911 for 993?

Ashley Bowler · Ashley Bowler's Garage

Would I be opening myself up for a world of misery if I sold my 88 Carrera with 51,000 miles on it and picked up a 97 993 coupe with 100,000 miles on the clock?

The 88 runs beautifully and I don't know if a 993 with that type of mileage could be a potential money pit.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

bigrubberjeep · 07-26-2006, 09:15 PM

as much as I love the 88 I think the 993 is a beauty of a car, who's to say the 88 wont end up being a money pit some day soon? One can never tell even though the ods are that it wont. The 993 might be good for another 70K with no issues too so just live it up and buy the one you really want to drive. Life is to short to worry about milage!

Jack Olsen · 07-26-2006, 09:20 PM

All cars are a potential money pit, always. Regular maintenance simply betters our chances against disaster.

993's are beautiful and fast.

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

I can speak from personal experience. I purchased my 97 with 78K miles last fall. It had service records including most important recent maintanance work. Currently it is at 100,600 miles, runs great and is very fast. Much faster than the 86 Carrera. I sold the 86 Carrera by the way, it was a great car but a little out of date for a daily driver.

I put about $4K in to the 993 for a new suspension, new cab top (didnt need it but wanted it to be like new)... and the car is just sweet.

My advice would be to buy one with an extensive service history... try to get one that has an updated suspension with Bilsteins and new springs, lowered helps. So the 993 has been excellent car for me... faster, more modern, has a/c that works well, handles very nice and flat.. etc...Check out the www.rennlist.com 993 board for more info.

beepbeep · 07-26-2006, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ashley Bowler
Would I be opening myself up for a world of misery if I sold my 88 Carrera with 51,000 miles on it and picked up a 97 993 coupe with 100,000 miles on the clock?

The 88 runs beautifully and I don't know if a 993 with that type of mileage could be a potential money pit.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

No way in hell. 993 is the best of aircooled generation. I would gladely trade in 930 or Carrera for one of those ('cept if equipped with slushbox). Of course, you need to steer away from maintenance pigs but that's the case with any car.

SLO-BOB · 07-27-2006, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ashley Bowler
Would I be opening myself up for a world of misery if I sold my 88 Carrera with 51,000 miles on it and picked up a 97 993 coupe with 100,000 miles on the clock?

The 88 runs beautifully and I don't know if a 993 with that type of mileage could be a potential money pit.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You should be able to get a decent price for your 88 considering the miles and if all else is excellent. I should think $22k isn't at all out of line. If you are patient, you should be able to find a nice 95 993 with 70-80k miles for 28k or so. Why are you thinking 100k? Is there a car that has come up?

There's a lot of info on 993s Do a search and you'll find out what to expect. I've been told they are great cars, as well they should be considering they are the final itineration of our favorite design. I would have a thorough ppi done with an emphasis on the OBDII issues on 96 and later 993s.

That said, I would take a well maintained car at 100k miles over a neglected one at 50k.

07-27-2006, 04:29 AM

You'd be crazy to trade a perfectly good bumper car for a 993.
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Oh, wait.

GrantG · GrantG's Garage

A 993 is certainly more difficult to work on if you like to do your own work. I have a 73 and a 96 and it's easy and fun to do things like spark plugs and wire replacements on the 73. The 96 requires disassembling a good part of the car just to get access to certain plugs (and there are twice as many). No valve adjusts on the 993 though...

Driving them is very different as well (993 is a much better long-distance cruiser and 911 makes a more involving canyon carver with less weight and manual steering).

Drive several 993's and make sure you're choosing a good one - there's alot of variability among them (just like 911's). I love them both

jevvy · 07-27-2006, 06:08 AM

why dont you sell the nice one, buy a roller and put a 3.6 out of a 993 in it - you get some best bits of both worlds then

Ashley Bowler · Ashley Bowler's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by SLO-BOB
You should be able to get a decent price for your 88 considering the miles and if all else is excellent. I should think $22k isn't at all out of line. If you are patient, you should be able to find a nice 95 993 with 70-80k miles for 28k or so. Why are you thinking 100k? Is there a car that has come up?

There's a lot of info on 993s Do a search and you'll find out what to expect. I've been told they are great cars, as well they should be considering they are the final itineration of our favorite design. I would have a thorough ppi done with an emphasis on the OBDII issues on 96 and later 993s.

That said, I would take a well maintained car at 100k miles over a neglected one at 50k.

Yes Bob, a car has come up. It's a black coupe with tan interior. Overall it's an 8/10 to look at. The seller (who's not a car buff) wants 25K for it.
I think if I could see somewhere in the low twenties for mine, I'd be a fool not to do it.

SLO-BOB · 07-27-2006, 08:01 AM

25k is a great price if the ppi checks out. I'de be all over that.

Good luck!

911teo · 07-27-2006, 08:02 AM

The 993 is another small step away from the original 911. Don't get me wrong it's a beautiful looking car but... in terms of pure driving pleasure the older 911s are better.

The 993 is heavier, less willing to turn in (dialled in a lot of understeer) and the G50/20 is so frustrating.. The 1st is too short and the 2nd waaaaay to long. 3rd is ok, but 4th and 5th are again long. And the 6th is useless.

The 993 can be a FANTASTIC driver's car... but it' a lot more money to mod than the Carrera.

