Buying Advice Requested
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 46
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From: Flyover Country
Buying Advice Requested
I'm looking at buying my first air cooled Porsche, and the one I'm most interested in is an early model '95 (718 option code) manual cabriolet. It's on its second owner, who's owned it for 20+ years. It reportedly had had a top end rebuild under its first owner at 110,000 miles, and it now sits at over 190,000 miles. The current owner appears to have taken very good care of it both on the regular (Mobil 1 oil changes (+ both filters and air filter) every 3,000 miles, for example) and through a semi-restoration. He reports having done:
My only "concern" is that it now has over 190,000 miles. But maybe that shouldn't be a concern...? I'm also having difficulty figuring out value/price, as none of the cars I've looked at (either for sale or sold) have had this many miles. Of course, I'd have a PPI done before actually moving forward on it, but I thought I'd solicit some off-the-cuff opinions here as well.
TIA!
- new starter;
- new alternator/belts, spark plugs, ignition system, etc.;
- new clutch/synchros;
- new/rebuilt Bilstein suspension;
- new spoiler bearings and pneumatics;
- new top w/ rebuilt frame and mechanism; and
- full repaint in factory color.
My only "concern" is that it now has over 190,000 miles. But maybe that shouldn't be a concern...? I'm also having difficulty figuring out value/price, as none of the cars I've looked at (either for sale or sold) have had this many miles. Of course, I'd have a PPI done before actually moving forward on it, but I thought I'd solicit some off-the-cuff opinions here as well.
TIA!
Last edited by colnago1331; Apr 14, 2026 at 11:54 AM.
RL Community Team
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,573
Likes: 2,037
From: Dallas, TX
Hi Coinago,
Looks like most of the wear-related items that would make me shy away from a high-mileage example have been replaced.
The only remaining expensive part is rebuilding the steering rack and possibly suspension bushings that, by now, have probably been serviced half its life ago.
I would say go for it!
You can probably ask here for someone to look at the car with you in your geography who knows how it should drive. Almost any major problem presents while driving.
Here is my page on evaluating a 993 for purchase:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...-purchase.html
Andy
Looks like most of the wear-related items that would make me shy away from a high-mileage example have been replaced.
The only remaining expensive part is rebuilding the steering rack and possibly suspension bushings that, by now, have probably been serviced half its life ago.
I would say go for it!
You can probably ask here for someone to look at the car with you in your geography who knows how it should drive. Almost any major problem presents while driving.
Here is my page on evaluating a 993 for purchase:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...-purchase.html
Andy
Last edited by pp000830; Apr 14, 2026 at 12:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 46
Likes: 10
From: Flyover Country
Any idea why the car would have what I'm gathering is a turbo-style front bumper (wide center opening flanked by two smaller openings) rather than the usual bumper (two stacked thin but wide openings)?
This:
and not this:
This:
and not this:
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,700
Likes: 672
There's only one spoiler bearing, and no idea what pneumatics are in that context.
The only thing that would worry me is the repaint. The main area of rust on a 993 is around the windscreen, especially in the bottom corners, and if that has rust and hasn't been properly addressed, it'll come back with a vengance. And I doubt you can see any tell-tale signs if it's been repainted.
Are there any before-repaint or during repaint photographs?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 46
Likes: 10
From: Flyover Country
Hi Coinago,
Looks like most of the wear-related items that would make me shy away from a high-mileage example have been replaced.
The only remaining expensive part is rebuilding the steering rack and possibly suspension bushings that, by now, have probably been serviced half its life ago.
I would say go for it!
You can probably ask here for someone to look at the car with you in your geography who knows how it should drive. Almost any major problem presents while driving.
Here is my page on evaluating a 993 for purchase:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...-purchase.html
Andy
Looks like most of the wear-related items that would make me shy away from a high-mileage example have been replaced.
The only remaining expensive part is rebuilding the steering rack and possibly suspension bushings that, by now, have probably been serviced half its life ago.
I would say go for it!
You can probably ask here for someone to look at the car with you in your geography who knows how it should drive. Almost any major problem presents while driving.
Here is my page on evaluating a 993 for purchase:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...-purchase.html
Andy
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,700
Likes: 672
I'm sure Porsche in 1997 would do anything the customer requested for enough money, but WB bumpers on NB cars wasn't a 'thing' back then, and it would have to have bumperettes if supplied when new in the US market. Does it have filled-in bumperette/holes?
No - so the 'easy' way to remove bumperettes is to order a new ROW bumper from Europe, and it became a 'thing' to fit a WB bumper instead.
Personally the results of how the designers made the original 993 design wider by 25mm at the rear wings is a visual cacophony, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 46
Likes: 10
From: Flyover Country
Last edited by colnago1331; Apr 15, 2026 at 09:53 AM.
Rennlist Member
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From: The Lone Star State
I installed the turbo bumper on my NB car when I 1st purchased it, the reason being the original bumper cover was scratched up was drooping, plus it had broken tabs keeping everything together. I did the Euro bumper, it is the style that does not have the bumperettes, the US version has the bumperettes. The photo in your example is the Euro version, no bumperettes. My decision was easy, I preferred the look of the turbo front end over the standard NB bumper.
Three Wheelin'
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RL Community Team
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Dallas, TX
Hi Rennfolk,
AI sourced the below information from a Pelican Parts forum:
The front fenders and hood are the same width on both the 993 Naturally Aspirated (NA) narrow-body and 993 Turbo wide-body models. The 993 Turbo is approximately 6 cm (roughly 2.5 inches) wider than the NA model, but this difference is located exclusively at the rear wheel arches.
Key details:
Front Fenders/Hood: Identical across all 993 models, allowing for front-end part interchangeability.
Rear Difference: The 993 Turbo (and Turbo-look 993 C4S/C2S) has wider rear hips.
Bumper Differences: While the front widths are the same, the 993 Turbo has a distinct front bumper cover with different moldings and brake ducts compared to the standard Carrera.
Assuming the above is accurate, any aftermarket part developed will fit all model variants.
I have the Aero splitters up front, and if I were to consider a one-piece front spoiler, it would need to include the mustache-shaped forms on the sides of the skirt, similar to the racing versions.
Andy
AI sourced the below information from a Pelican Parts forum:
The front fenders and hood are the same width on both the 993 Naturally Aspirated (NA) narrow-body and 993 Turbo wide-body models. The 993 Turbo is approximately 6 cm (roughly 2.5 inches) wider than the NA model, but this difference is located exclusively at the rear wheel arches.
Key details:
Front Fenders/Hood: Identical across all 993 models, allowing for front-end part interchangeability.
Rear Difference: The 993 Turbo (and Turbo-look 993 C4S/C2S) has wider rear hips.
Bumper Differences: While the front widths are the same, the 993 Turbo has a distinct front bumper cover with different moldings and brake ducts compared to the standard Carrera.
Assuming the above is accurate, any aftermarket part developed will fit all model variants.
I have the Aero splitters up front, and if I were to consider a one-piece front spoiler, it would need to include the mustache-shaped forms on the sides of the skirt, similar to the racing versions.
Andy
Last edited by pp000830; Apr 15, 2026 at 09:11 PM.