WHB Porsche

It seems like those who defend the 996 over the 993 always cite the fact that the 996 saved the company, which most likely would've gone bankrupt after the 993. I've come to the conclusion that I don't care - Porsche hasn't built anything interesting since the 993. Sure, I wouldn't kick a GT3 or CGT out of the garage, but I wouldn't feel like the world was missing out had they never been built. I just don't think Porsche has innovated or pushed the industry forward in the past ten years.

What do you guys think?

jnx

I disagree, don't much care for the 996 (except the Turbo) but I sure like the 997 cars. Getting rid of the drive block system was a major improvement.

Full Boost

Charlie,

Not to add fuel to the fire - but IIRC it was actually the Boxster that helped save the company....

That and Dr W. and the "Japanese style" (!) manufacturing practises.

Simon.

timothymoffat

Interesting question. I don't know if I'd call the 993 all that innovative but I get what you mean. Porsche has become far more mainstream for the most part which might just alienate the "enthusiast buyer" that bought the cars of yesterday. What's really struck me lately is the new GT3. No DFI, no PDK, and an engine completely removed form that of a standard 997. RSs of old at least had engines closely related to the "cooking" versions. More displacement, more HP/torque, and a higher state of tune but still in the family. Kind of bothers me that this relationship is gone.

cabrio993

Actually, if you talk to Porsche insiders, they'll tell you that it was the 924 & 944 that helped save Porsche from filling bankrupcy.

It was thanks to the 924/944 and the increased sales of the 993 that allowed the company to invest heavily in a new automated assembly line to mass produce cars like the 996 & Boxster at a lower cost and increased margins.

I'm glad that the 996 / 986 was made, because it provided the cash for Porsche to continue to bulid other more enthusiast oriented cars like the GT2, CGT, GT3, etc.

TRINITONY

I was at the dealer today, all the new cars in the showroom had a look saying 'please buy me, please '...they looked...sad Maybe because it was early in the morning and I didn't have my coffee. Then again, back in the late 80's when I saw a turbo on the showroom floor, it was like dayuumm. Didn't get that feeling this morning, then again I'm not a kid anymore..

Bruce SEA 993

The hours to assemble and finish the 993 were dramatically less than the 964. Porsche benefited from the Japanese influence of the Toyota guys.

I have an article about the recovery of the manufacturing process for the "traditionaly built and designed 911 (993) and the newer cars that were clearly designed for manufacturing.

PM me for a copy!

SirPzalot

The 993 is a great car, some of the best of Porsche history. The 996 is a modern supercar, part of Porsche's future. If you want a "new" car stuck in the past get a Morgan. The 993 and 996 are like 2 different women, enjoy them both for their diferences and their similarities.
If you are not moving forward then you are already going backwards.

travanx

My first Porsche drive was in my Boss's new 996 cab, and it was amazing. I was coming from my super modded RSX, and just impressed. So I drove a Cayman S when they came out and was even more amazed. Now I have a 993. I don't like the 996 styling as much. And so far most people think the 997 looks like my car when I point and say that 997 is the new one. Maybe since i had an RSX after the awesome Integra, and the RSX was like the 996, that I hate having bad feelings towards certain cars.

Meister Fahrer

Well, the 993 was a huge leap forward in handling and NVH over the 964.
And the 993 Turbo was a huge leap from the old technology.

It's cool that Porsche is highly documented and a lot of good books on all the evolution and decision making.

But seriously, don't forget that the (ugh) water-cooled motor was the only way to get the 4-valves per cylinder, and the 3.4 motor made more power, got better mileage, lower emissions, and weighed less than the previous 3.6.

The worst thing is the radiators up front are prone to get broken during racing contact.....

TB993tt

The 996 was/is a horrible looking thing IMO but moved the technology forward, there is a successor to the 993, it is the 997 GT3 and to the 993 turbo is the 997 GT2 (OK without the 4WD), these two cars hit the nail on the head for those who enjoy the rawer facets of the 993 but add all the modern tech into the mix... you can still have fun driving one of these modern Porsches slowly, just like in the 993s but they have lots more up their sleeves....

007DT

Great Thread.

I'm with the crowd here...

Not a huge fan of the 996 from a looks standpoint. However I've been fortunate enough to instruct in a couple 996 Turbos which were incredible as far as their power was concerned. Yet, I was even more impressed with a 996 GT3 that I instructed in. Great Car from behind the wheel, again not the best looking IMO. That said, the 993 is just different. Better looking, more raw feel, and has more character. A good analogy was from above to describe the two: "The 993 and 996 are like 2 different women, enjoy them both for their diferences and their similarities."

The evolution from 993 to the 997 could not have happened without the 996. IMO 997 GT3 is a perfect car with one exception. I can't afford it, yet!

Without the mainstream Porsche vehicles; Cayman, Boxster, etc. Porsche would not have been able to develop these machines. I tip my hat to Porsche for not completely falling into the fold of mainstream and still having focus on raw motorsports, and development of supercars GT3, GT2: CGT, Prototypes, etc. The mainstream vehicles they manufacture make up the lions share of their revenue which has been reinvested wisely IMO.

WHB Porsche

I just don't think a 996 or 997 would give me anything that a contemporary from, say, Lamborghini wouldn't. The 993(TT), on the other hand, is a fantastic and practical car compared to other cars of its time.

Anyway, I'm only really talking about the defense from 996 and 986 owners that those cars "saved the company." For me, that just isn't a convincing argument as to the worth of those cars.

max911

first, consider the timing:
- twenty and thirty somethings with lots of buying power (cash or borrowing) from the dot com boom.
- almost immediately after that bubble burst, the economy raced forward toward the real estate peak.
- low interest rates, low lease rates
- modernized Porsche assembly line that can crank out cars like popcorn
- both models (911 and Boxster) sharing a percentage of parts

BUT imho, it wasn't so much the 996 that saved the company and made it highly profitable, is was the large number of people gladly paying $70k for a car that cost Porsche $30-some thou to build that saved the company!

WHB Porsche

I'm not denying that it's true, I'm just saying that I don't think it is a plus for the 996.