2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabrio

Finished in Seal Grey Metallic, this two-owner-from-new example still shows under 30,000 miles on the odometer, a figure the MoT history and full Porsche dealer service history booklet confirm.

The first owner kept it for 15 years, getting it serviced at Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex on the dot, only deviating from the OPC once before selling it to the vendor in April 2021.

The seller, keen to maintain a Porsche-only maintenance history, had it serviced at Porsche Centre West London. This is his first foray into the marque and he was keen to do whatever he could to reassure himself as to its condition while also helping preserve its longevity. He is a fastidious man, which is exactly the person you want when you’re buying a car like this.

And, if that weren’t enough, it ticks still more of the right boxes as it is fitted with the desirable manual gearbox for the ultimate driver involvement as well a set of upgraded 19-inch alloy wheels.

The Porsche palette doesn’t come much more discreet than Seal Grey Metallic. Paired with a black roof, the combination gives the 997 a wonderfully understated look that’s a million miles away from the cars you see cruising the West End…

It’s a hue that also demonstrates the 911’s rock-solid build quality, something that makes itself known by way of laser-etched shutlines, perfect panel alignment, and a general hewn-from-solid-air we find hugely reassuring.

That the paintwork is as good as the underlying panels further bolsters the impression this is a Porsche with no story to tell; when you’re buying a car like this, the last thing you want to hear is “You’ll laugh when you hear this…”

The tail spoiler rises and falls as it should, as does the folding roof. The latter is a mechanical marvel, sealing so well when it’s up you could almost be in a coupé while offering the full-blown open-top experience when it’s down. With a proper rear glass screen and demister, the 911 is a true all-season sportscar that’s as nice to use in sub-zero temperatures as it is the baking sun.

Oh, and there’s a wind deflector too, for ruffle-free motoring even at motorway speeds.

It also tucks away more neatly than it did on the older models, giving the 911 a sleek profile whether it’s furled or unfurled. That its condition is first-rate with no rips, tears, or other damage won’t come as a surprise, will it?

The lamp lenses, window glass, windscreen, and badges are all just as good; this is a Porsche that reeks of careful curation.

The five-spoke, 19-inch alloy wheels have some dinks and scrapes in addition to some alloy corrosion. Some of the tyres, which are matching Michelin Pilot Sport, are age-perished too, so you might as well get wheels and tyres sorted out at the same time.

Other work for your To Do list is limited. It does have the odd small mark but these could a) be easily sorted, or b) their presence will free you up to use it as God and Porsche intend without the fear of marring an otherwise pristine car.

However, you might want to get your local bodyshop to take a look at the small dent at the front of the nearside sill.

The interior is good. A gently rumpled (but no more) driver’s seat is the first thing you notice before you realise the front seats are both heated and slide fore and aft and every which way but loose – and some of the directions are electrically assisted.

There is a pair of vestigial rear seats as well - and who wouldn’t want to be able to look back on a childhood that included being ferried around in the back of a 911 convertible?

The dashboard is a model of legibility, the white-faced instruments placing the rev-counter front and centre, which is as it should be. The centre console is just as legible and while it is stacked with rather too many buttons they’re still waaaaay more accessible than anything you’ll find on a more modern sportscar’s touchscreen-based controls.

The door cards are excellent, and play home to a set of Bose speakers that play through the OE communication centre, which has its own controls on the steering wheel. You could pop a SIM card in and you can use it as your phone, although most of us will just use Bluetooth to stream from out personal device.

The carpets are good, and the frunk, which is neatly organised, is home to the car’s warning triangle,

This example shows that the 911’s reputation for having a bombproof interior is rightly earned, with the only real flaws being a few scuffs here and there such as the top of the driver’s seat headrest, the rear of both front seats, the rear quarter panels, and the top of the offside rear seat.

As you can see, it starts well, idles nicely, and revs as it should - and while it might lack the visceral howl of the air-cooled cars, there’s no mistaking the purposeful note at full chat. It shows good oil pressure, too.

The engine bay is neat without being fussy, which is just as it should be.

The underside is lightly corroded in a few isolated places but it looks to be surface rust and so could be caught and dealt with easily enough.

Reassuringly, no MoT tester has ever mentioned structural corrosion.

The 911’s MoT certificate, which is valid until July 2024, was gained with no advisories, so that’s a full 12 worry-free months ahead of you!

Mind you, that’s not a surprise, given its fulsome service history, almost all of which was carried out by Porsche dealers:

· 20.06.2007 and 3,754 miles – service at Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex

· 24.06.2009 and 6,283 miles – service at Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex

· 16.06.2011 and 9,881 miles – service and a change of brake fluid at Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex

· 17.06.2013 and 13,903 miles – service and a change of brake fluid at Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex

· 04.06.2015 and 19,472 miles – service at Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex

· 07.06.2017 and 22,707 miles – service and a change of brake fluid at Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex

· 27.06.2019 and 27,341 miles – service and a change of brake fluid at Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex

· 13.07.2020 and 28,365 miles – service at JCT600 of Leeds, the only non-Porsche service to its name

· 14.04.2022 and 29,765 miles – service and a change of brake fluid at Porsche Centre West London

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and it comes with the full book pack, a well-stamped service history booklet, and three keys, including the valet key that’s almost never to hand.

This is a no-nonsense example of a perennially popular convertible sportscar. Well-maintained and sporting fewer owners and miles than most, the fact it needs a small amount of cosmetic work will probably make it more accessible than most, too.

And that’ll be a real bonus for anyone looking to move into modern classic Porsche ownership on a budget. Sure, you’ll need to budget for some tyres but everything else is an age-appropriate patina and could be safely ignored for a while until the piggy bank is replenished.

As to what it’ll fetch, we think the final bid will start with a ‘3’ but probably won’t go much past the mid-thirties, which is great value for such a well-maintained example.

We estimate this car to fetch between £30,000 - £35,000 in auction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.