Went from an '08 997tt to a '97 993tt. No regrets. Power, brakes and handling not on same level as 997, but more than enough for my skill level. Looks, build quality, lack of a 5" HAL 2000 computer screen in the center console solidified my decision.

 

Never owned but drove a few 997S. Decision was easy.....all the sexy curves

 

Reading the 4 threads recommended by Brian will give you much to consider. I bought a new 09' C2S Cab. I put 17,000 miles on it. It was a great car with two shortcomings IMO. One, it was much noisier than any previous 911 I had owned, and not a fun noise like engine sounds or exhaust, but road noise. And 2, I didn't find it as much fun to drive as my previous 993 coupe. So I went back to a 95' coupe however it wasn't long before I found that I missed the 385hp of my 997. The answer for me was a 993TT. This is the best Porsche I have ever owned, in terms of driving pleasure. I also think it is the most beautiful car they have ever produced. I don't use it as my DD because I'm saving it for..........I don't know what the hell I'm saving it for, but when I got out for a drive with no real destination, it is always the car I take.

 

I don't use it as my DD because I'm saving it for..........I don't know what the hell I'm saving it for[/QUOTE]

Great line!

Gordo

 

Great take Chris !

This is true for me and my experience with the 993 TT. It's great for afternoon cruises and longer road trips up to 500km/day. Can't beat it.

Geoff

 

Would not want to DD the car through stop and go traffic. Anywhere/anytime else, I love the 993. Regular cars start to feel like minivans. The size is what a car should be before the "supersizing" of America. Perfect body proportions, engine sound, steering feel, awesome brakes, good to great A/C (IMHO), great heater, decent stereo upgradability, and, most importantly, an easy car to work on!!!!!

You hinted earlier about wanting to do your own wrenching. Short of DD through heavy traffic, I love this car for EVERYTHING.

 

im not quite sure what yall are talking about, but the 993 is not an easy car to work on. they crammed a 3.6 in the space of a 2.7. if after say changing plugs and wires, you still think its an easy car to work on, good for you


a 60s muscle car is easy to work on...a 993, not so much

 

Nice read. I've been struggling with a similar scenario after selling my .1 GT3 and buying the 993. Love the looks and the feel of the 993, but REALLY miss the power and handling of the 7-3. The 993 has a set of Bilsteins along with H&R springs, plus I added a Fister Stage lll exhaust. It's a low mile example that drives very well.

My 7-3 was like a race car for the street. Had suspension work done along with a Sharkwerks muffler bypass. The sound was truly amazing!!! Really miss the car and the whole driving experience. Sold it because I was a little tired of all the kids in the Honda/Subaru/Camaros that wanted to race. And the crazy police attention it seemed to always attract. Probably should have just ignored these situations.

Two completely different cars, and my scenario differs a bit from yours. However, if I had to do it all over again, I would have kept my 7-3. Looking at a few options right now, including a '10 GT3 and an '07-'08 RS.

 

REcently a freind of mine who was interested in a 993 got to borrow a freinds 997 4S with PDK.

I thought, "When he drives mine he will want to dump the 997 in the ditch and run to the RL 993 ads..."
He had no interest in my car (a first, btw!!!)

My hunch was not true. He wants a CAyman PDK over a 993. It shows that there is a car for everyone and that the 993 is not universally appreciated. Still, MOST people love the mechanical nature of the 993 not to mention all of it's other attributes. If you want a daily driver that is comfy and fast a 997 is a great car. If you love a machine in all of it's beauty....form and function than check out a 993.
Good luck.

 

a 997 driver will notice the following querks in a 993:

clumsy key fobs and immobilizer
clumsy carpet floor mats
clumsy trunk carpet
odd design heat & A/C controls
non adjustable steering wheel
square plastic rear view mirror
square box front bonnet
weak stereo system
lack of "one touch" pwr window button

But the 997 owner will also notice:

the cool body shape/size
great sound
the short wheel base
retro 911 dash
abundance of visability

I love my 993 and would buy another in a heartbeat!

I cant see myself collecting/looking for regular 997 carreras other then GT3s' perhaps. Base model 993s' however, bring em' on!

The 993 is truely the last classic 911. All else are disposables. ( well, except maybe for GT3s )

 

what is clumsy about the floor mats? That they are two pieces?

Square plastic rear view mirror? is there something odd about that?

What is boxy about the bonnet?

 

I had a 997 for 2 years. It was a nice car - modern, quiet, handled well, and had alot of power.

I decided to sell it for a variety of reasons:

- I grew tired of the color
- Like most modern carsm too many computer gizmos
- Like most modern cars (and cell phone) finite life and then you throw it away
- Big depreciation


As opposed to the 993:

- looks better (IMO)
- can actually work on it
- fully depreciated
- more fun to drive

The 997 is a better DD.

 

I have owned 5 different 997s inc a TT. None of them seemed right? Ended up w buying back my 993 C2S as a DD. Not as EZ, not as fast, just looks better,sounds alot better and more mechanical. Old school technology is better for me.

 

Again, a 997 driver going into an older 993 will notice the floor mats are not as refined as the 997 which is the first indication of it being a really old design car.. Each time a 997 driver steps into a 993 it one of the frirst things noticed. Not the same refinement in regards to mat system.

Another thing a 997 owner notices is how square and simple the rear view mirror is when compared to the rounded thicker 997. Again, it shows how simple the mirror is in age and design, dated when compare to 997. No auto dim etc...

The bonnet also has square corners as opposed to the rounded smooth design of the 997.
It gives a dated feel/look when compared to the 997.

All things a 997 owner would be accumed to are more spartan like on the 993.

 

extremely odd choices for what a 997 owner would notice, but ok.