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While the car still used the traditional rear-mounted flat-six, it was no longer air-cooled, a huge departure for Porsche that ruffled the feathers of many air-cooled purists. Perhaps the biggest change implemented for the 996, though, was in the engine bay.
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Thankfully, the ignition switch remained in its traditional left-hand position. The instrument panel kept its signature five-gauge design, but added a trio of digital displays for speedometer, clock and odometer.
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That mindset continued into the all-new interior, completely redesigned with modern audio and HVAC and even optional navigation. Wider, longer, and with a lower roofline than the 993 that preceded it, the 996 was a 21st century 911. Though the silhouette was similar, every aspect of the exterior was modernized, with a streamlined body, an electronically activated rear spoiler, a 0.30 coefficient of drag, and headlights lifted right off the then-new Boxster. Instead of a refreshed version of the 993, this was a completely new, clean-sheet design. A 911 for the 21st Centuryįirst unveiled at the 1997 Frankfurt Auto Show and put on sale for the 1999 model year, the 996-generation 911 was a massive departure from the 35 years of air-cooled 911 magnificence the world was familiar with. Thinking about buying a 996 of your own? We commend you. Despite its reputation, though, the 996 provides a fantastic driving experience, often at the price you'd pay for a new Miata. Some people consider it the “worst” 911, and as such, prices have stayed reasonable while other generations skyrocket. It was the first 911 to use a water-cooled engine, and the first to be built on a modern assembly line, rather than being built by hand. The 996-generation Porsche 911 occupies an interesting spot in Porsche’s history.