DARE I....996 OR 993?

I KNOW this has been flogged too death.....i have had various 911's up to model 964. i have followed this board closely and have vowed not to ever buy a 996. i have just sold my merc and want to get back into porsche and am strongly considering a 993...however they are scarce and i have done a few searches including 996 and their are a lot of very nice 996's out there for the money. i like everything about them except the front end and that dreaded rms issue. if i go 996 i must have warranty? what was warranty on 996? how much approx. is extended warranty? thanks

Out of all of the Porsche's I have ever owned the 996 has to be my favorite. Since they made so many your option to customize are almost endless. It is a buyers market right now lots of deals to be had. The RMS issue should not stop you from buying a car. The parts run about $125 it is a 6 hour job. An extended warranty from Porsche should cost you about double the cost of a RMS repair done at your local dealer.

It sounds like you don't really want a 996, if you have your heart set on a 993 keep looking for one. You will never be happy with a 996. Ask yourself how you would feel when a nice little 993 pulled up next to you in the 996.

the more i look at the 996's the more i like them. i have really been put of with rms but after doing some more research it seems like it is in the minority. the 993's have their issues as well. i used to tinker on my cars and still enjoy that but i dont want the hassle of major work on a 911. thanks for the replies.

I looked at both and ended up with the 996. The knock you sometimes hear from the 993 guys is that the 996 is a little to soft and luxurious. They also talk about the loss of the classic aircooled sound. It is true that the 996 is more comfortable and has a more luxurious feel. It is also true that it lost some of the nice noises that 993's make (the 996 sounds different but nice in its own way - especially with PSE). What they won't bring up is that the 996 is actually lighter than the 993, will go faster, accelerate harder, and corner better (all while offering a little more comfort)! That's why I own a 996. That's also why you often hear the advise to buy the newest model you can afford. Seriously, they are both great cars.......but different cars. To be fair drive both and decide for yourself. Both cars are a nice place to be!

Before buying the 996 I used my 964 as a daily driver.. With a 964 I couldn't justify getting a 993. Just a heftly premium for a car that's about 80% the same...

Echoing what Ray S said, the 996 is objectively an improved car over the 993, particularly if you get a 2002 or later model with the 3.6. The 3.6 car goes to 60 mph in under 5 seconds, the quarter in mid to low 13s, tops out at 177, generates .90+g on the skidpad with the stock suspension and right at 1.0g with the sport parts. It's lighter (even the 2002+, which gained about 55# over the 3.4) gets better mileage and requires less scheduled maintenance than a 993, which is a terrific car in its own right. I had a two or three drop a week RMS leak at 5K miles fixed under warranty, and am approaching 25K miles with no relapse............I'd buy another 3.6 996 in a heartbeat.

You know the 993 motor has the 'dreaded' valve guide issue, about 7k to repair, the 'dreaded rms' is about 800 at the dealer. It sounds like you want the 993, that's what you should get.

I think no matter what you get, you will always want the other car, I love the 993 yet I own a 996. My best friend loves the 996 and yet he drives a 993.Grass is always greener,It's human nature to want what we don't have. I bought a 996 because it is a better car HANDS DOWN, the 993 people will never tell you that. Its faster lighter , bigger Int, a little more refined, way more options to choose from and the list can go on. This question was asked in the 996 forum, I bet if you go to the 993 forum, you will be convinced the 996 is a piece of wood. The RMS problem , is only as big as you make it, I have had it done twice, and honestly i couldn't care less if i need to get in done a third, give me a oil spot over a CEL any day.Just my thoughts...

