Was thinking about switching to a 98 993 C4S

I saw a 98 993 C4S at a local highend dealer. Black on Black full Factory Aero car looks loaded and had about 25k on the clock. I started to think about trading my 99 C4 so I emailed a sales guy I knew there. The asking price for the C4S was $79,900. Wow, I guess my C4 will do just fine for me. I was just wondering what a 98 C4S cost when it was new? Are 993's really commanding those kind of prices? About 2 years ago I could have bought the same car (different color) for $42k that had 30k on the clock and all service records. I must have missed the boat on that one. oh well.

993 prices are all out of whack. I seriously looked at a 993 C2S and C4S before I bought mine, and it was just silly money. They're beautiful cars, but come on....

that is 97 turbo money up here

Out of the $79k, only $39k is for the car. The remaining $40k is for the surgery to install the air-cooled halo above your head.

I love 993s and drove a number of them before happily choosing a 996. I took a 996 on a test drive because the 993s are REALLY expensive here in Southern California. That price seems high, but someone will probably buy it for some inflated price.

agreed- that's crazy! 2002 996 C4S with decent miles for less than 50k. I'll pass on the air cooled halo too. Both great cars but an extra 20-30k? uh, thank you, no.

It's the low mile examples that command at least the high asking price, what they actually get who knows. Check out RPM or Premiers site for some 993 comparisions on the low mile car prices.

lol...

huh ?? The older cars are MORE expensive ?? What a load of crap ...

1997 Porsche 911 Turbo Stock Number 6186 Vin Number WP0AC2992VS375358 Mileage 33899 Engine 3.6L H6 Twin Turbo Transmission 6 Spd Manual Ext. Color Black Int. Color Gray Price: $74,950.00 Special Price: $69,950.00 Features and Options Contact Us Print

You guys need to recognize! 1st off, that car was over 100k new. Those cars were VERY rare and a 1997 or 1998 with under 15k in excellent condition is commanding well over $75k right now!! This bodes very well for us Porsche owners/enthusiasts. It goes to show you how well P's, in great condition will hold value and become classics VERY fast!!!

Now this price I could see, as this is an extremely rare and special car. Paying 79k for a 993 c4s just seems nuts to me unless you are some kind of collector. I'd rather drive the cars I own.

I would buy a barebones 2007 997 C2 for a MSRP of $72,600 (- 5% discount)

Recognize what? My car was $112K new and is worth right now what they are asking for that 993. You telling me that a 1998C4S is a better car than a 2004GT3 when you have $80K to spend? I don't think so.

Oh and by the way, please define rare. How many were produced?

Dell, they are already going classic. Don't argue w/ me, just go look anywhere, autotrader.com THAT IS the current going price, i didn't set it. Never said it was better than your car. Or mine for that matter. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=1033 http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=1723 http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e=&cardist=680

Hmm..in 98..think no more than 993 C2S ..me thinks now..will get back to ya in a min...

for the C2S Carrera S for North America (USA & CDN): 1997: 759 1998: 993 for the C4S.. 1996: 1997:

Nope, here's 3 1998 C4S for $70k or more http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=1033 http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=1723 http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e=&cardist=680

from another listers post.. ------------------------------- These were the numbers I found on the Porsche website last year for the total world wide 993 production: 993 coupe 14541 993 cab 7730 993 Targa 4583 993 C4 coupe 2884 993 C4 cab 1284 993 S coupe 3714 993 C4S coupe 6948 993 Turbo 5978 993 Turbo S 345 993 GT2 172 993 GT2 EVO 21 993 RS 1014 993 GT1 road version 2 Worldwide total 49216 I've never seen a complete list of the number of 993's imported to the US. For the C4 cabs the number I saw was 1,121 total for US import and less than 200 for 97. I have no idea of the accuracy those number though

Gant, I was reffering to the fact that you said it was rare and rare would be defined by a number. They produced WAY less GT3's than the C4S so once again, the market is creating a false value on these cars. If people are willing to apy that then so be it. But when I looked at cars in the last few months I actually looked at the C4S and most were in the 40-50's range.

There's one that sold for 65k a couple week ago but as of recent it looks like the selling prices would drop. All due to the 997 pricing etc. Generally anything under 20k miles has an asking price of 55k +. The 40-50's range are usually the > 40k miles...this may changing soon..

Also C4S can be had for less than C2S..supply and demand working...btw the 4 cost more initially...plus has big reds.

They will go for the $40 to $50k's IF they have over 50k miles. What I am referring too as rare is, a C4S with 10k miles in excellent condition. THEY WILL go for $75k all day long, and have been for some time now. I know this WAS true when I was looking at mine. The market doesn't create a false value, those cars just happen to be more sought-after. If the market bares it, there is nothing false about it.

Boy, I really miss my 993. It has a visceral feel that is missing from my 996. But towards the end, it was just starting to get expensive as things started to go on it.

993's are beautiful, that said; 996 is light-years better.

You want visceral? Come take a spin in the GT3

i HATE rare cars. the rarer they are the less likely you will actually drive them. then why not just buy a rare house and just sit in there?

