2005 Porsche 911 Carrera

Description

When Porsche announced that the 2005 911 would be water-cooled, fans of the seminal air-cooled, rear-engined sports car cried out like comic book fans upon learning that DC Comics was going to kill Superman. But the 911, like Superman, endured and came out better for it. For proof, you need to do nothing except hop behind the wheel of this 2005 Porsche Carrera and take it for a spin. Same great sounds, same incredible torque, plus all the other subtle nuances that make 911s special, but now adding a lot of new tricks, including a rear suspension that finally tamed the 911's tail-happy antics.

This Slate Gray Carrera is loaded with great features, including the highly desirable 6-speed manual transmission, Sport-Chrono package, Sport Seats, and a touch-screen entertainment system. Slate Gray was actually one of the less common colors in 2005, and you could be forgiven for thinking that they were all black, which seems to be all you see everywhere. The paint emphasizes the car's traditional shape, with the updated sheetmetal pulled taut over a longer, wider chassis. Although it's now eleven years old, this gorgeous car is extremely clean and could pass for a much newer model. Paint quality on all Porsches has always been excellent, and this car is no exception.

Porsche interiors are some of the most finely crafted in the automotive world. Not especially flashy, but made with high-quality materials and craftsmanship, and Porsche engineers finally got the memo on ergonomics. But don't worry traditionalists, the ignition key is still to the left of the steering column, and the tachometer is still the biggest gauge, and still lives front and center. The black leather seats are not only beautifully stitched together, but exceptionally comfortable and really hold you in place for aggressive driving thanks to snug bolsters and grippy materials. The interior looks quite good with the only notable wear being to the driver's seat bolsters. You also get a good-sized trunk up front that makes the 911 a car that you can not only use daily, but which is also great for highway trips.

The new liquid-cooled 3.6 liter flat six brought a significant power upgrade in 2005 as well, now boasting 325 horsepower and 273 pounds of torque, all delivered over a wider powerband. Porsche owners are often known to be tinkerers, and there's a vast aftermarket designed to help them get more out of their cars, so finding a completely unmodified Porsche like this one is somewhat of a rarity. From the engine computer to the exhaust system, this one is 100% OEM, which also suggests that it has led an easy life as a hobby car and was never hammered as a track-day weapon. The 18-inch alloy wheels are absolutely gorgeous, and wear expensive 235/40/18 front and 265/40/18 rear performance radials with lots of life left in them.

The water-cooled 911s are here to stay, and I think there are very few Porsche fans that will say that today's cars aren't the best Porsches ever. Demand for them remains high, and resale values are strong. This is a great opportunity to pick up a well-maintained Porsche for pennies on the dollar. Call now!