993 Turbo versus 996 Turbo Prices

[autobonrun]

From discussions I've had with owners and mechanics, the 996 Turbo is mechanically as good or better than the 993 Turbo. I'm also told the 996 turbo doesn't suffer from the same dry sump issues as does the normally aspirated 996 model so this basis is eliminated. Recently I've noticed 2001 and a few 2002 996 turbo models selling for the same price as 1996 993 Turbo's even though the 993 TB had more miles. What's going on with these prices? I understand that demand is keeping the 993 TB prices up, but why is the demand for the 993 turbo so much greater? Were there fewer numbers of the 993 model, the fact that it is considered the last of the air cooled models, or is it just the more aggressive look of the 993 turbo makes it more desireable? If history is any indication, I'm sure improvements were made in those 5 years but that doesn't seem to be factored into the pricing at all.

Bottom line, what justifies spending the same amount for a Porsche Turbo that's 5 years older with more miles?

[aigel]

It is supply and demand. Demand is higher for the 993 for the reasons you mentioned. I think most people like the look of the 993 much over that of the 996. Porsche buys are emotional and not only determined by performance, price and mileage.

My reason to go with a 993 (hypothetically): The newer cars are not only better, they are also more complicated. I would think that I can tackle a 993 easier in my garage than I can a 996.

George

[Emission]

I've been watching 993 prices (overall) too...

It appears that seems to be the car to grab and hold these days. Prices are very strong, and the 993TT has seen impressive resale values. 1997-1998 NA coupes are generally more than $50K (30-60K miles) and not dropping.

At the same time, prices of the 996's (especially 99's) are dropping fast. 2000-2001 coupes and cabs are sub $50K (30-50K miles).

[rich22]

The drivetrain on the 996 is better, but you still have the chintzy 996 bodyshell. The crappy dash, the frameless doors, the low-grade door handles, etc. It bothers enough people to keep prices up on the 993 TT's.

[350HP930]

993 >> 996

What more needs to be said.

[aigel]

Look at the late (87-88) Carrera vs. the 964. With low miles, I think the Carrera fetches as much, if not more than the 964 with the same miles.

George

[autobonrun]

I like the point about maintainability of the 993TB over the 996TB and also about the issues related to build quality. As they get older and out of warranty, maintainability will become an important issue to the DIYer who will now be able to afford them. I had not thought of either of those as a basis. I've tried to avoid the normally aspirated discussion issues, but do you feel the 996TB will eventually fall to less than the 993TB regardless of the year? Can the 993TB hold this "emotional bump" long term?

I understand the normally aspirated 993 look and technical advantages over the 996, but the current 993 Turbo prices seems to be mainly on emotion as Aigel mentioned.

I guess the other issue is that the number of Porsche model years available is increasing. The only way for a 79 turbo to hold a $30k value in the future is for subsequent years to bottom out somewhere between there and say $70k. If this is true, perhaps a 993 TB purchase now may not be that risky in terms of a big unexpected drop later on. I can't see any turbo dropping down to the value of the normally aspirated models. 10 years from now a 993 turbo with reasonable miles may still fetch $50k plus.