datax

Just to make already good thread like this more informative, let me add this article. It'll make things easier for people like me who also having hardtime trying to decide 993TT or 996TT.

Is it really true that 993TTs are hand made and 996TTs are not?

atan888

if you plan to use it as a daily driver I would go with the 996. If you plan to keep it I would go with the 993.

my gt2 and my 993 in my sig and I love them both . good luck

Indykid

I've also owned both. I like the exterior of the 993tt but the 996tt is much more refined. The dated interior and those damn push pedals was killin me.

iLLM3

Such an amazing car... I will have to own a 993TT someday, my 996TT coming from a 550 hp track setup/lightweight M3 sucked, and my Turbo had no sunroof, was converted to RWD, suspensiion this and that, tons of power but i never grewe to love the driving experience.. Now i cant complain, the my RUF GT2 on Motons filled the void and to me is the PERFECT car between performance, need for power, handling but it can get a bit scary and isnt practical..

Both are awesome and that is evolution sorry to say!

C DeVito

The 993 is a nice car but is too old tech for me. The design was great in it's time but again for me the 996 is the better car. I do drive mine every day, expect to do that for many years to come and wouldn't swap. I never got comfortable in a 993, so for some of us the 996 is the keeper. Anyone considering either car should drive both and decide, based on the type of driving they do which one fits them the best. The rest is a good read but just "somebody else's" opinion.

Carmen
03 996TT X50 - Midnight Blue/Grey

TT Surgeon

I've almost bought 993TT's three times(same car twice), always came down to reliability and maintenance costs. So, I decided to get either a x50 996tt or a 997TT, ultimately deciding on the latter.
The fact is the 993TT is the better looking car, and probably better in a lot of ways, but they cost a fortune to maintain. A CEL in a 993 is $$$$ time, no biggie in a 996. My C4S has over 60k miles, is driven daily, I'm not sure I could have put the same stress on a 993 over the last 4 years. I replaced the clutch at 58k and new tires every year, that's about it for maintenance!

ca993twin

Chris,

I've been reading this thread with interest, and I am a 993TT owner that believes that the 996TT is a great car. Certainly easier to modify for big HP, marginally better chassis & suspension. But I dispute your worries about 993TT maintenance costs and especially about the "CEL". I think you are refering to the SAI port clogging issue which seems to occur on the 993NA cars... not on the 993TT. They really cost no more to maintain then the 993NA cars... except they don't have that SAI issue.

My choice is clear... the 993TT (especially in Ruf Turbo R trim) is the perfect car for me. But I appreciate that others have different needs and interests.

Woodster

I'm with IndyKid,
I have had both also, and I will NEVER sell my 996TT: awesome all around sports car. Period.

MK

Duane993

I have a 1995NA 993 since new with mild suspension mods (ROW M030, Koni's and Turbo sway bars) and bought a barely used a bone stock 2003 996ttx50. For running at the limit of handling the 993 wins hands down. Yah the pedals are goofy and you really have to keep the revs in the sweet spot. The suspension communicates what's going on. For acceleration and comfort the 996tt is the hot set up. The engine pulls in all gears at all revs. A HVAC system with controls that make sense. The suspension feels as willing but there is less communication with the driver. With suspension mods the 996 may equal the 993. Styling of the 993 is in the Porsche tradition as carried on by the 997 (headlights and door pockets for starters). The 996 is a major departure from this with its flat sides and oblong headlights. In the long run resale on the 993 have already outperformed the 996 --- this may be attributed to the percieved better build quality, the last of air cooling, and more limited supply of 993. If you're an old school Porsche guy the 993 will be your choice. If you're willing to trade off some handling for more usable power and an up to date interior, you'll pick the 996. If you have more money than you know what to do with, upgrade to the 997, the best of both worlds. All that said...I'd really miss the individual VDO gauges.

MK19

I've had them both (at the same time too).....and while they are quite similar in many ways, my take in general is that the 993tt is more sporty, and probably quicker in tight sections. The 993 is better.....box stock with base suspension on the track by a good amount (I think the base 996TT is totally optiomized for the street). But.....and big but for me; the 993 is far less "capable" and far less "civilized" as a daily driver. All of the creature comforts, and especially the a/c (important in a hot climate) are much better in the 996 and overall, I can make better time on the streets/roads, with less drama and in a more relaxed mode in my 996 than in the 993. Those who speak of the build quality differences.....generally the 993's are somewhat better, but they don't consider that technolgy advances in the auto world have been fast (1994 design for the 993, 2001 for the 996) is a big difference. The chassis for example is much stiffer in the 996. And while based on the same motor, I'll take the water pumper anytime as more relaible, more powerful, and torquer (plenty of thermal capaction for Hi-HP mod's too). Time, with few exceptions = better when it comes to Porsche. "Always by the latest model" is nearly always good advice. Last: value; while the 996's have been hammered, and the 993's are holding nicely.....history (since the mid-70's 930's) shows that they all go down in time.....and while the 993's have arguably been appreciating, I now think they are peaking/starting to fall a bit. Certainly the 996's are becoming better values. As the price of a TT approaches the price of a normal, they find a bottom. The 996's are nearly there, but the '993's have about a $30-40k spread over the normals......the downside risk on depreciation is much greater in the 993, but of course you will certainly not see appreciation in a 996TT. Bottom line; buy what turns you on......otherwise it might as well be a Toyota.

sfbanchs

the 996 is a great car, the only problem especially here in miami is that they are everywhere, where i live downtown you see 996tt quite often, rarely do you ever see a 993tt, in fact i personally know some of the other 993tt owners in miami it really turns heads, the 993tt puts smiles on people's faces, everyone always says thats my favorite porsche etc etc etc. the only issue i see is that so many people love the 993tt but yet don't own one, every porsche enthusiast always says thats the best turbo they ever built, which is probably questionnable i feel like i am one of the few that has the ***** to own one, i'll probably purchase a 996tt or a gt2 sometime in the near future and do an evo stage 4 conversion on it.

jimhsu

One factor that I would favor in 996TT over a 993TT: PSM.

I live in a wet and sometimes snowy city (Seattle) and though both have AWD the PSM will be useful for me. But from what I've read here, many people have been saved from certain disaster or just fender bending meetings with guardrails even in dry situations.

I have loved the looks of the 993 widebody for a long time though, and would definitely own it as a second car if I had the money and space. 993 widebody has the curves and the bod, and 996 widebody has a more of a sleeker, handsome look in an Armani-suit kind of way.

TRINITONY

Interesting read....wonder how many of these owners have moved on from their original thoughts and cars they owned at the time of posting.

DrPeter

I went with the 997 GT3. I would say it is the blend of the best attributes of both.

C DeVito

Only sold mine to move to Singapore as I now drive on the other side of the road and couldn't import it. My neighbor has a red 996 GT2 which sounds wonderful as it rides by, and I sorely miss the TT. I am considering a 997 GT3/RS or TT when I return to the US but that's a few years off.