The 911 is an automotive icon. It defines the very essence of Porsche. You probably grew up with posters of a 911 on your walls as a kid. I started FirstFlatSix because when I started looking into getting a Porsche 911, the economics quickly ruled out the classic Air-Cooled cars and newer late model Water-Cooled cars. I’m a class of ’99 HS graduate, the 996 was kind of a big deal. I won’t bore you with the details about how it and the Boxster saved Porsche. I started the site and blog because I was coming across really great examples that I couldn’t purchase for myself. It’s a real simple formula, if I think it’s a buy and is presenting value, I’m spreading the word.
My first foray into the 996 world was a few years ago where in my search for a 4S I came across a locally owned 996.1. While it wasn’t a 4S, and I wasn’t exactly in love with the color-way, it was a 1999, it was optioned with the LSD and it did have a documented LN IMS replacement. While I did thoroughly enjoy the car I inevitably decided I wanted to upgrade and ended up selling the car.
So 18+ months later here she is, a 20K-Mile, 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 6sp. I had made the decision early on that I would not settle this time. My preference was for a “skittles” color. In no specific preference, Cobalt Blue, Speed Yellow, Guards Red, Rainforest Green etc and the car could not have a Graphite Grey interior. I did pass on a few examples. There was this car not far away in Maryland that I passed on because the day after I contacted the dealer, I ran the CarFax again and saw someone drove the car over an hour away to perform a PPI and didn’t end up purchasing. That was enough of a red flag for me.
I tell potential buyers all the time, if you are looking for something odd, rare and not commonly seen you have to act quickly. I saw this car listed at a franchise Porsche store. Red Flag #1, they probably aren’t very negotiable. Red Flag #2; it had aftermarket wheels. Red Flag #3, the IMS probably had’t been changed and the price was (in my opinion) reflective of a car that should have have had it replaced. I did however, LOVE the Speed Yellow, and these narrow body Carrera’s never come in Speed Yellow, it may as well be a PTS (no exaggeration). Believe it or not, I didn’t even reach out to the dealer, I had already mentally made up my mind.
That was until good friend and neighbor @mlasko stopped by my home to drop something off the very next day in his Speed Yellow Turbo . I was on a conf call and didn’t even know he had stopped by until I saw his car driving away. It was at that point I had decided that Speed Yellow was amazing, and I should reach out to the store. I proceeded to do just that.
I sent an inquiry via the Dealers webpage and was astonished at the prompt reply. I won’t go on a rant about the Car Dealer Industry general disdain for online sales, you can find that elsewhere. A salesman promptly reached out and without even having mentioned IMS in my initial inquiry, he indicated the IMS was replaced by the store. In addition, he mentioned that the stock wheels would be mounted on brand new Pirelli tires, and a bunch of other service work had been completed like the RMS, fluids and a new battery. They even had the stock deck-lid spoiler. I face-timed, with the salesman a few times and had him run paint meter readings for me. Everything appeared to check out, so we spoke price and came to an agreement. I won’t divulge my price paid, and while I think the price I paid was more than fair, I know it was too much because they included transport to my door. When they include transport, you know the margins are high.
Factory build sheet is pretty cool. My last 911 had the base 90’s Ford Ranger interior, this one has the full standard leather with Crests. I am not a big fan of the supple leather as even in low mileage examples it appears old and worn. Other options include PSM, rear wiper, aluminum trim bits and my favorites… heated seats, yellow belts and console.
To say I’m pretty excited about the car would be an understatement. I anticipate having this one for a while. I have a list of mods in mind already and will followup after install. If you’re in the market, or are looking to sell, reach out for a quick consult first. You won’t be disappointed. #FirstFlatSix
You are right in that a standard 3-pedal coupe in Speed Yellow is an incredibly rare find, any generation; especially 996! And Speed Yellow is probably the best of all standard 996 color options. They are even more astronomically rare on MKI than MKII, but still this is an amazing find. Speed Yellow was almost exclusively specified on Turbos, Cabs, and the 4S, so I certainly would not have been as picky as you based on this rarity, but you snagged it anyway congratulations!
Ben, its interesting you say that it’s more rare on an MK1 vs MkII because I have come across A LOT of Speed Yellow MK1’s. Check our IG feed, you’ll find at least 4 to 5 MK.1’s. The only other .2 Speed Yellow Carrera’s I have come across were one on BaT that didnt meet reserve at $31K back in 2019, and a 4K mile example sold by hatch motors not that long ago. Theres actually a 76K mile example for sale in houston as I type this, but they want insane money for it.
I count 4 MKI & 7 MKII Speed Yellow coupes in your feed since 2018. What is your count??
That’s only about 50% frequency of MKI as MKII. And seeing as how Speed Yellow is virtually PTS rare to begin with, hence my observation. Perhaps I’m jaded as my search was limited to MKI and the frustration was seemingly endless.
Bottom line: a Speed Yellow MKI comes online only about once per year in the US. MKII only 1.5X. And they’re all freaking gorgeous. Especially yours! 🤑
I was talking strictly narrowbody Carreras. Speed Yellow Turbos/C4S are much more abundant.
Beautiful Car! I purchased a 2003 SY here in Atlanta back in late jan. It belonged to a friend and it is the first 996 i ever drove. 64k miles, full aero kit and lightly optioned. no traction control even. Same wheels as your. I didn’t realize at the time the rarity of the SY. PO had just done the engine out everything service (ims, aos, rms etc). The SY gets attention everywhere! Ive done a full paint correction and detail and no one believes it a nearly 20 year old car. I with mine had the full leather interior but i like the stripped down nature of this car
Anthony, speed yellow Aero II car is uber rare. Are you on IG, would love to follow you and see more of the car. I recall one Speed Yellow Aero II in florida late last year with aftermarket wheels and had wierd racing stripes on it. But I think that car had 50 thousand some odd miles. Is that your car? Let me know!