40th Anniversary 911: My First 6 Months with This Special 996

Mechanicals First, Aesthetics Next

Now that I had the mechanical bits sorted, I turned my attention to the appearance of the car. The car looks nearly new inside and out. Like the mechanicals, there was no real issue that had to be addressed. But the previous owner had installed some paint protection film.

It was installed on the front bumper, mirror caps and first one third of the hood and fenders. It did its job protecting the paint; however, it was obviously an older film. The edges were visible and the film on the mirror caps was beginning to bubble and yellow. It was bothering me, and I wanted it addressed.

The folks at Modern Elix in West Chester, PA are my trusted paint protection specialists. I enlisted their expertise in removing the old film and installing Xpel Ultimate Plus 10. This time I would have the new film cover the entire front of the car. The front bumper, mirror caps, full hood and fenders are now protected. The team let me hang around the shop and watch a bit of the process. Using steam and skill the old film came off easier than expected. The entire car was then washed and prepped for the new film.

I must admit seeing the headlights popped out, and the Porsche crest removed and so on is a bit unnerving. However, I have the utmost faith in the team at Modern Elix. I am not alone. My humble 40AE car shared shop space with a Ford GT and a stunning Rosso Mugello Ferrari F8 Spider. My car got the same expert attention to detail as these much more expensive exotics.

When I picked up my completed car a couple days later, I parked next to it outside the shop. At first glance, it looked like they forgot to put the film on. Even under bright sunlight, the install was so clean that it was nearly impossible to see the film. The car looked amazing, and I felt good knowing that it now was wearing more protection than before. The only regret I have is that I didn’t do this sooner for my Cayman. But after seeing the results, I think that day is coming.

So 40AE #1383 now has new and upgraded mechanicals and upgraded paint protection. The only thing left to do is actually drive the thing. With 2020 being 2020 and lousy winter weather here in the Northeast driving opportunities were a bit restricted. But I have had some time behind the wheel lately and it has only reinforced my belief that the 40AE is a stunning 911 bargain right now.

The car feels like a classic and modern car all at the same time. The light weight, and extra power give it plenty of real-world performance. It is quick, but not overwhelmingly so. You can enjoy winding it out a bit before you have to worry about spending time in a jail cell. It doesn’t have the wide hips of the Turbo or C4S but doesn’t need them either.

While I can’t deny those cars look great, the original 911 was a narrow body car. The 40AE links to that original purity of design. Where the car steps away from that original design is of course the headlights. However, the headlights used on the 996 are wonderfully unique and I appreciate them more every time I see them.

A little over a half year into my ownership of my 40AE car and I love the thing even more today. For anyone looking to get into the Porsche 911 game, I implore you to look at these cars. Or any well-sorted 996 for that matter. You will not get rich by simply buying a 996, and financial gain should not be your primary goal with this—or any car, really.

However, 996 values continue to creep upwards. The good ones will not remain Toyota Camry money forever, and they get tougher to find. It really is this simple. Buy a 996. Sort the IMS bearing if not done already. Drive a legend. When the time comes, sell it for what you paid, if not more.

Now that I have most of my preventative maintenance out of the way, I am looking forward to enjoying the car on the open road. The plan for the next update is to include a lot more driving adventure stories. Grab a 996 for yourself and join me.

Images: Joe Kucinski; Performance Automotive; Modern Elix

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.