How does someone interested in purchasing an older 911 find a way to drive one, like a 993? If there are none for sale within several hundred miles it seems a daunting task.
Thanks.

Let me start over on this issue. I am interested in purchasing a 993, but have never driven one. I live in the Sacramento, CA area Is there anyone in the Sacramento area willing to take me out on a drive to experience what a 993 is really like?

 

You mean you just want to see what it's like to drive one and see if it's for you? If so, you should ask on here - like "interested in buying a 993, but want to see what they are like, does anyone in the ?? area have one who would be willing to take me out for a drive?" Some guys might be OK with you driving , depending on the roads / congestion / etc, and some might not, but even just riding in one will give you a pretty good idea of what they are like.

 

Or check out your local region of PCA. They have regular cars n coffee and other get together and are always a welcoming bunch.

 

What area you located at??

I guess I got lucky, never drove one. Bought anyways , glad I liked it. Always wanted one.

 

Thanks for the assistance.

 

I live about 25 miles uphill (east) of Sacramento, CA. It is a LONG walk from Manchester.

 

Be very very very very careful to weigh such an experience against the following:
old cars, and especially the 993, out on the road will behave astonishingly differently, one example from the other, depending on the current state of whatever combination of suspension components are on each car today.

Have it in the forefront of your mind that no matter how such a car 'felt' on a test drive, the one you buy won't 'feel' anywhere near the same, but more importantly, they are infinitely 'tuneable' - with a huge array and bewildering combination of high quality aftermarket, or even new-original, suspension parts and bushes.

It would be more helpful if you are able to judge a 993 on the size, smell (yes really) and insert-your-physical-requirements-here.

Sit in the driver's seat and check that the odd pedals, sitting position, your height, and the control weights etc etc will suit you. Again the clutches can feel very different, but the brakes are mostly modulated by the driver's input, and not a servo ..... modern cars are over-assisted in comparison .... you could do all of this in a parking lot.

They say 'never meet your heroes' - well you can with a 993, but you will need to put some effort into the relationship.

One thing is certain - there'll always be someone who will want to buy it from you if the relationship doesn't work out.

 

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate your input and will keep that in mind as I move forward. I am intrigued by the prospect and terrified of the possibility of screwing up my selection. I want the skew the odds in my favor in the pending crap shoot.

 

First time I saw one in person was when it was delivered, was the first time I drove one too. Best decision I made.

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my question. When I was younger I made many rash decisions. Some worked out and some bit me in the Axx. After I got my pilot's license I found flying a small, single-engine aircraft boring. So I started jumping out of them; that was much more fun.

Now, I am an old bastard and a bit more cautious. Current market conditions make buying almost any 911 an expensive enterprise, one I am researching thoroughly. I may still get it wrong, but want to increase my odds of getting it right. I find the hunt almost as enjoyable as the acquisition.

The possibility of paying nearly twice what I paid for my first house for a car is a sobering prospect.

 

Let me share my little tale of how I got mine in 2016. Probably bought the worst way and with little info about the car. Never driven any Porsche, but always wanted one, especially aircooled. My backup plan would have been a Cayman. I bought thinking even if I did not like the car in the end I could at least sell it for close to what I paid for it and move on.

Always wanted one and noticed the prices creeping up. Figured now or never. At the time, for a $40k car I would have some money left over for potential repairs, at $50k price repairs would have to be saved up for. Searched all over, websites, ebay, even local craigslists ( would search by state or larger city). Found one, of course on the opposite coast , Oregon. I wanted a "driver" not a perfect low mile one that commanded top dollar, took almost a year to find. Limited pics on craigslist, shop selling for owner, 130k miles. Paid for inspection at different shop. Mismatched suspension : front stock, Bilstein rear, curbed wheels also mismatched front and rear tires. Other smaller issues. Agreed on a price and paid to ship to me.

I live on a dead end street and agreed to meet the trailer at a strip mall close by so the semi had a spot to turn around. When l got there car was already running and being driven off of liftgate. DId a quick walk around and signed off on delivery and proceeded to drive the couple of blocks home. Steering wheel shake at 35 to 40 mph and try as I might could not shift smoothly. Parked in the driveway and turn off car. Walk around and take pics of the car. 10 mins later try to start the car and nothing !! Push it into the garage. Started thinking WTF have I done, I just bought a turd of a car with crappy suspension, worn out transmission and to top it off car would not start.

