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

Free Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a car check

Is the Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a reliable? We analysed 1,689 real MOT tests across 130 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,689 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
91.5%
Typical Mileage
42,145mi
Annual Mileage
2,647mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
18yrs

The Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre has ply or cords exposed, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and headlamp aim too high. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a.

Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a Number Plates

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

Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

96.4%
2012
92%
2011
91%
2010
90.3%
2009
91.4%
2008

Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre has ply or cords exposed 14
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 14
Headlamp aim too high 9
registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced 9
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 3

Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 9
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 4

Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
1,257 mi/yr
Typical
2,647 mi/yr
Average
3,553 mi/yr
Heavy usage
4,953 mi/yr

Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 55 96.4% 13,306 25,976 40,656
2011 289 92.0% 22,503 40,024 55,948
2010 500 91.0% 28,356 44,134 61,879
2009 372 90.3% 24,584 39,096 57,602
2008 409 91.4% 32,595 47,501 65,072

How Long Does a Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a Last?

Based on 130 Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.3 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
18 years

Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a Mileage Distribution

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

Median
42,145 mi
75th Percentile
60,040 mi
95th Percentile
88,853 mi
Max Recorded
121,499 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a

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

Best year
2012

96.4% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

Year to avoid
2009

90.3% MOT pass rate from 372 tests

The best year to buy a used Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a is 2012, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.4% across 55 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 90.3% — 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 2S S-a 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 2S S-a THIS CAR 91.5% 1,689 42,145 mi 18 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
Kia Ceed 2 Nav CRDI Isg MHEV 85% 2,422 44,442 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a?

The Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.5% across 1,689 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 2S S-a are tyre has ply or cords exposed (14 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (14), and headlamp aim too high (9). 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 2S S-a 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 2S S-a owner drives around 2,647 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 2S S-a models stay on UK roads for around 18 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 2S S-a — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a reliable?
Based on 1,689 MOT tests, the Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a has a 91.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a?
The most common MOT failures are tyre has ply or cords exposed, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and headlamp aim too high. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a do per year?
The typical Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a does around 2,647 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a last?
Most Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a models stay on UK roads for around 18 years based on our analysis of 130 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a?
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 2S S-a?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Porsche 911 Carrera 2S S-a is 2012 with a 96.4% pass rate across 55 tests.