Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
I’m a sucker for a smooth blue, and that is certainly what we have today in this 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera. This color, Aqua Blue, is a shade you don’t see often despite being an option on the 997.2 – and I’m not sure why. It certainly looks great and can pair up just fine with the tan, grey, and black leathers. Whatever is the case for why it was not ordered much, if you are looking for a deal because this is a base C2, it will not be found here.
Sometimes there is more to the story than we know. Perhaps it is some funny business behind the scenes, a sale that really didn’t happen, or just some straight-up fraud. Today’s car, a 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4s, might not be any of those things, but something isn’t adding up here.
I thought I recognized this car and turns out I did as it was recently sold at Gooding & Co. Amelia Island auction back in early March as part of the late-Rudy “Mr. 993” Mancinas collection. It was a fairly nice 996 C4S, but had a good number of miles on it at nearly 86,000. What is an early C4S with that many miles worth? Usually in that $40,000-50,000 range for a nicer color and cool options like this. Even Gooding estimated $40,000 – $60,000. Totally reasonable. What did end up selling for? $72,800. Yikes. That is 996 Turbo money easily. Now, a month later, the car is back up for sale in Charlotte, North Carolina for the price of $70,820. Huh?
While the United States might be Porsche’s second largest market, that doesn’t mean we always get the fun stuff when it comes to special edition models. A lot of times it just isn’t worth it for Porsche to make a US legal version, thus we are stuck with every single other model they do bend over backwards to sell us. One of the most popular, and now most expensive models, was the 2010 911 Sport Classic. Porsche claimed it was inspired by the 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7 and it had one of the most interesting and subtle changes you might not even notice, a double-dome roof. Other special equipment includes 19″ Fuchs-style wheels, a SportDesign front lip and ducktail spoiler, some contrasting racing stripes, carbon-ceramic brakes, adaptive sport seats with some cool trim, and the “Power Kit” on the 3.8-liter flat-six. Production was limited to 250 cars and the sticker price came in at €169,300. That was nearly GT2 money at the time. However, if you were lucky to buy one of these when new…..it was money well spent.
I love the 996 Porsche 911, right up to the point where the amount you pay for one can buy another 911 that is much more appealing to me. As the years go on, that seems to happen more and more. Today’s car, a 2005 911 Turbo S, is one of those. On paper, the best 996 out of the widow making GT2 or hard-as-nails GT3. For a long time, they seemed like a reasonable buy, but in 2022? How does a six-figure pricetag sound?
We made it to April and the convertible season is finally here. Personally, I’m not a huge convertible guy, but I appreciate them, and certainly more so when it’s on an iconic model. For the Porsche 993 generation, Porsche had a tough job to stash the folding soft-top somehow behind the rear seats and in front of the engine firewall, all while making it look good. Truth be told I think they did a great job considering the challenge, but I can’t say I’m ever tempted to go buy one. However, if I were in the market, today’s car might be one of the better ones.
This 1998 911 Carrera Cabriolet up for sale in Miami has the understate black exterior but went all in with Lobster Red leather on basically everything. Even better, this one has some extra goodies to top it all off.
