Question on 993 C4S and 996tt prices
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 37
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Question on 993 C4S and 996tt prices
Hello,
I am looking to step up to my first Porsche 911 after selling my M3. I’ve been looking for the past few months at 993 turbo, 993 C4S and 996 turbo and I am having a hard time deciding which one to buy. My first choise is obviously a 993 tt but the price for those cars are just way more than what I want to spend. Since I am in the process of buying a house, a 993C4S or a 996 turbo is more realistic for me. I love the 993 look but a 996tt is more car for the money for basically the same price or slightly higher. I will be happy with either one for the right price though.
I am looking at a 993 C4S and 996 tt on ebay. What do you think is the reasonable price for each car?
Anybody here knows the history of these two cars?
Thanks !!
1996 C4S, 55k miles ( the listing says it’s 2006 !! )
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...7528&viewitem=
2002 996tt, 15k miles
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...9548&viewitem=
I am posting this on both 993 and 996tt forums. If it's not appropriate to cross posts, please delete one for me. Thanks.
I am looking to step up to my first Porsche 911 after selling my M3. I’ve been looking for the past few months at 993 turbo, 993 C4S and 996 turbo and I am having a hard time deciding which one to buy. My first choise is obviously a 993 tt but the price for those cars are just way more than what I want to spend. Since I am in the process of buying a house, a 993C4S or a 996 turbo is more realistic for me. I love the 993 look but a 996tt is more car for the money for basically the same price or slightly higher. I will be happy with either one for the right price though.
I am looking at a 993 C4S and 996 tt on ebay. What do you think is the reasonable price for each car?
Anybody here knows the history of these two cars?
Thanks !!
1996 C4S, 55k miles ( the listing says it’s 2006 !! )
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...7528&viewitem=
2002 996tt, 15k miles
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...9548&viewitem=
I am posting this on both 993 and 996tt forums. If it's not appropriate to cross posts, please delete one for me. Thanks.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,471
Likes: 209
From: Tacoma, WA
Normally I would say get the 993, but out of the 2 cars posted, I would go for the 996.
That 993 is ugly, I don't know why they put in the euro side marker (light in the fender), & the aluminum trim inside doesn't look good. WHY ON EARTH did they mount another speaker in the door? That car is low on options, & no shots of the engine bay.
The 996TT will always be faster, but the 993 is more fun to drive.
Really, go & drive both & then get the one YOU want.
That 993 is ugly, I don't know why they put in the euro side marker (light in the fender), & the aluminum trim inside doesn't look good. WHY ON EARTH did they mount another speaker in the door? That car is low on options, & no shots of the engine bay.
The 996TT will always be faster, but the 993 is more fun to drive.
Really, go & drive both & then get the one YOU want.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 960
Likes: 0
Why not consider a 993 C2S as well. Same wide body look, lower production figures, higher upside investment potential and classic rear wheel drive for occasional track or DE events. Also you're coming from a rear wheel drive M3. I wouldn't rule out the C4S; just consider the C2S as well.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 820
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
You must go drive them both (any 993 will give you a good feel for the car whether C2, C4, or "S"). The 996TT and 993 really are completely different cars from the way you sit inside, the controls, the size, the sound, the power delivery, etc. That does not mean one is better than the other, they are just different. Drive them both and one will speak to you.
Also, there are lots of nice cars available within the community so I would recommend against an ebay purchase without a LOT of due diligence or help from a Porsche enthusiast.
Good Luck.
Also, there are lots of nice cars available within the community so I would recommend against an ebay purchase without a LOT of due diligence or help from a Porsche enthusiast.
Good Luck.
Last edited by VNTGSPD; Oct 6, 2010 at 11:46 AM. Reason: clarity
Agent Orange
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,254
Likes: 761
From: South of Heaven
The 996TT and 993 are completely different machines. So buy the one that you like driving better. And yeah, looks are subjective, but a 993 looks great from every angle. The 996TT looks pretty good from a few angles, but hideous from others. IMO of course 
As far as prices, the 993 S and 4S were made in relatively limited numbers, and those were the last of the air-cooled cars. They will always have a premium.
The 996TT was mass-produced and that reflects the prices now. There are a lot of them out there. That being said, prices have stabilized for the 996TT over the past year. You can get a decent one in the low 40s and yes it is a lot of car for the money. If power is what you're after the 996TT is the way to go.
As far as prices, the 993 S and 4S were made in relatively limited numbers, and those were the last of the air-cooled cars. They will always have a premium.
The 996TT was mass-produced and that reflects the prices now. There are a lot of them out there. That being said, prices have stabilized for the 996TT over the past year. You can get a decent one in the low 40s and yes it is a lot of car for the money. If power is what you're after the 996TT is the way to go.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 9
Having owned a 2004 X50 twin turbo and 3 993's. I would say that the TT is very fast but lacking a "soul". Although the 993 is slower, is a joy to drive. It makes all the right noises. Dont get me wrong the TT is a wonderful car. I would suggest you drive them both and decide which one fits "YOU" better.
Not much help....
Al Z
Not much help....
Al Z
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 142
Likes: 2
From: East BC
Just echoing some of the opinions above.... but IMO, ebay is NOT the way to buy your first 911, unless you have driven some and know EXACTLY what you want and just happen to see it on ebay. There are a handful of sources for these cars and Rennlist itself seems to be among the best, so have a good look around.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,384
Likes: 1,216
From: Vista CA
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
After looking further and based on the comments, I will pass on the ebay 993 C4S. It certainly looks nice on the outside though.
