JPP

Ok. You're stuck in Bogota, Columbia and you need to drive to an airport on the other side of the country to get a plane out. You go to the only rental car place in sight and they have two cars available for the same rate: .. a brand new Hundai OR a Silver/black '99 996 with 100K miles on it .. which car do you rent?

ca993twin

I love the 993. That said, I feel compelled to say that just because the 996 was way cheaper to produce doesn't mean it was an inferior car. The 993 with its rain gutters and floor-mounted pedals is a throwback to its 1963 design roots. The 996 represents a huge leap into the modern vehicle age. Looks aside (some people actually like them), the 996 is not a bad car. The new engine brought several serious design flaws (rear main seal, intermediate shaft bearing, etc), but it also brought 4-cam, 4-valve, variable valve timing for greater efficiency and the ability to pass ever more stringent smog regulations.

Yes, we love our 993s. But the 996s (and Boxsters and Cayennes) saved Porsche from bankruptcy and made them very profitable. Before I bought my 993, I drove a 996 and really tried to like it. It was fine. It just wasn't for me. The 993 felt like I was coming home again.

Harry L

My 993 has been my DD for almost 6 years.

Trust me: I get the aircooled/993 thing. I have always been, and will always be, a believer.

Also, I agree with most (if not all) of the knocks against the 996.

But I've been thinking about getting a car to split DD duty with my 993.

Given what I am willing to spend on a spare DD, my very short list includes the 996.

But, if I get one, I will need to (x) put a rennlist sticker on it, (y) install a "My other car is a 993" license plate frame and (z) enjoy the 996 for what it is.

Harry

97_993C2

I also think the rear seal problems with the early 996s may have justly, or unjustly, permanently tarnished the image, particularly with regards to reliability, of the 996 going forward.

Ed Burdell

mjsporsche

Heads up --- the 24 pack of 993 Kool-Aid is on sale at Costco. $5 off. I think several of you have a few cases in the garage.

porsita

If my Porsche budget stretched only to the 996 I would look for a different make and model - certainly an E46 BMW M3 from the same era is more desirable especially with the Competition Package and can be had just under 996 money in superb condition
The 996 misses the mark in the areas that we as 993 owners only know, people whose first 911 was a 996 as it was the new model or who buy them with given budgetary constraints do not have this point of comparison and rightly think highly of their cars as they are well engineered, fast machines
Aesthetically speaking however, it must make 996 drivers question where the true appeal lies when they see the 993 silhouette roll by alongside their cars
Some will be indifferent but those who are well read in cars and Porsches will glance at it with admiration

mrsullivan

I think that the 996 turbo is the bargain of the decade. I agree with all the comments here about 996. But a 996tt, which has the same metzger platform engine, is very tempting. Yes, the headlights, interior, etc. But there are several 996tt cars out there with less than 20k miles in the high $50s -- with 400hp+/400lb+ torque out of the box.

Mike J

Yup, driven a few of the 996TT's, very fast and and capable - no drama, actually not much of anything. that was theproblem, i was doing 100mph really quickly, and thinking "hmmm, what's for dinner tonight".

But they are a real steal on price, but there is a reason.

cheers,

Mike

mrsullivan

not sure I completely agree with this... sure, they are more of a "GT" car than the 993....which is more of a sports car.... but I think that is true of most of the newer 911s. I have driven these also, and I think the torque is a lot of fun and offers drama/grins.

I think they are a steal on price because of volume.... vs. other reasons....

but they will never be "special" like ours...

Mike J

Of course, feel is based on opinion. I drove the 996TT, and thought 'blahhh'.

yes the car has grunt, but feels numb.

Again, just my opinion. I am no way an expert, but I did consider the 996TT before buying the 993TT, and considering this factor was part of my decision process.

