DJF1

There have been quite a few questions from new buyers regarding coupe or cabrio. I thought I would post my impressions from owning now the pair and as I have concluded two very different cars.
For the past 3 days I have been living with my "new" coupe and in her present state she is totally stock...(till tomorrow, LOL!)

My first observation is that the cabrio has a much stronger engine than the coupe! On the coupe I do not feel the punch I get over 4000 rpm with the cabrio. It's still there but not as pronounced as with the cab, which confirms in my mind that 993 engines are not all the same in HP output.
My second observation is how much flexing the cabrio has which only by driving both you can realize.
My 3rd observation is that the engine sounds so much different in the cabrio!!! Especially with the top down you get a much different version of the flat six symphony.. IMO the cabrio has a better engine sound, louder, more agressive. Bear in mind that both cars have identical Motorsound boxes and mufflers and both are 1995's.
My 4th observation is that the sunroof its pretty useless. Too much wind noise at highway speed. A shame really.
My 5th observation is that the premium sound system on the cabrio is sooo much better than the stock system which is installed on the coupe. Personally I find the premium system adequate and nice sounding. The stock ...oh my...
My 6th observation is how tight an 80K + miles car feels! No squeeks, no rattles, the coupe drives flawlessly and with its stock suspension it's a very supple ride. Driving down to the dealer yesterday I was thinking that the coupe would be a fine daily driver as is. Got stuck in traffic for more than an hour on our beautifull I-10 and it was a no sweat experience. A/C runs strong, the coupe is quieter than the cabrio, the coupe makes a fine daily driver. Also this is a testament to the old Porsche built quality at least up to the 993 model. These cars age gracefully and a semi tired car like mine still feels as solid as the day it left the factory. Simply amazing! If I needed a daily driver a coupe tiptronic would be perfect!

Both cars are a joy to drive but they are quite different! The coupe would be great for daily driving and attacking the track while the cabrio is perfect for those weekend drives in the back roads with the top down where you can feel, smell and hear the engine singing while you dance on the twistes!

Bins

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by DJF1:
<strong>If I needed a daily driver a coupe tiptronic would be perfect!
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva"><img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" />

Mark in Hermosa

Danny:

Funny you posted that. I was just going thru a similar comparison. My 95 cab engine @ 64k miles is a lot stronger than the 97 coupe with 12k miles.

This tells me two things:

1) The 97 still needs to be broken in.

2) Steve W. at Rennsport is ULTRA conservative when he says 12 to 18 hp gain with his chip.

Bottom line, I need to put a chip in the 97 for a good comparison, but I still think the cab pulls harder. I would think that the Varioram would have a similar torque curve to a chipped non-Varioram 95.

Lastly Danny, UPS picked up the bar yesterday and is delivering it to Tony today. Thanks again!

johnfm

I would expect a varioram to lack that 'punch' at 4000 rpm+, as the torque delivery is smoothed out a bit by the varioram - BUT both your cars are 95 models, both I assume non-varioram??

hn

Thanks for the write up Danny. I've always been wondering of what I miss from a coupe. Interesting you said the engine of the cab is stronger and that explains why my mechanic thought I did something to my cab to make it go faster. Also, did the cab come with premium sound as standard or was it an option? What is the difference in handling between the 2 beside the flex from the cab?

thx

Mike in Chi

Danny

this is really bizarre... I noticed the same thing - the '97 cab feels stronger than the '97 coupe.

I always attributed it to no two engines are the same, and the fact that I bought the coupe used, so I never knew what happened in the first 12,000 miles.

Mike in Chi

Afterthought:

So maybe that's why Eric in Chicago is faster at Blackhawk and Road America in his cab than me in my coupe. And all this time I thought he was just a better driver.

DJF1

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by hn:
<strong>Thanks for the write up Danny. I've always been wondering of what I miss from a coupe. Interesting you said the engine of the cab is stronger and that explains why my mechanic thought I did something to my cab to make it go faster. Also, did the cab come with premium sound as standard or was it an option? What is the difference in handling between the 2 beside the flex from the cab?

thx</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Funny you guys all agree about the cab engines feeling stronger! maybe I should perform a transplant to the coupe <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
The cab had the option for the premium sound on the sticker, it was not standard. Regarding the handling I have not yet run hard the coupe to tell you in a couple of weeks maybe I will be able to draw some results. I do not think it would be a world of difference though. Over railcrossings, sharp undulations etc that is where I noticed the coupe being solid stiff compared to the cab.

Mike there is no hope for you

laurence '97 C4S

Am I missing something? Doesn't the cab weigh more than a coupe? Feeling faster and being so, are two different things. Sensory inputs when driving a cab. certainly give the feeling of speed more easily (eng. noise, road noise, wind, etc.), but unless I'm mistaken on the weight issue, I find it hard to believe.

DJF1

Laurence don't confuse "faster" with "pulling".
What I said is that my cab's engine has a bigger punch over 4 grand. That is a fact. Also there is another fact that not all 993 engines have the same output. Yes the factory publiced a figure but it has been documented not all engines have the same output. In fact my observation pertaining to my cars confirms a dyno run I had with the cab which showed that my engine produced a bit more HP than expected. Maybe it is a strange coincidence that the other guys think the same.

Arthur Del Mundo

Maybe we can suspect that to compensate for the heavier Cab, Porsche made the engine slightly stronger for cabs?

Either way, I still love my Coupe...I just prefer the look of the hardtrop better (my personal opinion and not meant to disrespect any cab owners).

Speedraser

My '95 Coupe must have a Cab engine -- it kicks hard at 4000 rpm

Mike J

Maybe you should try a Targa! Best of both worlds. Okay so you take a bit of a weight hit (**my car is 3200 lbs wet without my big butt**), but IMHO its stiffer than a cab because of the roof structure. And the engine sound with the roof open... ;-)

When visiting the factory last year, they indicated that engine variance is a maximum of 5% . Any more or less and the engine is rebuilt. Its a German law thing. But I suspect break-in and driving habits have a great affect on the engines strength and "feel".

Eric in Chicago

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Mike in Chi:
<strong>Afterthought:

So maybe that's why Eric in Chicago is faster at Blackhawk and Road America in his cab than me in my coupe. And all this time I thought he was just a better driver.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Mike,
It is the car (and the special option cab motor!) We will see how well I keep up with you in your new race car! Better driver? not by a long shot!

Tim Ashfield

I think there is a lot of truth in what Mike J says break-in is critical to the future performance of the motor.