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2003 Porsche 911 Targa (996)

At a Glance

Modest Miles | Good Service History | Fresh MOT

  • Mileage~59,790
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine3.6L
  • LocationTwickenham

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CURRENT BID£4,250
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ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£4,250

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Video #2

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy
Consigner and Editor

The 996 Targa offers the best of open air motoring with structural rigidity.

There were fears that the new 1997 water-cooled 996 had damaged the 911's character and deployment of performance. All were proven to be completely unfounded. By overhauling the outmoded methodology, Porsche had brought the 911 into the modern era and opened the market to a new appreciative audience. In 2002 the 996 underwent a significant upgrade, which saw an electronic throttle, and a more rigid body with external cosmetic improvements on top of the increase of the engine capacity to 3.6 litres. In the same year the Targa was released, recognised as the rarest body style in the series – only ~5,152 were produced. The novel sliding panoramic glass roof and rear glass hatch which gave access to the storage compartment, made it the most user-friendly 911. It offered the strength and classic outline of the coupe, with the freedom of the cabriolet.

This 2003 manual 996 is finished in "Midnight Blue" with a black leather interior. Sold with a detailed maintenance and service history since new, there is also evidence of over £16,000 spent since 2016, and it has only covered ~59,790 miles. Last serviced only ~250 miles ago, it comes with 2 keys, its full owners wallet with booklets and a year's MOT, the 996 is also ULEZ exempt.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Andy the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Video #2

Meet the owner

A stylish and able daily driver, the Targa has been impressively practical too.

Bought as a reward to himself, Andy grasped the opportunity to own one of the rarer variants of the 996 in 2016. Initially used as a commuting car, he has treasured the experience of owning the Targa, particularly impressed with its stylish roof system and useful rear glass hatch. He has diligently kept on top of the upkeep of the car, by regularly taking it to GT One, a Porsche specialist.

Working from home has meant that the car has seen a dramatic slowdown in use. He feels it isn't being used enough and has decided to sell it with us, Andy will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comment section below.

Andy
Vehicle Owner

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EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

Smartly presented with an impressive lustre, the Targa belies its age.

Wheels and Tyres

The 18” alloys are smartly presented, with a handful of marks and age-related blemishes on the outer rims and wells. 

The car is fitted with a full set of Pirelli P-Zero tyres, all are legal with mild wear. 

Bodywork

We couldn’t spot any significant problems with the exterior presentation, the metalwork is cleanly presented with no signs of damage. We did notice a handful of tiny and treatable dents spotted on the nearside front wing and offside lower rear wing. There is also a small blemish on the shoulder line of the passenger door. The panel fit is flush with even shut lines. All doors open and close although the engine cover lid strut first struggled to support the weight but didn’t give any problems afterwards. The underside of the car appears to be in good condition. The floor pan, jacking points and inner arch wells appear to be in good shape.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The "Midnight Blue" paint has a good lustre, an even coverage and is free of swirl marks. There are a few marks scattered across the car, mostly light day-to-day scuffs and light scratches, as you might expect for a car that has spent much of its life in London. Although flush mounted, both bumpers also show light scuffs and marks and the front item has mild impact cracks. The driver's side door mirror displays lacquer damage and has light chips on the driver's door edge. 

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass and their seals are all in good order, the roof is free of significant marks. The lenses present well with no cracks and it has unblemished headlamps. The novel rear glass hatch opens and closes with no issues, and retains its soft close action.

The driver's side door handle occasionally failed to go back down to position but this did not impede its operation. The rest of the trim is in good shape, although the plastic door mirror mounts and wiper scuttle show signs of age.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

Wearing its modest-miles well, the cabin has been well looked after.

Seats and Carpets

The heated leather seats are free from damage, only displaying mild creasing and a mark on the driver-side bolster. There are light marks and scuffs on the back of the seat supports. The rear seats have light indentations on the leather.

The grey carpets and mats are in decent shape, all damp-free and are above the expectations of a car of this age. Both luggage areas are clean with minimal evidence of use.

Dashboard

There are a few minor entry mark scuffs but the dashboard presents well. The buttons and controls look good. There is damage to the cup holder panel and age-related wear on the centre console plastic. All of the functions, including the air-con are said to work. The hand brake lever handle shows light signs of age.

The rest of the trim is in good shape with just a few light marks spotted on rear side panels. There were no issues noted on the door cards.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The leather wrapped steering wheel shows light signs of use.

The gear lever looks good as pictured.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

With 19 service stamps under its belt, its mechanical durability is never in doubt.

Engine and Gearbox

The car starts up with no hesitation, the engine firing up evenly and with no unwanted noises. The dashboard lights remained off, and the exhausts remained smoke-free, aside from a little initial condensation. The engine presents cleanly, with decent hoses and ancillaries. The car remained leak-free throughout the day.

The gearbox and clutch were demonstrated to function as expected, with smooth changes and typical Porsche precision. A new clutch kit was fitted in 2017. Watch the video to see and hear the car on the road.

Suspension and Brakes

The firm suspension was free of unwanted clunks or knocks, even over the numerous speed bumps and potholes we encountered.

The braking was even and trouble-free throughout the day, there was a little sticking when we first set off, due to a lack of recent use. 

The Drive

Andy treated us to a lengthy road test, which gave us a very positive impression of the car. With a mix of urban traffic, a 10-minute drive through Richmond Park, and a final run on a dual carriageway at 40MPH, there was no negative feedback from the ride, braking or engine.

