Who has gone from a 993 -> a 996?

Just curious what your thoughts were on the differences 993/996. I have a 97 C4S that I love to drive, but with the prices on the early 996's, a trade is tempting. TIA

I went the other way, does that count? Here is my assesment. The 993 is more raw on the creature comforts. I find both the 993 and 996 fun to drive. The parts for 996's are generally cheaper than for the 993. I love the lines of both cars and would have one of each if I could. Personally, if you are looking for a change of scenery so to speak the 996 is not going to be a step down so to speak or a major step "up" (unless you hit the TT area). I still miss my 02 C4S. It was just so damn expensive for the time. Hope that helps a bit.

I've had a 96 993 C4S, a 96 993 turbo and a 03 C4S. Of the 3 the 993 turbo is the better car. The power of the 993 C4S is dissapointing. The power of the 996 C4S is phenominal. With the X51 power option, the K&N cold air intake, maxflow mufflers, and the european M030 suspension, the 996 C4S compares to the U.S. 993 turbo. But a 996 will never be as pretty as a 993. And if you're tall, fitting into the 996 can be a bit of a challenge.

i had a 95 993,and drove a few 996s...i also owned a 2000 boxster s and thought the boxster s was more fun than the 996.the 993 was more fun than both...the 996 is a better driver ,but less fun for me. the 993 is a better made car,not to say the 996 is poorly made,but the 993 is better...i now own a 87 911,and it is a blast..NO modern comforts..only power windows..its been a ton of fun..the 1st car i have owned that i want to keep for ever. if you want a 996,look no earlier than 2002(imho)....good luck,j

Thanks for the thoughts. I use the 993 for a fair weather DD and weekend fun. I shouldn't rationalize it with money, but I can sell the 993 for $40K+ and get a good early 996 for ~$30K and put $10 in the bank. I love the 993 and love the widebody, but a newer car with less miles with money in the bank is sounding good. What's funny is there's a thread over on Pelicans 911 board where a guy is asking opinions on the 996. Looks like lots of air cooled guys are coming around....

Mark, I would not sell your 993 C4S for a 30K 996. The 996 is a great 911 but I'm much happier with my 2004 C4S vs. my 2001 C4. This includes the updated exterior/interior and a few extra ponies. As Joey C. noted I would try to purchase a 2002+ model year. jmtc, Rob

I had a 95 and 96 993. The 95 was a dedicated track car the 96 was more of a street DE car. Both were great cars and I had little trouble with either of the two. I now have an 02 C2 coupe and really like the car. It's quick and the creature comforts are great. Also the shape has grown on me over the past 4 months.

I don't have a 993, but I still have my 79' 911 S/C I have owned for 4 years longer than my 996. I have to laugh at the comments about the 996 being cheaper than the 993. The 993 uses essentially the same dash, door panels, pulls and pockets as the 70's 911's. Everytime I sit in one, I feel just like I am in my old S/C. Yes there are airbags and the shifter is a lot different, but not much else. Opening the door, it looks like a 20 year old car. From being in several 993's, there are several things that feel cheap compared to a 996 and amazes me that Porsche did nothing to improve in 20 years. The arm rest are cheap and break easily. The arm rest doors have always been something of the quality of JC Whitney. I love how they never fit evenly. How about those door closers where to extend them too far and they break out of the door? How about the dash that is not sealed and uses some rubber rings to stick VDO gauges in? How about the cheap random placement of the mirror toggle, sunroof switch and fog lights? How about the cheap speaker grills that look like they came from Kraco? Look at how the trunks are lined. Which looks cheaper? Yes, there is more plastic in a 996'; but the quality of the plastic is far better and more integrated than those of yore. The door handles now feel solid, the sunroof, fog lights, mirror and window switches are finally in a good location. There is a floor and no floorboards. Finally, the pedal pivot from the top (like every other car today) rather than from the bottom. The other side, is don't expect a 996 to feel like a 993 or earlier from the drivers seat. Older 911's are more raw. Lots of steering feel and kickback. The steering is more isolated and slower in a 996. All the chopiness is gone. There is a lot more grip to work with all the time. The chassis reacts very differently. It doesn't have that feeling that it is pivoting on the inside rear tire in a turn. There is a lot more influence for the front tires. The back end no longer steps out. You can lift off in a corner without fear of spinning and you can brake much later in a corner. There isn't a huge increase in the early 996's from your 993, but in the 02'+ there is a lot more torque to work with from 2500+. I can't say if you will like a 996 or not. If you want more stability, comfort, grip and power then you may like a 996. If you are expecting it to have all the raw elements that have made 911's fun, you may be disappointed.

