Z O O R O P A

everyone says 996 was the first mass produced Porsche?

explain this to me, how the quality of the 993 is better than a 2002 + 996??

I say 2002 because they are about the same price and the '02 year signified a serious change in engine and other managements so please disregard the 99-01 years

explain why i want to buy a 10 year old 993 over a low mile 2002 996 thats 325 hp?

just looks?

Please dont comment on simple taste, I love both cars - talk to me about feel, reliability, cost to keep on the road.

thanks should be interesting!

keep it friendly please

Hot Oil

Funny, I just went through this and purchased a 1996 993 Targa, which was the best 993 I could find.

The person I trust to service my car told me one of the differences between the 993 and the 996 was the 993 was built to last and if I wanted a comparable 996, find a Turbo or GT3, they are built stronger. Coming from an SC, I feel the 993 is closer than the 996 in terms of feedback from your inputs.

I personally like the shape and the lines of the 993 but has there ever been a bad 911? It really comes down to what your hot buttons are triggered by and what you can find to fit your budget. Good luck and enjoy the experience.

Bob

Z O O R O P A

I hear that, it simply doesn't make any sense

Turbos and Gts are MADE better??? wtf that's like Jeep saying the Wrangler is made better than a Grand Cherokee ( sorry if that's a poor analogy but you get the point )

it doesn't make any sense unless someone can explain what is made better means?

gratzie !

cabrio993

996's Turbos and GTs use a lot of the same race proven, dry sumped, engine components as the 993's, unlike the standard run of the mill water cooled disposable street engine components that you find on the plain 996.

So yes, they are built better, and the fact that Porsche decided to use them only on their highest performing 996's proves the point.

luv2ride

I've stated in a past post about our natural progression. If a 993 owner wanted to get some new technology he or she would be looking at a turbo or a gt3. Go to a track event and see how many 996's you see.

jimbo3

The 993 and the 996 are entirely different cars. First, read the myriad threads on 993 and 996 forums here on RL. Then (and this is the important step) get off of your computer for an afternoon, drive both and ask your local wrench about maintenance on both. The last step is to buy the one that makes sense and/or appeals to you. There is no one on any forum that can tell you which vehicle is "better" for you.

Z O O R O P A

I'm not asking which is better for me, just curious why only the turbo and gt were recommended. I've never been to a track, I'll never go to a track. I didn't understand the difference in components between the two other than the obvious turbos and all components that accompany a turbo for an engine

I'm still not sure why a 996 is "mass produced" compared to the 993 but my impression is that the 996 by what you are saying is not a solid engine even in the 2002 + model which had more HP and a stiffer body evidently

My dealer raves about the 993 and the 996. He thinks the 996 doesn't get enough credit and is a really nice fast car at a bargain price

Is the 996 engine '02 + something to stay away from? Can it be beat all day like a 993 without falling apart?

thanks!

DC from Cape Cod

The 996 cost about 40% less to make than the 993....in large part because the cost of the parts was less. The engine has been a weak point in the standard 996 models but the turbo/gt use a modified 993 engine because it is much stronger.

I would buy a 2002+ 996 for a daily driver but I would never buy one to keep for the long haul.

jimbo3

You're not going to track it, so there isn't much you can do to it on the street to make a 996 fall apart, short of outright abuse and/or lack of maintenance.

996 was the first series after the Japanese consulted with Porsche on production methods, which resulted in a more mass-produced type of vehicle. Parts and sub-assemblies were designed to accomodate a more mass-produced line of vehicles.

True that 996's are at "bargain" prices. Lots of them available and enthusiasts don't gravitate to them.

jdistefa

Search function.... There are myriad posts about this subject.

lucycan

He raves about the 996 because he has 20 sitting on his lot for 50-60% off MSRP and wants to move them!

I drove almost every variant of the 996 (except GT3 which I will drive this weekend) when I started my search. Soulless and bland in my opinion. It took only one ride/drive in a 993 to remind me how much I loved the 964.

A 993 will be my next car.

Falcondrivr

Go drive a stock 996, and a stock 993. Buy whichever you like the best. There is a huge difference in feel. I define that difference as quality.

richardew

I thought that occurred with the 993. Up until 1995, the cars were handbuilt, the flaws identified, and then hand rebuilt. The Japanese assisted Porsche's implementation of modern production and quality control methods with the 993, except for the engines which were still handbuilt. This lead to the lower cost of the 993's vs the outgoing 964's. As far as what is the best 911, that's easy. It's the one sitting in your garage or driveway. Never met a 911 I didn't like.

Marlon

As a 911-newbie, you gotta' do the seat-of-the-pants thing first. In my humble opinion, the 996 and newer cars have a more mass produced 'feel' and look to them. The doors open and close like your garden variety Celica, they even smell jappy. To me the 993 is a 'raw' car that came smack-up against, but slightly into, the automobile modern technology age. Sort of to the 911 what the 928 was to front engine water cooled. The 996 and newer cars clearly are of a computer or CAD designed and produced era - Porsche even went to japan to better understand the truly automated form of automobile designing and producing. Sure - the new cars are likley still assembled by people, but I'm guessing that a lot of the hand massaging that went into assembling 993 and older cars is just not there - it's not required. Nothing bad at all about the modern age of car assembly - it's a fact of life. It's all about corporate bottom line and every effort is made to bring efficiencies into the entire process - the 996 and newer cars reek of it. (Several panels and the door of the Boxter and 996 are the exact same - just like common panels between the Tourag and Cayenne (at least they 'look' like the same car)). It all comes down to what you want. A lot of us 993 drivers cut our teeth on older 911's, so there's a natural affinity thing happening. You on the other hand are not bound or pre-disposed to previous year 911's so I suggest you drive some and make the decision for yourself. While your at it, go ahead and subscribe to Rennlist - it's only 15 bucks.

chris walrod

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!!! That is exactly what I was thinking!!