ploglet

I have been on the look out for a daily driver lately and a couple of options have presented themselves. I am going to use the car as a daily driver, 3-5 days a week and it will be used in winter and occasionally I will want to go and take the car up to the odd ski area (remember I am in Colorado) so that will play a little factor. I am not too worried about the C4 versus the C2 as I wont be driving the car should the snow get too out of control. My main concern will be general maintenance issues and general reliability.

One is a 1990 C2 with around 60K on it. It is well maintained and has records for about 30K miles from one owner. The car is a two owner car with a few upgrades on it. Most notably M030 suspension.

The other is a high mileage, 93K, 1997 C4S that has all records and is a two owner car as well. The current owner has owned the car for 90K of its 93K miles. It is in great condition but will need some maintenance in the near future, most notably being a new clutch in about 15-20K and new valve covers and valve cover gaskets. The car has recently had its 90K service done and all checked out apart from the need to get new valve covers and valve cover gaskets.

There no accidents on either vehicle and both apparently run straight, as per owners.

So my questions are:
1. What are the boards thoughts on the higher mileage 993's and how many miles do you think you can get out of one of these engines?
2. What sort of maintenance issues do you think I will see with the two different models and which will be more reliable?
3. Does the miles scare people away from buying the higher mileage C4S even though it has records and have been well maintained?

I know these are tough questions to answer but I thought some of the higher mileage 993 owners might chime in and tell me what issues they have experienced on the higher side of the mileage meter.

mborkow

needing a new clutch could be a good opportunity to upgrade to a lwf

traveller09

Normally I would be scared off by the high miles unless the owner has already performed the work you said it will need. So I would be inclined to choose a low mile 964 over a high mile 993, except for 90-91’s (which I almost bought but didn’t pass the PPI). If the 90-91 had already had the fly wheel replaced and top end rebuild or if you were talking a 92-93 I would go that route, otherwise get a good price on the 993 and go that route.

My 2cents.

Terry Adams

You did not mention price, color or options. Assuming they have each had their respective 60K and 90K service, and other things are about equal,
1) in the long run, for a daily driver, I do not see much expected maintenance difference between 60K and 93K, on a 993 anyway
2) the 60K car could be almost as close to a new clutch as the 90K; depends on use
3) the people on the 964 board love theirs, but
4) the 993 is 7 years newer
5) I like the looks of the 993 better, which is mainly why I never bought a 964, even though I was ready to trade up from my 3.2 Cab

Midnight C4S

My advice would be that if you don't love the look and feel of the 993 don't get one. Because there are so many that do, yes I'm biased, and you will have to pay for that general demand that is out there.

ploglet

Thank you for the input. The prices on the two cars are currently at 31.5 for the 993 and 26.5 for the 964. The major options on the 993 are the motorsound package, the power seat package and the hi-fi sounds package. The 964 has a the M030 suspension and HRE wheels.

AW

Be careful with the 90 C2. Porsche tried to have no head gaskets and some of them leak really poorly unless an upgrade has been done. I'm sure you'll find more info on the 964 board about this. I believe Porsche fixed it in 91

AW

993RS

I had 110,000 miles on my previous 993. No problem. Don't know why people are so leery of high mileage 993s...
Go for the C4S! Best looking model IMHO...
I have a pal with 300,000 miles on his 993. Engine still going strong!

SMF

Mine has 130 000 miles /210 000 km/
I didn't make a leak test but performance is good I didn't noticed oil consumption
Read Porsche World about this issue. Higm mileage is really not o problem...

Monique

IMO, your choice of a 964 C2 vs a 993 C4 is comparing apples and oranges.

I expect a high miles 993 C2 will cost less than a 964 C2 in maintenance in the long run (hydraulic valve lifters etc). Also, 993 will handle better coz of the different susp. The C4 might be different with the 2 axles, transfer case et al. I would assume equal to a 964 (which is known as more exp maint than 993)

But if the budgetary aspect governs your purchase....

cafebisque

The 993 is by far a better daily driver than a 964. It is quieter, better suspension for Colorado roads, and I am in Denver by the way, and just much less expensive to maintain on a daily basis. My '90 C2 is pricey with the valve adjustments, various odds and ends just going from age. The '97 C2S is much more enjoyable day-to-day. Check for the updates on the '90, but be careful of the carbon issue on the '97.

Good luck and enjoy either one you get.

race911

Having bought another high mileage C4S last month, and turning it over the "century" mark in the past month, I'm amazed how much more refined the 993 is day to day. I'm commuting 110 miles 2 or 3 days a week with it now, and we took it on a 500 miler over the weekend. There's just no comparison to driving the still 100% stock RS America (nor the '92 C4 I had for six years and just sold). Now you do have to factor in the lack of power steering that makes the RSA a royal pain running around town. In any case, the two cars I have now are at a combined 235,000 miles with no issues at all.

Monique

I hope you keep your RSA for a long time. Drove a 964 RS and it is indeed a PITA without power steering.

Christer

I think if you don't mind which car you get looks-wise, then get the newer car. I am always laughing at people who are scared of high mileage. Yes, potentially there is more maintenance to come but the price of the car reflects it anyway.....31K for a 97C4S would seem a steal to me, its probably 10k less than a 25K miler, but for the difference you can turn the clock back to zero through a rebuild...

Johan K

A 964 RS is no PITA!! The lack of power steering is one of the main upsides