Feature Listing: 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet

1999 was the first year of the new 911, and it’s been a debate ever since. But Porsche had to move forward from the air-cooled design ultimately, and the new 911 Carrera was happy to pick up the pieces. The smoothed out styling made the 911 more aerodynamic yet was instantly recognizable as being from Porsche. So, too, was the exhaust note; a flat-6 still powered the best from Stuttgart, but now it was water-cooled instead of air-cooled.

The Carrera 2 and Carrera 4 shared a 3.4 liter variant of the flat-6, the M96. Out of the box, these cars had 300 horsepower – a number that a Turbo would have been happy with only a decade earlier. VarioCam assisted the motor in both being smooth in its power delivery and, unlike the Turbos of yore, that power was available in most of the tachometer. 0-60 was gone in 5 seconds and flat-out, even the drop-tops could do 165 mph. They were comfortable, fast sports cars that were capable in the tradition of the company. And today, they are without doubt the most affordable way to get into the 911 range.

Those first 1999 911s came in Carrera 2 form meaning rear-drive only as Carrera 4s rolled out a bit later, but you could opt for either a Coupe or this car, a convertible Cabriolet. The Cabriolet stickered at $74,460, but in typical Porsche fashion as you added in options the price went up quickly. But today, these cars offer a great entré into Porsche 911 ownership:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet on eBay

Year: 1999
Model: 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet
VIN: WP0CA2999XS652833
Engine: 3.4 liter flat-6
Transmission: 5-speed Tiptronic automatic
Mileage: 67,050 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

1999 Porsche 911 C2 Cabriolet- When you read the below description please understand I am very picky. Most people would consider the car excellent. I would rather nit pick it, and let the buyer be pleasantly surprised when the see it.

Very nice low mileage California car. I will document the condition in the car in detail below. I have driven it extensively. The Ac works excellent. I have just completed an oil change. The suspension is tight. The top works well. The Carfax shows an accident from 2005. I see no evidence of panel replacement. The front, and back bumpers have been re-painted as some point, but it has been a while. I am happy to email you the CarFax. Send me a message with your email address.

The car is equipped from the factory with the below options. I have the build sheet if anyone wants to see it.

Headlight Washers
18″ turbo Look Wheels (staggered)
3 Spoke Leather Steering wheel (AB)
Wheel caps with Colored Crests
Porsche Wind Stop Reflector (included and in good shape)
Xenon Headlights
On Board Computer (still working)
Am FM with CD
Power Seat Package
Digital Sound Package
Tiptronic
Stainless Steele Exhaust pipes

Body: The original Arctic Silver Metallic paint is in very good condition. as previously mentioned both the front and rear bumpers have been painted. They display well. The gaps look good. The color match is a 7 out of 10. the headlights appear to be original, and do show the typical cloudiness. there are a couple of small dents in the body, and evidence of paintless dent repair. I have these documented in the google album. With all of that said the car shows very well. There is absolutely no rust or corrosion. The bottom tub shows fantastic as does the belly pan.

Chassis: Excellent condition. The brakes pads have about 60% left. The tires are mismatched. The front are Michelin Pilots. Although they have plenty of tread remaining they are older. The rears are Continentals and have about 70% tread remaining. I have cleaned up the bottom to show how nice it is. It did appear to have an oil leak around the rear main. Now that its cleaned I am not seeing it drip yet, but it will. The wheels do have curb rash. They do not wobble or shake.

Interior: The Graphite Grey interior shows very nice. The leather had been marked on the drivers bolster so I did dye the side drivers bolster as well as the steering wheel. The die has been on a while and it remains very nice. I used a better level of dye that is clear coated. It has solid longevity. There is a small separation in the stitching on the passenger seat. The console has some wear documented in the pictures. The audio system is aftermarket Alpine and it works well. The top has no holes in it, but there are rub marks on the back that in time could become holes.

Motor: Runs well, and the transmission shifts properly. I have some service records. Showing the water pump replacement as well as other minor items over its life. The steering was also rebuilt in 2017. There are also notes on the carfax of annual maintenance. I can not tell if the IMS bearing has been completed. The motor and transmission do not appear to have ever been out of the car. I would assume it has not been. My understanding is the failure rate is very low especially on automatics. I would not hesitate to drive my Porsche across the country. Well, maybe a set of front tires would be a good idea.

Here is a link to a google album with several pictures as well as a couple of videos. If you can not open the link I am happy to email the invite. Please message me your email address.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMtrbZ0bVH-e8itm0vH3BBm4GPsrE-IJoc2Tv4gULNZarVcTqsLRdJn1uQelU8fIQ?key=SVpfNnhJcWtkYjJyRTdGWUhCOWNxNGtpOUxXRlRR

I have priced my Porsche to sell. I am not trying to see the value I want to find a new owner. Please call me to ask any questions, make an appointment to see it, and of coarse make an offer.

Please call me to discuss my 911 or arrange an inspection. My auction almost always end early due to a sale. I am happy to discuss a purchase price with any one who calls. You can reach me at 602-908-9267.

This particular 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet was nicely upgraded from stock with 18″ Turbo-look wheels at about $1,100, the power seat package a further $1,500 and a few other trim items. The Tiptronic transmission was a $3,400 option which does rob some sport, but is in keeping with the character of the top-down high-class motoring the Cabriolet was intended for. The Arctic Silver Metallic over Graphite Gray leather is an understated combination that works well in the classic 911 way. Mileage is in check at 67,000, and general condition shown, including underbody shots, appears to be very good throughout.

Of course, it’s not possible to talk about these 911s without discussing the IMS debacle. Like most cars, the M96 has its faults and certainly the potential of engine implosion sounds ominous. However, there are engineered solutions to the IMS problem, and as noted by the seller, my research has found that early cars and Tiptronic models seem to be generally less affected by the IMS failures. ’99s had the dual-row IMS, so the ones to be careful of are really the later single-row 2000-2005s. The replacement on a Tiptronic model is more expensive, but going rates seem to be 10-14 hours for replacement plus the cost of the parts; budget $2,500 -$3,000 if you want to go crazy. Is it a lot of money for a single repair on a used car? Absolutely. Did I spend the same amount on my wife’s Subaru Outback when the headgaskets failed? Yes, I did – and that was a car that didn’t have 300 horsepower or a convertible top.

The point is, no matter what classic you get into that we feature, it will likely have the potential of some expensive catastrophic failure. If you want a Porsche with a 911 badge, this is still your most affordable – and perhaps arguably your best – option. These cars are great drivers, robustly built, will make you feel very special and won’t break the bank. The seller has included an extensive photo gallery as well. If you love drop-top motoring and the appeal of the 911, this car is worth consideration.

-Carter