Porsche 996

The 996 was the first water-cooled Porsche 911 generation, introduced in 1997. The decision to switch to water-cooled engines was made to improve performance and meet more stringent emissions standards. The 996 featured a 3.4-liter flat-six engine, producing 296 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The engine was coupled with a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic transmission.

Despite its improvements, the 996 generation was met with some criticism. Porsche purists were not fond of the water-cooled engine and the new design, which they felt was a departure from the classic 911 look. Additionally, the 996 faced some issues with reliability, particularly with its IMS (intermediate shaft) bearing.

In response to these criticisms, Porsche made several updates to the 996 throughout its production run. The car received a facelift in 2002, with redesigned headlights and a revised interior. The company also addressed the IMS bearing issue in later models, offering an upgraded part that was less prone to failure.

Despite its flaws, the 996 generation set the stage for the water-cooled Porsche 911’s future, paving the way for the more refined and reliable generations to come.