Get a used late model from a Porsche dealer and have them certify the car. That way you will have a great car with the extended warrantee

EXCELLENT replies...thanks. i am very familiar the 911 problems through the years i have had a 2.7 (pulled headstuds/overheat) 911 sc (timing chain tensioners..good car) 3.2 carrera (valve guides) 930 turbo (expensive maintenance) 964 (leaking heads) and i know of c.e.l/guide problems on the 993. have also just read article on another thread about excellence magazine article on 996. snaproll- thanks for heads up on 02+ cars. i have seen some good deals on 01 996's. is their a big difference between 01 and 02. what i am saying there seems to be about a $10000 DIFF between comparable cars...is the money dif. worth it? what was the original warranty? if i buy privately would i be able to get an extended warranty somewhere? thanks

The 02's have a number of improvements over the 01's. Here is a list of a few... - 20hp bump with 3.6 motor - Inproved interior - Aerodynamic Chages resulting in 25% less front end lift and 40% less rear lift - Chassis changes resulting in 25% increase in beam and torsional stiffness - Variocam plus which provides significantly more torque at a lower RPM - Different front headlights - Improved stereo - All that and better fuel economy than the 3.4's However you are correct, they are selling at about a $10k premium. Worth it?....thats a personal decision. Drive 'em both!

I have had both, a '95 993 and now a '99 996. They both are good cars and you can read about the differences here but one thing for me that is much different between the two is my mind set. With the 993 I felt like I was destroying the value everytime I added a mile (end of an era and all that). With the 996 I don't hesitate to drive for any reason, I will jump in it to go get a gallon of milk (the long way of course) and even drive intentionally in the rain. This is due to the price/value of the 996's. The prices, especially the '99's, are so attractive that you can get a big bang for the buck and so what if the value declines as you rack 'em up? It wasn't that much to begin with relatively speaking. In any case, buy something and have fun.

Here's one way to look at it; you can get in and out of a 993 and lose little or nothing except sales tax if you buy a good example and look after it. The 996 is on a depreciation curve. Unless you got a killer deal on a GT3, all other 996's are dropping. A low mile "Anniversary" car might be okay because it's already heavily depreciated ... if you don't drive it ... but what's the point. So for dollars and sense, get a 993. A 996 is just a different car. It's bigger and more powerful. It's a different driver behind the wheel. The closest point between the two vehicles is the 993 Turbo and the 996 GT3. That shows how far 911 engines have come (naturally aspriated versus forced induction a the displacement delivering equivalent power ... if not torque ...) I just don't see how someone can be divided between the two. I can see how someone might shop for both at once. Just as I shopped for an early 911, a Turbo and a Boxster S at the same time. Could they all be any more different? At that time, I chose the Turbo and will eventually add the early car and maybe even a Box' if circumstances permit. Today, with 993's losing price very slowly and 996's losing price quickly, that would help me make a decision. Drive a good 996. Drive a good 993. Very different. Just don't drive a GT3 or you'll be trying to find the money to get one. That way lies madness.

That's an interesting observation. The 993s in my area hold their value extremely well. Are you saying that you bought a previously owned 996 at a very attractive price, and therefore aren't concerned about further depreciation?

I've owned both. The 993 and the 996 are different cars. Both cars have strong points and both have weaknesses. It really depends on what is important to you and how you plan on driving the car. Drive many examples of both extensively and determine what you like and what you don't. The driving impressions and your intended use of the car will dictate what is the best choice for you. For me I sold the 993 because I wanted to start driving the Porsche daily in all weather. I wanted the added safety net of PSM. I also liked the much improved climate control system of the 996. The ergonomics were improved and the cabin had much more space for longer trips with the Mrs. The negatives were the car lost some of the rawness and aural music the air cooled cars made. If you do your own maintenace oil changes and some other common maintenance items are much simplier in the 996 The list of differences is long, only you can decide what is best for you.

I had a 993. Sexy, visceral, loved by my club members. I drive my 996 twice as much. Easier to drive fast, corners better, accelerates better, no more hanging cluth pedal that sticks and needs to be lubed. Quieter inside, way more roomy for passengers and gear, no more minor oil leaks or smell, just plain a more comfortable car to drive. I sold my 993 for what I paid for it. My 1999 has depreciated. I don't care. I consider my 1999 car a bargain at say $4 grand a year depreciation. My next Pcar will be an 40th Anniversary car or a used 997, but I'm in no hurry. My current ride is really pleasing and I feel a bargain for what iI get.