993 or 996 for TVR Defector - Page 1 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

tiptronic is for girls and to be avoided 996 is much lighter and more powerful and hence much quicker. It also has more predictable handling and you have a better chance of finding a good one with FPSH. 993 is generally acknowledged as the best of the air cooled cars but the prices are currently fairly stiff, it sounds a bit nicer than a 996 but many are less well equipped (ie no air con etc) Bennno

Steve, I'm a bit biased but Im with Benno,I think the 996 is the one to go for.If you anywhere near Farnham,I'll gladly give you a run out in mine sometime. Steve >> Edited by sb930turbo on Thursday 26th December 23:33

If you want a drive out in a 993 to see what a REAL Porsche should sound like (heheheh, shall i duck now?) then let me know. Seriously, i honestly believe that the 993 is the best of the "daily driver" air cooled 911's BUT a 996 is a car that will appeal to a lot more people than a 993. Like all air cooled 911's, you will either love or hate a 993. If you love it, you may prefer it to a 996 (like me), but if you hate it a 996 might still be a dream car. They're VERY different. Either way, welcome to the clan. www.VerySideways.com

Popester. You are swapping a Chimaera for a 996? Whaaaat? The Porsche with the same format as the Chimaera is a Boxster. Have you taken a look at one...properly...? My S has practically all the grunt of the TVR (not all - no point denying it) with the same two seater roadster thing. Two practical boots instead of just the front one and the rear seat space. The new model has a heated glass rear window - which means that rain or shine the car is comfortable and condensation free. If you feel you must have metal over your head in deepest winter there's always a hardtop. Had that on my last car but didn't bother with it on my latest one. For the same money as you'd be paying for a 98 996 you could getting an 01 Boxster S. OK - it'd have the placcy rear window but you could get one with the hardtop. Just another option to think about. Having said all that....I feel a 996 coming on myself. If the new software product takes off....

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yeah , you right about the can of worms. having owned both 993 and 996, it comes down to what use you make of the car. For daily driver, high annual mileage , UK congested roads and motorways, my experience is 996 more use friendly than 993. BUT if you prefer the look of 993 then that should be clincher....just live with aircon that doesn't do much and awkward pedals/steering wheel alignment... Now about TIPTRONIC...its really useful in the UK traffic conditions already mentioned. Anyone who thinks its girly should sit alongside a Weissach test track driver equipped with tip. I don't see many people on forums saying its great, however you need to learn how to get best from it, just like you need to learn how to get the best from a rear engined Porsche. Secondhand tips sell at a discount...so get measured up for that blouse!

Thanks for the views guys - I guess I need to test drive the variants and take a view. The 993 is a better looking beast than the 996 IMHO, but it will be an everyday car doing 20K per annum, so the 996 may have the practicality edge. Don - I considered the Boxster S, fine car but just can't fall in love with the looks versus the Coupe. Took the Chimaera out for a blast from Whitchurch to Kingsclere this afternoon - you know the road. Got me feeling envious of you with your pair of chariots

14,000 miles in the last 4 months in my 993 C4S and it's been faultless. It is garaged and doesn't like being left out in the rain overnight (which i've had to do twice at other people's houses) but other than that it's wonderful. I will say though, the standard 993 is too quiet for my taste, a motorsound airbox (80 quid from Machtech) makes all the difference. www.VerySideways.com

I can't give you advice on 993 or 996 - thats a matter of personal preference. I can give you some advice on manual vs. tiptronic. When ordering my new car, I drove a 996 manual and a 996 tiptronic back to back. I loved the manual, one of the best I have ever had in any car. Perfect ratios, it always seems to "fit" going up or down. The car felt much more "alive" than with the tiptronic. But I chose the tiptronic because I do high mileage, talking to customers, fielding phone calls, resetting satnav etc. etc. all at the same time, and then sit in traffic jams or drive across Paris. It is so convenient to slot it into auto - one less thing to worry about. But when I go out for a spin, I'll put it into manual ... Drive both if poss., and don't let your feelings overrule your common sense if you're doing high mileages. I hope this helps a little. Rgds, WalterU >> Edited by WalterU on Sunday 29th December 00:51

Look at this discussion about the 996's engine - http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=91405&highlight=bruce+996

There are some good photo's somewhere showing a visual comparison between 993 v 996 critical engine components. It's not pretty. I have to say the only new Porsche I would consider is a Turbo/GT2. I like my cars to be engineered by engineers. And if i'm honest i'd rather spend money sorting an early 911. There's some guy in the States swaning around in a 500+ bhp SC

Check out this guys Carrera! http://home.attbi.com/~juan_ruiz/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html

At the risk of opening a big can of worms, I would appreciate some guidance on my next new toy. As much as I love it, my Chimaera 500 is too impractical during the winter and I need a car that I can drive rain or shine. Budget will run to a late 993 or a 1998/99 996. My preference is a 993 based on looks, but I would appreciate some advice on main pros/cons of each model. Also any thoughts on Tiptonic versus manual would be welcome.