Mark in Baltimore

I've had my '95 for over four years now and have put a considerable number of track miles on it, 100% of the miles being on either PSS-9's or Motons, the stock boingers, coils and sways having been ditched very quickly. However, the suspension has not been updated as Reiser recommends. My back end has almost always felt rock solid, but there have been several times when it hasn't, these conditions being independent of the presence or absence of any updated rear hardware.

1) Heavy braking at the end of a fast straight when I didn't have LSD caused the rear to wiggle around a bit. No big deal, as it was something that I got used to once I realized that I wasn't going to lose it. Problem solved by adding an LSD;

2) When I first got the Motons on, I dialed in too much rear bar and had a very vexing power-on oversteer problem. Once I adjusted compression, rebound, bar and tire pressures, my car became utterly forgiving and ultra-fast. No monkey business in the back end.

FWIW and as a data point.

Bill Verburg

the uncomfortable feeling from bad bushes and possobly poor alignmemnt comes in turns as RJ described. I had the same feeling when I bought my car, I didn't trust it at all, I had the suspesion totally gone through, replacing worn components w/ new stock and JICs. After alignment and c/b voila no more issues.

AndyT

i just did the front lower A Arm bushings. Replaced with ERP monoballs. The rubber bushings were ground beef !! I had a few scary moments at The Glen where I thought it Good Night Nurse !! Now the front end is rock solid and I will do the rear end over the winter.

jdistefa

I'm running RS alignment specs (including less toe in the rear as per '96 guidelines), have PSS9s, no problems about rear end instability in corners or bumps. Will replace bushings in the spring as per Bill's comment about 10 year old cars, however, I find it difficult to consider (as someone else posted) changing all the rear suspension components when the car is 'asymptomatic'.

Pedro356C

My budget was for a 95 or 96...97s and 98s were more expensive then...(actually they still are)...I found a better 95 (28k miles, local car) and bought it...if I got two equal cars (price, condition and mileage) I'd get the 96 for the Varioram (besides the extra 12 mid-range HP, engine looks way better)...regardless of OBDII...I'm extremely happy with my 95 though!!!

TheOtherEric

Oh gawd, not this again. Joel seems to be about the only person on earth saying this. Plenty of people are tracking and racing 1995 cars with the original '95 parts. AFAIK, he has never actually explained why this is worth spending $2k+labor. I strongly suspect he really has no idea what he's talking about. Idiocy really.

Porscheologist

What a bunch of nonesense! My car is rock solid at 11 years old has all original stock suspension including the darn OE shocks! Ok so maybe the shocks need an update but really this car is solid and I really push it in the corners. As for 95-96 its really a matter of preference. I bought the 95 because I found a late model 95 in the colors I wanted with NO basket handle in good shape for a great price in
Santa Barbara. Since I am in California the LAST thing I wanted to deal with was smog issues. The gearbox from the 95 is also a simpler design (963) and I have been told by my local mechanic that it is more robust (according to him). I could not be happier with my purchase.

ce_hensley

I recently purchased a black on black 6-spd coupe, my second 95 C2 in less than 3 years. I loved the first one - Polar Silver one in my avatar. Sold it when my wife convinced me it was just a $30k toy sitting in the garage that I didn't really need. But within 6 months I really missed having the porsche. I missed driving to coffee on a saturday morning. I missed autocross. I missed taking the whole family for rides, wife up front and 4 & 6 year olds in back. I missed the sound and particularily the unique smell inside the car on a warm day.

One day recently while perusing Craigslist, I found a 95 993 black on black with 68K miles. I asked for pictures and thought the car looked remarkably clean. Considering it had 22K miles less than the 95 993 I had recently sold at the same asking price ($32K), I asked to take a look. This car, it turns out, is perfectly stock and clean as a whistle-so I bought it, and for well below the asking price.

Why did I go 95 again? For the second time I easily upgrader to Steve Weiners chip for that mid-range boost everyone talks about. Laying into the accelerator now gets fun at 3k rpm, you don't have to wait for 4k like pre-chip 95. The key is just a key - no fob to deal with. Low tech is good - we have too much high tech. I kind of like the bread basket handle - the third brake lights are very prominent and this may add safety. Also, the price was so good on this car, I had some left over for a primo stereo system which I hope to put in tomorrow and the preceeding days. Rods subs (2 x 8) with Audison amp, Diamond 6.5" seperates and Nakamichi CD500. Should be superb!

Edward

Agreed. JR, despite his "credentials" in the PCA and Porche community, has made some assertions that simply fly in the face of experience. I have really grown to question him now.

Edward