In the last 12 months the Porsche 996.1 sold for a median $28,888 (190 U.S.-dollar auction sales) and the Porsche 996.2 for $32,750 (172 sales), so the 996.2 costs $3,862 (13%) more. As of Nov 2, 2026, the 12-month trend is +8%/yr for the 996.1 and +19%/yr for the 996.2. Below: ranges, trend, manual share, mileage and a like-for-like trim comparison, all from real sold auctions.
996.1 vs 996.2 side by side
| 996.1 | 996.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Model years | 1999–2001 | 2002–2005 |
| Median sold price | $28,888 | $32,750 |
| Middle 50% range | $22,500–$35,200 | $26,000–$43,600 |
| Low – high | $4,600 – $56,750 | $13,000 – $130,000 |
| USD sales (12 months) | 190 | 172 |
| 12-month trend (mix-adjusted) | +8%/yr | +19%/yr |
| Last 3 months vs prior 3 | +5% adj. / +2% raw | -5% adj. / +4% raw |
| Market signal | HOLD | HOLD |
| Manual share (known gearbox) | 83% of 187 | 90% of 168 |
| Manual / automatic median | $30,625 / $21,996 | $34,500 / $24,000 |
| Median mileage (where stated) | 47,000 mi of 83 | 46,000 mi of 74 |
| Median model year sold | 2000 | 2003 |
U.S.-dollar sold auctions in the last 12 months. Manual / automatic medians need 5+ sales of each; mileage is taken from the listing where stated. Not an appraisal.
996.1 vs 996.2 price chart
Quarterly median USD sold price at online auctions (quarters with 3+ sales; bigger dot = more sales). The latest quarter is to date. Hover a dot for the figures.
Like for like: 996.1 vs 996.2 by trim
| Trim | 996.1 | 996.2 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrera | $29,600 143 sales | $29,250 75 sales | -1% |
| Carrera 4 | $28,750 39 sales | $27,500 19 sales | -4% |
Trims read from listing titles, with at least 5 sales on each side. Difference = 996.2 median against the 996.1 median.
Which should you buy?
- Price. At the median, the Porsche 996.2 costs $3,862 (13%) more than the Porsche 996.1.
- Overlap. The middle-half ranges overlap between $26,000 and $35,200. In that band you can shop both, weighing an above-median 996.1 against a below-median 996.2.
- Trend. Over 12 months, 996.1 prices were rising, about +8% a year; 996.2 prices were rising, about +19% a year; the 996.2 has the firmer trend.
- Want a manual? 156 of 187 996.1 sales with a known gearbox were manual (83%), against 151 of 168 for the 996.2 (90%).
- Mileage. The median 996.1 sold with 47,000 miles and the median 996.2 with 46,000 (sales with a stated mileage).
- Trim matters. Like for like, the gap is widest for the Carrera 4 (-4%) and narrowest for the Carrera (-1%).
- Choice. The 996.1 had more sales in our sample (190 against 172), so there are more comparables to price a car against.
In short: on budget alone the Porsche 996.1 is the cheaper way in, and the Porsche 996.2 costs about 13% more at the median. The numbers can't tell you which car you'll enjoy more; a pre-purchase inspection and the individual car's history matter more than either median.
What to check before buying
Porsche 996: On non-Turbo/GT3 996s, ask whether the intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing has been upgraded and check for rear main seal leaks and bore scoring. Turbo and GT3 models use the Mezger engine and are valued very differently. Budget for a specialist inspection with a borescope.
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Method
Every figure on this page is computed from our sample of completed, sold public auctions after removing parts, replicas, restomods and other non-car lots. Medians use U.S.-dollar sales only; we don't convert currencies. The window is the last 12 months unless a row says otherwise. Sub-generations are assigned by model year (see the methodology). Trend and signal use online-auction sales only, adjusted for trim and model year. It is a sample, not every sale, and not an appraisal. Sold-price data from Old Cars Data auction records. Full methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Porsche 996.2 more expensive than the 996.1?
Yes, in our sample: the 996.2 median was $32,750 against $28,888 for the 996.1, a 13% difference, from 172 and 190 U.S.-dollar auction sales in the last 12 months.
Are 996.1 or 996.2 prices rising faster?
Adjusted for trim and model year, the 12-month trend is +8% a year for the 996.1 and +19% a year for the 996.2. This describes recent sales, not a forecast.
Which has more manual cars, the 996.1 or the 996.2?
Of sales with a known gearbox in the last 12 months, 83% of 996.1s (156 of 187) and 90% of 996.2s (151 of 168) were manual.
Published Nov 2, 2026. Figures as of Nov 2, 2026, rebuilt weekly from the latest sample.