as DJ said, with equal drivers a 996 will be faster around the track. better power to weight ratio, better suspension. the question is regards to the car NOT the driver.

i chose my '99 996 over the regular 993 because it's a newer car. more power, better suspension, updated interior. personally i love the looks of the 993 c2S and would have sacrificed interior comforts for pure looks but, at the time, they were MUCH more expensive than the 996. funny though, my car is no longer the boulevard cruiser it used to be. with all the mods i've done it's a lot more raw

 

Foss, I too had this decision to make and I was biased well to the 993 side going into this. In fact, I really did not like the 996's looks much and I really wanted the 993. Boy did that all change once I drove them both back to back. I drove many examples of both until I realized the 996 was far superior in nearly every way except perhaps looks. Any 996, 3.4 or 3.6 simply pulls harder than any 993 I have ever driven and handles far better as well.

In the end I got over my 993 passion and realized that the 996 was just a better car for me. I even love the looks of the 996 now!!!!

Good luck and let you be the judge and no one else.

 

Foss........you have to sort it out for yourself but I'd make 3 comments:
1.) if you are asking our opins on the merits of 993 vs 996 (and don't already have them in your gut) then I'd say you should go 996.
2.) carefull of looking for too good "a deal" on a 996.....personally I would stay MY02 or later.....very nice cars & can be modded to bring back some of the 'edge' you may miss
3.) as I said, you have to sort it out because these cars are very different and any other opins are not as valuable as yours........having said that, for me the black one will be around after the other 2 are gone

Good luck and have fun shopping!

 

i agree with the above.

i curently own 3 years now a
996 C2 01
Black/Black
Factory sports suspension
Factory ssk
Factory sports exhaust
18" Carrera 02 wheels


and i used to have

993 C2 93 for 3 years ( when i was in UK )
964 C2 92 for 3 years ( when i was in UK )

996 is for sure faster around the track has better power to weight ratio, and better suspension.

BUT my personal opinion is that 996 has no character. (and what makes this even worse is that 996 shares same components with boxsters...)

993 has all the characteristics of a real 911 with all technology that was available at the moment.

for me is the best 911 ever made.

unforunetelly impot taxes here in greece were i live makes an 996 a lot ( 30%) cheper than 993....

so 996 was the route....

if i could 993 would be my car....

in addition as karlooz said, you have to undergo several mods to make a 996 more than it comes from the factory......and this what a 993 has. it combines rawness and cmfort together with technology improovments....has a bit of everything...

this doesn't make me feel unhappy since 996 is for sure a brilliant example of a true sportscar...

 

Foss what car do you like? I love the looks of the 993 and I was a little turned off by the fact 986/996 used some of the same parts, but i just couldn't buy a 10 year old technology car . In the end i modded my 996 to be MY car, it looks good, handles great, and brakes even better, I could tell you some stories where I have raced 993s and they where embarrassed by the outcome, but i wont because i am not that kind of guy, I can tell you of examples of people i know with 993s are offering up their cars plus money for my 996, but i wont.One thing my best friend has a 993 C4S with some mods and he does keep up, and I love his car to death.and I will tell you this most Porsche guys are ********* anyways, so no matter what car you get ,they will tell you" you should have got something else"(Present company excluded)

 

I really like the way folks on the 996 forum address this question. Very straight forward, very fact based with minimal bias. That's refreshing.

I think the difference between the cars is really at their core. The chassis. The 996 is lower, wider, lighter, stiffer and more aero-dynamic. For me, that's what makes the 996 the better car. Everything else just bolts on. Interiors are a matter of taste, the suspensions are pretty similar, the gear boxes are pretty similar in function, the dry sump is cool but I'd rather have the M96 power, etc, etc. Both cars have a few gremlins. Both cars can make you smile. The 993 is just plain beautiful. I agree with others that you should drive both and pick your favorite.

Now, for Luis. I see you are in MN. You'll have to bring that 996 killer to the track next summer. I've got an early 996 for you to beat up on. Seriously though, there is a reason PCA club racing matches the stock 996 with 993TTs and euro 993RSCSs. 996s are considerably faster on the track. It all goes back to the chassis.
Jim

 

Yes I do. I am not aware if it has that kind of information, why?

 

I'm curious what the Porsche factory 0-100kph time for the 270hp 993 was. It may be in the back of your manual in the technical specifications section.

 

Jim,
I have seen your 996 in action. No thanks. It is also a very well sorted RACE car. The original question from the rennlist member was what car one would choose. I simply gave him my chioce based on personal experience. What times are you running at BIR with your 996?
Luis

 

Luis,
Due to a family illness I didn't do the MN club race this year but I ran a 1:50.3 on some pretty crappy Hoosiers at a DE. I'm sure the car is good for a 1:48 or better with a real driver.

I've heard that a good 95 993 will outrun a later 993 but I'd still be very surprised to see one keep up with an early 996.

See you next summer.
Jim

 

Jim,
1:50 is awsome for a non Turbo or GT3 "stock class" car (It must be a track record) I think you are in the same DE run group as my father in his GT2 (and you run faster times than him BTW) My fastest lap around there was a 1:59 in my 944S2. I have yet to drive the 993 at BIR. I have been living in FL for the last 3 years and am planning to move back within the next couple of months.
See you at First Fling,
Luis

 

Luis Jr, I should have figured that one out. I have a lot less to loose if I go flying off turn 2 than your dad does. His GT2 is beautiful!

You will find the 993 to be a handful on the track compared to your 944S2. The S2 may be one of the better handling Porsches ever. Especially if it was set up by AE.

See you this spring. Maybe we can take your Dad's car for a spin when he's not looking. I'm pretty sure we can get run a 1:47 or two before he catches us.
Jim

 

Foss,
I went from a 964 to a 996 and Im loving it. I was in your shoes a few years back when I had to choose between a 993 or a 996. After a few articles indicating how superior the 996 were at the track, I was sold. Many hardcore 993 owners had to switch to the 996 just to keep up. But do test drive both and see for yourself. Good luck.

 

If the 993 proves to be as much of a handful as you say it will be, Ill stick to the S2. The GT2 is always the best option. I would like to do the advanced DE class with it. You are an instructor correct? If so, we can definately take it out.

 

Foss,

Pretty much what everyone else said, plus my take as having made the same move: from 964 to the next. For me, there were a couple of extra issues. I have two small kids, and I like going out in the car as a family. That's a 20-some thousand extra two seats over the boxster etc. Porsche knows this...however, I digress.
To me there was the safety equipment issue as I like cabs. There, the 996 wins hands down. Secondly, I felt it difficult to feel I was really improving on the platform with the 993. It's essentially a 964 with hydraulic valves and better suspension. Flame suit on for this one However, all 993 affectionados should look at this as a compliment: the 964 is a fantastic, hugely underappreciated car. Really one of the best 911's in my opinion. Finally, the 996 is newer and better. Sure, there are some issues. The weak paint for one. However, drive them both and you will see that there is half a decade of improvement between the 993 and 996 in terms of dynamics and performance.

Enjoy the search for whichever car you'll settle on!
Geert
P.S. If you like cabs, the hardtop is really cool to have.