Well, the no start was of course as everyone here knows the immobilizer doing its thing. Lock and unlock and car starts. Tried rebalancing the wheels that was not the issue. It was the control arms. So ended up ordering a new suspension for the car ( ROW springs Koni shocks) and had the control arms done ( thanks Andreas!) had a shop install it all. Shaking steering wheel issue no more. Went through and refreshed all the fluids and filters on the car. New transmission fluid fixed the crappy shifting problem. What I drained out was the color of coffee.

Story on the car as I think, was Dr. leased it and then bought it . I think he passed and wife kept car for several years after. She did no preventative maintenance, only fixed what was wrong / broken ( like just rear shocks and not the front).

I definitely bought a driver/ project car. So every year I try to fix or modify at least one thing on the car and make it mine. Some years not so exciting , like motor mounts. I got to choose the suspension I wanted ( it is a street car so no need for a track stiff suspension). Along the way learned a lot. There is still plenty of stuff to do on the car. But every time I take it out of winter storage and start driving it again, it still puts a smile on my face.

Harold

 

Thanks for that GREAT story, Harold. It is very entertaining, but your experience is not one I wish to emulate. I am too damn old and lack the skills to perform a lot of heavy maintenance. If I had any sense I would buy a Toyota Camry and be done with it. Unfortunately, I am not that smart and like to drive too much to settle for bland.
So the quest goes on, and on...

 

From one crazy old goat to another, a piece of advice: The more you look at, the more knowledgeable you become...and that means travelling to see them, no matter how far away. When you get to the point that you know what questions to ask and get the right answers, you'll be able to make an informed decision. Otherwise, you're shooting in the dark. Granted, you might get lucky and, sight unseen, pick a winner. Enjoy the hunt!

 

What worked for me was befriending a local mechanic (for work on a cheaper Porsche) and seeing several 993s go through his shop until one caught my eye.

My history over about 10 years -

Working on cheap 60s British cars (MGB/Sunbeams) where I didn’t lose much money but got used to spending money and turning wrenches - as well as getting used to the variability of old cars. What I spent on these I considered entertainment costs.

After about 10 years and 3 cars - I was more interested in something less British and more modern so I started looking around locally and on the websites.

Buying a 968 (offered on Facebook marketplace within 5 miles of my house and had been sitting for 10’years) - cheap enough to not worry too much about fixing it up (I’ll probably lose money on it though) -

but this forced me to get to know the brand as well as a local Porsche mechanic and talk with him often.

Seeing a 993 in his shop, asking about it, which they promptly said they were fixing it up for sale - and they had gone through it and it was very good - so I jumped on it before it was even listed anywhere (And then had to put a new clutch, motor mounts and other bushings - but just accept that’s part of the game)

 

When I began my fascination and obsession with the 993s, the closest I had come was sitting in one. They are tiny inside. The front dash is about six inches deep compared with a 991, for example, that's probably 18 inches deep. From the driver's seat, you can practically adjust the passenger mirror from your seat!

Then I started identifying those for sale and I would seek to drive as many as possible. As others have said, just about every 993 will be its own unique experience. One time I went to see two from the same seller. One had ~30k miles and the other ~70k. Turns out, to my surprise, the higher mileage car drove better. In every one I have driven the clutch will feel different, the brakes will feel different, and the suspension, tires, steering, and transmission--all a bit different. I finally drove about eight and saw dozens, including several I passed up because I didn't know what I was looking for or what was good from not-so-good.

Also, be ready to buy the one you like on the spot. There were several I missed out on because I was too slow.

See if you can get yourself to the Porsche Parade next month in Palm Springs. I am sure you will see many and may have the chance to ride in some and perhaps even drive one or two. Or get yourself to LA, where there are many around.

To me, the 993 is the perfect classic little Porsche sports car. I LOVE the way they look. While it's true that mine needs a new suspension, the driving experience is not thrilling (to me), except that on the right roads, you can find yourself going 50-60 MPH and it feels (in a good way) like you're going a hundred.

In addition to your basic quandary, I also couldn't decide between wide body (S and 4S cars) and narrow body (C2/C4), so I ended up buying both at the same time, figuring the ONLY way to really know was to live with them and decide. I ended up buying two relatively lower-mileage cars for summer 2018 prices, which, let's just say, was a very good time. I ended up keeping the C2 and selling the C4S, even though (of course) I now regret selling it.

Enjoy your search--that's part of the fun.

And don't hesitate to reach out to folks here directly. Everyone I spoke with was helpful and some have remained friends to this day.