As long as there is someone who is willing to spend that much silly money, there will be plenty of people willing to take it. If you dont know the market then you shouldnt enter it and right now the 993 market is pretty hot. As we all know, the 996 market has been in steady decline for a while now and there seems to be no end in sight.

You are right on target with your observation. Sellers doesn't set market prices, buyers do. I owned a '95 C2 and it was a fantastic car, but the asking prices for some 993s are beyond belief. Maybe it has something to do with its mystique and some misconceptions about the durability of the 993. I enjoyed my 993, but it also had its problems just like the 996. For example replacing valve guides on my 993 after 30K miles was not something that I had anticipated having to do.

It is tough to know what is going to happen in the 996 market but with the overall reception of the model and the new 997 (take it or leave it), you would have to think the 996 will go down a little more but I am guessing it is near the bottom for now. The 993 market is pretty hot right now and buyers who want the 'last air cooled' Porsche are going to buy no matter what the cost. You are still seeing purchases of 100K+ cars selling for over $20K. The car in question being a 1998 C4S is going to command a high price just because of the late model car and the 4S equipment. Is it worth the price? Depends on how badly the buyer wants it but I am sure it will sell to someone.

they also have a blue 2000 C2 cab with 54k for 29900 firm...... looks like I'll just keep the C4 until the wheels fall off. BTW The C4 drove great in the 6"-8" of snow we just had. I hate the cold and snow.

Here's another... 1999 Porsche Carrera C4 Cabriolet, 65,766 mile, AWD, 6 speed manual transmission, very nice car wont last asking 27995 or BRO xxxxxxx http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/car/241218250.html

This, I feel, is an accurate observation. There has never been a larger model change in the 911 series cars as there was when they stopped the air cooled production, and started building the water cooled 911's. With new model teething troubles, and add to the fact that they made zillions of 996's -- then stir-in the leasing boom -- 6-7 years later, presto, you have a car that is out of warranty, and too many of them to chose from. Its simply supply and demand.

tamiyaguy: looks like M.S. parking???

All True. The 993 will always hold a special place for some because of it's "last aircooled" staus. However, I think you will start to see an even bigger split in the prices of 993's (than is evident today). I would imagine that low mileage cars / late model cars will continue with slow depreciation. However, I believe that higher mileage and early examples are ripe for much higher depreciation. They will be less valuable to the die hards and grow more and more expensive to maintain. Just look at the 928's (I know much different car). The early cars can be had for next to nothing, but good GTS's still command much more $$

Does any one have production figures for the 996 model, year by year similar to that posted earlier for the 993's? All I have are production figures for the 993.

LOL! Close, but no cigar. Cingular parking.

I just sold a very nice 993 for a 02 996,driving both convinced me to switch.

I agree with the 928 and GTS comparison comment and price disparities. e.g. the price on a '98 993, esp. an S is very high. But the '95 costs half as much... Don't the later 993's also have newer valves that self adjust, and I think the wear problem was addressed too? After driving and autocrossing the 993 I don't understand the "visceral" aspect (and this 993 is lowered with sport suspension). My first 993 drive came after owning my 996 for over a year. But I had read years of lore on the topic. Overall, my impression of the 993 was "Wow, this is whole hell of a lot more like my 996 than anyone ever lets on." The only thing I would change on the 993 is the gearbox, the 996 is crisper and smoother...

All 993's use the hydraulic rockers that dont require valve adjustments, just valve guide replacements

$80K for a nice 993 C4S is very reasonable compared to prices in Germany. On www.mobile.de , the highest asking price for 993 C4S is 84,500 Euros (over $110K). This C4S in Munich has 15K km, optional 3.8l engine, and was manufactured in November 1996.

Optional 3.8? Why don't we get these options?

we have speed limit of 65MpH

Thats SO not true. Porsche NEVER had any factory 3.8 liter, BEFORE 2005.

The 993 3.8l engine was exclusive option X51 in Germany, UK, and probably RoW. It was not available in US.

HA! Not where I live it is 75mph.

I'm from Missouri, it's the SHOW ME state. Dude, you gotta show me. And IM not talking about a race car, i'm talking @ a production 993 with a 3.8

Ok, I was wrong, it was called the Carrera RS and it was only produced in '95 and '96. Never knew about it.

There is a user called Toga from Belgium on 993 forum, and he signed all his posts with string "96 993 C4S X51 3.8". So it appears he has that option. In "911&Porsche Word" UK magazine from April 1997, there is review of loaded C4S and it has X51. They say the cost of X51 option was 6461 pounds (quite a bit for extra 14 hp).

which brings up a very interesting question. is the uniqueness of the car worth the extra money up front ? if you look at "S" versions of recent cars or rs america and club sport cars of the past you paid a hefty premium for those cars. has the extra cost of those vehicles up front held their value down the road ?

I thought the RSA was actually cheaper than a NA coupe when it was new, by ~$10K?

there are other factory 3.8l 993s that were not RSs. delanube (in belgium, i think) has one...best looking 993 i've ever seen.