The Porsche 996 Turbo is a 2-seater turbocharged flat-6 sports car manufactured from 1997-2006. The 996 generation of the Porsche 911 was controversial, to say the least, because this generation was the first one to use water-cooled engines, and the legendary air-cooled 911 engine was no more.
In addition to the engine transition, the 996 also introduced a new 911 design which brought the 911 firmly into the 21st century, but some specific details like the “fried egg” headlights stirred quite a bit of conversation among Porsche enthusiasts.
Nowadays, 996 models are starting to get the affection they deserve, and the 996 Turbo certainly is one of the most incredible models out of the entire 996 range. People have begun to realize that the 996 was, for all intents and purposes, a true 911.
And the reliability of the 996 generation was also as good as they get because the 996 generation, including the 996 Turbo, are built to last, and the reliability and dependability factors should be of no great concern when it comes to the 996 911.
The Mezger engine is built to last
In the early days, the reception of a water-cooled 911 was rather questionable, but after a while, most enthusiasts realized that the Mezger engines in the 996 911 models were nothing short of spectacular.
While some Mezger engines were troubled by IMS bearing failures, the 996 Turbo used a completely different design and configuration, which resulted in no mentionable IMS issues. The engine in the 996 was derived from a 1998 Le Mans-winning GT1 racer, and the performance credentials of this engine are impressive to this day.
The 3.6L flat 6 offers 420hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The construction of this engine is also incredible. The 996 Turbo engine is equipped with a racing-developed and racing-tested dry-sump engine lubrication system. This system is combined with Porsche 959-derived cylinder-heads, which means that the engine had a rock-solid block.
The 996 Turbo engine is one of the most reliable Porsche engines of all time, and some online publications have also tested the 996 Turbo with almost 600k miles on the clock! An engine reliability feat such as this one is unheard of in the supercar world, and the legendary Hans Mezger engine is one the greatest modern-classic engines out there.
996 Clutch and transmission
The 996 transmission is also considered as reliable, and Porsche is one of the leading manufacturers in the entire car industry as far as transmissions are concerned. But even Porsche gearboxes are prone to occasional failures.
Most of the issues associated with a 996 Turbo gearbox are due to driver error which results in a premature failure of the gearbox. A somewhat consistent issue for 996 Turbo models is the synchronizers in the gearbox, and this issue is mostly associated with the increased abuse of the transmission.
Another transmission-related issue with the 996 Turbo is the leaking slave accumulator. It’s a fairly common an inexpensive problem, but it’s one you should fix as soon as possible. More often than not, 996 Turbo gearboxes will last you as long as the engine, but proper maintenance is required.
There is also one additional transmission concern to keep in mind, and it’s the gear lube. Many owners neglect to change the gear lube when prompted to, and because of this the gear lube tends to lose the viscosity levels and it loses the ability to protect the gears as intended.
As mentioned previously, a 996 Turbo is as reliable as 911s get, but no car is immune to potential issues. This means that you always have to maintain your 996 Turbo in order for this car to reach the reliability heights it is capable of. Some issues might make it more challenging to do so.
The radiators and the A/C condenser on the 996 Turbo are mounted on the front, they are not all that well protected for increased airflow purposes, which means that they are fairly easy to damage, and they are also prone to clogging up if they accumulate too much road dirt, leaves and debris.
This can also cause rust. Sadly, this is a common issue for the 996 platform, but if you do replace one of them every few years or so, there is nothing to worry about.
The interior of the 996 is high quality with great materials, and there are no specific major issues with the interior.
The rear-wing hydraulics might cause some issues, but these can also be mitigated with regular maintenance. Some owners have also reported a rattly exhaust, but you should install an aftermarket exhaust on the 996 Turbo anyway due to a fairly quiet stock exhaust.
FAQ
Is the Porsche 996 Turbo expensive to maintain?
Well, most Porsches are expensive to maintain, including the 996 Turbo. This is rather expected because you can’t enjoy superior reliability without paying for necessary maintenance. This is the general story with many Porsche models.
Some owners and car publications have reported a figure of around $6200 for yearly maintenance and replacement parts costs for a 996 Turbo in good condition. These numbers might seem a bit too inflated, but a relatively modern 420 horsepower 2-seater sports car is never going to be cheap to run.
Will a 996 Turbo go up in value?
More likely than not. It’s worth mentioning that the 996 Turbo has already had a steady climb in value, but the climb has been rather slow over the past few years. It’s fairly tricky to predict the value of a car based on contemporary variables because these might change a few years from now.
However, the 996 Turbo is certainly looking good thanks to incredible reliability and a fairly legendary engine. The looks are still a bit controversial, but the 996 Turbo has begun getting the praise it was always destined to get.
Porsche 996 vs. Porsche 997 911 generations
The 997 911 is the successor to the 996 generation, and according to some Porsche enthusiasts the 997 ended up being what the 996 should’ve been. The design was more Porsche-like, especially the headlights of the 997, which were a lot more 911-familiar compared to the “fried egg” 996 headlights.
The 997 boosted the power outputs of all the comparable models, and Porsche also introduced the ground-breaking PDK gearbox in 2008 which has defined the 911 range since. The 997 is probably a better car in most cases, but some people actually still prefer the 996.