I don't know... if you are looking for a daily driver then yes, but as a second car I wouldn't do it...

This is my 993

And this was my 88 Carrera before the 3.6 swap

aigel · aigel's Garage

I don't know what all this "driving pleasure" blurb is about. The 993 will outrun and outbreak your Carrea every day of the week and twice on sunday. Would you rather have an underpowered gocart or a refined high power driving machine? Sure, gocarts are fun, but come on!

You may want to ask this question on the 993 list as well.

I just did the move from an 81 to a 97 and couldn't be happier. The 993 makes me feel at home but it does everything so much better than the 81.

GO FOR IT! Just my two cents,

George

quattrorunner · quattrorunner's Garage

Ashley Bowler,
I feel your 88 should be worth mid twentys. It's the G-50 got all the goodies, newer, andlow miles add up to a higher priced carrera. I have seen them selling for high twenties (don't know if they sell though). That being said, I guess I would get the 993. But slso a cheep sc if you will miss working on a car (easy to work on and plenty to do on it)
Teo,
You are a lucky SOB! I guess not luck, buy I am jeolous of the things you have and will soon have back.

911teo · 07-27-2006, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aigel
I don't know what all this "driving pleasure" blurb is about. The 993 will outrun and outbreak your Carrea every day of the week and twice on sunday. Would you rather have an underpowered gocart or a refined high power driving machine?

George

I also have a CLK55 AMG. The Benz demolishes the 993 in any public road situation. Yes on a racetrack with slicks etc the 993 would probably be faster but by your standards the CLK will outrun, outbrake the 993 everyday...

But if I have to take the car by myself the CLK stays in the garage. Who cares that I can get to 60 1 sec faster? It's how I get there.
Also the 993 is so much more responsive and has much more feedback that it's more rewarding.
I like to nail evey apex of my imaginary track when I drive. With the Benz everything is so vague that it's frustrating.

Now the Carrera does everything the 993 does a little slower but with a little more feedback.
I find it more rewarding.

As I said I could fit the 993 with PSS9s, lower it a little, get rid of 2-300lbs and you have a rocket in your hands (Bill Verburg care to chime in here?).

Leland Pate · 07-27-2006, 08:42 AM

Many of us have made the swap from older 911's to 993's as of late. I don't know of one person who has regretted that decision.

I love my 993 and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world shy of a 993 with spin wheels.

aigel · aigel's Garage

Matteo:

The difference between any touring car like your MB and the 993 is that the 993 still is a 911. It still very much handles like a 911, still has the same instrument cluster layout, roof line, seating position etc. It is more evolved but far from a touring car. And on the track the 993 will beat the 3.2 Carrera of course. Add a suspension, some more power and a good set of 18" wheels and you are in business. Curb weight is only just over 3000 pounds on the narrow body. That is not much different from the 3.2 Carrera.

Anyway, I don't think anyone here believes the move is a bad idea. I certainly don't!Here is mine.

George

Ashley Bowler · Ashley Bowler's Garage

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 911teo
[B]The 993 is another small step away from the original 911. Don't get me wrong it's a beautiful looking car but... in terms of pure driving pleasure the older 911s are better.

The 993 is heavier, less willing to turn in (dialled in a lot of understeer) and the G50/20 is so frustrating.. The 1st is too short and the 2nd waaaaay to long. 3rd is ok, but 4th and 5th are again long. And the 6th is useless.

The 993 can be a FANTASTIC driver's car... but it' a lot more money to mod than the Carrera.

I don't know... if you are looking for a daily driver then yes, but as a second car I wouldn't do it...

So, is the 993 a softer, more comfortable ride? I like the idea of a working A/C and a ride that isn't as hard core, if you know what I mean.

My wife when she does ride in the 88 is miserable , she says it feels every bump. I really wouldn't mind getting into something that is more luxurious but still a rear air-cooled P-car.

911teo · 07-27-2006, 09:11 AM

ehehe I like your ride.. same color combo as mine. Since the pics I swapped the 17" for 18" turbo twist, lowered it and installed RS splitters...

I made my comments a little tongue in cheeks. The 993 is objectively a better car. I drive it every day. BUT on a Sunday morning, with a clear twisty road I prefer the Carrera.

I purchased the CLK because it was toaking a long time to have my 911 fixed. And it was not what I was looking for.

So I decided I wanted a 911... and I bought a 993. I could have had a nice 88 Carrera if I really wanted it that much.

Maybe i did not express myself clearly and I apologize. I love the 993 and for me is a perfect all rounder. I drive it to work, to the grocery store, I take the kiddies to school in it etc.

But I find it a little less immediate than the carrera. The power steering alone introduces a layer between you and the road. The car is at least 300lbs heavier etc. The G50/01 was in my opinion a better spaced transmission than the G50/20...

I am just trying to give my opinion. It should be unbiased as I don't have any intention of selling my 993...

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

The 993 can be a FANTASTIC driver's car... but it' a lot more money to mod than the Carrera

and thats the truth

Stock my 993 was about equal to my C3 in fun to drive. Modified theres no comparison. 993 wins hands down.

At a minimum you Need to get ROW M030 or aftermarket equivalent suspension.

after than it depends, high on my list would be a trans regear which will totally transform the car. Stock the 6 spd is just awful unless your goal is mpg.