VgP964

Finally able to jump into Porsche ownership. I currently drive a BMW 540 6spd and am close to pulling the trigger on a 993 or a 911SC...love the 993 and the SC is affordable w/ proven engine

Dilemma: Having a Porsche in the garage for weekend pleasure only seems painful to me. I live in SoCal and in theory could drive everyday to the office on some great roads.

Question: Would you keep the 540 and pick up a 911SC (what I could afford if I keep my 540) or would you sell the 540 and enjoy the 933 everyday to the office?

other info: commute is on windy roads (about 30 min). Other vehicle is an SUV for wife and family on weekends.

Thanks in advance for the advice.
BMW 540 6spd
Dinan stage II software and CAI
Dinan stage III suspension
18" MasItaly wheels, etc...etc..

Father of 3

I have a 993 cab and a 94 325i. This, for me, is a great combination as the 325i is a four door, gets decent gas mileage, and is easy to climb in and out of. I also have three kids (hence the user name). I've installed airbag on/off switches on both cars so that I can transport all three kids in a pinch if need be. We also have a minivan in the family, which we use almost exclusively on the weekends. I like my setup quite a lot, though many here use their 993s as daily drivers. In your situation, with fun roads to drive to work on, I'd be tempted to use the 993 every day and sell the 540. Another option is to sell the 540, buy a 993, and get a daily driver four door (used acura tsx and Honda Element are two cars I will consider once my 325i finally dies).

jusafan

I have a 540i sport automatic and a '95 993. I thought I would use the 540i for daily driving and the 993 for fun. Turns out I love the 993 so much, I use it for daily driving. I'd say Father of 3's advice is really good. Get the 993 for fun (you won't regret it) and then get another 4 door for the family vehicle. Frankly, all the fun you have with the 540i (and the Dinan upgrades are great, by the way) will be more than replaced by the 993. And I'd say you'll appreciate having a 993 more than the SC because it is more evolved technically (not to mention faster) than the SC.

My $0.02.

Edward

If I may chime in since I own both an SC and a 993 ...I am a lucky guy!

I love driving both (for different reasons as they are different cars in some very significant ways) so your question is a tough one. If you're planning on using the 993 as a daily driver, you just can't miss. It is, bar none, a superb commuter that can carve a road or troll through the fwys with equal aplomb. The comfort and HVAC are superb, but can go DrJeckyl (in a good way) when you press the go pedal and crank the wheel. It is THAT good and THAT satisfying, which is why it is my daily driver.

But, if you need or want a comfy cruiser for certain drives, lazy days, or foul weather (I know that I do at times) then the 540 is a very cool car to do that in, especially the way you have yours set up (you're a lucky guy too). Or if you have to on occasion p/u kids, carry cargo, or deal with clients, then a porsche as your sole car can become a hinderance ...my wife gets annoyed at me at times when I have to cart our kids around, but have two porsches (the SC's rear seats are gone) that are "useless" (her words) for kid duty (4 kiddies). BTW, the SC's HVAC and a/c are all but useless so the BMW would defintitely serve as the car to drive on 90+degree or rainy days (but in Carlsbad, you'll have lots of time to enjoy it). Then there's the added insurance costs of a third car to the family, if that's an issue to you.

So in my mind, it boils down to how you plan to use the car, and how much you plan to drive it. Go for the 993 if no other constraints exist; the SC if you must make other concessions. Hope that gives you a few things to think about.

Marv

Don't be afraid to drive the 993! They fare better if driven regularly. You can always leave it home on rainy days if you so feel, but Porsches are met to be driven.

Van1

Wow, same situation I was in last year except I had a 4 door M3 that I had to sell to be able to swing the 993. I too had the same Dinan goodies on my M3, big bucks spent there. Since the M3 was a dual purpose machine, I figured that I could use my Golf TDi for the commuter aspects and the 993 for the sporting aspects and therefore, wouldn't miss the M3. Sometimes there are days where I wish that I would have sold the Golf and kept the M3 since the difference between what I bought the Golf for a year earlier and what I sold the M3 for was not that great. But at 47 mpg, I guess I did the smarter thing keeping the Golf. I am now starting to use my 993 for more daily driving to justify the purchase, especially since the season is not year round here in the midwest. The 993 is a great car to commute in. You don't even need a radio in the 993, it plays its own music. Heck, it even rained a bit today and I didn't care. If you go the 993 route, drive it all you can and don't worry about getting another 4 door. Sounds like you are set with the SUV for that duty anyway.

Mark in Baltimore

You should PM Steve 96C4S since he has a BMW 540 and uses his 993 C4S as a daily driver.

adsc4s

I am going to vote the other way. Keep the 540 as you have a lot invested in it and will most likely not get close to what you paid for all the mods. The SC is a great car and if you are lucky, you may be able to find a G50 Carrera. I find my 993 is more fun when I drive it infrequently as I appreciate it more and more.

VgP964

You guys are great. If anybody noticed.... that was my first post. I really needed some advice and am thankful for the responses.... haven't decided yet, but I will let you guys know.

Mark in Baltimore

Oops, sorry no one welcomed you...

Welcome to Rennlist!

rss997

I think he should go water cooled to be honest....

Just kidding, he is a friend of mine so it would be cool if he got the 993 so we could switch cars for the day every so often!

PedroNole

If I didn't take my kids to school in the mornings the 993 would be my daily driver. It's that good and that much fun! I've had it a year and haven't tired of it. That said, when my wife and kids were out of town for spring break I drove it every day and wrecked it the day before they came back......

The second best day to the one on which I bought my 993 is going to be this Friday when I get it back from the shop.

GratefulJED

Don't drive the 993 then drive the SC - I think you may be disappointed. While the SC is a great car, the 993 is better all the way around. Keep the BMW and get a 993.

Flying Finn

I'd either buy 993 and drive it everyday or drive 993 and some cheap commuter car if you don't want to commute every day with 993.

And welcome!