philo

I love the 993 and definitely want to get one. Thanks to this site, I've learned quite a bit about what to look for when purchasing my first Porsche. That said, how concerned should I be about the famous oversteer if this is going to be a daily car and not a track car? I currently drivean E36 M3 that I purchase new. It's a very easy to drive car and I have never had the back end break free except for a couple of times in the rain when accelerating. Even then it came no where close to being a problem. I do like to drive relatively fast (140 miles round trip to San Diego from Orange County for work creates great opportunities) but I'm definitely not pushing it like many people (especially kids) in their sports cars. Having kids of my own, I've really toned down how hard I push it and look to the small things like hard acceleration while getting onto a freeway for my fun. So after all that rambling...

1. Should I be worried about the oversteer or am I too tame a driver to have an issue?
2. How's the 993 as a daily driver compared to an E36 M3?

Thanks in advance!

Phil

Petevb

Should you be concerned about oversteer? From what you've described you're probably about as at risk as every other 993 driver, which is to say not very. The 993 is much tamer than all of the 911s that came before it. In all likelihood you could buy and drive a 993 without ever experiencing it. But then what fun would that be?

Here’s the thing. One day you might, perhaps due circumstances beyond your control, have to dance with the tail of your car out. If you know the car it will be very catch able. If you don’t then it’ll be a bit of a crap shoot. Here is what I’d have you do. When you buy a Porsche the best car club around comes with it. There’s an autocross every couple weeks down your way. Go. You’ll learn more in a day than in six months of street driving, and you won’t hurt the car in the slightest. Do this, and you’ll insure that the answer to your “should I worried about oversteer” question will be no...

Having no experience with your M3 I can’t comment other than to say that I wouldn’t worry about oversteer in the 993 any more than the M3...

Monique

Totally agree with para 1. Although, I spun mine on the first day of ownership in an entry ramp to the Autobahn. Yes they do bite if you don't know what you are doing...

Para 2 is the best thing you could do for yourself.

FWIW, I would not use a 993 as a daily driver; their value is increasing coz they are the last real Porsche. You will not worry about depreciation with one of these.

I would keep the M3 for the daily commute. They are nice too but not as collectible as a 993. (too many)

Mark in Baltimore

The 993 has a good bit of weight in the back, but they're very communicative cars. I agree that doing a few autocrosses and then some DE's will take away the element of the unknown and make you a more confident and capable driver on the road, even if you never push it. You never know if another driver is going to do something that will force you into an evasive maneuver; knowing how to handle your car is of tantamount importance in these situations.

Who knows, one autocross event and you might be thinking of LWF's, 3.8 motors, racing seats, and where's the best place to give a passing signal.

ScottMellor

When I first got my TT I was also VERY conscious of the dreaded so called "snap oversteer"
I attended my first DE at Buttonwillow and went to the skidpad with a bunch of other novices. NONE of us could spin our cars. The cars just understeer in stock format.
Now, as I have progressed and changed my suspension settings to dial out the understeer, I WAS finally able to spin it on the skidpad at Willowsprings, but I was REALLY trying. (Sawing at the wheel and throttle like a lumberjack.)
I find the car to be communicative and a real pleasure to drive.
Again, DEs and instruction at the track are well worth it.

akolodesh

I agree with the others - tought to oversteer in its stock form. In fact, after you get used to the car, you'll want to dial out the understeer.

Allen

I notice that the tendency of the rear end to break loose increases quite a bit as your rear tires wear down. This is kinda good because it allows you to slowly get adjusted to it as your tires wear. Just be careful of your car's angle when you break the rear loose. Like any other car, the more you are "twisted around" when you nail the throttle, the harder the rear will yank around...just you good judgement and you will be fine. Actually, this is one of the reasons I would never want a 4-wheel drive car...I really love fishtailing the rear end.

a18agy

I would suggest to anyone thinking of buying 993. To remember Rome was not built in a day, i.e. take your time to get to know the car.

know your limitations in the dry, wet and damp, its the damp that normally catches most people out.

