Ed Hughes

Having been shopping recently, I say "who cares" what they list for. It's what you value. I'll compare a '97 looked at in an indy dealer in Orange County vs my day old '95. Night and day, for similar money. I think it is like all P-cars, a well-sorted car of one year may trump a newer model.

On the 911 board, I equate this to the G50 vs 915 trans dilmna. Most guys coming on to seek answers on what to look for in a car, tend to say the want an '87-89. My counsel is that to do so limits your market and would keep you from looking at some phenominal cars. Some have heeded, bought the car on condition, and never missed a lick.

I'd vote for the same here. Look at all 993's, if that is what you want. THEN, make the decision on what is important and make a purchased based on condition and what your value on the car is.

I just find it phenominal that Porsches are such fine machines across all of their generations, for the most part. What other car has delivered so much for so long?

Sorry for rambling, a bit of wine with dinner.....still celebrating my new sorry '95!!

johnsjmc

The only thing changed in the 96 suspension was alignment specs. The 95 can be be adjusted to the same as the 96. Tire wear is a little better with it set to 96 specs. As said before the gear ratios are the same on all US spec cars . ( Euro gears ratios are considered better by many but Porsche changed all 993s to the same ratios as the 95 North Am ratios in 97 ). the 96 ha more torque but also has SAI issues .

Spidey 993

Time to dump your friend.

pewter82

IMHO the basket handle looks out of place/serves no purpose, other than to house a 3rd light.
SAI issues do not affect all the 96-97 cars, just like the RMS IMS issues don't affect every 05 997.

The only real issue on the 96 IMHO is the extra effort needed to "chip" the car, that you don't have to do on 95 and 97's.

Drive a 993, its a feeling that your never going to find in a modern car, regardless of the model year.

Happy 96 4S Widebody owner !!

cabrio993

95 guys can say whatever.. But 96 are faster than a 2011 Mustang GT.

plymouthcolt

Thanks for the feedback. I was avoiding the '95 as the lower prices were somehow reflecting some sort of stigma on that model year. Man I passed over a lot of 1995's.

AOW162435

My '95 has been nothing but trouble for the last 5 years. I'm trading it in on a new Mustang this week.

I'm done with this stupid Porsche.


Andreas

stace

Yes - Andreas - wise choice - I hear even dirt won't stick to a mustang - you'll never have to detail again!!!

(love my 95 - no regrets!!)

mongrelcat

'95, it was a good year

CalvinC4S

Removing over all condition from the equation I personally would prefer a 96-98.

*Faster ECU with a more accurate mixture control

*much more monitoring/testing data using the Porsche system tester II then the Bosch 9288

*more horse power

*better torque curve (not as much a track issue as lugging through stop/go traffic)

*no chance of the orange through bolt o-rings (orange/black/green.. its been a long time, but
it took them a while to get it right. This required a complete tare down of the motor to correct)

*updated control arms and cross member (there where poor handling chararistics in the geometry of the
rear control arms that Porsche discovered in 95 and improved)

*the beautiful howl of the varioram

*better looking 3rd brake light

*keyless entry drive-block immobilizer

*wide body option

*newer, easy one

*more color options, inside and out


95 was a crossover year and there where some undesirable parts taken from the earlier C2 that where later updated on the 96-98 cars, then superseded due to better design.

A 95 car will not throw a check engine light due to SAI ports being clogged from worn valve guides. Many 95 owners looked for cars of this year for that reason even though these cars suffer from the same valve guide issues.

Not popular belief amongst the Rennlist culture but I have been around these cars since creation; it’s my view and im sticking to it.

Hey I would take a 95 over a 94 or 99 all day though

EDIT:
Porsche did change the rear suspension in 96. When the 993 TT was in development the castings where all tossed out and beefed up as well as
demension modifications wide body and narrow body. I think we are on the 5th generation of control arm tweeks. 95 to 96 was a substantial change
requiring whole new part numbers that are not interchangable unless all of it is updated. Then next 4 generations are minor tweeks that are indicated
by superseded numbers after the 96-98 part number.

I don't know you or your friend, but I think he knows dick.

CalvinC4S

Also would like to add that later 95 cars are not the same as the 94 production MY95 cars in terms of the amount of 964 parts used that where later updated through out the 95 production year; Mostly internal engine components. There where many undocumented changes through out the 94-95 993 production phase.

Al Z

Well, that does it. I will be selling my 95 and getting a 96 for sure.
Thanks for making my decision much easier.

AL Z

dapper

I simply went for the best overall condition/history manual coupe 2wd 993 I could find in my price range. Turned out to be a mid 96 but could equally have been a 95 or even a 94 as I did not exclude those years from my search, just the criteria mentioned.

To be honest, most of the cars I looked at had been so abused, when I saw a good one it became a no brainer, regardless of any 'technical spec/year' differences.

RS man

What this man REALLY means is that he has spent too much time polishing, dismantling and polishing some more - no wonder it is a whole load of trouble

J.A.W.S.

ok... now that i finally know... i'll go and ditch my presumably even more inferior '94