JB 911

Anybody who has had both (or still does) have both, which do you think would have the higher cost of ownership over a long term span 5-10 years, a 993 NB coupe or a 996 tt. Assuming the both are well sorted and have a decent ppi upon purchase.

A few points to consider 1. I am shocked that a 'well sorted' 996tt has fallen +/-5k to within a 'well sorted' 993 coupe price. 2. I am drawn to the 993 but also the 911 is about performance - and the 996tt is (take a deep breath 993 guys beats the 993 coupe in THAT department. 3. As long as they are maintained, I don't feel either will lose or gain much more in the next 5 years. 4. When reading the first few pages of either RL board - there are a similar nubmer of 'problem with car' threads, maybe a LITTLE less on the 996tt , but that is a little newer too...

Insight appreciated

jumper5836

Personally I think the 993 is over priced. Market and old foggies are keeping the price up but that will eventually lose ground to the younger gen. I personally prefer a 964 over the 993. I like the frog eye style old head lights, the new modern lights that are put on the 993 and 997+ models are not my style.

The problem with the 996tt is that it is so easy to modify to increase performance and speed. It would be very hard not to upgrade these areas and doing so will put a dent in your pocket. Given you can put aside the temptations the 996tt will also burn though rear tires even when completely stock.

Pretty much the maintenance that's all ready done on either of the models will determine what will need to be done in the future. I don't see the cost of ownership being any different for similarly maintained models. Just the tires and mods will get cost you with the 996tt.

PAULUNM

I'd say if your 993 has already had a top end rebuild, costs would be about the same. If not... seems the sky is the limit when it comes to rebuilding a 993 motor- when a top end may be the only thing needed.

Having said that- I'd love to have both someday.

sanyata

I had a '97 993 C2S that I gave up for the current 996TT. They are both great cars but miles apart in so many ways. I'd like to think the 6TT will bottom out and hold its value but probably not as well as the 993 but who knows? I think PAULUNM is correct about the top end. Except for the '95 the 993 has the SAI problem that can often get costly and lead to some rather expensive repairs. Not to say 6TT repairs aren't costly but the SAI problem seems fairly common in the 993's. Barring extraordinary repairs the cost of ownership is pretty close to even except maybe insurance cost. Oh, if you're a DIYer I think the 6TT is easier to work on IMO.

Kevinmacd

Well I have never owned a 993, but based on what i know talking to to those who do or had, the weak link in a 993 are the valve guides. If these wear, coking and buildup causes the secondary air injection system to work improperly, and is a very costly to repair. The 996tt use a derivative of the GT1 race engine, and has proven to be pretty much bullet proof.

John D II

I've had both and my 993 and 993TT both had several small minor issues like the idle stabilzer valve, breaking fan belts and some other small failures that I can not recall, all within 20K miles - they were in the shop quite a few times for a new car. IMO, the 996TT is much more reliable...

PAULUNM

All 993s have a SAI system, but the 95 is OBD 1, so a SAI clog won't trigger a CEL. At least that's what I've been told.

nesposito

I've also owned both cars. I currently own a '95 993 that I use as a DD and sold a 996tt that I drove daily for 2.5 years. The 996tt is much friendlier to drive on a daily basis, especially in Phoenix where strong AC is a must. Cost of maintenance is very similar even though the 993 is a much older car. If forced to choose I prefer the classic 993 over the much newer and much more common 996tt. That my opinion for what it's worth. Go 993. I believe they will always hold their value better as well being the last of the air cooled cars and the best looking 911 ever built.

JB 911

Thanks guys for the insight. I have driven a few 993 and really liked them but like the tt too. Especially the 4wd, cooler air (Texas) and the extra ponies. But point well taken about the turbo being very easy to get in trouble with 'the law' in. Haven't driven a tt yet. Need to drive one. I also like that the tt is a little roomier for the driver too - which is a plus for me a 6'4". I fit in the 993 fine, but an extra inch or two would be welcomed. I posted the question over on the 993 forum too. Interesting reading there too.

jimq

I have a 964 and a X50 996T and the cost is about the same as i have very few problems with either one. I do need to change the pressure canister on the clutch slave on the TT but it was only $120 or so and not hard to do. I just need some time to do it. I have had the 964 9 years and the TT 6 years.

