Jim in St.Louis

I am thinking about a 993TT or a 996 4S. My concerns are: Will the value of the 996 4S drop like the rest of the 996s or will it be less expensive to insure and maintain than the 993TT. The '97 993TT should be a pretty safe investment. Any comments?
Thanks, Jim

dino

Jim, A 996 is less expensive to maintain than a 993TT. However, I prefer the 993TT over the 996. It's faster, built better, reliable, more fun to drive, and a better investment. Dino

sassofono

Had a '95 993 4, sold it for a '98 996 2 (bad move), one week ago sold the 996 and bought a '97 993 tt.
My 2 cents: there's no comparison, no chance for the 996.
Value: my 996 (here in Italy) lost 40% of its value in 3 years; 993 tt lost 40% of its value in 4 years.
Maintenance: 30.000km scheduled maintenance (996) was 1,000 US$. Don't have any experience with 993 tt
Bye
Marco 993 tt

STLPCA

Jim
Give Sid Raile (State Farm), 314-576-1811, a call for the insurance comps.
As to investment, if any reg. production car can be considered an "investment," the last of the air-cooled, diminishing in # 993tt should do much better than a still in production 996.
The downside for the tt is that I'll bet you'll get more requests for a ride at the next DE.

Anir

Jim,

They're both fairly solid "investments", if a mass-production car can ever be considered as such. However, the 1999 996's do seem to depreciate more rapidly, as might be expected for first-year production units.

I know this is a cliche around this board, but you really owe it yourself to drive both. I was all but positive I wanted a Ferrari 355 or 360 until I drove a 993TT. I knew within 5 minutes that I had found the right car. Magazine reviews, board opinions, etc, really don't translate well. For example, I found the F1-paddle shifting system on the 360 to be balky and not to my liking, despite all the positive reviews in the press.

The 996 and 993 cars really are quite different in terms of refinement, construction methodology, handling, etc. If PSM (Porsche Stability Management) appeals to you, with its inherent benefits in inclement weather, you might prefer the 996. Even with the AWD, I managed to spin at a recent rainy Putnam Park DE, while a friend in a PSM-equipped Boxster just waved as he passed by without muss or fuss.

Of course, the list goes on and on, but drive them both and you'll know instantly which one is right for you. IMHO, don't buy based on "investment potential", but on the "potential for emotional rush". Good luck!

Martin S.

The 996 C4S with the Turbo look body and the 320 HP and priced under $80,000 seems like a fun little car....I have not gone over the LINE to the water cooled side, but that is the car that could get me there. I realize that the 993TT for about $10,000 more and 80 additional HP is very tempting as well. The bad news, they are not made anymore, the 993TT. If you want a new Porsche car, you have to get a 996. I have never had a brand new Porsche...maybe now is the time. And, I am not willing to spend >$100K on a 996TT...that is just too much to swallow.

I thank God, and my good fortune (I'd rather be lucky than good!) that I live and work in the United States where an average guy like me has such a dilemma to contend with....the true spirit of Thanksgiving is threaded through this post.

CC993

Schacht993...

I don't think any of us on this board are what you might call "average"...remember, the average family income in this country is about 40K\yr...not too many p-cars in those driveways...sometimes I believe we forget how fortunate we are in this little p-car community

Jim in St.Louis

Thanks for all of the excellent advice.
Jim in St.Louis