This is something very different from the everyday cars we normally offer.

The Porsche 911 needs little introduction. Few cars have achieved the status, heritage and instantly recognisable design of the 911, and this July 1999 Cabriolet with Tiptronic S transmission offers the opportunity to own a genuine Porsche sports car from an increasingly interesting era.

Representing the 996 generation of the legendary 911, this car combines classic Porsche character with open-top motoring and the convenience of the Tiptronic S automatic transmission.

More than 25 years after it first took to the road, the 996 is now developing a following of its own, making good examples increasingly appealing to both enthusiasts and buyers looking for a usable modern classic.

There are sports cars, and then there is the 911.

Its distinctive silhouette, rear-engined layout and unmistakable Porsche character have made the 911 one of the world's most recognised performance cars.

This example brings together some particularly attractive ingredients:

? Genuine Porsche 911

? 996-Generation Model

?? Cabriolet - Open-Top Porsche Motoring

?? Tiptronic S Automatic Transmission

? Classic 2-Door Sports Car Design

? Rear-Engined Porsche Character

? Increasing Modern-Classic Appeal

?? One of Germany's Most Celebrated Sports Cars

?? A Porsche You Can Actually Use and Enjoy

The Cabriolet adds another dimension to the 911 experience.

With the roof lowered, the sound and character of the flat-six engine become a much bigger part of every journey. It's equally suited to a Sunday morning drive, a weekend away or simply enjoying a sunny evening with the roof down.

And with the roof raised, you still have the refinement and usability that makes a 911 considerably easier to live with than many traditional sports cars.

The Tiptronic S transmission makes this 911 particularly easy to enjoy.

Leave it in automatic mode and the car can be driven comfortably through town or on longer journeys. When the road opens up, the driver can take greater control of the gear selection and enjoy more of the car's sporting character.

For buyers who want a classic Porsche experience without the inconvenience of a manual gearbox in everyday traffic, the Tiptronic S is an attractive proposition.

At the heart of the 996 is one of the things that makes a 911 fundamentally different from most sports cars - its rear-mounted flat-six engine.

The layout gives the 911 its distinctive driving character, while the unmistakable flat-six soundtrack is an important part of the Porsche experience.

This isn't simply about getting from A to B.

You buy a 911 because of the way it makes the journey feel.

The 996 represents a major chapter in Porsche history.

It introduced a completely new generation of 911 and marked the move to water-cooled engines, making it one of the most significant transitions in the model's long history.

For many years the 996 sat in the shadow of earlier air-cooled cars, but attitudes have changed considerably as enthusiasts increasingly recognise its importance, performance and relative usability.

That makes these cars particularly interesting today: old enough to have genuine modern-classic character, yet modern enough to be enjoyed regularly.

One reason the 911 has endured for generations is that it has never been merely a weekend toy.

The driving position is excellent, there's useful luggage capacity and the famous 2+2 cabin arrangement provides considerably more versatility than many dedicated sports cars.

It's a machine you can take out for a special Sunday drive - but equally one you could enjoy on a proper touring holiday.

This isn't a limited-edition badge or a styling exercise.

It's a Porsche 911 Cabriolet.

A genuine example of one of the most celebrated sports cars ever produced, now approaching the stage where its age, analogue character and place in Porsche history are becoming every bit as interesting as its performance.

For the enthusiast who has always promised themselves a 911, or the buyer looking for something special, usable and increasingly classic, this 996-generation Cabriolet deserves serious consideration.

There are plenty of faster modern cars.

There are plenty of newer cars.

But very few have 911 written across more than six decades of sports-car history.

With its 996-generation heritage, flat-six engine, Cabriolet body and Tiptronic S transmission, this is a car to buy because you want to own it, drive it and enjoy it.

? A genuine Porsche 911 at a point in its life where good examples deserve to be appreciated. Viewing is highly recommended - and a proper test drive will explain the rest.