funny... a lot of the quirks you mention with the 993 interior are the reasons i love it so much... i love the fact that there is still wood under the floor mounted pedals and that the interior feels like the older cars... however, i do wish mine had more HP... its been my only real complaint about the car since i bought it... i drove a 993tt and a 996tt over the weekend... while the linearity (is this a word?) of the NA engine is nice, the twin-turbos eliminate most lag and are just a blast to drive. i am having some of the same thoughts as Mark, but to me, i wouldnt trade for a NA 996 C2, regardless of the year... a C4S? maybe.... at twin-turbo? that's the interesting thing to me... an 01-02 996tt is selling for about the same price as a pristine 96-97 993tt...choosing between those two cars is a tough proposition, both have their strengths/weaknesses...

Jonathan - sent you a pm. Give me a ring when you can.

I had a 96 993 for 2 � years prior to get my 996 (which I have had for 2 years now). This will seem like a strange statement but�very different cars that share some of the same characteristics. For a daily driven car there is no comparison in my opinion. The 996 is a vastly superior car. It has more power, better ergonomics, better climate control, easier to service, less expensive to work on, more room and just a more comfortable car to live in on a daily basis. It lacks the aural stimulation of the 993 but is still not a quiet car. It is more comfortable but by no means a luxury car. The 996 can be purchased with PSM which is very nice in a daily driven car for incremental weather. For a weekend fun car the choice is less clear in my opinion because stuff like ergonomics, climate control, creature comforts, room and ease of service become less important. The 993 offers a more intimate ride with more rawness. Unfortunately evaluating ride quality is difficult. Variables such as suspension set up, wheel sizes and tires play to too much of a roll in the ride to accurately compare the too models. In general, the 996 has a stiffer chassis and is better suited for 18� wheels. Both cars can be harsh with aftermarket suspensions. Both cars are a blast to drive and both are quick and handle well, with the 996 just doing everything in a more civilized manner when compared to the 993. The 993 has that great dash with the big analog gauges and those great mechanical sounds whirling around in back. The 993 offers great feedback from the road with the 996 being just a little muted when compared (although still much more �communicative� than 95% of the cars on the road). For a weekend fun car you are just going to have to spend some time in both types of cars to see what is important to you.

this is one of the fairest and most objective descriptions i have ever seen on the 996 vs. 993 issue... very very very well put

FWIW I went from a '97 C4S to an '03 TT. My C4S had 25-30,000 miles. It was Arena Red, grey interior with sport seats. I had the ROW M030 sport suspension, a Clubsport gearbox and LWFW, with full 6 point harnesses. I had an extra set of wheels with track tires mounted. My license plate was (is) LAST 911 as i considered that car the last of the breed (air cooled). I was seduced by the allure of either a GT3 or a TT and a little bored with the 993 after 6 years of ownership. I settled on a TT as it would be a better daily driver (note I don't drive my Porsche in the winter). There's no two ways about it, the 993 C4S is the best looking 911 to date in my book. It took me over 1 year of ownership of the TT before I was satisfied with my decision to change. If I wasn't going to a GT3 or a TT, I wouldn't have bothered. Now a new 997 or 997S, that's a different story. I'd gladly switch from a 993 to one of those in a heartbeat. Cheers,

so, does this mean that you are glad you switched to the 996tt? Do you miss your 993 C4S? What do you like better about the 996tt, etc.? my Porsche is not a daily driver, weekends only... is that your application too? (looks like you have a S4)

I sold my 95 993 and got a GT3. I would not have changed the 993 for a 996 older than an 02 (and even then) I would have probably stayed with the 993. I miss my 993 badly and wish I could have both cars.

