The 996 Porsche 911 GT3 Isn't As Expensive As You Might Think

For some time now I’ve just worked under the assumption that any Porsche wearing a (real) GT badge is going to be a catastrophically expensive used buy. We are - of course - living in a time when you’ll pay at least £70,000 more for a second-hand 991 GT3 RS than it cost new, but thankfully not everything GT-shaped in the classifieds will set you back the same amount as a small house in the midlands. Case in point? The 996 GT3.

Prompted by the arrival of the 991.2 GT3 and its new manual gearbox option, we thought we’d have a poke around the classifieds for the car’s predecessor, and were pleasantly surprised with the state of the prices. Specifically, we’re looking at the updated ‘996.2’ cars - and these are the ones you want. Power from the 3.6-litre flat-six was bumped from 355 to 376bhp, beefier six-piston brakes were added at the front, and the springs and dampers stiffened up.

Easily told apart from the pre-update cars thanks to a flatter rear spoiler, the 996.2s were sold from 2004 onwards. There are actually more of them in the UK too, which is probably why we’ve found a fair few for sale but not a single 996.1.

Prices start at about £60,000, which - while still out of reach for most of us - seems a good deal (a 996 GT3 RS will set you back at least £200k), especially since the values should only go up from now. This 2004 example has done 40,500 miles, and is up for £63,000. It has the added bonus of being the Clubsport model, adding a half cage, bucket seats and a fire extinguisher, just in case you make a huge cock-up on your next track day. Bro.

If you’re a Porsche purist, this is just about as good as it gets. The 996 was the last GT3 to go without ‘PASM’ active suspension and traction control, and being built long before the days of PDK, this car has a six-speed manual - the car’s only gearbox option. Row through the ‘box quick enough, and you’ll see 0-60mph happen in 4.5 seconds, while hearing lots of lovely flat-six noises happening behind you. Bliss.