996 vs 993: oh no, i think i'm starting to like the 993 better!

ok, someone either a) snap-me out of this or b) tell me i'm nuts!......after who knows how many years of wanting to own a Porsche, i finally bought one (albeit from my father in law, good deal), a 1999 996 Carrera. i've been completely happy with it, and as some of you know, have done some simple mods (wheels/b&m/ghl/rowM030). so, the more i learn and research, the 993's have truly started to grow on me, i think they're beautiful. perhaps it stems from my early years desires to own a 911, the body design is what i'm after. has anyone owned one? are they in greater demand than a 996? are they a hassle vs. the 996? any opinions/thoughts would be welcomed. don't get me wrong, the 996 is a beautiful automobile, especially the wide body versions. i'd own one of those if i could, it's just not possible now. thanks !

If I could only have one Porsche, it might be a 993 TT S. The best thing about the 996 to me is the cross between comfort and performance and to me it is a better every day all weather driver. The 993 is a great blend between the old and the new so if I could only have one, it may very well be a 993. Being lucky enough to have more than one, I would rather have either a 911 or 964 and a new comfy model as a work horse.

To be honest with you, I suspect my next Porsche will be a 993 TT/S. I love driving my 996, but the Boxter headlights on it are pretty dorky looking. Steve 99 996 76 930 64 356C

Hey oalvarez! I've seen several of your threads (particularly the wheel stuff! lol) but haven't joined in until now. So let me be the first to say.....yeah you're nuts! Man get off the web and get that damned car out on the road or track where it belongs! I swear these forums will make you spend more money than you ever thought possible. Given how much you've probably spent (time and $) in the last couple of months is this maybe just a case of 'buyers remorse' setting in? I agree that the front of the 993's look better than the standard C2 front but for me that's about it (I know this is heretical but .....well there it is). I also never cared much for the clattery air-cooled engine/fan noise and the interior is drastically less refined looking and it feels considerably smaller to me. Door handles/panels and dash are also sorta cheap looking, visible wiring harness under the dash, etc. Please understand that I'm not bashing anyone's choice of a 993 but there were just a number of things about the older cars I never cared that much for. So before you get hasty about it and jump into another car, ask yourself what it would take to make you happy. If you an afford both then by all means go for it...but if you're like me it's kinda difficult to justify owning another pure sports car to switch between for kicks. Did you buy the wrong car or is this just temporary buyers remorse? Would an updated front end kit address your main concerns or would that just be another money sink? Just remember that there is no perfect car and take some time to enjoy and use the one you've got. Good luck with the decision though! Cheers, Keith

Be careful what you ask for. You always desire what you don't have and take for granted what you are blessed to own.

Keith, loved the response! As for buyers remorse, no, i honestly don't think so. As i said, i've been chasing a porsche for years, this one came up in an unusual way, it was an easy buy (family purchase). I've always been in love with the 911 design of the 80's, and i truly believe that the 993 "design" is one of the all-time best. I just love the rear fenders and the front end. As for my car, I love it, i really do, it wouldn't have been my first color choice, but as i said, it was an easy buy. Yes, I hate the current nose on the 99 C2, i'd love to replace that with a more current design as my nose/hood is completely speckled, a new nose might make me feel a touch better. but in the end, it's not a car i want to sink too much more $ into (remember, not my first color choice etc). i will say that the refinements of the 996 vs 993 are plenty noticeable, it's a great daily driver and town car (air conditioning, improved clutch, comfortable seats, sunroof). perhaps all i need is a better stereo system!!! i still think the 993 "looks" better than the 996. regards

More 993/996 wars! You gotta love it. Personally I agree with Keith, the 993 leaves a lot to be desired in the interior...but exterior is classic. I think the 993 would be perfect on the outside if you could get rid of the squarish old-school looking side markers and tailights in exchange for more sleek modern looking ones. That being said, the 996 has a side profile that's all it's own...totally unique. Perfect senerio = one of each!

Doug - why the two 996's? I could understand the TT and, say a 996 Cab, but why the C2? If I bought a Cayanne to go with my 964, my neigbors would skip me over for the next chilli cookoff - our neigborhood is all Suburbans and Expeditions.

