To 993 or not to 993......

[SteveFeakin]

Guys,

I shall be treating myself to another Porsche, i am realy undecided, and would lie some help. I'm uessing i know the answers from this forum but hey...........

I need a 911, can't decide if the 996 c4s/turbo, early 997, or the ultimate??? 993????

 

[SteveFeakin]

Whoops.....

Hadn't finished........

atahinking about deprecaition, the 993 should be the car, and with it being the last of the air cooled certainly very desirable. That said i'm struggling. Seen a 68k miles C2S found out CAT C, not advertised as one though, joker!!

Help me out guys, that would be wicked!! The 993 turbo is well out of reach, and after getting nervous with my 2003 Boxster S with 100k on the clock, i'm looing for one not with moonship miles on.....

Thanks
Steve

 

[AlexG]

Depends on what you intend to use the car for and what sort of experience you want I guess?

I opted for 993 over 996 when I bought because I prefer the look of the 993 (this was the main factor). As a weekend car I also wanted something that would be special when I use it and I have since discovered that the older style interior somehow adds to the occasion.

And more recently (since buying a 924) I have wondered whether an older impact bumper 911 would be even more fun...

 

[Mark Elder]

Steve,
You will find a 996/7 drives more like your Boxster than a 993 does - well, that's simplifing it rediculously! - Anyway - the only solution to the dilema you face is to drive a few back-to-back to decide which suits you.

At the time I was searching the 997 was very new and I did not want to spend the kind of money they were fetching, now I'm very please I went with the 993 - much more the drive I was after, and, like Alex above, if I had to change I'd probably go older rather then newer. (I have a daily workhorse which is modern drive for boring trips and I wanted something rather different for my "weekend car" - although I enjoy driving it so much that, in practise it gets used for work too fairly often)

 

[gresley]

As has been the case before, I agree with Mark.

You need to drive your options - on the face of it I would go with 993 as it is something special. 996 are 2 a penny but good cars and a modern, reliable drive if you get one that doesn't have the inherent faults which seem to be much commented on.

997 is a fine car - modern drive - many bugs ironed out - but is it as involving as a 993 - I suspect not.

Andrew

 

[sjd]

I went for the 993. With a 996 parked alongside the 993 for £10k less I had to question my sanity at the time.

However, I have used it as my daily driver for the last year and covered 12,000 miles. I fitted RSR exhausts and motorsound airbox and love it all the more.

The 993 is quirky to drive (unlike the 996/997), but you can use it every day. I have had a 911SC and still have my 930... but these are definitely weekend toys only.

 

[cobalt911]

Having had a 996 for a year then going to 993 the decision has never been regretted. Within 3 months of buying the 996 I was used to it completely and almost 'bored' with the driving (although this is relative of course), but the 996 was so refined and easy to drive.
The 993 is always an occassion to drive and, over a year after I bought it, I can't imagine having another car just now! 997 is nice but seems like a more refined 996 with some zest added but still not the engagement of the 993 IMHO.

Mark

 

[topgear253]

I've also just had a 996 for a couple of years. Simon, since you use the car for a daily driver, how is it for stuff like air con, does it work OK? Do you avoid driving it in the wet, how are the maintenance bills compared with a 996, is it more reliable?

 

[sjd]

Alex

Air con works fine, as does the front window demister when required.

I have driven it in all weathers (including the snow). The only "big moment" I have had was when I hit some standing water at 70/80mph and it aquaplaned. I since change the michelin pilots to bridgestones and this has helped. Best bet is to keep the speed down...

With 12k service interval the cost will come down to where you take the car, but you should factor in that the 993 will cost more to service than a 996 by virtue of it needing 10ltrs of oil etc.

Key lesson for me has been the shocks. The original fitment shocks are not up to much and a set of replacement Bilstein HD items is going to set you back something like £1,000, plus fitting. I have just ordered the rears to spread the cost. It would pay to find a car that has had these done already.

Fnally, I have found my car to be very heavy on rear tyres. I have put this down to the shocks and possible geometry needing a set up. Other owners I am sure will confirm they get more than 8,000 miles from theirs!

All the best Simon

 

[ach]

Hi Steve,
Whatever Porsche you drive - it is a special car. However if you seat in 996 or 997 it is much more a modern car feeling, even more so if you switch from 993 to 996/7 the same day. More comfort, more gadgets, easier to drive. To me the speciality of 993 is that on one side it has most of the features of the modern car (power steering, aircon, electric seats, LSD (for 4 or 4S) etc.) and yet - it is much more a raw feeling when you drive it. And the sound... you can improve it only if you go back in history... none of the new watercooled can produce even something close!
I also agree with other coments - you can use 993 every day without any problems, though - IMHO- 996/7 are better for daily use. One other point not to forget is your partner... From time to time I exchange my 993 4S with a friend who has 996 Cabrio and... my wife is much more willing to go with me on Porsche when I dry 996 for all the above listed reasons, that is why I would add to a very wise advice to try as many cars as possible - try them with your partner to make sure she likes it as well - will make your life easier afterwards []