997 to 993
 

I am considering selling my '08 Carerra S cab and buying a 993. Have owned several Porsches over the years ( 1st was a '64 SC) but have never owned a 993 even though it has always been my favorite. Looking for comments/thoughts on what to be aware of in purchasing a 993. Any big difference in years other than '95 vs later?

Looks like Chequered Flag in Marina Del Rey has a good 993 inventory. Anyone have experience with them?

Do a search here on Rennlist, but...a PPI is definitely in order with all 993's. The Secondary Air Injectors (SAI) will throw a CEL in 96-98 vehicles, and valve guides go bad. AS you know these are older air cooled cars that are sensitive to poor ownership habits....so look carefully. Records and history count. Let us know how it goes...a 993 is a great car to own if you find one you love.

I sold my '07 Carrera S last year and replaced it with a 993 C4S this year. The 993, being older, is a bit less tight and not as quick, but overall more fun to drive and own than the 997 was.

Very little changed from '96 to '98 that's significant. Not enough to focus on one year over another. The 993 has certain weak points, as do all other 911 years. I'm not sure what they all are, but the ones I hear about the most are broken door stays and the blockage-prone secondary air injection system. There are plenty of threads here on both subjects.

I'm aware of Chequered Flag but have no experience with them, nor am I aware of their reputation. I have seen some nice cars on their website. I think their inventory is worth checking out if you like what you see.

When I ordered my 997 I really wanted the natural brown interior but in the end I went for the two-tone black/grey leather, which was very nice looking with my Atlas Grey exterior. I do miss that car sometimes but I don't regret replacing it with the 993. Good luck in your search!

I went from a 2006 997S to a 1997 9934S (this summer). The 997 was refined and fun, but lacked character. I enjoy the 993 much more even though it has less power and less refinement. But there is no comparison with driving fun and sound. I will take the 993 any day. I think you will be happy with the change. I also had a 1995 Cab years ago. I like the lines of the S with the wide Turbo body flares and the big red brakes.

I've had more than a few Porsches including a 964, 987 Boxster S, 997.1 and 997.2 platforms, etc. I just went from an 09 C2S to a 97 C2S and am very much enjoying this "classic". Air cooled marvel, but with enough comfort and convenience (CD, Pollen Filter, etc.).

Do any of you who responded daily drive your 993?

That's the main reason I went to a 997. I'd prefer the 993 (never owned one) due to purity and looks but I'm hesitant on the daily driver issue.

I have had both (in fact more air cooled than water pumpers). Each have their advantages and disadvantages. Depends on your priorities.

Based on my priorities today, I like the technology advances embedded in the 997s (and soon to be released 991s). They are powerful, handle extraordinarily well and they are (not to offend some here) comfortable to drive too.

I have recently test driven some 993s as a possibility to add to my existing cars. They are great and beautiful. But I prefer my 997 based on my priorities.

Mark

Why have a 993 if not to drive it? What would the point be? Spend $100,000 for a 997 or spend $40-60,000 for an "as new" 993. In many ways it comes down to money spent and what you want. I wanted to find an as-new 993 with low miles so I could drive it just as often as I ever drove my 997s. As to comfort - I find the 993 as comfortable and easy to drive as the 997 was. The only thing "missing" really is the GPS that came in my 09 C2S and I don't really use / rely on GPS anyway. The 993 has power assist steering, brakes, good lights, comfortable and very adjustable seats, a sunroof (though I never have used one in any of my Porsches - I have airborne allergies), a pollen filter, electric windows and door locks (remotes), etc. In fact, the Hi-Fi Becker CD in my 993 is a better sound system than I had in my various 997s.

So, in many respects a 993 is perhaps a better value than a 997 daily driver. You can save say $40,000 buy picking up a very low mile "perfect" 993 C2S and experience probably zero depreciation during your ownership. Can't say that for a 997 or even the new 991. Drive either for 3 years and watch your $100k turn into $60k. Or, spend $60k on a "new" 993, drive it 3 years, and watch it... Hmm, it might not even go down in value.

A fine daily driver, a VERY reliable car and much more involving than the 997. I own both- 2008 Carrera S just like yours and a 96 993. Oddly enough the 993 draws far more admiring looks than the 997 (it is prettier). That was surprising to me. IMO the only bad thing about the 993 are the horrible headlights- even with litronic they're nothing like the 997.

My car arrived with "stock" halogens. I swapped out with sets of Nightbreaker Plus bulbs and it made a big improvement. I've never had headlight issues with any of my Porsches from the 964 to the 997 with halogen to the 997 with Xenon...

Is this just a straight swap of the bulbs and where do you get the nighbreaker bulbs? Is it a really noticeable difference?

As soon as you start driving that "low mile perfect c2s" the dollars start coming off.

It probably took me 5 minutes per housing to swap out the high and low (both the same) bulbs. Osram makes all sorts of bulbs including the OEM ones. There is a Night Breaker and then a Night Breaker Plus. I think I spent $70 for all 4... While my comparison wasn't scientific, it was very noticeable in the garage and then on the street. I had a hard time finding the Night Breaker Plus, but there was one vendor on eBay with a very good reputation selling them here in the US. They arrived in about 2 days in perfect condition.

Certainly the miles go on and the value decreases. But more so than the depreciation of a new 997 / 991? The reason I wrote it the way I did was that say 3 years ago a 20k mile car was $X. Today, 5 years later and say 15k miles more, that same car is probably still selling for $X (no depreciation for the added miles). The baseline 993 has increased in value where any "new" Porsche (996, 997, and surely the 991) will decrease and perhaps never rebound. Just an interesting dynamic that I experienced with my 964 (still wish I never sold it) vs. the very different dynamic with my 997s.

True, but you also don't get the pleasure of having a truly "new" car.

I've never owned a later series but my 993 has been a 365-day driver for the nine years I've had it. I mount other wheels and snows for winter. Maintenance and repair issues have been mostly routine except for a top end rebuild at 81K (which included while-you're-in-there items like clutch and cams) that ran into the low five figures. The mileage at which top end work is done may vary, but it's not an unusual item for a 993. Completing that work is also likely to kick the value upward a bit. Thus, while my car is clearly no garage queen, it's well maintained, FTD, still turns heads and seems to have held value pretty well.