993 standard equipment - Page 1 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

The immobiliser should be standard but I don't think a/c is (although from my experience most cars will have it anyway). I only use the a/c occasionally and wouldn't cry too much if it wasn't there, that said, if it's a belter of a day there's nothing worse than cooking your arse in a traffic jam. The a/c also works better than you'd think in the 993s. That said, I'm sure it's far better in most other normal cars.

Thanks very much for the info. The reason I asked was that as you say, nearly all cars have it, as it is mentioned in the ad, but I was looking at this one: www.paragon.gb.com/sales/vehicle-details.asp?ID=13687 and it doesn't mention it. This one is black, which makes me even more worried about the (apparent) lack of a/c. Is there any other optional equipment that is really worth having? I'm already finding that the number of cars that fit my criteria (C2 or C4 couple, less than 50K miles, Varioram engine, 6 speed manual) is pretty small, so maybe I shouldn't be asking as it could eliminate more cars.

Worth asking as that's the worst colour combination when it gets hot. Nice elooking car, bloody expensive for a 993 mind you, can you not consider LHD, you could get a 993TT for the same cash in LHD?

That's about the going rate from an independent dealer unfortunately, here's another one I have been eyeing up: www.autofarm.co.uk/car.php3/SB397.html The difference between trade and retail prices is about 5K though, so there is some room for negotiation. You can add another 10% on top of these prices for franchised dealers too. I am reluctant to buy privately in case it turns out to have outstanding finance (HPI checks are not as comprehensive as they would like you to think). If it does have outstanding finance, or turns out to have a dodgy background in any other way, it's generally the dealers problem. Buying from a dealer is a costly business though. Unfortunately the majority of cars on sale seem to have the auto box which I don't think I want. I doubt I could live with LHD in a daily driver, to be honest. The reduced visiblity for overtaking would irritate me, and operating car parks and toll booths from the wrong side of the car would infuriate me! Doesn't it increase the insurance premium too?

For absolute practicality, RHD has it, but for absolute value it has to be LHD. Simple. Depends on your budget and priorities I suppose. Ventilation in 911s is OK. Probably not best 'new BMW' standards etc. but certainly liveable, and no worse than Chimps and Griffs etc. In fact, there is enough venting in even a 964, so a 993 will be OK. Climate control works well, but air con is a must have if you want absolute practicality. My 964RS doesn't have it (wind up windows only!) and even on the 'cold air' setting I need a window open a fraction to keep me from getting too hot on a warm day. PS I use Autofarm, and they are a friendly bunch. The saleswoman is called Karen Ruggles. They may be even more friendly if you say that I (Dom Colbeck) recommended you, so feel free to name drop! They are a good, honest outfit, and although their prices are higher than privately they claim to spend a lot of the difference on prepping the car etc. Anyway, that's for you to decide! >> Edited by domster on Monday 5th August 12:02

You'd be surprised how easy it is to live with and the overtaking doesn't really make any difference. I only know of one car park toll which is a window operated one and I just remember the 30% I saved on buying the car as I stroll round to get the ticket The insurance is no different.

The fact that you even mention it in the same sentence as the Chimaera/Griffith ventilation worries me enormously! It was absolutely fine for a weekend car, but rather inadequate for a daily driver IMO. A few years ago, it might not have bothered me so much, but I've been spoilt in the meantime with BMW/VW/Jag standards of climate control. I can certainly live with the fact that the 993 a/c system probably doesn't bear comparison with those. However I don't want to feel like I am sitting in a sauna every time the sun comes out, so it sounds like I need a/c. That's my head speaking, my heart is still telling me the black one with 18" wheels but without a/c is a fine looking car Do you happen to know if Autofarm take non Porsche p/x? I appreciate the input by the way. Pretty much all I know about 911s at this point comes from books and magazines.

I think it would to my nervous passenger. Sitting on 'the wrong side' has been suggested before and was vetoed. At present I normally get my speed fix on solo journeys made just for the fun of it, but with only one car, 'the voice of reason' would probably be too loud to ignore

With A/C I don't think you need worry about heating or ventilation. I only mentioned it in the same breath as the TVR systems because I didn't want to slag them off too badly! Without A/C, it will be OK apart from on v hot days. If you are after practicality above all else, go for A/C, heated seats etc. (plus I can even tell you where to get aftermarket cup holders from!). The only problem with A/C is occasional regassing - so check it works when you buy. Not sure whether Autofarm do p/x. They tend to deal in classic Porsches and are v picky - hence I would definitely trust a car bought from them. Best way to deal would always be to sell your car privately, then negotiate in cash. You get doubly screwed with p/xs as they will give you a poor price on your car and be inflexible re the price of theirs - this I'm sure you know anyway... May be worth chatting it through with Autofarm anyway, or getting a test drive. Good roads near their premises, and I'm sure they'd take you on them. Cheers Dom

Autofarm don't do p/x as most of the cars they have are on SoR. I recently bought a 993RS and sold the 3.2 (which I'd orginally purchased from them) I had, separately through them on a SoR basis. Jim

Not just a nice looking car, but *my* nice looking car. There go my savings again. Arse!

Congrats on nice looking C4 - but I couldn't see air con on the spec - and it's black leather inside! Shurely shome mishtake?

There is no a/c which was a negative, but there were a lot of positives when I actually drove the car. It looks great inside and out and drives very nicely. It isn't as dark as it looks, it is Panther which is a sort of metallic antracite dark grey colour. The heater fan is pretty handy at blowing air anyway, so it was bearable even with the high humidity and relatively high ambient temperature when I drove it. I dare say there will be times I will regret not having it, but 50 weeks a year it won't matter much. One thing I did find was that the brakes seemed work fine, but they did seem to need quite a hefty shove to do anything. The car has yet to be fully serviced and MOT'd which will highlight and rectify any problems, but is that normal? The first time I braked after getting back into my own car I nearly went through the screen.

I don't miss AC apart from on the hottest days and my RS has a black leather interior, well, with magenta patches. Just open a window... Re brakes, Porsche brakes are not over-servoed, like some BMWs for example. This is because you tend to get better feel with less assistance. You will find that the brakes are well up to the job and will outlast BMW brakes in terms of fade. They shouldn't feel wooden or spongy, though, so check that they haven't just put some new brake fluid in and failed to bleed it properly. Get it checked by another 993 driver or another garage if you are unsure. Cheers Domster

I picked up the 993 this morning, and took an indirect route back home (150 miles). It certainly would be cooler with a/c! However it was bearable and it can't get too much worse than today. First surprise is how comfortable the seat is, even after sitting in it for two and a half hours. Second surprise is how docile it is in traffic, quite happy to potter along at 1100 rpm in 4th when necessary. The brakes are now fine, it has new tyres and all the gauges seem healthy. The ride even with 18" wheels is excellent. The best thing is how it manages to be so civilised, yet at the same time so responsive to driver input.

Congrats on the new car! If you could bear today then I think it should be okay! Mind you if you decide to take it to parts of Europe then you'll need a/c. It gets VERY hot. Yesterday and the day before I drove my a/c car (although even the new Astra has a better a/c), today I felt like I was cooking. If the traffic moves, its okay, but when it doesn't... I am seriously considering using my car to drive to work during the hot days.

Can anyone tell me if air conditioning and/or the immobiliser were standard equipment on 993 C2s and C4s. If not, whether the poor ventilation in general makes it not worth considering cars without a/c.