2002 Porsche 911 (996) Turbo

The 911 (996) Turbo offers genuine supercar performance in a compact and practical package. The turbocharged version of the 996 appeared in 2000, three years after the normally aspirated 996 had replaced the much loved 993 and was as radical a departure from the 993 Turbo as its, opinion dividing, sibling had been. Arriving with four-wheel drive as standard, a water-cooled engine, a smooth new body-shell and a radically updated cabin, the new 996 Turbo was a thoroughly sophisticated, all-weather, competent supercar and though it went out of production in 2005, in real terms it's still as quick as anything on the road.

Compared with the 993 model, the 996 represented a virtual redesign and its looks, initially did not receive universal acclaim. Cosmetically, it moved things on for Porsche with more flowing body lines, the windscreen raked right back, the cabin roomier and the facia finally looked like it had actually been designed, as opposed to fitting the controls and instruments where there happened to be a bit of space. The structure managed to be 45% stiffer yet lighter than the older model, and with the early 911 handling quirks being further ironed out, the 996 Turbo was as sure-footed as any 190 mph / 4.1 secs to 60 mph car in its class.

Water cooling, a first for Porsche, allowed an engine redesign that included four valves per cylinder, enabling higher power outputs to be achieved with much better fuel economy. Although the Turbo is water-cooled it's not the same engine that's in the regular 996s. The 3.6 litre Mezger engine in the Turbo, can trace its ancestry back to the old air-cooled units and is directly related, not only to the 996 GT3, but also the GT1 racer (3.2 litres and 600bhp!). This engine has proved virtually bulletproof and the standard 420bhp can be comfortably extended to 500bhp with confidence.

The 2002 model, sometimes known as the Mk.2, also saw body revisions which increased stiffness, improving handling and crash safety.

Mid-range punch is the 996 Turbo's party trick and while 420bhp might not be a headline power figure today, it still feels seriously rapid with instant thrust that ensures you are pressed against the back of the seat and a flow of power that feels almost linear. The chassis and brakes are a perfect match for the engine's performance, whilst the ride is taut but retains enough suppleness for long journeys to remain comfortable. With four-wheel drive and the engine slung out the back, both grip and traction are incredibly strong promoting a feeling of confidence that can border on invincibility.

The car presented here is a 2002 Mk.2 996 Turbo, accompanied by a full Porsche service history (most recently in August 2015), having only ever had two owners and covered a conservative 72,250 miles. In a delightful shade of Lapis Blue Metallic with Graphite Grey Leather, it is a standard UK RHD car with the semi-automatic Tiptronic gear-box, allowing it to be both a focused supercar and a consummate mile covering GT. It was highly specified from new and appears in very good condition today. The car has been owned by the vendor for the last ten years, and has always been cared for, garaged and fastidiously maintained. This ballistic blue Turbo, surely represents an attractive and viable route into Porsche supercar ownership.