CincyScott

I've had a 993TT and a 996TT. I went back to a 996TT after the 3TT because the market dictated that I could drive and enjoy the 6TT with much less worry about depreciation and value. I only put 5k miles on my 993TT in 3 years, and I've put 6k on my 6TT in just 1.

993's are much more prone to leaking oil in my experience. If it drives you nuts to have an oil leaker, like me, then be prepared to spend some coin. But in terms of regular maintenance, I would say the two aren't that far apart in cost.

I'll get another 993TT someday, but it will be a high mileage one that I can do to what I please, and market be damned

turbo4 me

I have owned both; however to preface my answer about cost, let me say that from a performance standpoint, the 996tt runs off and leaves a stock 993. The 993tt is a different story (but the cost of the 993tt is way more expensive than the 996tt).

I think maintenance costs are probably a wash. The 993s are incredibly over-engineered cars; however, with their age things are going to eventually break and it's not cheap to fix them. The 996tt is also a well built car but as we all know, occasionally something very expensive breaks.

Depreciation-wise is where the 993 shines. My 97 993 appreciated $4k in the five years I owned it. My 2001 996tt has probably depreciated $5k in the 18 months I have owned it. Will both of these trends continue? They aren't making any more air cooled cars-

I wish I had kept my 993 (in addition to buying the 996tt; wife said it's one or the other)-

wross996tt

what he^ said.

"02996ttx50

i would imagine the 993 would average less over 5 years in costs. i can't remember having anything at all fail on mine though it was new car warrantied. it was as dependable as a vw bug as i remember. man, i miss that car something awful though the 996t is in another whole class. i also wish i had em both again. i think porsche really nailed it with that 993 series.

darth g-f

At first I wanted a 993. I test drove one and that was the last time I wanted to have one. To all the 993 fans out there, it's time to stop reading, because I'm about to tell the cold hard truth about 993s...

They suck! Yeah I said it. They were amazing 20 years ago. But Porsche knew what it was doing. First, performance are way off the current offerings by just about any company. So I expect performance is not high on your priority list. Otherwise maybe buy that Mazdaspeed3 or Honda Odyssey ... The 996tt will smoke the 993 into oblivion.

Driving. They drive like old cars. Brake power is weak at best. Clutch action is from an other era. Pretty much everything makes the car feel old, really old. I couldn't wait to get out of that piece of history. I am a former F2000 racer and current BMWCCA instructor, I drove lots of cars, this one was not a car I felt I could just hop in and be at ease. It's slow, it has poor brakes, it's nowhere near what I've come to expect from a performance car. Soooo much has changed in the last 20 years.

The plus side, sound and looks are the 993 strong points. If you like how it looks and that is high on your priority list, it's indeed an awesome looking car. Sounds great too. But you can make a 996tt sound pretty much as good with the right exhaust system. But you can't make the 996tt look like a 993.

Value, well it depends on how you see it. The 993 seems to be holding its value really well. But as others pointed, Air Cooled fanatics die everyday and are replaced by younger people that won't give a damn wether the engine is air or water cooled. They might become highly collectible in 50 years, fetching very high prices at Barrett-Jackson, but that also means you'll be looking at it instead of driving it. Which is not why I buy my cars. If you want to invest, try Nasdaq. Investing in cars is risky, you don't know what the next generation will want.

On the other hand, the 996tt in my eye, is an extremely good value. These cars sold for close to 200,000$ (well the X50 did) they still can hang with today's fastest cars. Stock X50 do the 1/4 in 11,9 and 200mph top speed. With a few mods, you can beat the **** out of most modern performance cars. Its engine is bulletproof, it drives like a modern car and above all, can be bought for a song. In my opinion they are probably at the lowest price they'll ever be. I don't see a tt going for much less than what they are selling now.

In the end, it depends on what you want. But if you drive them back to back, you'll know what you prefer as both are so completely different.

Cool link to 996tt: http://www.stevecarter.com/911turbo.htm