Drove my first 993...
05-20-2018 | 02:15 PM
#18
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,321
Likes: 1,129
From: Florida Space Coast
The stock 993 came with Monroe shocks with a blacktop warranty. Once the car gets off the dealer's blacktop, the shocks go south.
If the suspension was updated and in good condition with good tires, the drive may have been more impressive. Mine had PSS9s on it when I traded it for the GT3. The GT3 was much better, and for a host of reasons beyond just the suspension.
The 993 is an older car with a dated suspension and limited horse power. What do you expect? It's like comparing a Jag XKE with a Boxster. The Boxster will eat it for lunch, and I think I'd prefer the XKE for what it is, but not as a daily driver. That's one of the reasons why 993 values are what they are. It makes some people happy and how do you argue with that?
Glad you are happy with your car.
If the suspension was updated and in good condition with good tires, the drive may have been more impressive. Mine had PSS9s on it when I traded it for the GT3. The GT3 was much better, and for a host of reasons beyond just the suspension.
The 993 is an older car with a dated suspension and limited horse power. What do you expect? It's like comparing a Jag XKE with a Boxster. The Boxster will eat it for lunch, and I think I'd prefer the XKE for what it is, but not as a daily driver. That's one of the reasons why 993 values are what they are. It makes some people happy and how do you argue with that?
Glad you are happy with your car.
05-20-2018 | 02:18 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 4
05-20-2018 | 02:19 PM
#20
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,321
Likes: 1,129
From: Florida Space Coast
After owning a 964 I was happy to get the 993. It was still an air-cooled car, but better, for all the same reasons a 997 is a better car than the 996.
05-20-2018 | 02:22 PM
#21
Banned
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 21
993's can feel very different based on their suspension, engine tuning and exhaust... and to a lesser extent their gearshift
in stock form 993s and 964s are meh -- floaty, not much throttle response, way too quiet. the 993 especially has a smoothness to it that is quite un-porsche...
but when they are done right... reflash/wong chip, intake/fister cans, ssk/goldenrod, pss9 then are a lot of fun... are they a modern car? no...that is not the point... but they do have a terrific appeal... much of which, like many later na 911's, is when the car is hustling around curves and engine revving up high, small body shell snug around you windshield up close, steering wheel wriggling
a lot of this old car charm is perceived as a matter of taste and of expectations... there is definitely air cooled magic here, but may be below the surface... trust me...
in stock form 993s and 964s are meh -- floaty, not much throttle response, way too quiet. the 993 especially has a smoothness to it that is quite un-porsche...
but when they are done right... reflash/wong chip, intake/fister cans, ssk/goldenrod, pss9 then are a lot of fun... are they a modern car? no...that is not the point... but they do have a terrific appeal... much of which, like many later na 911's, is when the car is hustling around curves and engine revving up high, small body shell snug around you windshield up close, steering wheel wriggling
a lot of this old car charm is perceived as a matter of taste and of expectations... there is definitely air cooled magic here, but may be below the surface... trust me...
05-20-2018 | 08:13 PM
#22
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,128
Likes: 906
From: Destin, Nashville, In a 458 Challenge
Fair enough, good feedback all around. Never drove a 993. I've had some episodes of "don't meet your heroes" recently. Drove 4 e46 M3 in the last week and the driving experience of them hasn't aged well at all, even on one which had had all of its suspension gone through and replaced. Same with my first E30 which I drove last week.
So which 15+ year old cars don't drive like old cars? I've had a couple 12 year old miata that were sprightly and responsive, didn't feel their age.
So which 15+ year old cars don't drive like old cars? I've had a couple 12 year old miata that were sprightly and responsive, didn't feel their age.
As far as Porsches, I always drove the turbo air cooleds because the NAs were just too lethargic even back then. The only NA air cooled I had that I liked was a 90 C2 Ruf conversion with about $70k in the engine.
Never been a fan of the NSX. I drove a handful back in early 2000s as I was thinking about adding one to the garage and checking it off the bucket list. They just never impressed me and certainly needed more power.
05-21-2018 | 12:54 AM
#26
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 472
From: San Francisco
Dont get me wrong, im not complaining about getting to drive ANY 911 through the country on a Saturday morning...
I did get use to it after 15 minutes but it felt archaic for the first few minutes. The gear shift is very direct and almost feels like its runs on a track. The clutch on the floor took some getting use to and the brake pedal has very little travel. You also feel like you are sitting up much higher and it was difficult to get the seat into a proper driving position. I don't think ergonomics were as thought through in those days. On the plus side if felt like it had more torque down low and was fun to drive a piece of history.
It also made me appreciate just what major leap the 996 and 997 where in redefining the future of the 911. I bet if you jump in a 996, 997 or 991 they would all feel somewhat familiar. I would assume you would feel the same if you jumped in a 87 911, 964 or 993. But the leap from 993 to 996 must have been the like Porsche's moon landing at the time.
I did get use to it after 15 minutes but it felt archaic for the first few minutes. The gear shift is very direct and almost feels like its runs on a track. The clutch on the floor took some getting use to and the brake pedal has very little travel. You also feel like you are sitting up much higher and it was difficult to get the seat into a proper driving position. I don't think ergonomics were as thought through in those days. On the plus side if felt like it had more torque down low and was fun to drive a piece of history.
It also made me appreciate just what major leap the 996 and 997 where in redefining the future of the 911. I bet if you jump in a 996, 997 or 991 they would all feel somewhat familiar. I would assume you would feel the same if you jumped in a 87 911, 964 or 993. But the leap from 993 to 996 must have been the like Porsche's moon landing at the time.
05-21-2018 | 01:49 AM
#28
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,313
Likes: 401
From: Southwest
A 993 drives like a truck? Then what do you think a G car drives like? Those are the true 911s. Every generation since has been refined and the driver isolated from the machinery and the road. I agree that the 997 is a great modern 911-like car. But an air-cooled, torsion bars, no power assist steering, no ABS, no nannies, those are the basic all-in-the-rear Porsche that some of us, who also own modern cars, love!
05-21-2018 | 02:47 PM
#29
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,870
Likes: 361
From: San Diego <->Knoxville
I drove my friend's 993 C2S and it was a fun little car to boot around. He swapped with my 93.5 Supra 6spd TT and after a few canyons runs he was almost willing to offer his 993 plus cash for my Supra. I love how small the car felt and even though I'm 6'2, I love how compact and how wide open that windshield was with those thin A pillars.
It's a 90's car with 90's technology. They need a refresh and some upgrades to make them perform better. In 20 years, our 997's will be prehistoric... @TheBruce, just like the PCM in the 997.1.
It's a 90's car with 90's technology. They need a refresh and some upgrades to make them perform better. In 20 years, our 997's will be prehistoric... @TheBruce, just like the PCM in the 997.1.
