Hey there, new to the forum. I'm in the process of porsche ownership again and had my mind set on a 996 40th anniversary, 24k (kilometres, i'm in Aus). However i have just seen a 993 C4S, 88k on the clock, for similar money. They are both in superb condition. I will be using the car as a daily driver and will be doing atleast a dozen track days a year. I know the 996 will be an easier car to live with daily and cheeper to run, but the 993 will hold it's value more and looks amazing. Would appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers.

 

C4S... no question in my mind!!

 

nuff said! go 993

 

What kind of a question is that?

Doesn't the fact alone that the 993 C4S, being 6-7 years older and having 50K more miles than the "special super duper 40th wooohooo anniversary BFD 996", cost the same tells you anything?

Anyways, putting all the aside, drive both and listen to your soul, if you listen carefully, you'll make the right decision.

 

Yes indeedy, 993's don't have to rely on special commemorative editions to prove their value. Their intrinsic goodness is all it takes!

 

The only two 996's that are worth any consideration are the Turbo and gt3. I truely do not believe that the 993 is more expensive to maintain.

GL

Al

 

You're asking the wrong forum.

BTW, my vote is for the 993. The 996 is boogey to me, except for maybe a GT3 or 6 cup.

 

Of course I have a bias toward the 993, but the 40th anniversary edition 996 is a very capable car. Aside from the aesthetics, it is superior in almost every way (including 345 HP). But then again, if we didn't care about aesthetics, we'd all be driving evo's and WRX's.

Porsche 911 Carrera 40th Anniversary Coupé Technical Specifications

Porsche 996 Model Basics
Full Name: Porsche 911 Carrera 40th Anniversary Coupe



Other Names: Model 996 Carrera 40th



Production Type: Special Edition



Body Type: 2-door Coupe



Car Seating: 4





Special Edition Production
Production Run: 2004-2004



Produced In: Germany



Original Price: € 95.616,00 (Germany)



Number Made: Only 1963 units



Outline of Number Made: The number produced - 1963 - represents the year that the original Porsche 911 was launched in.





Wheels & Tires Front & Rear
Front track (mm)
1455
Rear track (mm) 1500
Front wheels 8J x 18"
Rear wheels 10J x 18"
Front tires 225/40 ZR 18
Rear tires 285/30 ZR 18

Porsche 911 Engine
Engine Type: Naturally Aspirated, Air Cooled, Flat 6 Cylinder



Displacement: 3596 cc
219,441 cu. in.
Bore × stroke: 96,00 × 82,80mm



Power: 257 kW @ 6800 rpm
345 hp @ 6800 rpm



Torque: 370 Nm @ 4350 rpm
273 lb.ft. @ 4250 rpm



Horsepower per Liter: 95.9 hp/L



Compression Ratio: 11.3:1



Valve Configuration: 4 valves per cylinder, DOHC





Porsche 911 Chassis
Transmission: 6 Speed Manual



Front axle: McPherson
Rear axle: Multilink with LSA system





Car Dimensions
Length (mm)
4430
Width (mm) 1770
Height (mm) 1295
Wheel base (mm) 2350
Net weight (kg) 1370
Fuel capacity 64 litres


Porsche 911 Performance
0-100 km/h
4,9 sec
1/4 mile 13.1 sec @ 173 kmh
Top speed: 290 km/h

 

If you are thinking of doing track days I would say the 993 4S. You may want to use r-rate tires on the track which is something you should not use on the standard 996 even with the upgraded engine in the 40th anniversary version. If you are going to track the car I think you should take closer look att the 996tt instead of the 40th anniversary car if you somehow would prefer the 996 version of 911. The GT3 is not a good car to use on daily basis.

 

I own a 993 TT and a 996 cab. The 993 is w/o a doubt the better choice IMO

 

Considering the question is being asked from Australia, I'm sure availability of ANY 911 is a huge factor.

I know of a couple of guys around here (neither serious track guys, but Porsche enthusiasts) who ended up with 40th Anniversary cars as they were cheap compared to a GT3 for a "faster" track experience. I remember one guy hating it; and I'm not sure about the other, but I don't remember ever seeing the car again. (I considered one myself, so I was taking a closer look at them.)

And why wouldn't you use R-compounds on a 996? See plenty in use locally, with no ill effect. Or use a GT3 as a daily car? Not so much as they're now five years old, but most were when the original owners were buying them. Personal preference might have something to do with it, but they go/stop/turn just like any other modern car in the bumper-to-bumper grind.

 

Also, look at the potential for catastrophic failure between the two. Yes the 993 is older and might need more money spent sooner on wear items but the the 996 40th is still very susceptable to engine failure...a friend of mine with one spent something like $20k+ to replace his engine after he woke up one morning to a sea of oil in his garage...thank goodness he had a 3rd party warranty on it.

993 all the way...if you are worried about comfort you can always add the electronic goodies you might find necessary for your lifestyle.

 

Any 993 is better than any 996 Carrera!!! I have had both... The only 996's worth considering, are the Turbo and GT3 (wich basically shares the same engine crank case and crank shaft as the 993). The 993 will hold its value "for ever", but the 996 is in "free fall".

 

I think we are all forgetting the best 996 - the GT2! And no the GT2 is not just an X50 with RWD, its much better in many ways.

Anyway, I have had a 996 C2, 996TT and now I drive a 993 if that tells you anything..

 

I'm a little bias, but I would go with the 993 C4S. It's pretty hard to polish the 996 40th aniv turd to make is something special - still a 996.

The 996 GT3 is the only real 996 option for me. Turbo S would be a strong second. GT3 prices are very tempting.