Cheers,

Mike

Franklin229

Not totally hung up on the % handmade vs machine for the 993 but for sure humans were def involved in the fit and finish to the likes of which no 911 has been since. This is a great video on the 993-and speaks to a lot of why I am a big fan, aside from my personal addiction to the kool-aid.
Please excuse if you've seen before-

race911

Funny to come back a day later and see:

Uh, because they couldn't sell any? Were you shopping for one then? One of my old customers looked me up probably in '98 because he was being offered such a can't-pass-up deal on a leftover '97 2S. Nice base car, I don't remember the numbers but it was mind blowingly cheap.

Uh, what track? Yeah, my RS if fake, but it's close enough to the real thing to call it even in the hands of an amateur. I've yet to have any 997 GT3 (Mk 1/Mk 2/RS) significantly quicker than me (if at all) at Thunderhill. In pro hands, like when Van Overbeck has tested them, he's maybe 3 sec/lap quicker than me on RA1s. (Even look at lap times from any generation of Cups on slicks in competition--maybe 1:53-54 v. my 2:01.) There's a LOT of car in the later generations--most owners have no clue how to exploit more than what's available in a 964RS level car.

That would be the '74-'77 cars. I take the biggest POS 996 over one of those, for even three times the price. Actually, in the mid-$20K range, I'd probably move over to an older Z06 or M3. But that's another discussion........

No, the 996 is inferior because they cheaped out on: 1. the quality of interior materials (though truth be told, a similar 6-7 year old 964 looked better than a 993 at the same point in its life), and 2. the M96 engine design.

Friend bought an extensively modified with RUF components '03 last year for low $50's. Maybe 40K miles. He's loving it. I may get it next. (He's with Facebook, and likely will be able to go buy one of everything new here shortly.)

And finally, how about this punchline--what if the 996 were nothing more than an M96 engined 993? As in the factory didn't have enough money to redesign the car, just to install a new "modern" powerplant. Would these Mk 2 993s be total POS, or would we accept the crappy engine like we all did with the 2.7L pulled head studs? Or chain tensioner issues from Day One through the early '80s?

Mike J

You just causing trouble asking all those questions!!!

boursachi

*I did not read all the posts*

I own both, a 996 cab, and a 993 targa. The 996 cab is noisy with the hardtop on, but that can be taken care off if I do some lubrication which I was instructed to do. With the soft top, it is a great car, feels a lot lot lighter, and is so ... smooth.

Point being, do not base your impression of the 996 on a cabriolet.

That said, the 996 is faster. I assume you are talking about the NA cars.
Not only is it faster, but as both of mine are automatics, the 5 speed in the 996 makes for a much smoother transition. Both reach top gear at ridiculously low speeds anyway, but still the 993 with its 4spd automatic is lacking. I can only imagine how awesome a 6speed NA 993 can be to drive.

Having said that, the 993 is better in every single way to me.
The interior is much more what it should be. Don't get me wrong I love my 996's interior, especially since it does NOT have a screen. But still, the simplicity of the 993's dash is awesome to be in.

The steering is more involving, the handling is more pointy, and overall it is a much more involving drive. Yes, with its 4spd auto!

In the looks department, now, after so many years, I am starting to appreciate what Porsche did with the 996.1 versions. I like their headlights more on the Carreras and Targas than the post-2002 which are like the Turbo. The design overall is simple, elegant, and with GT3 front spoilers and side skirts, I think it is going to be a BEAUTIFUL car. If the interior is spec'ed right, say with sport bucket seats, or even race seats; yes, I can definitely see why someone would pick that over a 993 NA version.

However, for everything else involved, and for driving pleasure, I don't see how anyone can overlook the 993. Ever.

In my opinion, the bestest best car EVER EVERRRRRRRR made is the R129 SL600. I have one of those and it is just brilliant. In every way. The 993 is a very, very, very close second. Only because it is a Porsche, and a proper sports car. The R129 is a cruiser, an everyday practical car that does not tell you to sod off if you don't like her. The 993 does that.

And for that reason alone, the 993 is the best SPORTS car for the road and for a normal, enthusiastic driver.