The 993 is a little more raw as far as driving experience. This is probably due to more sound, less refined ride, spartan interior, etc. The 993 sounds faster, is smaller and feels more nimble but the 996 is a better performer in almost all aspects.

are they a hassle vs. the 996? oh yes, have you tried chaning oil on the 993??? seriously both are great cars for different reasons. drive them and decide. if you are like me who can't decide, you must obtain both

I sold my 996 and bought a 993 and haven't had a single moment of regret. They're great cars!

I plan on buying a 993 TT to compliment my 996 c4s cab, however, I don't know if I would give up my 996 if I could have only one.

As a 993 owner and have owned many older 911's in the past, the 993 is everything I enjoy in a sports car, sports car with heritage that is. I will say the 996 has grown on me over the last two years. Not enough to get one since I would have to give up the 993. In a perfect world, I would love to have a 996 for daily driving and a 993 for track work/weekend driving. I realize the 996 does everything better in terms of performance, handling etc. (hell its lighter AND has more torsional stiffness), but its not near the experience the 993 delivers. Keep in mind these are my thoughts as yours may differ. What would really scare me with owning a 996, is having one out of warranty. From what I see on the 996 board, RMS issues and water/oil mixing followed by complete engine replacement can obviously be VERY costly. The 993 has had its share of issues, but mostly due to being almost 10 years old, they pretty much have been worked out leaving an owner with a relatively rock-solid car. To me, I like the raw feel the 993 provides.

I bought the TT first and put about 12,000 miles in 6 months mainly for work. I plan on keeping the TT for a while and bought the 996 to keep from putting too many miles on the TT. The 964 sees very little use for the most part . . . well except since I put RS seats in it and it has been nice, I have driven the 964 every day for the last week or two except one day when it rained, I drove the TT. My poor 996 is relegated to outdoor parking and was green yesterday from pollen and from having not moved in probably 2 weeks. For me, it is close but I think I like the looks of the 996 better. Not sure what I would do if I could only have one car, but the 993 TT S (meant to say S up above) would be tough to pass up.

I have a 993 c2 polar silver and i went through this debate and i continue to think about this topic. Here are some of my thoughts that are a bit different. First i believe a porsche has more to it than just 0-60 stats or prestige. You buy this car for many of the intangibles. History etc. I love the 993 for all the feel and power etc but also the history. 993 was the last series of 911 that is water cooled and more importantly the last of teh 911 that had all it's parts made for a 911. the 996 as u know share it's parts with the boxster. also in terms of history during the mid 90s porsche only made the 993. Period. i think that is cool. for 2-3 years that is all they made. Today they make 911s, boxsters, and SUVs. in teh past they made 944s, 928 etc while making 911s. Also the fact that the 997 is going back to having the shape of the 993 tells you something about how they feel/felt about the 993 body. Like i said there are many reasons for the love of a porsche. If you were to just buy a car for performance one would think teh subaru wrx or dodge viper would be interetsing options. But there is not much history w/ subaru or dodge. Passion for cars is like passion for food. It is a capturing of all the senses, how it feels, sounds, looks, the history etc. 993 = the last time 911 were build only for 911, last time porsche officially raced, last of the water cooled etc. sort of like water front property....they just don't make them anymore. One last thing, i like swapping/selling cars and also think saftey is very important. Which is why i hope to sell my 993 to drive a 996 when the 997 get released later this year. I love changing things up and one thing i do like about teh 996 is the added saftety of airbags on the sides, and i want to drive water cooled to see what that is really like vs. what everyone tells me it is like. finally in terms of financial recommmendation... buy a good 993 and drive it for a while and then swap into a 5 year old 996 because those prices are dropping like stones and the 993s are holding up. Good swap over time.

If you really love 911s, then you should get the 993. If you like the name porsche, then I guess any of them will be fine.

What year would you get?

not sure Eric, 1997-98?

If you do; check on the carbon problem (make sure it was done). Costs more than a rms........

That is ridiculous.

