cars are single-row — the design with the highest reported failures. Buy on a documented retrofit or price one in.
• The 996.2 (2002-2004) brought the 3.6L engine, better headlights, and stronger values — our year averages climb from $50K to $61K through the run.
• Turbo, GT2, and GT3 models use the unrelated Mezger engine in every year: zero IMS concern, which is why the 2004-2005 averages read so high.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Porsche 996 years should I avoid?

None outright — but 2000-2001 Carreras carry the single-row IMS bearing with the highest reported failure rates, so insist on a documented retrofit or budget $2K-$3K for one. The 1999 cars use the more durable dual-row design.

What is the best year 996 to buy?

For value, 1999 — the dual-row bearing and a $29K average. For the best car, a 2002-2004 996.2 with the 3.6L engine and a documented IMS retrofit. For zero IMS anxiety, any Turbo or GT3.

How much does a Porsche 996 cost?

In our data, year averages run from $29K (1999) to $79K (2005, a Turbo-heavy final year) — the later years lifted by Turbo, GT3, and 40th Anniversary sales. Honest early Carreras still trade in the low-$20Ks.

How much does the 996 IMS fix cost?

The preventive retrofit runs $2,000-$3,000, typically done alongside a clutch replacement — unlike later 997.1 engines, every 996 bearing is serviceable. A failed bearing means a $15K-$25K rebuild, which is why documentation matters.

Is the 996 Turbo affected by IMS problems?

No. The Turbo, GT2, and GT3 use the Mezger engine with a completely different intermediate shaft design — no IMS bearing concern in any year. That security is a big part of why 996 Turbo values are up nearly 40% in our 12-month data.