The steering was direct with no play and proved to stay true under braking, no unwanted noises were heard from the steering box at any point. The car pulls smoothly, and the Dansk sports exhaust adds a little thrill upon acceleration. Handling confidently around bends and over the uneven cambers there was nothing more than a few mild internal creaks heard.

No issues were observed on the day regarding oil pressure or engine temperature, we recorded a short video of the dashboard after a 45-minute drive. Andy mentioned a warning message saying "Oil Indicator Failure" appears on the dashboard occasionally. The gauge subsequently goes to 0 then up to 5 (max) as it recalibrates (typically 20-30 seconds) and then returns to correct readings. The warning message is therefore simply a prompt that the gauge will recalibrate itself. GT One has checked this and confirmed that the gauge itself is working well and couldn’t find any obvious issues with it.

Electrics and Other

The Targa roof operation needs a repeated button application to open but works with no strains to the motors. A ~£3,000 renovation of the roof was carried out in 2016, with further work carried out in 2021.

The electric roof blind and rear spoiler operate as they should. The aftermarket Kenwood Garmin DAB infotainment system was fitted in 2013. Connected to the dealer-fit BOSE system, Andy told us the infotainment system is not working and needs to be replaced, he chose not to do it himself as he thought the new owner would like to choose a specific model. He looked at Bluetooth enabled CarPlay system which would cost ~£250.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

It has an impressive service and maintenance history, the car has also seen ~£16,000 worth of spending since 2016.

First registered in May 2003 by Porsche Park Lane, it comes with a thorough record of servicing, with 19 stamps recorded in the service booklet. There is a folder full of invoices dating back to 2005, which mainly covers upkeep and servicing costs. More recent invoices includes paint, electrical items and a 3K bill for a roof overhaul. Andy has taken the car to GT One for all of its work since he bought it in 2016, with over £16,000 evidence of spending. 

It comes with its full owner's wallet, two keys and a plastic emergency key. The car was last serviced just ~250 miles ago and comes with a year's MOT, it is also ULEZ exempt.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned an HPI check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
04-09-2024 MOT 59,769
26-04-2024 Minor Service 59,591
15-08-2023 MOT 58,571
14-09-2022 Minor Service + Gearbox oil + Cooling flush 56,946
09-08-2022 MOT 56,699
09-08-2022 Front Drop links 56,696
25-08-2021 MOT 55,054
21-04-2021 Major Service + airbag check 54,715
30-06-2020 Minor Service 53,201
29-06-2020 MOT 53,201
19-09-2019 Major Service 50,987
19-09-2019 Rear discs/pads 50,987
13-06-2019 MOT 49,616
18-06-2018 Minor Service 46,477
13-06-2018 MOT 46,477
02-11-2017 Clutch kit
12-05-2017 MOT 42,803
12-05-2017 Major Service (48,000) 42,795
12-05-2017 Airbag check + Coil pack + Exhaust 42,795
19-05-2016 MOT 40,200
09-06-2015 Minor Service + Alternator 39,548
07-04-2015 MOT 38,295
03-04-2014 Minor Service 33,226
02-04-2014 MOT 33,226
03-04-2014 Minor Service 33,226
04-04-2013 MOT 27,778
30-03-2013 Minor Service 27,646
06-02-2013 MOT 27,630
13-05-2012 Minor Service 25,862
13-05-2012 MOT 25,862
05-05-2011 Minor Service 22,245
05-05-2011 MOT 22,149
06-05-2010 Minor Service 18,543
06-05-2010 MOT 18,543
15-05-2009 Service 16,951
07-05-2009 MOT 16,563
06-05-2008 Yearly Service 14,913
06-05-2008 MOT 14,915
01-05-2007 MOT 12,911
30-04-2007 Service 12,906
10-05-2006 Minor Service 9,932
08-05-2006 MOT 9,930
10-05-2005 Yearly Service 6,567
19-05-2004 Yearly Service 3,623
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Key Details
  • Model911 Targa (996)
  • TransmissionSix-Speed Manual
  • Reg. Date09-05-2003
  • CC3,600
  • Mileage~59,790
  • HistoryYes
  • ColourMidnight Blue
  • Interior ColourBlack
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #WP0ZZZ99Z3S631065
  • Engine #66313294
  • Last Service26-04-2024
  • RestoredNo
  • Engine RebuildNo
  • MOT03-09-2025
  • MOT ExemptNo
  • Road Tax ExemptNo
  • HPi ClearYes - all clear
  • Former Keepers5
  • Tyre BrandPirelli P-Zero
  • Tyre Age2017/2021
  • # of Keys3
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~8 Years
  • Key FeatureRare 996 Targa with modest miles
  • Auction ID2140
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VIEW ALL
Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Twickenham, London

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    Auction Bidding

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    Current Bid £4,250
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    Auction Ends Thu 26th Sep at 7.20pm
    Bidding History
    Previous Bids  3
    £4,250 bid by KennyP16.09.24 @ 12:43:27
    £4,000 bid by thefirstavi15.09.24 @ 21:09:40
    £3,500 bid by johnvincoghlan12.09.24 @ 17:45:07
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    Insurance Quote


    Average annual insurance premium for a Targa like this is £405 via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
    GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

    *Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid Summer 2024.

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    Vehicle Location

    Twickenham, London

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