I've never owned a 993, but wish I could have both. It's almost as if they are two different brands of auto, both worth having for different reasons.

After 2+ years of ownership, I'm glad I bought the TT. More power and lots more torque. It is a more comfortable car to drive. I miss the big tach, the sound the doors made when you close them. The 993 was probably the last of the "hand built" 911's. It's sportscar. The TT is a GT car. My Clubsport gearbox with steel Porsche Motorsports synchros and the LWFW made for about the smoothest shifting transmission I ever experienced. Rev matching on downshifts was almost telepathic. I never get passed by a 993 at DE's. Every design is a compromise. I gave up the raw nature of the 993 for a TT that has mind bending performance. TT = everyday supercar! Cheers,

Luis (and others who say '02 model), I'm just starting the education process on the 996 and know that the headlights were changed, but what else is different on '02 up that causes you to say this. What is the price range low to high on a well kept stock '02 C2? Is there a place that shows the changes by year for the 996?

The front end changed as you mentioned. The interior really changed, glove box, better more solid feel to the materials in general (and the plastic that is used is a satisfying flat black, not shinny black that looks terrible imho) but the engine also was increased in HP from 296 to 320... which you can feel.

FWIW I would go with an 01 rather than an 02... Most importantly, it is the last year of the 3.4L engine so it seems all the gremlins were worked out. Secondly, it has some of the minor stylistic changes of the 02... like LEDs for interior lights, revised bumper (improved airflow)... the only main difference is the front headlights and no glovebox.

If you check the other threads on this, there are quite a few more changes on the 02' than just headlights switching headlights and adding a glovebox. There are much more sustantual body changes than indicated with most of the body being different including both bumpers front fenders and rear quarters that reduce lift 15% in front and 40% in back. Unfortunately, none of these changes existed on the 01'. There are substantual suspension revisions and chassis reinforcements. Not only was the displacement increased, but also the Variocam Plus system with adjustable timing AND valve lift was added. The Bose stereo is a huge improvement over the previous digital sound...and yes it has real cup holders. The unfortunate side is a MY02' carries about a $10K premium over a comparable 01'.

I like some of the quirks too in my older S/C likewise, but I would feel insulted if they still existed in the new cars today. My S/C is a true drivers' car built very much like a kit car with simply nothing there that isn't there for a purpose. The only thing that separates the back of the gauges from the trunk is carpet. There are no fender liners. There isn't much insulation, just carpet glued to the floor. It isn't a car that is enjoyable driving in the wet, when it is cold, when it is hot or piddling around in traffic. It is a great extra car when the weather and conditions are just right and rewards the driver with a unique experience. By comparison a 996 can be driven daily like any other luxury car all the time.

I never understood "character" and "quirks", always thought that is an excuse made up by English / Italian car owners. anyway, it is not too difficult to put more "character" in your 996. 1. install narrower wheel, and skinnier tires. 2. permanantly disable PSM. 3. permanantly disable heat seater. 4. take out some of freon, so Air won't blow so cold. 5. install smaller sway bar 6. install same size tires all the way around, to create more oversteer. 7. install old 70s SC seats (for more feel on butt) 8. block a couple of vents, so heater also won't work too well. 9. gut the muffler for more character sound. 10. install Pep Boy's audio system, for inferior sound. 11. disable electronic ignition, install points. 12. install carburator instead of fuel injection. 13. take out the carpet insulation. 14. remove sound deadening material. 15. disable keyfob remote pretty sure there is a lot more to upgrade to better "character"

02 Carrera - you make some great points. I'd love to consider the '02 up, but part of the beauty of an getting an early 996 is that I sell the 993, put $$ in the bank and still have a newer car. I may get a later 996 in the future, but if I do a trade soon, I'll prolly go with '99/'00. Maybe the '02 can be the next step. These pics are my Porsche progression so far- 70E, 79SC, 97 C4S.

I think a lot of the changes on airflow went into effect on the 2001 - but werent very publicized... I could be wrong... The cupholders are a joke on any 911, but i actually think the 01 and before is better. Dont get me wrong, the -02+ are better evolved... as is an 00 over a 99. . . .But i would avoid any 911 with a new engine design. Lastly, the 10K premium is not worth it... if you are going to get an 02+, do an 03... Generally, the years to get are 01, 03 and 04 (Best one).