"If you really love 911s, then you should get the 993. If you like the name porsche, then I guess any of them will be fine." that is not correct nor fair. i have 964, 993, 996. they are all good in different ways. if you think 993 is the quintessential 911, then you are very wrong. have you drive a 73RS, a 04GT3, or even a "regular" 996 with properly set up motons? suddenly the 993 isn't raw any more. in fact 993 is the most tame and luxurious car in my garage

oalvarez, You must drive several 993's before making this move. I absolutely love the styling of the 993, the air-cooled engine and even the 'dated' interior design. I have a friend who made the switch from a 2000 996 to a 1998 993 after seeing and riding in mine. When all was said and done, I believe he is slightly disappointed in his 993 because he had a little more interior room in the 996 and it was a little quieter and more civilized. His issue is mainly in the more modern interior and the space it (the 996) provides. We talked about all of these things before he made the purchase and I was pretty certain that he didn't have the allegiance to the air-cooled engine and interior of the 993 like I did. But emotions spoke louder than words and he sold his 996 for the 993. Ride in several. Spend some time just sitting in the interior of a 993 and look around. It is classic porsche but it may not appeal to you after having the 996. Listen to the engine sound that I love. You may not like it as much as the 996. Drive as many as you can and see if you really like the driving experience of the 993 as much as you do the beautiful sculptured body of the 993. If you can answer those questions positively, post some pics of your new 993! Others in this thread and elsewhere have made the move to a 993 from a 996 and they are happy people. And then others wouldn't trade their 996's for anything. Having just expressed my love for the 993, if I had the money, I'd order a new GT3 today. That's the 996 that I want in my garage. If I could convince my wife that the kids don't need to go to college, I'd have a GT3 in grey or silver with black interior sitting in the driveway. The 996 is a fine car. I just personally like the styling and sound (aided with techart mufflers) of the 993 better. Also, if you don't like the color combo of your current car, your appreciation for it will be somewhat dimished and will cloud your overall feelings for the car. Just my worthless opinion. Best of luck to you in this fun endeavor. The search is fun, even if the search ends up in the realization that you like your 996 and want to keep it. Good luck. Let us know how this turns out. I am sure you will get congratulations and support from the group on either decision. They are both GREAT cars. sorry for being so long. I got carried away........ chuck

CSterich: Seeing your car does make me want a 993. Great looking car.

I'm looking into trading my 993 for a 996 this summer

Like most decisions, there are tradeoffs... In terms of the most refined stock 911, the 996 has better power (+38 hp 2002 versus 1996), awesome handling, electronics, ride comfort, cleaner lines, and updated options like PSM. The benefit of the cabriolet is the power folding top, and boot-less top storage. However, the 993 doesn't resemble the nose of the 986, is the last of the historic air-cooled, has a more throaty exhaust note, and has an enigmatic body style that's easy to fall in love with. Having owned both models, I prefer the more modern 996. But, when it comes to making your choice you need to go with the attributes that you feel most passionate about. If I could afford it, I would own both - and would look towards the 993 Turbo. For the non-turbo - good choice on looking towards the '97 or '98. Avoid the '95's... it was the only year without varioram and 270 hp. '96 thru '98 was 282 hp.

http://www.rennteam.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=26942&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&fpart=1

Linkie not workie..

996 all the way - I had a 993 and loved the look and ride, but the interior was nothing to look forward to, I love the way the 996 looks inside and out, plus once your use to the 996, it will only point out the short comings of the 993 - again it's all relative - it would be nice to own both platforms - as for me, 996 wins.

improve your stereo and wait for the 997--993 looks with 996 comfort--imo 993's are getting a bit long in the tooth

Sorry guys. Here is another try. Just copy/paste. http://www.rennteam.com/showflat.php...5&o=93&fpart=1

"911" magazine recently did a comparo of 993 vs used 996 (early one), and the decision fell in favor of the 996 by a nose. I thought it was a well throught out piece. Maybe that's because I own a 996 Seriously, these threads are pretty funny. There are a few unbiased opinions, and then a lot of people trying to rationalize their own decisions. I, for one, tried like crazy to find a used 993 that I loved. Drove a bunch, but could never get past the fact that I didn't love the driving experience. One drive in an '02+ 996 made it very clear to me which car was the right one for me. I think the 993 is: - better looking - build in a more robust way, and likely to have better longevity because of it and yet, the 996 is clearly the car for me. Go figure.

