993 turbo owners, questions for you

[look 171]

Any info on them? My itch on a 993 is back after I missed the last one that came my way. This time, a turbo so what do I need to look out for? I know nothing about them. I know they are really different from my 930. Any known issues?

[stuartj]

I was loaned one for a little while. I had spent a bit of time on the track with the 996TT, which is a jet, but the 993....wow. And the view out of the drivers wing mirror into that air intake.....

[Noah930]

CEL. It'll come on, trigger a fault in the OBDII system, and it can be a PITA to extinguish. It's a problem come smog time every other year. A good friend has one (I drove it on the Hangover Run last year--WOW) and goes through those hoops every other year. Has to take it to a shop to reset the OBD system, then take it to a smog referee, etc. The car sniffs fine, but it's just the CEL fault that's the problem.

[speeder]

There is something wrong with his car. I would not jump to assigning his problem to every 993tt on the road.

[Noah930]

Slow down, there, speeder. I didn't say every 993 has this issue. But when talking to various people who fix Porsches for a living, it's not an uncommon issue. And to warn an aspiring buyer about this potential headache would be akin to at least mentioning that pesky RMS issue in the 996 series, for example. Or pulled headstuds, or non-updated chain tensioners, or non-modified pop-off valves in air boxes. Just do a little digging around with any potential purchase to make sure this hasn't been an issue for the PO.

[speeder]

OK, I misunderstood. I thought that you were only referring to one particular case and generalizing across the model line. Would not be the first time I've seen that here, more like the 78th time. I apologize.

[aigel]

One thing that is wrong with them is that the prices are just sky high. Mid 60s for a nice one.

I had a chance at a guards red one in 08. A dealer wanted to unload it bad. It was advertised int he high 40s and he was ready to take offers. Of course I - like everyone else - wasn't in the buying mood at that time.

G

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Noah930

CEL. It'll come on, trigger a fault in the OBDII system, and it can be a PITA to extinguish. It's a problem come smog time every other year. A good friend has one (I drove it on the Hangover Run last year--WOW) and goes through those hoops every other year. Has to take it to a shop to reset the OBD system, then take it to a smog referee, etc. The car sniffs fine, but it's just the CEL fault that's the problem.

What's it drive like compared to your 930? Is your 930 hopped up?

[Noah930]

My car is a stock 930.

The 993tt is ... superlatives can't describe it. That thing has spades of power. It has torque. It has 4-wheel drive, where you can do no wrong. Enter a corner in a gear too high? No problem. (Yet you still know when you've done it right and the car just slingshots out of a corner.) It's still got the feel of a turbocharged 911, but at the same time the civility of a Camry (that sentence was meant as a compliment). You can still position the car with all the oversteer/understeer theories that you learn about on the track. But clutch take-up and off line performance is as easy to live with as a commuter car. It's worlds better than my stock 930.

[look 171]

Wow, what's not to like? My 930 is putting out 360 at the wheels and it has this super-duper clutch in there with a lighten 935 flywheel (so I was told) that chatter like hell on take off. Slipping the clutch is an understatement. Getting a little sick of that at the lights if I don't pay attention.

[Dan J]

The 993TT is without a doubt the highest maintenance 911 turbo variant. But I've only been a Porsche tech for 32 years so YMMV

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Dan J

The 993TT is without a doubt the highest maintenance 911 turbo variant. But I've only been a Porsche tech for 32 years so YMMV

Please do tell, what am I expecting in the future ? the car has about 35000 miles.

[speeder]

Dan, if you could also comment on the 996tt maintenance I'd be grateful.

[Dan J]

Where to start? You can certainly plan on the hyd boosted clutch slave and accumulator-several $K Then let's rebuild those turbos oops can't, no parts, well lets put new ones on those boost hoses can't be reused , looks like that ps pump or rack is leaking and by the way those Monroe shocks are junk might as well change those, and on and on
Speeder, We find the 996tt to be a much less needy car. Many of the systems introduced on the 993tt actually worked on the 996tt and faster for half price? A no brainer

[Dan J]

Don't want to sound too negative. The 993tt's are cool to look at and drive but be prepared to spend supercar level maintenance costs something you can avoid with the faster,cheaper 996TT

[look 171]

So, I suppose a C2 or C4 is a lot cheaper to own but only 2/3 as fast?

[speeder]

Dan, thanks. That reinforces what I already thought of those two models. I would never own a 993tt, the 996tt is a much better car for half or one third the price.

When the 993tt was new/current, I wanted one like nobody's business. But 15 years down the road, and with 2 newer and better cars replacing it, not so much. For the cost of a good one, I'd buy a 997tt. The 996tt is the bargain of all Porsches and has the highest quality drivetrain components that they've ever put in a street car. Plus, they are very easily and cheaply upgradable compared to a 993tt. The 993 was a great car in its day but the newer ones will show it the tail lights. Porsche doesn't go backwards.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The 993TT is one of my favorite Porsches, but I can't fathom spending double 996TT money for one.

[motion]

I saw a 993TTS just the other day... almost dropped my panties.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by motion

I saw a 993TTS just the other day... almost dropped my panties.

Get a price check on one of those some time.