Porsche history · 1997–2005
Porsche 996: History, Specs & What to Know
By CarWhere Research · Updated
The Porsche 996 is the fifth-generation 911 and the first with a water-cooled engine, a 3.4-liter four-valve flat-six rated at 300 PS. Porsche built 175,262 from 1997 to 2005. The range grew to include the 3.6-liter facelift, Targa, Carrera 4S, the 420 PS Turbo, and the first GT3 and water-cooled GT2.
The 996 was the first all-new 911 since 1964. It was 18.5 cm longer, 3 cm wider and had an 80 mm longer wheelbase than the 993, and Porsche designed many of its parts to be shared with other models such as the Boxster.
Its engines split into two families. Carreras used the new M96 water-cooled flat-six; the Turbo, GT2 and GT3 used the race-derived Mezger engine. That split matters to buyers today, because the intermediate-shaft (IMS) bearing and bore-scoring issues that shaped the 996's reputation affect the M96 cars, not the Mezger ones.
996 history: what changed, year by year
- 1997 — The 996 debuts with a 300 PS, 3.4-liter water-cooled flat-six.[1]
- 1998 — The Carrera 4 introduces Porsche Stability Management.[2]
- 2000 — The 2001 911 Turbo arrives with a GT1-derived engine (420 PS), the first series Porsche past 300 km/h.[1],[2]
- 2001 — The GT2 debuts (up to 483 PS), the first model with ceramic brakes standard. Carreras move to 3.6 liters and 320 PS with Turbo-style headlights.[1],[2]
- Dec. 2001 — The 996 Targa, with a glass roof of more than 1.5 m², goes on sale alongside the Carrera 4S.[2],[3]
- 2004 — The GT3 reaches the US; the 345 PS 40th Anniversary 911 is introduced.[1],[2]
- 2004–2005 — Turbo S with 450 PS and ceramic brakes standard; 1,563 built. The 997 replaces the 996.[4]
How many 996s were made?
| Model / variant | Years | Units | What the figure counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 996 | 1997–2005 | ≈ 175,262[1],[5] | total builtGeneration history: 175,262; 2017 milestone page: 179,163. |
| 996 | 2004–2005 | 1,563[4] | total built |
| 996 — GT3 Cup | — | 873[6] | race cars built |
More model-by-model totals: Porsche production numbers.
996 variants and engines
| Variant | Years | Engine | Power | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrera / Carrera 4 (3.4) | MY1999–2001 | 3.4 L water-cooled flat-6, 4 valves/cyl. | 300 PS[1],[7] | US 296 hp; launch MSRP $65,030. |
| Carrera / Targa / C4S (3.6) | MY2002–2005 | 3.6 L flat-6, VarioCam | 320 PS[1],[7] | US 315 hp. |
| 40th Anniversary 911 | MY2004 | 3.6 L flat-6 | 345 PS[1],[7] | |
| Turbo / Turbo Cabriolet | MY2001–2005 | 3.6 L twin-turbo (Mezger) | 420 PS[1],[7] | US 415 hp; 189 mph. |
| Turbo S | MY2005 | 3.6 L twin-turbo (Mezger) | 450 PS[2],[4] | US 444 hp; PCCB standard. |
| GT3 | MY2004–2005 (US) | 3.6 L naturally aspirated (Mezger) | 360 PS, later 381 PS[1],[7] | US 380 hp. |
| GT2 | MY2002–2005 | 3.6 L twin-turbo (Mezger) | up to 483 PS[1] | Rear-wheel drive; PCCB standard. |
Full trim-by-trim figures (US hp, torque, 0–60, weight, launch MSRP): Porsche 996 specs.
996 engine and drivetrain facts
- First water-cooled 911 engine: 3.4 liters, four valves per cylinder, 300 PS — the same output as the earlier air-cooled Turbo 3.3.[1]
- The 996 Turbo was the first series-production Porsche to exceed 300 km/h.[1]
- The GT2's ceramic brakes were 50% lighter than steel brakes and rated to last up to 300,000 km.[1]
- The GT3 became the basis for Porsche's one-make Cup racing; Porsche built 873 996 GT3 Cup race cars.[1],[6]
What to check before you buy a 996
- IMS bearing: on Carrera models (M96 engine), ask whether the intermediate-shaft bearing has been inspected or replaced, and get the invoice. Turbo, GT2 and GT3 models use the Mezger engine and are not affected.[8]
- Bore scoring and cracked cylinders ('D-chunk') are documented on M96 engines; a borescope inspection is a sensible part of a pre-purchase check.[8]
- Rear main seal leaks and air/oil separator failures are common, cheaper issues; check for oil at the engine-gearbox joint and smoke on startup.[8]
- On Turbo and GT models, ask about the bonded coolant pipes.[8]
Documented problems, recalls and pre-purchase checks: 996/997 IMS bearing · Bore scoring · Porsche 911 known issues by generation.
How to verify a 996's factory options
Every 996 carries a 17-character VIN, so a build sheet can check for the factory paint, interior and option codes recorded for that car. 996s also have an option sticker with M-codes, usually in the maintenance booklet and under the front trunk lid.
See exactly how this 996 left the factory.
The CarWhere build sheet decodes a US-market Porsche VIN into its factory record: paint, interior, option codes and equipment as built. $9.99, and the free availability check shows whether build data exists before you pay.
Porsche 996 FAQ
What years is the Porsche 996?
Porsche built the 996 from 1997 to 2005. In the US it was sold for the 1999 to 2005 model years; the Turbo and GT models continued into 2005.
How many Porsche 996s were made?
Porsche built 175,262 996-generation 911s between 1997 and 2005, according to its generation history.
Which 996 models do not have the IMS bearing problem?
The Turbo, Turbo S, GT2 and GT3 use the Mezger engine, which does not use the M96 intermediate-shaft bearing design. The issue applies to Carrera, Carrera 4, Targa and Carrera 4S models.
How much horsepower does a 996 have?
The 3.4-liter Carrera makes 300 PS (296 hp US), the 3.6-liter facelift 320 PS (315 hp US), the Turbo 420 PS, the Turbo S 450 PS and the GT2 up to 483 PS.
Was the 996 the first water-cooled 911?
Yes. The 996 introduced water cooling to the 911 in 1997, replacing the air-cooled 993.
Related Porsche history
Specs, production and buying research
Sources
Production counts, power outputs and dates on this page come from the sources below. Where sources disagree, the page says so or uses Porsche's own figure.
- Seven generations of the 911, part 5: Type 996 — Porsche Newsroom
- Porsche Historical Background: 1948-2025 — Porsche Cars North America (Porsche Newsroom)
- History of the Porsche Targa — Porsche Newsroom
- Porsche 911 Turbo S: history (press kit) — Porsche Newsroom
- From zero to 1,000,000: Seven generations of the Porsche 911 — Porsche Newsroom
- 5,000th Cup 911 features in the Porsche Supercup as the VIP car — Porsche Newsroom
- Porsche 911 specs by generation (US-market figures, each sourced on the page) — CarWhere Research
- Porsche 911 known issues by generation (each issue sourced on the page) — CarWhere Research
Independent reference published by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Porsche, 911, Carrera, Targa and Boxster are trademarks of their owner.