Doug&Julie

That's too bad. It's a shame when one car can be so bad it ruins the experience completely. Glad you're happy with your Boxster though!

FWIW, ironically, the 993 is the one Porsche I really don't have any desire to own. Give me NEW or give me OLD. ..please.

mborkow

i had a chat with my mechanic and although he likes the 993 he has told me that a lot of them have the same problems mine had...there might be a reason porsche cut the run of the 993 model very short.

rome

...that's something you don't hear very oftern. The 993 air-cooled flat 6 was 30 years in development and is widely considered one of the most elegant and bullet proof motors ever built.

That said, they are know to have premature valve guide wear, which can lead to clogged ports, as you experience. But, it is a problem that can be fixed.

mborkow

the only people claiming the 993 engine is bullet proof are 993 owners. The engine itself is not a problem really, but the smog components are and in a state like CA there is no legal way around it. And yes, you can fix it, but that fix costs over $5k (I spent $6k). You can also do something illegal and bypass the emissions sensor...but that's absurd, imo. I should not have to break federal law to drive my car. If you want a bullet proof porsche, try the 87-89 911s...those really are some of the best cars porsche ever built. As for performance, the 993 doesn't cut it anymore. By today's standards it is overweight and under powered (especially MY95 although with MY95 you don't have the emissions problem). The 993 is a beautiful car, but looks are not everything.

Cloud964

I have owned a few porsches before: 968, 964 C2, 993 C4 and now a 986S. To me, the boxster is the most fun to drive around, and surprisingly, the 993 didn't feel significantly more powerful than the boxster. Well, I love them all, but will find it hard now if I have to part with my boxster S.

THXBABE

Rome

Nice car!!!! I think the 993 are the best looking and most fun to drive 911's. I have driven my buddy's '95 993 extensively, including a full DE at Sebring, and LOVE it. I have driven a 997(C4S), and didn't like it nearly as much.

The raw feel of the 993, the glorious sound of the drilled air box, the road feel are all hard to beat.

That being said - I love my Boxster and look forward to trouncing my buddy's 993 on the track!

VERBOTN

+1 for boxster and keep the sc.

two very different cars but both are fun. Today I actually got a heads up on a 993 that I have had on my radar.

D.C.

If you can afford to, keep both of them. My Boxster is my daily driver, and the 86 911 sits in the garage most of the time. I keep telling myself I should sell it, but every time that I drive it, I know that I need to keep it. They are both very fun cars, but indeed they are very different cars.

johnr4228

Here's my experience:

My first Porsche was a '68 911L, so just about as "old school" as you can get. I loved the car, but eventually sold it to a friend who was after me for years to get the car.

More recently, I was looking at a '97 993 that was a high mileage car (115k) with interior cosmetic issues and possibly mechanic work to be done. However, it was priced pretty low (I thought...) at about $30k Cdn. I was visiting the local dealership to get 993 service cost estimates and spotted a 2001 Boxster for nearly the same $$, certified vehicle and all that. My wife suggested this was a better value and, while a bit reticent, I took her advice.

I only drove the 993 once or twice, but the Boxster has turned out to be a better choice for me in just about every way, and I do "get" the whole air-cooled thing.

That said, the 993 is still for sale after a year or so, as well as a nice '86 911 in the area, so I'm scheming to have two Porsches. If I could only have one, however, I's definitelyt go with the Boxster, or by extrapolation, perhaps a Cayman.

Jay Laifman

Me too. I have a 1973 911, love it. I've had it for 20 years. It's not going anywhere. I also have a 2000 Boxster S. I love it too. Totally different, in a modern way, and yet still totally Porsche. That said, the non-S didn't do it for me. It isn't the hp on paper. The S to me was just that much more sporty in the overall feel of the every day drive. But, add to it that I also put on the 2003 Porsche Sport Exhaust, that doesn't have the resonance the others have, plus sport cats, and desnorkled to get a truly marvelous full bodied exhaust sound. I put on the sport shifter, but hated it and now have the 997 factory shifter, love it.

So, at this point, there is nothing I don't love about the car. Yet, I've put it up for trade for a 87-89 Targa, or for the right 84-86 I might too. The reason is mostly because I want the extra seats for my kids and I love 911s. But note that my commute is 13 miles without traffic.

fast1

You and I have had similar experiences. I bought my first 911 in 1970. As far as the Boxster is concerned, it is the most pleasurable Porsche to drive on the road, and it is a bargan by Porsche standards. I bought my 987 last year about this time of the year, and was all set to buy an S until I drove the base Boxster. It met all my needs and cost about $10K less.

DaveE

I kept my SC and added a '97 Boxster last Nov. It was a great winter car, with dedicated winter tires (Blizzaks) and the traction control. I spent the week between Christmas and New Years in Montreal with no trouble despite the snow, and no hard top. The Boxster is a great car. I love my SC though. I love the rawness of it.

Ray S

Why not both?

Jay Laifman

I just noted your "name." My license plate reads: CLWD 911.