Why do I want a 996?

Alright I admit that this forum may be a bit of a biased spot to ask these questions bit here I go. I currently own a beautiful 1996 black/grey 993 Targa with 24K miles. For some reason over the past week I have been thinking about moving to a 996. I have already upgraded the 993 suspension with the Pss9 kit and have replaced the stock exhaust with the RSR version. Crazy to change?? Maybe..but you tell me please!! Can you folks tell me your thoughts on the differences of the 993 vs 996 such as performance, handling, maintenance etc. What is the current market pricing for a MY 2001 coupe with low (~20K) miles. I know that options play into the equation so please use a moderately optioned vehicle for your estimates. I asked about the MY2001 thinking that 3 almost 4 years may help on the depreciation side. Also, if I pursue this path..what should I look for or be aware of for each of the model years? And oh yeah...before I go test driving tomorrow, where can I find a really nice 996 in Seal Grey???? Thanks for all your help, Dennis

BTW: Should have mentioned that I am in the Boston area if you folks have any idea where I should look for quality 996's. Thanks again, Dennis

I looked at the 993 before I bought my C4 cab 996. The 996 was more refined and since I was going to use it as a daily driver I found the set-up to be more comfortable for me. If you are in Boston I would contact Alfie at Ira Porsche. He is on this board so you should be able to find him. As far as fair pricing is concerned you can get a rough estimate from www.kbb.com. Since options can have an impact on the car it won't be exact, but again should be close. Good luck.

I have had a 993 CS and have now a 996 C2 for a couple of months. I have already driven my 996 more than I drove my 993 in an equal 3-4 months... Seriously, both cars are great. Where to start...? My 993 had a very sporty setting and could not really be used for longer trips. The 996 can. The 993 was more of a sports car in the way it behaved and "talked" to you, there was a more visceral feeling to it. I use to love (and still do) that way the car communicated with the driver. The 996 is more refined and gives a little less input. The ride is more "sorted" out and I have now been playing with the car for a while and it is a VERY fast car, loads of grip and a secure feeling back to the driver. Next step for me is to find out the exact limits which are too far away on public roads. At first, you might not "bond with it, but the car will grow on you as a very potent alternative for an everyday car. The 993 could never give me that. Bottom line is (for me) that the 993 is the perfect free time companion, hands down. The 996 is your everyday companion. All my porsches have very reliable. I hope this one will be too. And don't let that slow gas response put you off after the first test drive. You get used to it. Driving position is also "harder" to find on a 996, not sure why.

I owned a 96 993 for 2 � years prior to getting my 996 (I have had it for about 6 weeks). I also had the PSS-9�s on my 993. I did not drive my 993 on a daily basis (I had a beater car for that). Additionally my wife complained when we took the 993 out of town on longer trips, saying it was uncomfortable, loud, etc. I got the 996 because I wanted a daily driver and a car to take out of town to alleviate the mileage burden on my wife�s car. The 996 is a superior daily driver than the 993 in these regards. It is more comfortable, quieter, has an easier and more effective climate control system (although I never had any real problems with the 993 except remembering where the slides had to be to get the air to flow), smoother clutch engagement, more effective front trunk, and more room in the cabin. However, the down side is it is more civilized and it feels more cheaply made. That last comment will probably get some flak. There is nothing to indicate that my 996 is any less durable than my 993, however it does �feel� different. The clutch is lighter the materials �lighter�, switches feel lighter and �cheaper� (there are no industrial sounding �clicks� like in the 993), a hollow �plasticky� sound when shutting the door, etc. Whereas the 993 had this built from a solid piece of metal feel (sure the interior had lots of plastic but it seemed like �industrial� �heavy� plastic). Driving wise both are fast. The 996 is slightly quicker but it does it with less commotion than the 993 did. You don�t get the sensation of power from the aural imputes like you do in the 993. The 996 has a neat �whine� to the engine whereas the 993 has more of mechanical sound. Additionally the mechanical sounds at idle on the 993 are much more easily heard in the cabin than in the 996. The 996 is almost Lexus quiet compared to the 993. My 993 had the PSS-9�s and aligned and lowered to the RS specs. It therefore was very �connected� in its handling. It is unfair to compare a stock 996 to this set up as the stock set up is much softer and does not have the feel as my 993. My wife loves this softer feeling, however, I will be switching to the ROW M030 later this year to compromise my wants and the daily driver duties. Truthfully both cars have their strong points and if money was no object I would have both because I like the connected solid feeling of the 993. However, for my current daily driver needs the 996 is a superior car. However, it does give up some of the intimacy of the 993. The connected feeling is gone (suspension changes may alter this though). Evaluate what you want from the car and drive some 996�s and from there. Maintenance wise the 996 has been easier to work on than the 993 if you are a DIY type person. Oil changes are a breeze. Even spark plug changes are easier (still not simple but better than the 993). Good luck in your decision.

If you go with a 996, factor in a suspension upgrade. After your PSS9's, your not going to like the stock suspension. I think it is more of a refined car, which some who come from the 993 don't like. After all, as one friend who has a 993 said to me this weekend, "It's one of those water pumpers." Lastly, if you are looking at an '01, I would try very hard to find an '02. There were a number of significant improvements made to the chassis and the aerodynamics of the '02, not to mention 20 more HP.