mrsullivan

one of my dream Porches to own is a 1994 3.6 turbo.... you get the build quality, speed, rawness, rarity, love the way it looks too...not so sure about the reliability factor, and they are very expensive in pristine condition...

JasonAndreas

and to keep a certain person from banging his head into the wall I will mention that the 993 and the 996 both ran on the exact same assembly line at the exact same time (the models were built together for the last year of 993 production) so the "build quality" of the two is no different. PAG was using cheaper parts on the 996 but the toyota inspired cost-saving really started with the 993 and somewhat halfway through production of the 964.

pcar964

I don't follow your logic, come on Jason... "build quality" also includes design and material quality, neither of which are affected by which assembly line they were bolted together on. To assert that build quality for 993 and early 996 were equivalent simply because they were assembled in the same place, is ridiculous. Based on your previous posts, I'd say you're too smart to draw such a simplistic conclusion.

JM993

[QUOTE=Robin 993DX]Actually, the 993 model is the first model Porsche started with the "cost reduction program"......


No more magnetic drain plug on the engine (Only in transmission, on the 996 they got rid of that all together, just a regular drain plug now)
QUOTE]

Robin, my 95 has a magnetic drain plug on the engine......

The interior materials on the 993 are superior - no sagging (door panel) armrests, cheap looking ashtray door, cheap looking console, etc.

Not a knock on the early cars - I love them! Everything is relative.

Joe

1995 Porsche 993
1988 BMW 325is

Robin 993DX

Yeah, I know. The cost reduction started with my year model... No magnetic engine drain plug.....

Actually I thought the interior in my 996 is better... :P

My 993's interior suffers from the elbow syndrome.... the upper door panel trim where I rest my elbow had finally cracked, and I had to get a new piece.........

John H

Take the door panel off a 993 and then take one off a 996. Or take a fender off a 993 and do the same with a 996. The difference is amazing.

Robin 993DX

More interesting "cost reduction findings..."

Each day as I wrench more on my 996 I discover more and more interesting "None traditional Porsche 911 parts...."

Yesterday I noticed the wiring clip on my 996 is very much GM like... Not the metal clip you press and easily pop out on our 993s... It was a plastic tap, and for the life of me pressing on it had no effect. I finally had to use a screw driver to pry the clip up in order to pull it out....

The other day I was removing the undertry under the steering rack and notice that the 996 are using metal clips to hold the panel on instead of bolts... well, actually 50% were those same plastic bolts, and half were metal clips I have never seen before on a Porsche.

Was draining the transmission fluid and found that Porsche got rid of the magnetic drain plug all together.... engine and transmission

more to come.....

Bull

I have owned just about every version of the 911, and several of some versions (along with seven 356s and two 912s). I owned them when they were new in most cases (or 1-2 years old). From the first short wheelbase cars, to the current 993, I didn't see any significant build quality differences. I also saw only minor changes in the quality of materials and components.

When it comes to the Japanese influence, the ex-Toyota Execs, who were first hired as consultants in the '93-'94 time frame as I recall, made changes in two major areas over time. One was in the manufacturing processes, the other was in the total design of the cars (includes component specs, etc.). Due to lead times, the changes they implemented during the 993 production years were mainly in the area of production processes and related areas. It took longer to redesign/re-spec the entire car.....they called it a 996, and got a Boxster out of it also.

ZombiePorsche44

My earlier 911's were every bit as rugged as my 993 but I still think the 993 is something special in all aspects, including build and material quality. Can't speak for a 996 because I wouldn't own one.
ZP44

tam993

I have a 993 and still have an 88 911. The 88 is the only one that's stayed in the garage when all others
were bought and sold.... 88 has been in the family since new it that means anything.
It hasn't broken in about 6 years, can't say that for the 993.......

Bruce SEA 993

Bull has the story right about the Japanese consultants influence. The production issues were that the incoming parts were not checked and the componants were reworked on the assy line. Almost all of the cars were pulled off of the line at the end for rework. The 993 had lower levels of inventory but 100% good parts that met the blueprint. Previously, I think they got the cars right after rework but the hours to assemble the cars were through the roof and the quality was not driven down to the suppliers. With the 996, the design was for ease of assembly...dunno if the design was better or worse...different though.

Got this all from an article in Autoweek about the whole change. Still have an electronic copy....