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Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Porsche 911 Carrera 2 car check

Is the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 reliable? We analysed 1,062 real MOT tests across 146 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,062 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.6%
Typical Mileage
59,415mi
Annual Mileage
1,727mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

The Porsche 911 Carrera 2 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working and tyre has ply or cords exposed. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche 911 Carrera 2.

Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Porsche 911 Carrera 2. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Porsche 911 Carrera 2 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Porsche 911 Carrera 2 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

89.1%
2006
84.1%
2005
84.5%
2004
81.2%
2002

Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Porsche 911 Carrera 2 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 20
position lamp(s) not working 12
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 7
Headlamp aim too high 6
registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced 6
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 4
Registration plate lamp not working 4
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 4

Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Porsche 911 Carrera 2 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 13

Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Porsche 911 Carrera 2 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
669 mi/yr
Typical
1,727 mi/yr
Average
2,900 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,909 mi/yr

Porsche 911 Carrera 2 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2006 55 89.1% 34,542 41,185 69,432
2005 132 84.1% 56,200 74,132 89,127
2004 71 84.5% 47,001 67,250 85,222
2002 181 81.2% 36,030 60,850 92,961

Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Porsche 911 Carrera 2 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
59,415 mi
75th Percentile
80,623 mi
95th Percentile
116,745 mi
Max Recorded
996,195 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Porsche 911 Carrera 2

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2006

89.1% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

Year to avoid
2002

81.2% MOT pass rate from 181 tests

The best year to buy a used Porsche 911 Carrera 2 is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.1% across 55 tests. The 2002 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Porsche 911 Carrera 2 THIS CAR 86.6% 1,062 59,415 mi 24 yrs
Porsche 911 85.2% 977,057 55,056 mi 47 yrs
Porsche Boxster 82.8% 726,695 55,739 mi 29 yrs
Porsche Cayenne 84.5% 388,697 65,616 mi 23 yrs
BMW 318I Sport Auto 87.9% 860 33,839 mi — yrs

Compared to the Porsche 911 (85.2% pass rate) and the Porsche Boxster (82.8% pass rate), the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Porsche 911 Carrera 2 you like?

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Should you buy a used Porsche 911 Carrera 2?

The Porsche 911 Carrera 2 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.6% across 1,062 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (20 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (12), and tyre has ply or cords exposed (7). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Porsche 911 Carrera 2 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Porsche 911 Carrera 2 owner drives around 1,727 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Porsche 911 Carrera 2 models stay on UK roads for around 24 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Porsche 911 Carrera 2 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 reliable?
Based on 1,062 MOT tests, the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 has a 86.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Porsche 911 Carrera 2?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working, and tyre has ply or cords exposed. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Porsche 911 Carrera 2 do per year?
The typical Porsche 911 Carrera 2 does around 1,727 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Porsche 911 Carrera 2 last?
Most Porsche 911 Carrera 2 models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 146 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Porsche 911 Carrera 2?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Porsche 911 Carrera 2?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Porsche 911 Carrera 2 is 2006 with a 89.1% pass rate across 55 tests.