If any ...what are the 993's biggest short-comings?

svonkampen · 07:41 PM

Hi all,

If any ...what are the 993's biggest short-comings?

I bought mine 1200 miles ago with 55.000 miles, and I still can't find any ;-)

The biggest kick I get (aside from driving her), is parking her, standing behind her (love the rump), and pretending she isn't mine, so I can get that longing feeling back.....and then realising ....hey she is mine!

ahhhh what a love affair ;-)

ps: I do realise this is an absolutely useless post....

SvK

Brother · 02-05-2006, 06:18 AM

price

Moses · 02-05-2006, 06:30 AM

What is it about people and their 993's? One of my good friends has a '98 targa with 140,000 miles on it. He can afford to drive anything he wants. Every year I try to buy the car from him, every year he decilines. The other day I told him that when the motor need to be rebuilt, I'll buy the car then. He said no, when the motor goes, he's going to rebuild it to a 3.8 RS spec. Oh, well.

I think the 993 is the pinnacle of the 911 line.

Jim Richards · 02-05-2006, 07:27 AM

Stock US suspension
US ride height
6-speed (I like the 964 5-speed a lot more)
Dual mass flywheel isn't bullet-proof (replaced one at ~60kmiles)
Still, they're damn nice cars.

carnutzzz · 02-05-2006, 07:33 AM

People assume you have a small doogan.

Brother · 02-05-2006, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carnutzzz
People assume you have a small doogan.

Who cares? If you are driving a 993, more women will let you prove it.

Zeke · 02-05-2006, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carnutzzz
People assume you have a small doogan.

helpful.

02-05-2006, 07:57 AM

A 993 adds 2.5".

carnutzzz · 02-05-2006, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zeke
helpful.

I must have hit a little too close to home on that one. I think there are creams and procedures that look promising though- so hang in there.

Since SvK said, "ps: I do realise this is an absolutely useless post....", I thought this was a lighthearted discussion mostly about his love-affair with the 993.

If one were to look at my post again, since I did not reply with any technical shortcomings, merely negative perceptions by the general public, one would see that I too am truly a fan of the last of the real 911's.

Also ironic and perhaps a clue that I was being less than serious, is the fact that I also drive a 911, and subject to the same perceptions by the general public.

SVK- sorry for derailing your post- but my post was truly meant to be an honest shortcoming of driving such a vehicle, but one that we obviously all shrug aside, knowing that the benefits are worth it.

svonkampen · 08:40 AM

Brother:

34.000 ou the door (includes taxes and new clutch....*(standard at 55-60miles)

carnutzzz · 02-05-2006, 08:10 AM

svonkampen-

This thread is useless without pictures!

svonkampen · 02-05-2006, 08:38 AM

carnutzzz..
yeah what-ever HAZELnutz ;-)

Your packin' nuthin' but helmet ;-)

SvK

carnutzzz · 02-05-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by svonkampen
carnutzzz..
yeah what-ever HAZELnutz ;-)

Your packin' nuthin' but helmet ;-)

SvK

And always in need of a good polishin'!

02-05-2006, 09:01 AM

pwd72s · 09:12 AM

Hey, let's get serious here guys, I'm thinking about it..a '98 C2S.
You see, there used to be a happy camp in the longnose community. No longer, since the prices escalated, the whine & cheese braggarts moved in waving checkbooks, inflating the values, all tall dogs seeing who can buy the most toys, pee highest up the post. The average Joe enthusiasts are still around, but they are being shoved aside, and are leaving in disgust. I'm sick of being around these types. Ironically, this price inflation may be my escape. I'm thinking the 993 is getting old enough that it might be the car with the social circle the pre 1974 911 used to enjoy. So c'mon, really...other than clutch, what other problems? Electronic issues? Cost of service? Difficult to work on? What's the scoop? Any year have weaknesses that other years don't? You know the drill...
I'm not making any hasty decisions here, but I am exploring options. (edit) Mark...please tell me that's a photchop...you didn't actually BUY one of those, did you??? HOOT!

02-05-2006, 09:41 AM

Paul,
Here's my assesment after a few months of ownership.

There are two main problems with the 993 that seam to repeat. One, they have weak valve guides (much like the 3.2 Carrera) than can wear and cause excessive oil consumption. Many 993's have had valve jobs early in their lives. I was lucky and found one that had a warranty top end at 35K miles. Others are not so lucky and are shelling out $4K for the work. This problem seams to be as inconsistant as in the 3.2 years. I've read for hours about it and there is no consensus which years are worse and which driving habits and/or maintenance habits help or hurt it.

Second significant problems area is a part of the emmisions system called SAI(Secondary air injection) on the 96-98 OBDII cars. The 95 has OBDI and is not affected by this. This system consists of an air pump and a one way valve that blows are through some passages in the head at startup to reduce emmissions. The problem comes in when carbon builds up and blocks the passages causing a CEL (check engine light) to light up. This does not affect he performance, but will cause the car tp fail smog. Some people have linked the excessive oil consumption from worn valve guides to the SAI/CEL problem.There are some shops now that can clean the SAI passages to clear the CEL and get by smog. That proceedure costs about $1K. Theres no consensus yet how long this lasts. Porsche still wants to do a valve job to clear CEL.

Other small things are the stock clutch is usually toast at 30-40K, stock shocks wear out at 35K, and the rear tires wear quickly.

As I said, I was lucky to find my 4S with the big repairs completed, but would have taken a chance even without the repairs. The car is really satisfying to drive the piss out of!

The nutz are a chop job for the kiddies.

02-05-2006, 09:44 AM

One other thing - 993's in general seem to be holding their value very well. The 2S and 4S may even be appreciating.

jmz · jmz's Garage

...how are the whine & cheese braggarts different from the way many of the long-hood snobs view the post 74 crowd? both are kind of snobby in there own way.

pwd72s · 02-05-2006, 09:51 AM

Thanks Mark...next up is to see if my 34" inseam legs & 6'3" height work in a 993...

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

The points about the lousy US ride height and suspension are spot on. SAI is a PITA, but solvable. Accelerated engine wear (valve guide and maybe SAI) might be related to the fact that these cars are fun to drive - and people put more of them into stop and go traffic than any earlier era 911. So one idea is to find a car from a cool climate that was not sitting in traffic every day.

Minor point is the ugly front and rear bumperettes. If you don't want to buy new bumper covers and don't want to bondo, paint them or get painted ones from bumperplugs.com.

Mine is spending much time up on jack stands becoming unceremoniously stripped of the daily driver refinement so it can fulfill its destiny to spend its life chewing up asphalt on the track.

993's are wonderful cars!