In this case, 993 may be the car for you.

 

It all comes down to personal preference too... I actually like the 996 better in a cab than the 993, top up or top down.

I think the 993 coupe is beautiful, especially the C4S.

 

I own a 996 Tip Cab and a 993 (Turbo) coupe 6 speed. I like driving my 996....but I LOVE driving my 993!

 

..... until a 996 C4S parks beside it....

 

Really the bottom line is what you feel comfortable with. I own a 993 and my nephew owns a 996, both 6 speeds. We both love our cars for their own reasons and our own personal preferences. Both of us are happy with our choices.

From our personal perspectives a tip was not what either of us wanted. I am definetely old school and grew up with manual transmissions. My nephew, in his forties, had had a lot of automatic transmissions in his people haulers (kids). Now that I am getting older the new PDK sounds really impressive but I will have to wait til they come into my price range, which may not ever happen. My nephew enjoys the manual after having had automatic transmissions in he and his wife's cars.

Aesthetically speaking, my nephew likes the hips on my NB car better than his. Functionally speaking, I wish I had a cup holder. His is more useful as a daily driver but it is a garage queen. Mine is used on the weekends, not a garage queen, when I have more time to drive the car. My business travel necessitates more than I can carry in the trunk of the 993 and I drive 40,000 km per year.

Wrenching either car can save you lots of money, especially with the help provided on this site.

I don't think you can go wrong with either car. Drive several examples of both, whether tip or manual, and find what suits your needs or desires. Most people will agree a car is a depreciating asset. They, both the 993 and 996 and newer generation Porsches to follow will be cheaper in the months and years to come. Find one you feel comfortable with, drive and enjoy it.

Best of luck in your search.

 

+1 very smart comment

 

I have owned both.

I liked the shape of the 993. But for a "driver's car," it never felt right to me. The seat would never go back quite as far as I wanted, the steering wheel seemed to be offset toward the middle which made it awkward to drive....and more.

The 996's shape is less interesting, but in many ways, has a classic shape that has a number of styling cues from earlier Porsches -- which is fine with me. Anything it loses in form to the 993 is replaced by function. Ergonomics are better, more power, more torque, better fuel mileage, more pleasant to drive. From my perspective, in every way that I personally interact with the car, it is improved.

The 993 will likely depreciate more slowly, but I prefer to drive the 996. Haven't the least desire of going back. If I ever purchased an earlier Porsche, it would be in '69 - '73 -- but parts availability, rust, fuel concerns just don't make those seem practical to me. So, the 996 it is.

As always, your choice.

 

You need to drive both cars and see which one gives you the bigger thrill. Everyone in this forum had the option of buying a 993 and went with the 996, but that doesn't necessarily mean that that's the right decision for you.

 

Interesting, my wife and I have been talking about this topic too. For a daily driver, even with some winter use, we really like our 996. At some point, we would also like a 993, but this will be in the occasional drive, snow-free season only. Our 996 is a coupe, so a 993 cab might be in the future.

 

I think a 993 S coupe is a beautiful car and I own a 996 Cab.

 

“Everyone in this forum had the option of buying a 993 and went with the 996, but that doesn't necessarily mean that that's the right decision for you.“

I think this is an excel point. Besides of being prettier[personal op], the 993 is slower, less modern, more expensive to maintain, and less comfortable.Besides somehow I got 18 months financement on the 2004 996 cab.

Just have to do it. I can always re sell it and pull the trigger on the 993. Or not.

 

I have both and find the 996 (wife's DD) is a really wonderful car. Comparing it to a 993 however, I feel divorced from the road driving a 996. I really think the 996 has no soul.
I also think the 993 will hold much more of it's value over time.

 

here we go again.

 

Technically speaking, no car has a soul. They're not living, organic entities.

 

C'mon guys it's Sunday night.