What is a 996 Porsche?

slohja · 10-13-2006, 12:08 PM

Hi,

I just bought my very first Porsche. It is a 1999 911 Porsche Carrera. I did not get any owner manuals with the car.

After reading and visiting message boards trying to learn more about a Porsche, not too many sites categorize a 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera. I read 996 / Boxster.

Is a 1999 911 Carrera referred to as a 996 also?

Can some explain this to me?

jester911 · jester911's Garage

996 is the designation of the car. The last year of the 911 was 1989. The models then went to 964,993,996 and now the 997.
Each model had changes but the 996 was the first year of watercooled engines.

ael911 · 10-13-2006, 12:23 PM

996 is the factory assigned designator for 911s built from 1999 to 2004. Each model year has it's own factory internal designator such as 993 (MY 1995-1998), 964(1990-1994). Boxster are refered to as 986 and the new Boxster and 911s are now 987s and 997. It's a way for the factory to identify and group cars from the same production era.

pmajka · 10-13-2006, 12:30 PM

Welcome and Yes.

Now you must post picutres of your ride or be banned!

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

You can differentiate type "996" 911s (like yours) from all the other generations of 911s by the heart-shaped headlights. The same generation of Boxster (type 986) had similar headlights. The current production of 911s and Boxsters are types 997 and 987, respectively. It's the factory's internal designation for all these model lines.

Congrats on the purchase!

Scooter · 10-13-2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jester911
The last year of the 911 was 1989.

Not exactly true. Your car is a 911, as they are still called 911's. As stated above, 996 is just the internal production number.

pwd72s · 10-13-2006, 03:46 PM

996...the earliest of the water pumper 911 models....

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Scooter
Not exactly true. Your car is a 911, as they are still called 911's. As stated above, 996 is just the internal production number.

True on the internal number.....however, the last 911 being built in 1989.....well, thems fightin' words in some places.......

jester911 · jester911's Garage

1989 was the last year Porsche designated the car a 911. I don't really don't see it any other way.

Pat Crellin · 10-13-2006, 06:48 PM

Haven't I seen 911 on the engine lid of a newer car, maybe a 996?

jorian · 10-13-2006, 07:02 PM

"Haven't I seen 911 on the engine lid of a newer car, maybe a 996?"

Yep.

rrpjr · 10-13-2006, 07:05 PM

"911" is what Porsche calls all 997 models on their website. It's the official vernacular. Scooter is correct. And yes, "911" does appear on some decklids.

Pat Crellin · 10-13-2006, 07:09 PM

Well there you have it, Mister 911.

jwetering · jwetering's Garage

The last year of the 911 was 1989. Someone who studies the science of logic would call this statement a "fact".

After the 911 came the 964, 993, 996, and now 997. All are good cars, some are great cars. But none are 911's.

It's easy. Let's not complicate things.

jorian · 10-13-2006, 07:52 PM

"Someone who studies the science of logic would call this statement a "fact"."

All this time I thought you were just studying your navel Jasp!
(BTW - I just picked up the 82 SC tonight)

jwetering · jwetering's Garage

Cool - how is it? Gonna be a wet weekend and I gotta work so taking a ride is out for me. Perhaps later next week I can come and have a look?

autobonrun · autobonrun's Garage

So with the logic I'm hearing, a 930 was not a Turbo 911, nor was a 935 because they didn't carry the 911 name internally.

Bottom line is 964's, 993's, 996's, 997's are all 911's. 1989 was the last year that the internal factory designation and that used on the street was the same for the normally aspirated model.

The internal Porsche factory name is typically used by enthusiasts.
And yes, your 1999 996 is a Porsche 911.

The factory still lists their models under 911. Could be because they are.

http://www.porsche.com/usa/

slodave · slodave's Garage

I agree to the reply above ^^^

Dave

SP2 · 10-14-2006, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jwetering
The last year of the 911 was 1989. Someone who studies the science of logic would call this statement a "fact".

After the 911 came the 964, 993, 996, and now 997. All are good cars, some are great cars. But none are 911's.

It's easy. Let's not complicate things.

That is total nonsense. They are all 911's.

Scooter · 12:44 AM

Go to Porsche.com, you will find that Porsche calls all new 987's a 911.

Porsche USA