I had '95 993 and now '99 C4, all of the above mentioned differences are true, but for the the biggest difference was my mindset betweent he cars, the 993 was a "classic" and it felt like every mile was destroying the value of the car, no track, autocross or driving in the rain. Driving the car became sort of an event. The 996 on the other hand is no classic, the market has beat these cars up for no good reason, the technology is current, I drive this car all the time-more is better- signed up for my first DE event, have and will autocross, take trips, drive in the rain, park on the street, forget to wash it sometimes (not often) and even have started doing some basic maintenance and mods. I'm having a blast with this car because it is a 996. But drive both and decide for yourself.

the things that you list are the very things that many enthusiasts dont give a crap about... be careful, you just made the case for owning a Lexus, not a Porsche...not to mention some of your facts are off -- you think that my rear tires are narrow???? nothing personal... (you started it )

Not to make a big deal about 4 hp, but MY99 has 296 hp, MY00 and MY01 have 300. I like what missmy993 said, that's how I feel going from a MY82 to my MY01. There are some pluses to the 3.4l 996, less weight, no variocam plus surge - Some are subjective, I don't like the turbo headlights on narrow bodies and I prefer the cleaner look of the interior w/no glovebox & cupholders. I was all set to get a 993 when I decided to upgrade my SC. I couldn't stand the way the 996 looked.......and then I drove one.

When I owned my 1994, it actually seemed a bit softer than the C4S. The steering was lighter, the shifting was lighter. The C4S is a rocket, more like a slot car than a piece of automotive history.

Some interesting reading from the 996 and 997 PET Catalogues: 98-00 model year 3.4's are rated at 220kw, which = 299.12hp DIN, 295.02hp SAE. 01 model year 3.4 is rated at 221kw, which = 300.48hp DIN, 296.37hp SAE. So there was only a 1.36hp DIN difference between the earliest 3.4 and the latest. Seems PCNA marketed the early 996's with SAE ratings and the later 996's with DIN ratings. PCNA also frequently uses 0-60 times for some cars and 0-62mph (100kph) times for others, creating confusion, as for a car in the low 5 sec range, the difference between the two is about .2sec. For a car in the upper 5sec range, the difference is about .3sec, which, when bench racing, seems like a lot. Also interesting is that the '02 3.6L is rated at 232kw, which = 315.43hp DIN, 311.12hp SAE, and the '03-'05 (yes, '05 997) 3.6L's are all rated at 235kw, which = 319.51hp DIN, 315.14SAE. FWIW, the 997 3.8 is rated at 261kw, which = 354.86hp DIN, 350.01hp SAE. I've also noticed that some publications listed the 996Turbo as 420hp, some as 415hp. This also is the difference in the DIN and SAE rating for that engine. YMMV, of course.

Sure Rob, make me a liar over 4HP.

It looks like Kevin made me look like a liar

My 996 has neither #3 (seat heaters) or #2 (PSM). Both were options. #4 should be more than just let freon out. It should include blocking off 90% of the vents and not being able to run the fan at more than 4 bars. Being lucky enough to find a car without PSM saves me the time from having to turn it off all the time. Here's a few more: #16 disconnect ABS. #17 Remove 4-piston monoblock calipers and install 2-piston 2-piece calipers. #18 Remove directionally vented and cross-drilled rotors and install smaller, thinner non-directional non-drilled vented rotors. #19 Unplug active rear spoiler harness so it does not activate. #20 Determine way to backgrade/retrofit torsion bars instead of coil springs. #21 Lockout 6th gear to make it only a 5-speed. For Turbos, lockout 5th and 6th gears to make it only a 4-speed. #22 Add rain gutters to add drag and wind noise. #23 Change aero style mirrors to brick style to add wind noise and drag. #24 Lower compression 2-3 points to reduce power and improve knock resistance. #25 On turbos, remove twin turbos and install much less efficient lower flowing single turbo with unequal exhaust distribution to increase turbo lag.

