mrsullivan

I know that it seems like a very odd jump, but for me, the 996 turbo has become a very interesting car. I am on my 3rd 993, and I love them. All three of mine have been unique, low miles, pristine. Generally in the $50s-$60k on price (higher end for ultra low mile C2S I had).

I am seeing 996 turbos with less than 10k miles in the $50s available. For someone that appreciates the history and reliability of the GT-1 derived bottom end/engine, and the torque/performance of this car, the pricing is very tempting. Sorry, but I dont think the 996 turbo holds a candle to a special 993 in terms of appearance, specialness, collectibility, etc. However, I still remember the test drive I did in one many years ago. That says something and is sort of what a 911 is all about, right? The driving experience.

Just curious if anyone else has ever made this jump and/or can speak to their experiences, any regrets. Clearly they are very different cars. Thanks for any observations!

ps. I would be interesting in hearing from anyone with a low mileage coupe manual example, black interior, stock (i like to choose and implement any mods) looking to sell.

tvurt

I have had a 911/964/993 and a 996tt.

The 993 is still my favorite. You can have "fun" on the street in a 993, while not traveling at insane speeds. The steering and brake feel on a 993 is better then the 996tt by far. The smell and sound of the air/oil cooled six is amazing. They are by far the most attractive 911 ever made.

However, in the 993 it is frustrating to watch a $20k STI just walk away from you....... or pretty much any other high performance car made in the 2000's for that matter. They are just slow by any modern standard.

The 996tt is a supercar for 50k. Who can argue with that, but it is a different kind of fun. With a tune and a few mods it is a scary beast, and tons of fun.

I have decided I need both, however!

Tom

993c2cab

I've had them all as well. The 996t is the most fun by far. My others were not turbos and I suppose that has something to do with it.

Land Jet

IMO, the 996TT is a superior car than the 993, and I had a supercharged one. I have no regrets at all leaving the 993. The 996TT does everything better.

Al Pettee

Too bad you didn't have a 993TT to compare to your 996TT. I own both, both tuned and I will never sell the 993TT until I am too demented to drive.

plain fan

I came from a 90 964 to an 01 996TT and correctly stated they are very different cars. I'm enjoying the turbo and it is fun, just an entirely different type of fun compared to the 964. The biggest adjustment for me is the ease that the car performs. Push the accelerator and the car just goes without a hint of effort or drama. Engine wise my car is stock w/ the exception of an EVOMS air box and filter and at this time I have no plans for increasing the performance but I know it is very easy.

"02996ttx50

i loved my 993 but i feel as if i have the power of two of those engines in my 996t now. very different car.

jcb-memphis

Had a 95 c4 with turboS oem kit, suspension, exhaust...in arrest me red....

it was a great car. I expected it to cost a forturne as the top end would have needed attention someday.

Billy Boat exhaust by the PO was not my taste.


But my 996tt is way better. Save the oil smell, I don't miss a thing. Really.


Jeff

Speedyellow993

I've jumped back and forth between the 993s -->996tt-->993-->996C4S

Ultimately I found the 993 to be the most pure Porsche experience. It feels like something really special. Fun ....But.....a little on the slow side. A blue chip investment.

The 996tt ate me alive maintaining it. I got bit by the "Mod bug" and it ended up costing me about $1000/month in my entire ownership. Mostly the Mods are to blame. GIAC flash was eating up a set of plugs every 10,000 klm.

My 996tt was an animal. Guessing just shy of 600hp and no longer fun on the street. On the track, it was crazy fast but really heavy feeling. Before the PSS10s it was very scary!!!! The 993 was just a little more fun on the track then the 996tt.

The 996tt is once again on my must have list. I crave the addictive power. But this time....I will go easy on the Mods.

The other thing to keep in mind is that any part from Porsche that has "Turbo" on it cost 25%-50% more.

Good luck and just do it. Don't sell your 993 to get the 996tt. You will understand why after a month or two of ownership. 996tt are a love hate relationship for me.

AL

Spidey 993

Sully, you have me considering it again. My biggest issue is the looks of the 996TT. However, if I found the right Guards Red or Speed Yellow....

mooty

to each his own.
here is my two cents.
i bought a 996 TT cab and a 997 TT. sold the 996 after 3 weeks (2000 miles) and 997TT after 4 weeks. didn't feel interesting driving them. fast yes. fun not to me. you will hate me to say this, i much rather drive my JCW or duramax than either of my TT's.

993, one of few cars i regret selling. and my was not a TT.

3 and 6 drive very differently. go try one and decide for yourself. some love the 6 and 7 TT, and for good reasons. it's a personal call.

sanyata

I came from a 993 C2S to the 996 TT. One of the things you hear a lot over on the 993 boards is how the driving experience is so visceral. A stock 6TT is pretty bland to drive other than the acceleration and even that is pretty effortless. But after some key mods the 6TT is every bit as visceral as a 993. For me, the mods that quickly turned this car into a true driving experience was the X73 suspension, 997 SSK, Europipe Stage 2 Loud and a flash. Now every time I fire the car up it fires me up!

The interior is far more pleasant and modern to me yet still old school compared to the 997 & 991. Of course this is just a personal thing but I was looking for an interior that possessed a feeling of luxury and being upscale yet not over the top.

The exteriors are a mixed bag of emotions for me. The 993 is definitely a very sexy looking Porsche especially from the rear angles. Being as it is the last of the air cooled cars it is arguably the best looking of the lot. Except for the front headlight treatment the 996 & 997 are pretty much the same in my eye. I find them, especially the wide body, pretty damn sexy as well. For some the headlights of the 996 is a deal breaker. I used to be in that group as well but they grew on me. Now I actually think they are pretty cool looking. By returning to the round headlights I honestly think Porsche made a bad decision by succumbing to the critics who clung to the past. To me the 997 looks like it has frog eyes. Maybe the 996 headlights weren't the best design but it was a clear move to enable the designers to modernize the design. I wonder what the front end would look like now with 12 more years of lighting technology innovation and design improvements. My guess is the front end would look far more exotic and upscale.

So I'm very happy with my decision to move to the 996. For awhile I owned both cars and struggled with selling the 993, as I did and still do love that car. I loved the sight of both cars sitting in the garage. But ultimately it was too much excess for me and I sold it.

YMMV

Lance 4c

My opinion, going from a 89 911, to 96 993tt, to 966tt: Good, better, and best (so far). I liked the 911 normal, loved the 993tt, and even more so the 996. To me, it is better in every way. One thing that hampered my 993tt driving experience was the "guilt factor", knowing each mile I drove it diminished the value. I decided to go a different way with the 996. Drive it with joy. No worry about protecting it's collector value. It to me, still gives the same Porsche driving experience in a better way. Oh, and with the must-have UMW 2 turbos and tune. If money was no object. I would keep a low milage 993 garage queen for obvious reasons, but would drive the 996. They are all good. I am sure, if I owned a 997, I would add it to the next best Porshce owned.

x50type

I have both 993 and 996 Turbo and as stated already very different cars, so there's really little comparison.
The 996 Turbo is everywhere superior to the 993 - but less involving [and easier to drive].
As a super fast daily driver the 996 is hard to beat; the 993 looks great but by today's standard out classed by a number of others.

ltc

I enjoy driving my wife's 993 Targa just as much as driving the 996 Turbo.
Very different, the sound, the noise, the feel ... it's hard to replace that door sound on a 993 compared to a 996.

If I had to have just one, I would probably keep the 993 Targa.