Thanks Doug H. I think you should add the 993TT S to that stable of fine cars! see you around town sometime, chuck

I have driven both the 996 and owned a 993. To me personally there is no comparison if I wanted the interior of a Luxury car I would have bought a Mercedes. The first time I drove the 993 I was in love with the car the sound alone was incredible running through the gears at full throttle. The 996 feels to big and more assembly line than the 993. The doors close differently the engine doesn't have the same howl like the 993. To me it doesn't feel like a drivers car it feels like an every day sports car. JMO At different car shows and DE events the 993 TT gets more attention than any car I have ever seen even more than Ferraris and 996 TT's. For me the ultimate car would be a 993 Turbo S or a 993 Turbo. But everyone has there own opinion and different likes if the 996 does it for you then it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks.

Perhaps we can increase the S/N here if we limit posts to the following people: a) people who have a 993, but would rather have a 996, or b) people who have a 996, but would rather have a 993 Anybody? PS. I've already broken my rule earlier in the thread, so I'll be the first to admit I'm a hypocrite.

Mark me down for a) I just sold my 993. I think I want a 996. But then, I actually think a Lexus is a good car, so what do I know ?

Great article, thanks for posting.

wow, all of you are to be thanked and commended on your responses; never did i intend (nor think) that this post would become such the thread. anyhow, i still go out every morning to get in my car and still "wonder." just this morning, upon driving into work, i meet up with my colleague who drives an 80's 911. we get into talking about the automobiles, he says "always buy the most Porsche you can afford, and when i'm sweating my buns off in the summertime, you'll be happy you have yours and not mine." well, i don't think that answers it for me, but it elicited a thought nonetheless. thanks again for your thoughtful remarks. the quest continues. regards

I still regret passing up that new 993 back in '97 in favor of a family friendly SUV , I stll love my 996 and will probably never sell it (my first p car ), but it's just not the same.

Sweating your buns off you will do in a 3.2. The is resolved in the 964 and one of the reasons I am so happy with my 964. It was pain getting all hot and sweaty in a suit when I wanted to drive the 3.2 to work.

This is easy to figure out. It's as easy to answer as 'what to do with those Palestinians'. Very simple decision. I won't answer the Palestinian question, but the obvious answer is 996 is the better car. I mean... it's just so simple and obvious. That's why this debate only comes up very rarely and usually there's a very clear winner of which car is better. [in case you don't notice, that was 100% sarcasm] (except for the 996 being better of course) lol

I passed on a new 993 in 97 also. This time around when I finally got my Porsche, I went with the 996 for two reasons: 1.) Since it's my first Porsche, I wanted to go all the way and get it brand new. It was part of the whole experience for me (especially since this is something I've wanted for so long) Next time that might not be as much of an issue. 2.) I need PSM. I'm not that good a driver yet. I got some skid pad experience a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't pretty. Maybe after a bunch of DEs, I won't need the PSM any more and I can "graduate" to a 993! The 03 has a nice engine note, but every time I see or hear a 993 my jaw drops. Actually, to tell you the truth, my heart sinks a little, too, when I compare it to my car. Meanwhile I do enjoy the steering feel and handling of the 996 especially with the RoW M030. But since this car is not something I drive every single day, I don't necessarily appreciate the better, more comfortable interior.

I think the line goes: "BS walks but Money Walks" . I sold my 993 on Wednesday and bought I nice used 996 on Saturday. 1999 model with 35,000 miles in Arctic Silver. The 993 was a much bigger attention getter but for me the 996 is a much improved car. I kind of felt I was driving a 1974 Audi in my 993. The 996 does not feel as crisp as the 993 but on any trip over 100 miles that is a plus not a minus.

OK. I guess I don't know how to edit either. Where is the dagnab DIY page that shows me how to edit ? "BS walks but Money TALKS" would make better sense.

The deciding factor(s) for most are purely subjective. The 996 wins in performance, the 993 wins in build quality and resale value. Many would argue the 993 is better looking as well. This arguement has been going on for years and will continue into the future....however, in the future it will be 993 v.s. 997. I have a 993, have tracked a 996 and also own brand new Cayenne Turbo. The Turbo, is comfortable, luxurious, and very fast and is the preferred car for longer trips. The telling fact is that the Turbo sits outside and the 993 gets the garage. The Turbo I can get anywhere but the 1998 C2S is irreplaceable. Still, I am looking for a 2002 996 Cab as a daily driver because I don't want the miles on the C2S. Nice cars - both of them....but in my mind only the 993 qualifies as a Keeper.

Interesting thread and at the end of the day there is no right answer - both great cars and one of them will be right for you. Only you can decide which though.