1998 993 C4S or 2002 996 C2

I am thinking about these two car: a 1998 993 C4S with 38K miles and a Porsche certified 2002 996 C2 with 19K miles. They are about the same price range, actually the C4S is a little bit higer. I know the C4S will hold its value better, but the 996 is faster and is a more moden design. I like them both, couldn't decide, I will not use the car as daily driver, and probably will only go to track day one or twice a year. What is your opinion?

No way should they be the same price unless the 993 is gold-plated If your budget can accomodate the 996, the extra performance and modern-ness would be worthwhile.

I think they are both great cars, and lets face it who really cares what it will be worth in 4 years, hell who knows if we would be alive then.Always buy the newest you can afford, keep in mind you might like a C2 for the track better the a C4.I know I went with a C2 because it was much more fun to drive to me, you might think diffrent'

Go with the c4s. It will hold its value and is a much more beautiful car.. Shark- you are way off, an S is a prized car and commands a hefty sum.

It really depends on what you are looking for. The 993s are definitely more raw and IMHO less street-friendly than the 996s. However, the shape, esp on the 'S' is classic with it's wide body, a very sought after car. In time, it will definitely hold it's value better vs. the 996 C2 (actually..it already has). The 993s as they say are the best of the air-cooled Porsches, which is the result of over 20 years of Porsche engineering. I too wasn't crazy with the archaic looking dash of the 993s, but the body was just too gorgeous. I constantly get people coming up to me asking me what year my car is as it is a much rarer car than the 996. The handling is simply amazing (PSS-9s) both on the street and on the track (I, like you do only about 1-2 DEs/yr.). Driving it always puts a big smile on my face, but it's always difficult to really "drive it" here in NYC. You will also find a LOT of info on the 993 board if you haven't already ventured over there. Lots of great folks there as well. Can't really speak for the 996s, as I've never owned one, just test drove once a while ago. From what I have learned here, the 996s are much easier to live with in day to day driving compared with the 993s. The certified warranty is a definitely plus, esp if the car hasn't had the RMS leak failure yet. What I can say is definitely drive several examples of both cars and see what you enjoy the most! All in all, you really can't go wrong with either car as they are Porsches. It really all depends what you are looking for. Rawness vs. civil-ness. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Go drive both of the cars, then make your decision. They are both terrific cars, but VERY different in nature as far as comfort, convenience, rawness, styling. If it is just a weekend/Fun car, I would think you would enjoy the 993 more. It is a very visceral experience and not nearly as insulated as the 996. The 996 is more of a GT car, more comfortable, luxurious and smooth, but also feels faster and more flexible. You will know the right choice once you drive both. The good news is they are both Porsches, so you really are going to have a hard time making a bad decision with either. Keep us updated as to what you decide to do

I thinking I am leanning on the 993, but it is at least $3K more than the 996 with double the mileage.

Now what does that tell you??????????????

Everyone will tell you something different.....I had a '97 C4S, and i now have an '03 C4S....I use it as a daily driver, and put about 15-20k per year on it.....I much prefer the 996. I'm not a purist, and I'm not interested in an historical museum piece. I'm interested in a great daily driver. Some will tell you that the 993 is for real men, and the 996 is for pussies. Fortunately for me, I don't care what they think....when it comes the the expenditure of this much money, I care what I think. It's your money.....buy what you like, not what you're told to like!!!!

If I were to get a 996, I would go for a C4S or a TT. Gotta love them widebodies.

Well put Richard! Most forget this when they are soliciting advice and then go purchase.

You'll have to cut shark some slack since he is just shooting off the cuff without any knowledge of P-Cars. He is a self proclaimed Vette guy that doesn't own a P-Car.

I had a 993 C4, traded on a Viper ACR, came to my senses and traded that for a new 2003 C4S. Get the newest Porsche in your budget.

Since it's not a daily driver, I would suggest 993. It'll hold its value and will not be RMS prone. A 7 yo car with 5k mi a year is hard to find and you'll have a good collector example years down the road. If you drive it often, you'll appreciate the maturity of a 996 and its comfort. Since you won't, you'll benefit more from the 993's purist, button down and speed only nature. You don't need nav, a Bose right? 993 will have less rattle to worry about too. I love my 996 since I drive daily. I like the fact that it's fast but yet comfortable. If it's my second car, I'd opt for 993 though. That rear end is classic. You can really set it off by upgrading the rims to 18 with a turbo twist.