If like me, you never had rear engine car before, the best place to learn is a track more space and it is less expensive.

And remember nothing smells or sound better than a Air cooled Car.

Alex G

JimB

I think the only point that has been missed here is that "snap oversteer" is the result of lifting during hard cornering, not accelerating. For example, if you are taking an off ramp at a high speed, start feeling that you are going too fast and lift, it is very easy to swap ends. When you lift your weight shifts forward, the back gets light, the rear tires lose traction and all that weight hanging off the back bumper takes over. The solution, 1) learn about this phenomena on the track not the freeway and 2) never lift in the middle of a high speed corner. The same thing will happen in any car but is more pronounced in a 911.

Whether of not a 993 is a good daily driver depends on your tolerance for a slightly stiff ride and the amount of traffic you deal with. It shouldn't be any worse than your M3. Many of us do it and love it. As for the 993 increasing in value because it's the last real Porsche, sounds like wishful thinking to me. You 993 is depreciating so you might as well enjoy it.
Jim

aam993

Phil,

I had the same fear of 993 being difficult to drive because of rear engine configuration and legendary 911 oversteering tendency.
Last weekend I did my first DE in 993(lowered, but stock suspension) after doing DE on the same track five monthes ago in previously owned BMW 328is'97 - and my impression is that 993 even in DE conditions is very easy to drive. Not lifting while cornering is important, of course. But it's important for all cars - I made several mistakes of easing a little on the gas and even though car did become unstable, it did not snap(my instructor did, though ). Almost the same way as BMW did behave in similar situations.
I also found absolutely amazing and truly enjoyable the way how getting ON the gas in turns helps going through the corners much faster. Even tires were squealling less.

Good luck!

mac993

Phil- JimB is absoultly right. Your only real chance of a spin (with the style of driving you describe for yourself) will be with "lift off oversteer". As with any high performance car you need to take your time to get use to it. Don't just jump in and drive like an idiot and you'll be just fine.

As for the M3 vs. 993 question. I've owned the M3 (a 96) and it was a great car, I enjoyed it quite a bit. But it vs. my 993 and it's a no brainer. 993 everytime. I drive mine everyday (currently has 75,000 miles) and could not be happier. It is the ONLY car I've ever owned that I like more 1 or 2 years after owning then I did when I first purchased it. Good luck.

BTW- a little advise. If you do decide to buy one, take your time. Find the one that "fits" you best. Chances are you'll have it for a long time.

RS man

Perhaps it was a good thing I missed the Autobahn when I went to Germany to collect mine - that is despite the Becker Traffic Pro in the car..... I was impressed witht he French motorway though.

Harry

Edward

Phil,

Agree with all the above regarding oversteer. A stock 993 is really tame compared to its earlier brethren, but the rear CAN come around inadvertantly not only with a sudden lift of throttle, but also in the wet and/or with worn rear tires. Still, you'd have to have committed some real driving sins or really cooking in the corner to get it to come around. As has been recommended, getting acquainted with the car under the controlled env't of a DE is the best "defense" ...though be prepared to get bitten by the track bug

As for it being a daily driver, mine is and I can't say enough good things about it. So long as your commute doesn't require you to carry human passengers in the rear, it is simply a superb commuter. While I haven't owned an E36 M3, I've ridden in two with OE suspension...I don't think you'll find the 993 the least bit objectionable.

Edward

TroyN

Keep in mind, too, that if you get one of the 4WD versions (TT, C4), it will probably be even less likely to oversteer than the 2WD cars. Good reason to justify a TT! Yes, it's safer! I'll have to try that one myself.

STLPCA

Please don't bet your sheet metal on that assumption. I guarantee that you can pirouette an AWD 993 faster than you can scream WTF!

Phil - Ditto on the DE/autox advice, but be warned it can be addictive. Several years ago I tried a DE weekend to confront the infamous trailing throttle oversteer which, like you, concerned me. After that weekend I was hooked on DEs & began sliding down that slippery slope of DE related mods including ironically increasing oversteer to make it easier to throttle steer. DEs have made me a far more confident & hopefully more competent street driver.