Should I upgrade to a 930, a 993, or a 201?

dmac · dmac's Garage

My 911 "needs" more power, compounded by the slow-shifting 915 tranny w/worn synchros. Leaving stoplights the soccer moms are passing me in their minivans. I have several options:

- Upgrade to SSI's to get another 20(?) hp, overhaul tranny to improve shifting (somewhat?), and throw things overboard to lighten weight (a/c?). Cost about $2500+.
- Sell it and buy a 993, brings me up to ~285 hp for a net cost of about $25,000.
- Sell it and buy a Mooney 201 I have my eyes on. Only 200 hp, but it will cruise all day at 195 mph without speeding tickets. Net cost about $50,000.

Note that having more than one of these toys is not an option.

Recommendations?

86930 · 10-09-2003, 02:00 PM

What happened to the analysis on the 930 option? I am partial to the 930 (I have one). I also had a 993, which I loved. Here's my take: For a daily driver (or driven very frequently) the 993 gets my vote. Much more refined, and easier to live with for a daily driver. For a toy on the side, the 930 gets the nod. I have no idea about the 201 (I'm guessing it's a plane?). But if you like that feeling of "taking off", there's nothing like a 930 when the boost kicks in!

dd74 · 10-09-2003, 02:02 PM

Upgrade to the rev limiter, then get back to us.

dmac · dmac's Garage

Oops, forgot the 930... it seems like later 1980's 930 runs about the same money as a 993 NA, and provides about the same power. If price and power were equal I would lean towards the 993 - no turbo lag and possibly simpler to work on?

The 201 is a relatively fast single engine, four seat, retractable landing gear airplane. Not really comparable to a Porsche, but it does compete for my toy money.

Kemo · 10-09-2003, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dmac
Oops, forgot the 930... it seems like later 1980's 930 runs about the same money as a 993 NA, and provides about the same power.

I always thought you could tune the 930 well above 300hp.

beepbeep · 10-09-2003, 03:11 PM

Err...ROW 930 has 300hp out of the box, easily tuned to 340hp for small money. 993 has 280-something at it's best and is heavier...

dd74 · 10-09-2003, 03:21 PM

Anyone know the weight of the 930 and of the 3.6?

beepbeep · 10-09-2003, 03:32 PM

Pre -78 930 were ~1280kg as far as i remember... 3.3 were 1340kg or something...at least mine was (equipped with sunroof)

dd74 · 10-09-2003, 04:00 PM

Sorry, I meant how much do the engines weigh?

350HP930 · 10-09-2003, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Here's my take: For a daily driver (or driven very frequently) the 993 gets my vote. Much more refined, and easier to live with for a daily driver. For a toy on the side, the 930 gets the nod.

Toy? My 930 was a daily driver for the last 70K miles of its life. It appears to drive on a daily basis just fine.

86930 · 10-09-2003, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 350HP930
Toy? My 930 was a daily driver for the last 70K miles of its life. It appears to drive on a daily basis just fine.

I certainly did not mean to imply that a 930 could not be used as a daily driver. Having owned both a 993 and 930 (I still have the 930) I can say that relatively speaking, the 993 makes a better daily driver from the stand point of creature comfort.

I also did not mean to imply that the 930 is a "toy" incapable daily driving. For me, the 930 is a "toy" as in "non primary means of transportation, used only for tons of fun and ear to ear smiles."

350hp930, I sure hope you didn't take offense to my comments.

BlkBird · 10-09-2003, 06:45 PM

I test drove a couple of 993's before buying my 930. Sure were nice cars, nice power delivery when the cam came on somewhere around 3000 rpm. Just generally nice cars. But this was my first Porsche dammit! Shouldn't the sun come out when you drive this car? Shouldn't you feel something in your blood?

Test drove my 930. Nice car below 3000 rpm. Complete demon above 3000 revs. Like it was just waiting to be turned loose. No "nice" worries.

Never looked back after making my choice.

pjv911 · pjv911's Garage

With a stock 930 the soccer moms will still leave you from the light unless you like changing clutch`s(you will have to seriously wind it up to take off hard) they are even slower than your non turbo car from 0-20mph . I would go for the much more refined 993 and enjoy the A/C .
Here come the 930 guys again ! You guys can`t say im wrong. I have driven many 930`s and they just plain suck until the top end of second gear ! That is without special tactics . And yes im talking about a stock 3.3 930 .

Kurt Williams

makaio · 10-09-2003, 07:00 PM

If it was me, I say 930! Oh yes one day I will have one. Of course the 201 is the only one of them that will increase in value.

exc911ence · exc911ence's Garage

Why not compromise and buy a Mooney PFM3200? It's got Porsche power and it truely flies!

Oldporsche · 10-09-2003, 07:08 PM

The trick to the 930 is to use the lower gear ratio so there is a little boost all the time. Many 930 owners use a different turbo with a smaller impeller so it has less inertia to overcome to spin up on boost.

Its the switch from a K-27 to a K-26 or vise versa. I can't remember.

Good luck,
David Duffield

pjv911 · pjv911's Garage

They came stock with the k26 until 1991 when porsche switched to the larger k27(and larger intercooler). The k26 has less rotational mass which will spool faster but its no comparison to the k27 for performance. A simple header upgrade with the k27 is the hot ticket . It will spool much faster(with performance headers) and have a cooler , denser air charge while offering much higher and safer boost levels. Yes the gear ratio`s are very important as well. Actually 3rd and 4th gear on the 4 spd 930 cars is overdriven past 1 to 1 . Thats why they can go so fast without even reaching redline rpm.

Kurt Williams

350HP930 · 10-09-2003, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 86930
350hp930, I sure hope you didn't take offense to my comments.

None taken. I just wanted to confirm to the non experienced that the 930 is not an unbearable experience in real traffic.

In addition to the basic mods I am also changing my ring and pinion during my rebuild/upgrade since it will be the most critical change for speeding up the car.

Who needs to go almost 200 MPH anyways? I just want to get to 20 MPH faster.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

what, no suggestions to drop a 3.6 in his existing car? You get a galvanized narrow body with 3.6 grunt. If you can sell you current engine the swap should run you less then $15K.

I think that would leave soccer moms somewhere in the dust...

BlkBird · 10-10-2003, 03:41 AM

Kurt,

I'd love to see the Soccer Mom that can leave me at a light. Of course a few goodies have found their way onto the car - K27, GHL header & muffler, fuel enrichment system... Did I mention that 89 Turbos came with a five speed?

Kidding aside, that five speed changes the gearing spread and really alters the Turbos' behaviour. Easier to keep the revs in the sweetspot without sounding like you are searching for the right selection. 2nd? 3rd? Maybe 2nd again?

I've heard a lot of negative comments from folks who have driven four speed Turbos. Not many have tried a five speed and make the same remarks.