Buy a 993 or 996?

[andythinks]

Hey All,
My dad is going to sell his 78 SC and step up to a newer 911.
He loves the 993 but the 996's are priced very inexpensively. He is not in it for collectibility, but are there longevity issues that have not reared there heads with the 996? How about maintenece? We do all our own work and have heard that it is hard to get parts, specifically engine parts. Any feedback would be great!!
Thanks,
Andy
(I am sticking with my 69 T , soon to be track car, for now!

[450knotOffice]

He should test drive both cars.

[911teo]

Originally posted by 450knotOffice
He should test drive both cars.

+1

that's what I did.
The 996 is more comfortable, more modern, more spacious, cheaper, you get more miles to the gallon, it's a little bit faster and it's newer.

Oh... I ended up buying the 993.
Drive them back to back... it's going to be easy to decide because even if similar in concept they are 2 different cars.

And the 996 is a great car. Don't get me wrong.

But you'll know what you want after you drive them both.

[450knotOffice]

Well put. You read my mind.

[livi]

Coincidentally, I am in the progress trying to convince my mother of 66 to buy a Porsche, specifically a 996. She will be test driving this weekend. Hopefully she falls for it. I would love to have access to a 996.

[JakeTheSnake]

Definate benefits for both.

Harder to get parts for the 993 when compared to the 996. Remember the older you go the more limits you have on parts.

The comforts will lay in the 996.

[k9handler]

993...unless the 996 is a GT3.

[lfot]

i agree with 911teo.

completely different beasts.

it's all about what excites you personally.

from my experience, porsches are about emotion, and what moves you inside as well as outside.

what moves you?

[JakeTheSnake]

Then again a 996 you can pretty much find any color & option combo you'd like. The 993's are getting harder to find so you'll have to settle or deal with miles on the clock etc.

[herman maire]

Are you guys at all concerned about the motors in the 996 non gt3/turbo cars. Or is that all just internet jibber jabber? It kinda scares me away.

I would get a 993... the styling is awsome, best dashboard/ gauge cluster in the world, dry sump motor, air cooled sound, and the motors are very reliable.

Good luck

[JakeTheSnake]

Originally posted by herman maire
Are you guys at all concerned about the motors in the 996 non gt3/turbo cars. Or is that all just internet jibber jabber? It kinda scares me away.

I would get a 993... the styling is awsome, best dashboard/ gauge cluster in the world, dry sump motor, air cooled sound, and the motors are very reliable.

Good luck

The number of real RMS issues are pretty low when compared, but should you have an unlucky one the fix is around $600. . . I knew about this early on and just figured I would bank on spending this as part of the maint.

Porsche books the tune-up at around the same.

I actually enjoy the interior change, I think it finally moved Porsche into the 20th Century.

Either way

[wolf]

996 has cupholders, which says it all for me.

993 has hips





That said, the 996 is an incredible value.

[rattlsnak]

993 .. its the last of the purebred 911s. 996s are for the non enthusiast.

[JakeTheSnake]

Originally posted by rattlsnak
993 .. its the last of the purebred 911s. 996s are for the non enthusiast.

996 has:

Navigation
Cup Holders
CD Players, Changers, CD holders
PCCB Option Brakes
PSE Option
PSM Option
Etc, etc. . .

Air cooled isn't the difference between enthusiast and non-enthusiast. We all know Jerry S. has both and by far to be an enthusiast who even has a 917 in his collection. . . . . hummm

[rattlsnak]

Hey, no disrespect at all,. I like 996/997s.. But the purist will take a 78 930 over a 02 996 turbo because of all the things you mentioned.. The newer cars do appeal to many more people who didnt like the earlier ones.

[450knotOffice]

Purists? You mean like the old purists that thought the last Porsches were the 356's because the then-new 911's had gotten too heavy and civilized? You might be right about what an air-cooled 911 purist would do, but the guy's father doesn't seem to be a purist.

[JakeTheSnake]

Originally posted by 450knotOffice
Purists? You mean like the old purists that thought the last Porsches were the 356's because the then-new 911's had gotten too heavy and civilized? You might be right about what an air-cooled 911 purist would do, but the guy's father doesn't seem to be a purist.

rattlsnak,

I have to agree with 450 on this one..... I speak with 996 owners all the time who think that the 997 was headed in a backwards direction for the headlights alone.....

I've taken more and seen more air-cooled in my life time than water cooled. Your statement just made me think "hates change" hence my reply, no-disrespect; I just think your statement was just to . . . . well what's the word?..... You know what I mean.... Cheers

[cygtoad]

There is room to appreciate both the past as well as the future when it comes to Porsche. Being a purist is just a way for individuals to look down their noses at those who have or choose something different.

Prejudice might be justifyied if the quality was not there, but they are not making Yugos over there. The truth is that Porsche doesn't really make any crap. It would be sad to see them just sit on their laurels and produce nothing new or inovative. Just look at the Cayman for example. What a great car.

I think it sad that there should be a division amongst Porsche owners due to natural changes in technology that occur over time. Just as it would be sad to see owners of newer cars look down on the older cars which are the heritage of Porsche.

"Can't we all just get along"?

[JakeTheSnake]

Originally posted by cygtoad
There is room to appreciate both the past as well as the future when it comes to Porsche. Being a purist is just a way for individuals to look down their noses at those who have or choose something different.

Prejudice might be justifyied if the quality was not there, but they are not making Yugos over there. The truth is that Porsche doesn't really make any crap. It would be sad to see them just sit on their laurels and produce nothing new or inovative. Just look at the Cayman for example. What a great car.

I think it sad that there should be a division amongst Porsche owners due to natural changes in technology that occur over time. Just as it would be sad to see owners of newer cars look down on the older cars which are the heritage of Porsche.

"Can't we all just get along"?

Well said... well said.... I can appreciate the old as well as the new, we need building blocks to get to where we are today.