The more and more automotive journalists and PR people you talk to, the clearer it becomes that half of them already have some sort a Porsche 911, with the other half wanting to have one, often quite badly. The enthusiasts' love for these stubbornly rear-engined sports cars knows no bounds, except perhaps when it comes to the 996 generation, built from 1997 to 2005.

The M96 flat-six, first introduced in the Boxster. Porsche

The 996 marked the end of the line for the air-cooled engines, being powered by the water-cooled M96, in 3.4 and 3.6 form. That engine debuted in the first Boxster a year earlier, and turned out to have a few issues, namely the tendency to have intermediate shaft bearing failures as well as rear main seal leaks along with cylinder cracking. That, plus its ugly headlamps made sure to keep used 996s affordable, and its no secret this generation represents value for the money even today.

Drivetribe's Jethro Bovingdon got the 911 bug some two weeks after he started at Evo, getting a ride in the plainest 911 Carrera money could buy. He bought his 996 well used but fixed up by a racing shop, with upgrades such as sport seats, adjustable Bilstein dampers and a better exhaust already installed. Since then, he fixed the paint, reduced the unsprung weight, put the engine on semi-solid mounts and made the the rear suspension more track compliant with adjustable rear arms.

The thing is, no matter what you think of the design, the 996 is lighter and faster than the 993 was, and more compact and airy than any 911 since. It offers a very rewarding driving experience with a manual box and a fantastic steering feel, and while the haters are gonna hate, the 996 delivers. Every time.

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