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The 993 makes for a fun commuter. It is almost 20 years old however so you need to ask yourself if you are better off with a new car and warranty or the old car with 100k miles....
I daily drive both my 993 porsches. They work very well without issue. But i have other vehicles to use in the event that they need to be down for a couple of weeks for parts or service.
The 991 with the long wheel base etc is so far removed from the 993 that you should consider a 997 carrera S or GTS.... They have shorter wheel base and are great 911s to own.
Although I love the 993 if I where looking for a Porsche for a daily driver I would look at either a 997.2 or 987.2. Very good value in the cars with a fair amount of depreciation already accounted for.
Or if the drive is only 5 miles maybe buy a 993 for the weekend/good weather commute and a cheap commute car (Civic, etc).
Bob, a "beater" has always been the plan for the "unsavory" drives, but I plan to drive the 993 more often than not. I've looked at the 997's and was not as impressed with the interior as I am with the 991, or even the 993 for that matter. I had a 981 for a year or so, and while I enjoyed it, my gaze would always wander to the 911.
The 993 makes for a fun commuter. It is almost 20 years old however so you need to ask yourself if you are better off with a new car and warranty or the old car with 100k miles....
Great point, and that's why I'm between a 993 and 991!
Tough market for 993s. The compelling cars disappear in moments. You need to figure out what you want, then hustle when the right car comes up. Having the right mods matters.
Any 993 you buy needs a complete pre-purchase inspection (PPI).
One if the best shops for 993s is EPE in Natick, MA. Nice set up...for someone...
fatmike, thanks for the heads up on that particular example! A PPI will definitely be done if I get into a 993. While there was one performed on the 993 I'm zeroing in on, I will get my own done if the shop that did the previous one won't release their results to me. Speaking of which, does anyone know of a reputable shop in Jacksonville Florida?
Great point, and that's why I'm between a 993 and 991!
As stated, i daily drive my 993.
Given the values, it wouldnt hurt for you to try it for a year.... you could always sell it for what you paid for it with no real harm done.
Daily driving my 993 makes the day interesting. It gets dirty, i wash it only 2-3 times a month if that.
Just so much character and so much fun to beat on.
They are also very easy to park in the busy city. Small and easy.
Will you be parking in a covered spot at the office? If your car sits outside and bakes in the Florida sun your A/C will have a tough time cooling you down on your drive home. Since it is a short drive I guess you wouldn't suffer too much. The 993 A/C is marginal in a heat soaked car in stop and go traffic. Just my 2 cents base on living in the Dallas heat with a 993. I agree with some of the others. You could try the 993 for a while and then sell it if it wasn't what you thought it would be for a daily driver. The value will hold up well. You could then jump to a used 991 that has taken a large depreciation hit.
Craig, good point! I don't have covered parking at work, so I'll have to suffer through the time it takes to cool down the interior, and since I've been introduced to Porsche's ventilated seats I do mean suffer! Tint and a folding sunscreen for the windshield when parked will be my only defense.
Yes. Tinted windows and a sun shade will help. Usually once you can get the car up to speed on a highway to get more air running through the condenser you will get better cooling. My car does fine in 100 degree heat but it never gets heat soaked in a parking lot and it is usually only driven on the highway during high temps.
Unfortunately, my 5 mile commute can take anywhere from a quick 10 minutes to a crawling 30 minutes or more! I'd say it'll be worth it though! I'll just have to make sure my beater has a kicking ac!
My daily driver is a '14 Audi S4.
I got my '96 C4S in July 2014.
I'll tell you that you probably won't LOVE the 993 initially. In all honesty, I didn't. It took a while to get used to, since having driven modern cars. The small dash, the upright windshield, the non-adjusting and skinny steering wheel. I was underwhelmed on the test drive, but SO HAPPY I got the car.
I had wanted one for about 6 years, since working on a family friend's racing team while in college, and learned the car inside and out. The build quality then compared to now (ESPECIALLY the 996) was significantly better.
You have to adapt to the 993 - ergo, feel, how it takes corners really well but doesn't feel fully planted like a 991, how it can fight you when driving it, but it's a completely unique car. Once you learn the car, you'll have a smile on your face and always be happy when driving it. Especially when you need to take a post-work stress relieving jaunt! I've coined a (probably already in use) new term: "Porsche High."
A 5 mile commute is too short for the engine on a day to day basis, the car really needs to warm up, stretch its legs, and be driven hard at times to keep it in good running condition. Take the long way to work!
The lady who sold me my S4 drives a 991 Cab, and let me drive it when I took my car in for the 5K mile service. The 991 is a great car, but it feels too similar to the S4. The steering wheel, the feel, the buttons, the finish... VW Group is making all their cars so similar to one another. You'll never drive another car that feels like the 993 (besides another air-cooled 911)
That said, you can always get a 991 later on, and for considerably less than today's prices. The 993 will be tougher to acquire in a couple years.
Also, I found these pics online a while ago. Look at how classic the 993 looks in comparison to the Cayenne... I mean 991 it's parked next to.
If you want a "drivers" car more than a "comfortable" car than get the 993 for sure. Like Steve96cC4S said, buy it and enjoy for a year or two and if you decide to sell you won't loose much, if any at all on it. The 993 is an absolute driving experience for sure.
jskylar, you make some good points and the pictures definitely show the contrast in overall size and styling between the 993 and 991. Oddly though to my eye, the 991 looks the closest in appearance to the 993 than the 996 or 997, size not withstanding. 996scott, I definitely agree with you and Steve96cC4S!
10-11-2014, 11:38 AM