So exactly how many of you respondents actually owned both a 993 and a 996? Not many I suspect. Chhers,

yet, 8-10 yr old 993s prices equal or exceed 996 prices all the way through 2004 (sans CGT, GT2, GT3, turbo)... the market seems to like rain gutters and such... come on guys, lets not start the 993 vs. 996 thing

There is definitely a romantic association with the 993 that keep the prices where they are, but the car is dated, and I wouldn't want one for a daily driver - however if I had the financial means I would certainly own a 993tt and keep my 996 C4S as my beater.

You are mistaken. The aero changes were not implemented until '02. In addition to better aero with reduced lift, the Mk II frame is 20% stiffer. The new engine makes more power and more torque at a lower rpm. The 3.6 is also more efficient and offers a slightly better EPA mileage rating.

i have had a rule in place for awhile now... Japanese cars for daily drivers, German sports cars for weekend fun... i drive a Toyota to work, airport, etc... its great - dont care where i park and runs like a top... although some disagree, i dont think that a 993 is a particularly good daily driver

Only on rennlist can you read up on such well thought out posts like this one. Many thx.

it's a tough call. i think given the author's financial transfer desires, i would encourage his bid to move from the 993 to 996 + cash though i highly doubt he's going to find a good to mint 996 at $30K. that's going to be a relatively high mileage 996 with a few options. now not putting the $ thing into this here's how i see it: -993 S is the better looking car, though i will say i absolutely love the 996 '99-'01 with the GT3 aerokit -993 is dry sump for whatever that's worth (correct me if i'm wrong)... the 996 is an RMS roulette -probably due to production numbers but there are a lot of junk 996s i see rolling around than i do 993s narrowbody or widebody -if you live in a fair climate say for example seattle, the 993 can be a fine daily driver. but if you're stuck in LA traffic, def would leave it up to the 996 to do the 405 battle -996 is the better performing car, but the 993, again, has the romance .. analogy i use is living in the suburbs with the bigger house, more land, more amentities nearby... v. living closer to the city... smaller house, less land, poorer road conditions, smaller garage or no garage etc, diverse, eclectic blah blah (996 to 993)

Benjamin, thanks for your thoughts. What you've said about the 993S is true. It has a collectability factor that I can appreciate, but don't necessarily want to be the long term caretaker. I bought this car at a very good price so I can sell and break even. The 996 I buy doesn't have to be perfect because it will be 80% DD for me and will get the bumps and bruises of Dallas life. The is an '00 black over gray with 50K mils, sport seats and wheels FS here on Rennlist for $32K. If I had the 993 sold, I'd buy this car if it checked out. Point is, the 996 is the bargain of the century right now, but may not be forever. I watched the 964 drop and rebound, then the 993 did the same thing. In 6-12 months the 996 values may be rising again.

cool cool mark. good luck with the search. my bet would be that the 996 will not rebound anytime soon like the 964... because again, it's the mass produced plastic age thing that people put around the 996's neck. i think we will see the continued decline in value of the 996 with little to no hope for any sort of rebound... but i have a feeling the 996 aeros will do much better... esp the aeros optioned out from the factory. cheers, Ben

I don't know about PET Catalogues but all other news sources indicate that the '99's are rated at 296 hp and the '00's and '01 are rated at 300hp so it's an understandable mistake, I guess. Also, I'd like to note that the reason behind the price differences of a 993 vs 996 has nothing to do with quality. It's all to do about an end of an era, ei., no more Air Cooled Porsche's. If the 996 and 997's were still Air Cooled the 993 would be worth pennies..

I agree. I just thought the information interesting. I think it mostly boils down to which conversion from the factory rating is being used, DIN or SAE. The factory unit of measure is kw. However, the PET Catalogue is a Porsche factory publication and should be accurate, but very well may contain errors as well, such as the 997 3.6L rating of 235kw. PAG's German site lists it at 239kw (325 PS). Perhaps the version of the PET Catologue for the 997 I have may have been released prior to final engine specs. As for PCNA, often they are simply not as accurate with some of their spec data as they could be. And many publications don't bother to identify which conversion from KW they are publishing (DIN or SAE) although some do, and then still get it wrong. For example, in R&T's current August issue, in their comparison test of the new RS4 and 997 C4S, they indicate their HP ratings as SAE, but with an asterisk for the Audi indicating it's rating is DIN. However, they list the C4S at 355hp (SAE), which is at odds with the factory KW rating and PAG's German site. These publications often have typo after typo, and I wouldn't be surprised if that asterisk hadn't supposed to have been on the 997 rating rather than the Audi's rating. YMMV, of course.

