Interesting / good read comparing 993 vs. 997 w/some thoughts re: 996

Here's the short article: http://www.insideline.com/porsche/91...rsche-993.html Scott

Got to paragraph two before they started the 996 bashing with flat-out lies--implying that the 996 is a heavier car than the 993 and talking about how the replacement for the 993 had a cupholder. The 996 Mk II cars might have had a cupholder, but I sure haven't found on in my car over the last five years.

IIRC the "clip on cup holder" as mentioned went into one of the vents and was an option - still I hate the acticle. - its been posted on the air cooled side too....

What's ironic is that the 993 was bashed when it first came out as being too soft compared to the 964 and the 911 before it. The "problems" our cars have are nothing that some aftermarket accessories cannot fix. I'm completely content with mine. It acts as a comfortable everyday vehicle and provides me with a lot of entertainment for those times that I autocross or take it to the track. Perfect combination for me!

Yeah I didn't like the 996 griping either. It's less of a gt car than the 997. And of course, demuffler any 996 or 997, strip out the interior, and you get a car that emotes pretty damn well.

I think the author need to get some of his facts correct first... article was a bit lame.

Yeah, pretty demoting comments on the 996. I think its an opinion that unfortunately hurts our generation 996. I still enjoy my 996

You know what they say, "Opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one" I owned and '80 SC Guards Red Targa that was mint in the late '70s. Prior to that I had some 914s, XKE Jag, Minis, Alpine, MGs, BMW, etc. So, my DDs were always performance oriented sports cars that I drove fast and furious. I've never owned a car that gave me as much driving pleasure as my 996 that I owned for 7 years. I also drove several 993s, even a 993TT before I made my decision to go with the 996. I'd buy another in a heartbeat. And in many ways perfer them to the 997s which I've also driven. The 996 seems light years ahead of the 993s yet not as soft as the 997s. Reminds me of the 3 bears story.

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Not to mention the wailing and bleating from 356 owners when Porsche introduced the too big, too soft 911. Plus ca change.

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Yup, not a real car guy at all. Which negates the whole piece. He lost me on the cooling subject. I know it sounds pedantic to say that all cars are air cooled, but they are, and someone who is supposedly writing from an expert platform should have been more precise about this (not to mention accurate about stuff like weight) if he's purporting to explain the technical distinctions between the two cars. My personal favourite article contrasting the 996 and 997 is the GT3 comparison in the October '09 issue of Excellence. Obviously, these aren't the cars most of us drive, but it was a very informed and nuanced comparison of the two platforms and Porsche's evolving philosophy. It also underscores how absolutely false and stupid it is to say that the 997 returned Porsche to its roots. This is only true for the headlights. Otherwise, anybody can drive these two cars back to back and see that the 997 is objectively better than the 996 at the cost of some character, just as the 996 was objectively better than the 993 at the same cost. People will fight about anything these days...

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Thought it was a good article; I especially agree with the comments about the body styling and "feel" of the build -- just cannot match the feel of those heavy 993 doors closing! PS. Scott posted here on a dare from the cats in the 993 forum! Cracks me up!

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If heavy doors are considered a positive attribute of a sports car, the 993 guys can keep 'em.

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https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...-vs-997-a.html double/ triple and quad dog dared !

I like all Porsches. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder If I had the means I would have one of each (I think there are people who do)

Okay back to gladhanding a bit...996's are great, AREN'T THEY ED? An interesting question, to be asked though, might be if you ever knew of anyone who bought one and, aside from getting a lemon, (yes these kinds of lemons grow in Germany too) is sorry they did? Not me. AND, even though we can pick faults in the 996 I absolutely LOVE this car!

"...hear the cam belts working in the engine" Do we have to change them every 35K? Like the other older watercooled Porsches? If so mine is on borrowed time @45k.

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Yah - I posted it in the 993 forum first - then dared to post on 997 and 996 forums. Felt like I was in 'A Christmas Story'. I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone or start a flame-war. Glad some of you enjoyed the article. Interesting replies - thanks for sharing. BTW - I like the 993's, 996's, and 997's - and earlier 911's also ... Scott

Unfortunately for me, I've never driven a 993, so it's hard for me to compare the different generations based on real life experience. I've driven a few 964s and a few older 911s. In October of 2010, I did spend a week driving around Europe in a 2010 997, so I can at least make a comparison there. What I would say is this: - The interior of the 997 is certainly an improvement over the 996, especially for a car that often stickers over $100k. My 996 interior is very nice, but the 997 interior is better. - The driving experience in my 996 feels more raw and connected than the 997 did. My engine sounds better (thanks in part to my Fister Ds, no doubt), and my car feels more "mechanical". The shifter feels more connected to the transmission in my car. My car feels more like a sports car, and less like a luxury car. I don't mean to bash the 997 - I really liked it. It just felt a little less connected to me. - I like the 997 headlights. I don't think they look like 993 headlights, but I like them. I also like my 996 headlights. It's important to note that the things that I like about my car were things that I liked about the 997. Even though it was 8 years newer than my car, it felt very, very familiar. The buttons and switches were in the right places. The pedals felt right. The seating position was similar. There was no doubt they came from the same DNA. If the automotive press wants to bash the 996, then let them. It won't take away from my driving pleasure when I get in my car every day. I plan to own a 997 one day, maybe even a 993. It's all good.

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Russian Ladas had the same feel of those heavy door closing since they also had full frames. The water cooled Porsche doors are frameless and, like so many other modern cars, lost that "special" feel you like so much.

The article wasn't too bad in my eyes, although I too noted some discrepancies. For me, I feel very fortunate in that I get to drive a raw, hand-built old school 1984 911 (which is much more "pure" than a 993, imo) for fun and I ALSO get to drive my beloved Guards Red 996 every single day! I've owned that car for almost five years now and I've loved every single moment of it. I never tire of it. Overall, Porsche really DID get it right with the 996, as far as I am concerned. It's interesting, by the way, when I read articles about the latest 997's in which they sometimes mention that the 997's are not quite as raw and visceral as the 996's.