LastMezger

I think you guys aren't quite getting what I'm after...

I think the 993 is great...that's why I'm going to buy one.

What I'm philosophizing about is whether the enthusiasm we all share for air cooled cars is just a function of our point in time or will future generations find this a meaningful distinction in Porsche's history as well?

Consider this...imagine Porsche goes all electric in 2020. The the combustion engine vehicles could likely be grouped together and no longer would air vs water cooled be as interesting as simply combustion vs. electric.

I'm just shooting the crap here for fun.

nile13

Based on pricing today (14 years after Porsche made its last aircooled car) the answer is fairly obvious. The demand for aircooled cars is much greater.

And the older the car is, the more expensive it gets. Which is not the case at all with _any_ watercooled Porsches going back to, what, 1972? It's not, of course, purely air vs. water. It's the fact that watercooling of 911 coincided with Porsche going to mass production.

nile13

Which, in itself, contradicts the whole idea of global warming. I mean, they are cooled by _air_. So if they get cooler and cooler...

95_993

As the quote goes...

"There are no old Porsche's....Just new owners!"

daiys

I think the 993 will remain in high demand and considered cool. It is all about rarity. Antiques become valuable because over time they become rare and the 993 will become more and more rare as time passes. Also they will keep the slogan of Last of the Aircooled or Last of the real 911s. Also, the 996 hurt the image of the 911 with the IMS, RMS thing plus to mention that the styling changed so much. The 997 brought back the curves we all love so much.

That being said I also have a 996 (trying to sell it since I got the 993), but I recently decided to drive it since the 993 heat was blowing weak. The 996 was comfortable, had cup holders, and was silly faster since i have a lightweight flywheel. But it doesn't sound like a sports car. it doesn't handle as great and it just does't feel as cool or fun to drive. It just has that thing that is hard to describe... My 2 pence.D

race911

Guessing you haven't owned a front engined, 4 cylinder variant (hell, go ahead and throw the SUV and sedan in there). Even one less than five years old.......

mdude

Cool or uncool is in the eyes of the beholder.

One thing will never change: there are always more who want a 993 than there are 993s to be had.

Norske

It's a car. Either enjoy it or collect it . Doesn't matter. I'd put my car on blocks, but that's not good. 993's are getting more & more valuable. it's fun fun to watch the rise. I think they will outstrip water cooled models for the short and long run. I'd sell my car, but I would want a huge premium.

993Brendan

I doubt the fascination with air-cooled Porsches is a fad. They haven't made air cooled 911s in 14 years and demand seems to be as high as ever. I love the new cars as well, but there is something special about the air cooled cars.

97_993C2

A 777 because it is modern, up-to-date transportation. A car, on the other hand, has always been more than basic transportation to me, and probably most of you here. Otherwise, we would all be driving Camrys and Accords. Now if I was a licensed pilot and could afford my own private jet, or it was my own DC8, you might get a different answer from me.

BTW other's perceived "coolness" was never a reason for why I own an aircooled Porsche, nor do i think that will be a major reason for future owners.

hal m

My 96 wasn't cool enough, so I just added a 73 914 2.0 so I get more air-cooled VW/Porsche coolness!

eddie_993

If somebody offered me a brand new 991 for my 993 but I had to keep it for the rest of my life I wouldn't accept it. Anything past the 993 doesn't really do it for me.

To each his own. Part of the appeal of these cars today is that many guys who grew up or were young when these were being produced couldn't afford them. Now they can. I'm sure that will always happen with cars but it seems that overall there is a decrease in auto enthusiasm from the newer generations.

Dryfly57

+1 eddie_993

Flying Finn

+1 and besides the cool factor, part of that deal for me also is the maintenance.

A car that I want to keep forever needs to be something I can do most of the stuff myself, and after 996 GT3 or TT, I'm afraid there's too much electronic stuff and just gadgets that over a long run will be too much to DIY.

rsabeebe

Interesting discussion going on considering I'm in the same boat as SharpMan. I'm currently driving a 997S and have gotten to the point of referring to it as 'the appliance'. I've owned many cars - lots of Ms - but one of the high points was my '93 RSA. I still miss that car and it's the main reason I'm back in a 911 now. I wanted the power of the S, I wanted the 'back to basics' styling of the 997 over the 996s and I wanted something I could drive every day. After having the car for a little while, I'm growing bored mainly because it's so capable, refined and, dare I say, average. Around here, in Dallas, a 997 is nothing special - even Astons are almost ordinary. A 993 though, that's something all together different. Always brings a big smile to a car guy's face. It's a classic. I just greatly improved the sound of my 997 with the addition of Fabspeed 200 cell cats (with Gundo'd cans), but it's still no match for the sound an air-cooled 911 makes. It sounds good, quite good now with the cats, but it's still not the same aural sensation you get in a 964 or 993. I'm currently shopping 993 C2S and C4Ses and looking to flip the 997S, even though it is superior in every performance category and potentially/likely more reliable (minus the IMS issue in an '05). There's one other feeling that is missing when driving the 997 - it's not as cool (fun factor, recognition, smell, etc.) as a 993. It's just one of the 'later' 911s on the road - a jaded perspective, I know.