YouTuber Explains How to Buy a Cheap–and Great–996 Turbo

By James Sapienza - November 1, 2018

More proof that the 996 deserves a second chance.

For over 50 years, the Porsche 911 has consistently been one of the best – if not the best – driver’s cars in the world. From generation to generation, it just gets better and better. Of course, there is one exception: The 996 Series. People loathe the 1998-to-2004 996. It’s the first non-air-cooled 911. It’s known for its dreaded IMS-bearing fault. And, of course, it shares its front end – and those awful “fried egg” headlights – with the entry-level Boxster.

But you know what? The 996 is still a Porsche 911. It’s a damn good car. And the purists turning their back on it just means they’re cheap. And that’s why Tyler Hoover just added a 2002 996 Turbo to his fleet.

If you follow Tyler’s adventures on Hoovie’s Garage, then you know that he’s willing to take all kinds of risks, buying up the cheapest version of an exotic car in the country then seeing what happens. But this 911 Turbo is different. It’s perfect, and he absolutely loves it.

A 911 at a Honda price

“I’m so thankful there’s still a 911 that many enthusiasts hate,” he says. “A lot of you hate this thing.” But, he says, because of all that hate: “this is the lone 911 that most of us normal guys can still afford.” At $36,000, it wasn’t cheap. But, as Tyler points out, that is still less than a fully-loaded Honda Accord.

Two years ago, he bought a base 996 with a manual transmission. Within six months, he blew the engine on the track. So he did an LS-swap. That blew up too. But he was so happy with the car that he decided to try again. He bid on this Turbo not expecting to win it. A few hours and $36,000 later, he had a new Porsche.

The car had a PPI and preventative maintenance done before he bought it, so don’t expect one of his “Everything That’s Broken on My…” videos here. In fact, he calls buying the car “the best mistake I ever made.” The 996 Turbo doesn’t have that infamous IMS bearing problem. And Tyler thinks that the root cause of all this 996 hate really boils down to those damn headlights. In their defense, he says: “They don’t bother me enough to turn my nose up at a 415 horsepower, all-wheel drive, six-speed rocket ship that I can comfortably haul my five-year-old around in in the back seat. This thing is epic.”

During a quick drive, he gives a rundown of his car’s history. Over 16 years, there’s just 76,000 miles on the clock. It’s enough for the car to be broken in, but not low enough to be a collectible. It has a more robust GT2-style clutch, and Bilstein lowering springs. “The acceleration is just perfect on this car,” he says. “It’s not insanely fast to where I’m going totally illegal speeds… but it’s totally enough to get your blood pumping.”

Sure, you may be saying. A 996 is great. But how does it stack up against a classic air-cooled 911? Tyler has a gorgeous red 1985 Carrera, so he’s more than qualified to compare the two. And while he loves his ’85, “it does feel like an old car,” he says. “The air conditioning barely keeps up. It is slow. The clutch is a little wonky… It’s a beautiful car. But this thing [the 996] is way more fun. Way more fun!”

“How can people hate this thing,” he asks. “It’s so good!” After watching this video, we can see why Tyler is in love with his new purchase. The 996 was never a bad car. It just happened to follow the most famous sports car in the world’s unparalleled 34-year run. For a bridge between Porsche past and the present, the 996 Series 911 is a great car and a serious bargain. We can’t wait to see Tyler’s future adventures in his new-to-him 911.