993 vs 996??

Hello - I am sure this is a heated debate in any Porsche arena - but I would really appreciate personal feedback between these two cars. I am looking for a daily driver.... I have weighed both cars and really like the 993. My thoughts: I have an '86 911 and do all maintenance myself on items not requiring the engine being pulled. I see that the 993 has 12 plugs - two oil filters... WOOF! I enjoy working on my car but this seems like it would push the definition of a "Saturday tune up." Please don't get me wrong, I enjoy working on my 911 anytime... but is the 996 any less of a "woman"? Could the 996 be MORE complex than the 993 (outside of the computer system)? To add, the value of a 996 is really something.... Any additional personal thoughts (performance, interior, exterior, etc....) on these two models would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time! Sincerely, L Hunt

I can't wait to read the responses! Air cooled vs Water cooled! I have a 2000 996 and am pretty happy with it as a daily driver,

There are likely TONS of threads dedicated to the 996/997 vs 993/964/911 series cars. You really need to DRIVE them and learn just how different they feel. IN a place like Houston, you would appreciate the HVAC of the newer car. You might though, prefer the FEEL of the older car, especially since you are coming from an aircooled car.

lfhunt1, I went from a 1988 Carrera 3.2 to a 2003 996 Carrera 2. They are quite different, but are both Porsches. I loved my Carrera 3.2. The 993 is an evolution from the Carrera 3.2. That means that it retains the visceral feel of the last of the air-cooled Porsches. They feel light and give you good feedback. They also have lousy AC and ventilation. The 996 is a much more modern car. It is extremely easy to perform the fundamental service functions by the owner (oil and filter changes; spark plugs are a bit more challenging). Set up correctly, it can also feel light and responsive (the 996 is actually lighter that the 993). I have driven both on the track and the 996 is superior in every way, to my mind. It is also possible to make the 996 give the same aural sensory feedback as the earlier cars (think PSE-type hacks and induction improvements). In my mind, having done the LNE IMS bearing replacement, the 996 is a far more dependable and responsive (and faster) car than the 993. I absolutely love mine. Just my $0.02 worth.

I have a couple of air cooled 911's with one I use for DE's. Also have a 2007 C4S and recently acquired 996 set up for DE use. The water cooled cars are SO much more capable than my air cooled one. And still they retain road feel vs say a Vette. They are faster, brake better, corner better, have better hvac and are way more comfortable to drive. I really enjoy driving both versions but they are pretty much worlds apart. You probably seen it posted many times the evolution just continues...it's all about what particular feeling / performance you're looking for.

Thanks for your reply - I do appreciate it. How about working on the 996 vs your earlier 911.... Pretty easy to work on, etc? As I mentioned, the 993 looks quite a bit more complex just to change out the plugs. Thoughts? Again, thanks!

Example for the 996 with oil /filter change: Drive rear wheels onto 2"x12" boards, drop oil plug and oil, change filter. Back in business in no more than 30 minutes. Try that with the two-filter 993. Hydaulic lifters, so none of that valve adjustment stuff every 10-15K miles, although 993 also has hydraulic lifters). 996 has only 6 spark plugs instead of 12 in the 993 (but a couple of them are bears to get at). I spend far less time working on the 996 than I did on the 3.2. More time driving :-)

How often does one change plugs? every week? every 3 years? Yes, it might be more complex than your 3.2, but I don't think its as bad as you fear. While apples/oranges, the Boxster I had was quite DIY friendly and I have to think the 996 is the same.

I changed my 996 plugs at 40K miles. I think the factory schedule is at 50K or 60K miles, I don't remember. I don't know about the Boxster, but on the 996 the mufflers/brackets are in the way for a couple of the plugs and this makes it more difficult than one would like. Not insurmountable, but a pain requiring small hands and articulated wrenches, if available. I would imagine that the 996 is generally easier to work on engine accessories than the Boxster as the engine is not buried and not so inaccessible from the top.

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I had the same questions as you do. I ended getting a 99 996 C2 and I have no regrets. It's a great daily driver, pretty easy to drive during LA rush hour, & the AC/heat works great! BTW, my previous daily driver was a 04 E320 Benz. I have no problem sitting in the 996 for 1 hour to only travel 20 miles. My car has 96,xxx miles on it and the oil filter is pretty much spot less of any metal debris. Only thing I've replaced is the chain tensioners. Will need to do clutch, IMS, and RMS seal soon. Hoping to put 50k miles (or more) on it before any other high $ work has to be done. Good luck in your search for another Pcar

Ok, I have owned 993's and now have a 996. As a DD, the 996 is hands down the winner. It starts and runs like a Honda, has great power, and the accessories (like A/C and radio) really work. And like the 993 there are plenty of aftermarket goodies. Maybe even more goodies if you include a few European sites such as Carnewal. Now, as for a 993 having a "visceral feeling," my question is compared to what, a Lexus LS430? Certainly not compared to a Carrera, SC, and clearly not compared to an early car. The 993 is a very refined car, just not quite in the same league as a 996.

Damn you people! I keep thinking of getting another (newer) air cooled 911 and these 996 discussions keep tugging me away...

Since when did the 993's not have good working AC???????? Mine has been blowing ice cold since day one. Unless I missed it. Why hasn't someone asked why a 993 C4S' go for ~ $40K and a 996's (99 thru 2002) go for $mid-teens to low 20's????? I'm not trying to hate here guys - price = demand = reason.

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No one is arguing that the 993 isn't a GREAT car. It is. Nor are we discussing resale values. The OP asked which was a better DD. And as a DD, the 996 is simply the winner.

Having air cooled's I never liked the look of the 996. I didn't really care that they were the first water pumper 911. But, and this is for KNS....I had to make a decision recently whether to pour money into my 85 911 to improve track performance of purchase a car someone else put the money / work into. Came across a track prepped 996 at a price I couldn't pass up. OMG what a ride. Sooooo much more capable than my 85 and yet just as much fun to drive...with the added benefit if air and heat. 996 prices have been attractive for quite some time I think due to them being the 'black' sheep and having some well defined IMS and RMS issues. Mine were both fixed prior to purchase. 993's are great cars and I believe hold value better due to being the last air cooled. 996 prices are very very attractive now and driving one hard will definitely mess with your head. I would strongly suggest a test drive. Prices are so good folks may be able to keep their air cooled's also and enjoy both driving experiences. They are both quite different and both equally exhilarating IMO.

The 996 is very tempting. It seems the IMS and RMS, etc problems have mostly been addressed. I'm still concerned about reports of cracked cylinders, failed tensioners (or something like that). An engine rebuild may far outstrip the value of the car.

993 engines are not without issues eithers.. valves, SAI etc.

One of the other reasons I went with a 996 for a DD is the "time before a rebuilt". I've heard of a Boxster owner who got 200k miles before his engine let go. Engine displacement set aside, they are both a M96 based engine. My car has 97k miles, after I take care of some of the know issues I'm hoping I too can hit the 200k mark.

I went from a '81 SC to a 996 Cab. I resisted as long as I could. I was able to get the Cab for a couple hundred bucks more than I sold the SC for. It has a reman engine with about 40k on it and the chassis has about 130k. Man, I love this car. I tried to make the SC the DD, no way especially in Houston. The 996 can't be beat. I think this car is actually easier to work on than the SC. I've had the front end off and I have replaced the convt top cylinders. I've also fixed the turn signal switch. Not really tough. I am running this one into the ground baby. Oh yeah, the wife loves and drives it too, she never would drive the SC...