If you didn't notice, we went quite a bit further back than a 993. The point is they continually improve the breed with each generation. 993 prices have been very stable for many years, but the 997' is having an effect on those late 993C2S and C4S prices starting to move them down. But it is hard to go wrong with an older 911. 911 S/C's have increased in value each of the last 5 years. 911 Carrera's have been on the rise over the last 3 years. 964's are finally on the rise. With any 911, it is hard to go wrong.

It appears that the die may be cast. I think I have a buyer for the 993. It is a close friend, so if this happens it will stay in the family. Looks like I'll be shopping for a 996 soon. I can't decide whether it's this Or this

Mark, You have driven a 996 extensively, correct? If not, make sure you do before you sell that 993 C4S!!

As Porsche themselves stated when the 996 was introduced: "With progress and technical advancements, there's just no room for sentiment." The Germans make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Kevin, I've spent some time behind the wheel in one. I liked it. It was very different from my earlier cars, but still felt at home. Cars are very fluid to me. I don't get too attached. I wanted to taste a 993 and have been fortunate enough to have had a very special model. I can cross that off my list. A 996 is the next logical progression for me.

That's funny - I have some German blood in me......

Good! I'm sure you'll enjoy a 996. I know I do.

Mark, I had an 86 911 and remember you from the Pelican board. I also had a 95 993 and loved it. I did the same thing you are contemplating. I sold the 993 and bought a 996 because prices were so low. I am very happy with my decision. I do think the 996 pricing will rebound. If not, they surely won't drop any further. 964's are in the mid to upper 20's now. 996's is a much better car. Now is the time to switch. I suspect the pricing will head north slightly and then react kind of like the 993's where the MY isn't as important as condition and milage to the price (except the '02's and up will have a slight premium). As for comparing the two cars 993/996, I would not trade back if I could. I really love my 996. Mark

Hey Mark, The real unknown in the future 996 prices is how the number of cars made will affect value. Even if they don't trend up, I believe they will stabilize at present levels. People that were looking at 964's and 993's are taking hard looks at the 996 right now just like I am. I'm very excited about getting in to one. M

Coincidentally, no one has mentioned 997 prices. I have been very surprised that they devaluating quite quickly. I am seeing a lot of orignally $90K+ 05' 997 Carrera S models with extremely low miles in the mid $70's. I would have expected them to stay stronger than that after the first year.

3 more years and they may be in my range (he said, wringing hands)

That depreciation seems correct to me. Usually, driving off the lot will be about 8-10% depreciation from MSRP. Then the first full year of use would bring another 10% depreciation from MSRP. The first year is the big one for depreciation of these cars.

People freak out when they seem some of those depreciation numbers after the first few years, however, 911's do stabilize and will hold their value in the long run.

Most 996's have already disappeared off the roads down here in FL. That vehicle went so mainstream that it's being trashed now by teenage third owners. Most of these will be scrapped by insurance companies leaving the remaining few pristine examples (especially with the pre-2002 face) to enjoy a relatively rare status. If you can get your hands on a flawless example I would do so and keep the mileage down. Twenty years from now you may end up with a classic. Don't laugh.

I saw several in May at South Beach but I was only there for 7 days ..

I think by definition a car over 20 years is considered a classic, so that's certainly a true statement.

I know a little German. He's sitting over there.... Anyhoo, I went from a 964 to a 993 to a "I can't have a Porsche in NYC" to "I can't NOT"! and picking up my Arctic/black 01 TT ten days ago. Love it -- stock for now. I need to learn more but the package and prices right now made it irresistible.

For a current 95 C4 993 owner, my next upgrade with be the 97 Turbo with little brother 95 C4 as sitting next to it. I also have a 77 Bronco Sport which is sweet. It gets more turns and compliments than my C4 and great to drive in the summer. Neither are daily drivers and just toys, without female names.

