911Jetta

Edmunds asks, "Could Porsche have actually been going backward since this remarkable sports car was replaced by the modern, electronically sophisticated Porsche 997 with its liquid-cooled flat-6?

...But do the Porsche purists have it right? If we take a hard look at the car itself, is the Porsche 993's iconic status justified? If we look beyond the rhetoric and the celebratory T-shirts, is a 911 from the pre-Britney era really more engaging than the Porsche 997 with its sophisticated chassis and incredibly powerful, liquid-cooled flat-6 engine? To find out, we matched a 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera with the equivalent 1994 Porsche 911 Carrera."


http://www.insideline.com/porsche/911/2010/2010-porsche-997-vs-1994-porsche-993.html

garrett376

That 993 just looks so old next to that 997!

garrett376

That author has good ears - he can hear the cam belts on the 993 engine.

Porscheholic

I have a 964 and a 997 and love them both. I love driving the 964 and then immediately going for a quick spin in the 997 - you really feel how technology has progressed by the seat of your pants. They are both great cars, and one not necessarily better than the other.

I don't have any scientific evidence to prove this, but my guess is the current models are more reliable than the older generations. I think both JD Power in the US, and the TUV in Germany recently announced that Porsches are the most reliable after 3 years and 7 years. The improved reliability for the newer generation of cars is probably true for most car manufacturers, however.

hawk911

'94 993 ????? really?!

911Jetta

I think the author is British and the cars used were from the Porsche Experience Center next to the Silverstone Circuit. Euro plates also... the Euros got the first 993s in '94.

JG 996T

There is a good comparison article of a 993 Turbo and two 997 Turbos in the current Excellence (all cars are modified). 993 turned a better lap than one of the 700 hp 997s.

stinkydog

Out of those two generations, I think the 997 is the better looking - that 993 front end is f-ugly. I don't suppose that slapping a couple of 964 fenders on a 993 would be an easy fix, since the front bonnet areas are quite a bit different.

cobalt

Face it the air cooled 911's vs the water cooled are different worlds. Both serve a purpose and are great in their own right it is all about preference. You are either old school or new, like it raw or sophisticated. However, out of the box the newer cars are just easier to drive fast plain and simple. I think what most older 911 owners love about there cars is the challenge of driving them correctly without all the electronics, I know I do. Hell if i want an easy car to drive around a track the cayman S would be my first choice but I will stick with my 964 thank you.