From a Boxster to a 993

[Dapster]

Hello all

I've been the very happy owner of a 2.7 Boxster for the past 3 years and I'm very tempted to turn over to the dark side! I fancy a late 993 coupe manual C2 with around 40k on the clock with a good history.

I'll be doing around 8k miles per annum - using it predominantly for weekend work and the occasional business jaunt.

Issues for me are overall maintenance costs and reliability - plus the issue of getting a car that is so much older in design.

Have any of you done the swap? Is the step up in maintenance costs significant (or indeed likely?). I'm also thinking that a car of that age will soon need exhaust/shocks/disks etc and that sounds like a second mortgage to me.....

Would appreciate any thoughts!

 

[James Shunt]

Dapster

Of course you should go for it! I considered a Boxster before buying my 993 a few months ago and I've never regretted it, although my reasons may be different to yours. From the research I've done and my limited experience so far, reliability shouldn't be a problem even if you get a higher mileage 993, because Porsche built the cars so beautifully. Maintenance won't be cheap but as you'll have the choice of indpendents as well as OPCs, then you may find it isn't much more. The 993 is cheaper to service than the 964 and parts aren't a problem to find so you can shop around. My only other suggestion is to think more closely about the condition of the car than mileage or age - a 60K car with a good history and replaced shocks/disks will cost you much less over a few years than a 40K model with the original items in place. There are even nice 120K 993s around which feel much newer than that.

So do it - and welcome to 993 ownership!

James

 

[Wayne]

I went through the change 18 months ago!!!! Well, from the Boxster to the 993 Cab. Never looked back. The 993 is a completely different car to the Boxster. It's more involving to drive, feels more solid, certainly has more power and grunt and is generally a much more exciting car to drive. My car has done just under 40k and I've had it serviced twice in my ownership by OPC - including MOT. No problems have been found in service or MOT - which proves quality and reliability. The overall service costs were about the same as the Boxster - my OPC in Bristol give 10% discount on services on Porsches over 5 years old so that helps. My only gripe is the the Boxster is better with the roof down than the 993 cab, but as you're looking at the coupe that obviously is not a concern for you. So, go for it, you'll not be dissapointed! I'm cetainly not and I don't think i'd now want to go back to a Boxster.

 

[Dapster]

Great news - thanks guys. I'm pretty convinced in theory that I'll be happy (happier!) with a 993 but I have yet to drive one. I'd imagine that that is where the decision is made!

Appreciate your comments on the fact that condition is better than age - no question of that. I live in East London where there are quite a few specialists so should be able to keep the costs manageable.

Just got to find the right one now.....

 

[Dapster]

Hello chaps

Camtune have found me a P reg C2 man coupe - blue/blue leather, air con, sports seats fpsh, 75k miles. Doesn't know any other detail until he sees the car. He wants around £28k for it. Sound reasonable to you?

Will see it this weekend and report back but as ever, condition is everything.

 

[Rotorhead]

Sounds nice, but, if it was me, I'd probably prefer a lower mileage.