I found this timely, since I've been thinking about making the same move. I went from a Boxster to a 993C4, so there is some familiarity that I'm moving towards (my wife misses it more than me, so I guess there's a measure of domestic tranquility that goes a long way ). As a daily, I can see the advantage of the 996. I can't track my 993 w/o mods, since it's a cab, and I could do that with a 996 that has an optional HT. Also, as cabs go, I'd really like to say goodbye to that $#@%$!@ boot on the 993. People who wonder why I take chances on rain, only have to mess with the boot everytime te car is parked to figure out why. As much as I love my 993, I figure I should sell it while the market is holding, and take advantage of buying a newer car for only a couple thou more.

I just bought a lapis blue 2002 C4S to replace my 95 C2. Just waiting for the shipper to pick it up. The good/bad news is that I can't sell the 993 until Spring here in the Midwest. Guess I'll just have to drive both until then. (I would love to keep both.)

I also went the other way. I purchased a brand new 99 996 and again another one in 2001. Interestingly, the 2001 was night and day the better car than the 99 which (b/c I suspect was such an early build from 9/98)...was a disaster. Porsche ultimately bought the car back in gave me the 2001 but still....I went back to a 97 993 (having also owned an 80SC and 87 Carrera). I absolutely love it. By all accounts the 996 is more comfortable for daily driver duties and is certainly more "capable" than the 993 but to me there's still no comparison. The 993 represents the essence of Porsche (call it the first chapter if you will). To own the last of the air cooled cars you do get the sensation that it's entire existence is influenced by form following function, the charm of air cooled technology that can never be had again and an overall package that clearly is a result of the engineers last say not the marketing department. It's also built to last (by hand) and it shows. Like a baseball glove it's never felt better even at 73K on the clock. That's not to diminish by ANY means the 996 and later water cooled cars but clearly their first clean sheet design (99-04), with a major emphasis on cost sharing parts, etc...left lots of margin to improve, evolve, etc....as was the case when the 911 was born 40 some odd years earlier. If I could have any car in the lineup today....the 997GT3. But that's just my opinion.

It's been 2 years since I switched. Here's the "long term update": --- From 1996 993TT to 2003 996 C4S --- #1. I still miss the 993 seats! #2. I no longer miss the power of the 993TT, but it took about $6K to get the X51 motor up to 400 horsepower. #3. I love the 996 suspension and PSM. After adding the RoW M030 front end to fix the understeer, the 996 "came alive" on the street and the track. #4. I love the convenience of the 996. A little bigger, a little smoother. Much nicer all around for daily driving. #5. After about $2K in wood and leather upgrades, the interior is "almost" as warm and cozy as the 993. But I will never feel as "connected" to the 996. In general, I'm glad I switched, but only because I sank another $10K into "fixing" the 996. If I was just looking for a nice, used Porsche, I'd have to go with the 993.

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If there's some reason you can't sell a Porsche in the winter, this Midwesterner has never heard it. I picked up my 996 the day after Christmas last year. Course, it was probably a better deal for me than the seller.

I guess I have a slightly different perspective. - When there were nothing but 356's, the first 911's just looked to us like Space Alien Frogs. They lost the beautiful organic lines of the 356's. At least they were comfortable. But the general feeling was that the only Real Porsche engine had 4 cylinders. - My European spec '69 911s probably remains my favorite car of all time. Light, nimble, handling that was challenging/interesting; great ergonomics. When the 74-76 911's came out, they looked like rolling Wh0r3 Houses. Gold wheels?! Plush interiors, A/C, electric windows, high prices? What happened to the simple, purposeful mission? - I got a '96 993 to have one of the last "air cooled" Porsches (although they were more oil cooled). I was disappointed at the ergonomics. It seemed like the driver had been relatively ignored to make a VunderKar. It had also become so refined that was more just a car and had little of the visceral excitement and connection of the earlier 911s. - The 996 seems retro to me. More simple lines, better ride & better ergonomics like the earlier 911s. My wife would rarely ride in the 993, but will ask that we take the 996 when we go places. So, judgments about the cars depends on your frame of reference. The 993 & 996 are just different. I don't miss the 993. Ultimately, they're all air cooled. Find the one that feels right to you. (btw, I am Thrilled to have my 996 share parts with other models. Parts should be less expensive and more available over time. Perfect!!)

