2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet

When Porsche introduced the 911 in 1963, it established a sports car with a character all its own: a rear-mounted flat-six, a distinctive silhouette and a driving experience that has evolved without losing its identity. For years, drivers wanting an open-air 911 chose the Targa. 

Then came the 911 SC Cabriolet, unveiled in 1982 and delivered to customers from 1983. With its fully folding fabric roof, it began a new chapter for the 911, one that remains an essential part of the range today.

By the time the 997 generation arrived in 2004, the 911 had changed considerably. The preceding 996 had brought water cooling and ushered the car into a new era. 

The 997 built on that progress while drawing its design back towards the shapes that made the 911 so recognisable. 

Round headlights returned, the body gained a more sculpted look, and the cabin placed familiar Porsche instruments and controls around the driver. It was a thoughtful evolution: more capable and refined, but still wonderfully connected to the road.

The Carrera S made the most of that formula. Its naturally aspirated 3.8-litre flat-six produces 355hp and delivers its performance with the sound, response and rising urgency that make an engine rewarding to use. 

Paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive, it gives the driver a meaningful part in every journey. There is pleasure in getting a gear change just right, carrying momentum through a bend and finding another reason to stay out a little longer.

In Cabriolet form, those qualities become more vivid. Lower the roof and the flat-six is right there with you; raise it and the car settles back into the role of a comfortable, usable 911. It is an open-air sports car that invites regular use, whether for a coastal drive, a weekend away or an ordinary trip made memorable.

This example was delivered new by Porsche Centre Melbourne in February 2006 and is finished in Arctic Silver Metallic over a black interior. Its options include heated front seats, a leather steering wheel and ParkAssist. It has been serviced by Porsche throughout its life, with a full major service completed earlier this year.

A manual 997 Carrera S Cabriolet offers a great deal of what people love about the 911: timeless design, naturally aspirated performance and the simple pleasure of driving with the roof down. For the experience it delivers, this is a compelling way into one of Porsche’s most enjoyable modern classics.