The 996tt, I like, but not sure how much I should pay for it. I prefer 996tt car that has been lowered with a big wing similar to the ebay one. I love Porsche 911 with big wing ;-) I don’t want engine mods since I don’t want it to fail the California smog check after I bought it. I will probably do some light engine mods later if I want to. I like a black 996tt or white. A white one is harder to find though.
Yes I prefer to buy locally if there is one I like and fit within my budget. It’s harder to find one locally though. Ebay has more selections to choose from. I was looking at ebay to check out the prices to make sure I don’t pay more than I should or not make low ball offers.
Places like sloancar, truespeed, rpmsports cars, willhoit have really nice cars in great conditions but their prices are a bit “out” there. I’ve also been browsing 6speed, rennlist, pelican web forums and craiglist in the southern california region. I am looking to buy a townhouse now, so ideally, I want to get a house first (by the end of this year) and then buy the car. I am currently living in a condo downtown SD so parking is going to be tough since I will have to rent another parking spot.
Thanks guys!!
The 996tt, I like, but not sure how much I should pay for it. I prefer 996tt car that has been lowered with a big wing similar to the ebay one. I love Porsche 911 with big wing ;-) I don’t want engine mods since I don’t want it to fail the California smog check after I bought it. I will probably do some light engine mods later if I want to. I like a black 996tt or white. A white one is harder to find though.
Yes I prefer to buy locally if there is one I like and fit within my budget. It’s harder to find one locally though. Ebay has more selections to choose from. I was looking at ebay to check out the prices to make sure I don’t pay more than I should or not make low ball offers.
Places like sloancar, truespeed, rpmsports cars, willhoit have really nice cars in great conditions but their prices are a bit “out” there. I’ve also been browsing 6speed, rennlist, pelican web forums and craiglist in the southern california region. I am looking to buy a townhouse now, so ideally, I want to get a house first (by the end of this year) and then buy the car. I am currently living in a condo downtown SD so parking is going to be tough since I will have to rent another parking spot.
Thanks guys!!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 8
From: San Diego, CA
....I’ve also been browsing 6speed, rennlist, pelican web forums and craiglist in the southern california region. I am looking to buy a townhouse now, so ideally, I want to get a house first (by the end of this year) and then buy the car. I am currently living in a condo downtown SD so parking is going to be tough since I will have to rent another parking spot.
You are looking in the right places. I found my car right here on RL up in OC. There are plenty of places locally to see good examples (last weekends PCA autocross at Qualcomm for example, cars & coffee in Irvine, TruSpeed up in OC). Drive some and compare the experience....I drove a 996 and was completely turned off by the experience. It had great power, but was far too "cushy" in its handling and overall feel, distancing me from the driving experience, quality of build wasn't there, a much larger vehicle (in reality and feel). But to each his own.
Take your time looking as this is a car you may never wish to part with! I took a year to find my car, so if it takes a while to find THE car, you're not alone.
I don't drive my car downtown in SD in the first place and wouldn't have considered buying one if I had to park it in an open, common condo garage.
good luck with the hunt!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,432
Likes: 36
From: Hannover
After looking further and based on the comments, I will pass on the ebay 993 C4S. It certainly looks nice on the outside though.
The 996tt, I like, but not sure how much I should pay for it. I prefer 996tt car that has been lowered with a big wing similar to the ebay one. I love Porsche 911 with big wing ;-) I don’t want engine mods since I don’t want it to fail the California smog check after I bought it. I will probably do some light engine mods later if I want to. I like a black 996tt or white. A white one is harder to find though.
Yes I prefer to buy locally if there is one I like and fit within my budget. It’s harder to find one locally though. Ebay has more selections to choose from. I was looking at ebay to check out the prices to make sure I don’t pay more than I should or not make low ball offers.
Places like sloancar, truespeed, rpmsports cars, willhoit have really nice cars in great conditions but their prices are a bit “out” there. I’ve also been browsing 6speed, rennlist, pelican web forums and craiglist in the southern california region. I am looking to buy a townhouse now, so ideally, I want to get a house first (by the end of this year) and then buy the car. I am currently living in a condo downtown SD so parking is going to be tough since I will have to rent another parking spot.
Thanks guys!!
The 996tt, I like, but not sure how much I should pay for it. I prefer 996tt car that has been lowered with a big wing similar to the ebay one. I love Porsche 911 with big wing ;-) I don’t want engine mods since I don’t want it to fail the California smog check after I bought it. I will probably do some light engine mods later if I want to. I like a black 996tt or white. A white one is harder to find though.
Yes I prefer to buy locally if there is one I like and fit within my budget. It’s harder to find one locally though. Ebay has more selections to choose from. I was looking at ebay to check out the prices to make sure I don’t pay more than I should or not make low ball offers.
Places like sloancar, truespeed, rpmsports cars, willhoit have really nice cars in great conditions but their prices are a bit “out” there. I’ve also been browsing 6speed, rennlist, pelican web forums and craiglist in the southern california region. I am looking to buy a townhouse now, so ideally, I want to get a house first (by the end of this year) and then buy the car. I am currently living in a condo downtown SD so parking is going to be tough since I will have to rent another parking spot.
Thanks guys!!
1. Drive both cars. They are very different as it has been said before. In a 993 Forum, most people will tend to the 993 ...
2. The more money you spend on a well sorted car, the less money you will sink into fixes, repairs and rectification of neglected maintenance and general care. As always, you get what you pay for. Look for cars offered on RL. There is a lot of history available about car and driver by just researching the owner's postings. I bought my second 993 from a rennlister and I could not be happier.
GL with the search.