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+1 I was just thinking of going to Cars.com to see what price range the 997 is in.

I had two 993's - loved them both - butmade the leap to a 996 for the creature comfort element. I like the slightly more capacious cockpit too and all the other stuff so eloquently outlined above. The 996 has just a little beet more git up and go albeit with less drama if that makes sense. Yes - the 993 is more 'raw' and visceral but in a refined sort of way compared to the earlier 911's and it even makes about the same power as the earliest 930. Also: big tip if you DIY: the 993 was a royal PITA to maintain. These cars were clearly produced with a Dealer-servicability factor. Not to sya day-to-day maintenance is not doable for the DIY-er, it's just PAIN compared to the earlier 911's. Having said that, my jury is still out however on the 996...

I drove a '96 C2 for 9 years and traded it in for a 2002 C4S. Once i got the C4S, I took it up to Watkins Glen for a through shake out. Here are some of the diffences I have noticed. The 993 is smaller on the inside, and with an arthritic hip (about to be replaced in August) it was getting too small for me. the 996 gives me about 3" more elbow room, and 4" more fore aft room. and the seat goes down further, allowing me to drive with my legs out. Head room is not a problem (I am 5'11"). More on the interiors, the center console on the 993 cannot be removed, and I was rubbing my leg on the console for 9 yrs. Although the 996 looks the same, in the 996 you can install the "GT3 Console Delete" about $125 suncoast Porsche, and now there is nothing in front of the shifter. No rubbing now! It really feels like my first P-car, a 72 911S. Driving the C4S v 993 at watkins glen, there is no comparison. The C4S drives more like my 72 'S - the brakes are so far superior, they are not in the same league. I was going 10-15 mph faster at the end of the straights, and all my break points, learned from 9 yrs of driving the 993 on the same track, were 100 - 150 ft too soon. And for acceleration, unless you get the C4S over 5000 RPM you can never understand the car. It has far more punch than the 993. It really did remind me of the 72S in that only at >5k, it really took off. As for suspension, the 996 stock is looser. More body roll at every speed. I am in the process of getting sways and PSS10s. That should fix that problem (I would suggest any one who is seriously thinking of serious track time, consult your suspension specialist). And one final reason the 996 is better than the 993 - Secondary Air fault. I drove the 993 for 2 yrs with the engine light on due to plugging the secondary air passages, and it cost $1500 just to turn the CEL off. I have had no regrets going to the C4S. it is so much a better car, there is no substitute. Roy these comments may be specific for the C4S, I did not even look at a 996 C2

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Ha, yeah, almost like 993's are like the housing market a couple years ago, kind of over-inflated values. I love 993's too, but 996's are a pretty amazing value right now. There's a guy at work stuck on getting a 993 but he doesn't want to pay over $30k. A light bulb will go off pretty soon I think.... (edit -- just realized this is an oooold thread)

Maybe a dumb question apologies. When the 996.2 GT3 has a consult delete do you loose the air con?

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No

Went from a 964 to a 997 to a 996. The 964 was slow and not worthy of daily driving. 997s was clearly the fastest. 996 (99) is far and away the best value and certainly worthy of daily driving.

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Agree about value....no question...I have a 95 993 and 996....even though it's light and mom le and fun on windy roads, it feels anemic to me especially when one compares it's cost. 996 is best value...spent this morning on a drive inn my son's C4S with another car that was the same....it's just so much fun....handles great with decent power and just plain fun

I was thinking about this post last night so I went back and looked at some of my books about the 993. Not as beautiful as I remember IMO. Looks a bit soft. Call me weird but the mid year 911's (SC and Carrera's) I think were the highlight for a beautiful, aggressive shape. Not the mid 70 cars but the SC and the 76 Carrera 3.0's forward through the 964. I would love to get a mid year turbo body. I guess the fun thing is there is no right answer. We all like what we like so. The only answer is drive both and go from there.