Am I completely crazy?

[ActionDad]

I am new to Porsche ownership (about one year in) and took the simplistic yet sage advice to buy the newest 911 I could afford. I ended up with a wonderful little 993 Carrera 4 that has been nothing but fun...almost everything I was expecting and hoping for in a car like this.

Here's the rub...I think it may be more car than I was looking for. It kinda has a smoothness and a slickness that I wasn't expecting. It comes across more like a new Audi then it does my Dad's old Morgan, not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison but anyway. Is it madness to be thinking of selling it to get into an older 911....a 3.2 or maybe even an SC?

I'd really appreciate hearing your take on the experiences you've had in these cars (911's in general, 993's vs. 3.2 specifically).

Am I crazy to be thinking of making this move?

Cheers and thanks.

AD

[Christien]

Not at all. In fact, I'll trade you straight up my 72 911T for your 993

Drive a few 3.2s and SCs and see what you think. Although many consider the 993 to be the pinnacle of the 911 line.

[Scott at Pelican Parts]

That makes perfect sense. I've had a 993. Now I have a '71. Night and day. You may need to go older than a SC/Carrera to get to where you want to go...

edit - in my 993, I could go 100 and it felt like 60. In my 911E, I can go 60 and it feels like 100 :-)

[MotoSook]

You're not crazy at all. Those who have driven older sports cars with a more viceral feel to them generally don't forget the sensations that come with piloting such a vehicle.

I have a '89 3.2 Carrera, but I'd rather drive my '76 911 with the 3.0 liter engine. The Carrera is nice for going out to dinner or for long trips, but for fun spirited driving on the street, the '76 is my prefered vehicle. I've driven new 911s than my '89, and they are nice yet don't make you feel a part of the car.

[crosby50]

Where are you located? If you're in or around the NY/NJ/CT area I'd trade cars for a few hours. I've owned a 3.2 Cab for a few months and love it but have always admired the 993 shape. I've toyed with the idea of buying one but have yet to drive the 993.

[snbush67]

I agree, somtimes you just want the go-kart feel, even better with a top off (Targa plug).

[the]

I don't think you're crazy at all - 993 is a great car, of course, but the torsion bar cars are great, too, in different ways.

Just depends on what you want. I too have been tempted by the 993, but they are just too modern for me, too. I've come to realize that pretty much no car built after 1989 suits me.

I hear what Scott is saying about going earlier than an SC/Carrera, and I would have agreed with that 10 years ago. But now our SC/Carreras are starting to border on "antique" (ok, maybe not antique, but certainly old!).

IMO, there is nothing "new Audi" about SC/Carreras. They have a nice old school feel with their non-boosted steering and torsion bar suspension, are still relatively lightweight (compared to a "modern" car), small dimensions, etc.

I love the early cars, too, but they truly are antiques. Really nice ones are starting to get to be big $$. I'd love to have a perfect, well sorted, rust free '73 S or E. But I wouldn't want to pay the current "speculator/collector" price for that, not when there are so many awesome values in the SC/Carrera market. And I wouldn't want a shady early car, too many rust issues, etc.

[jittsl]

Not crazy at all. Have a GT3 and it is wonderful but recently added a 71 911E / S just to have the experience of actually having to work to go fast. Most of the time (at realistic city speeds) I prefer the 71.

[vesnyder]

Agree 100%. I had a '67 that saw a premature death and I long for that car. After that the SC Cab I currently have seems so much less raw, which I really enjoyed about my '67. Lasy year I bought a 914 that has a lot of the '67 attributes and gives me the best of both worlds. I would love a 993, but after reading your thread I'll keep what I have - maybe some day when I'm an old man!

[t6dpilot]

AD, that is exactly why I am an early 911 nut! Well, one of the reasons... I have driven the 996 on the street and track and it is just to refined for what I want - blindingly fast, but refined. I was looking for a visceral experience when blasting my 911 around town - noisy, quick, nimble, lightweight, and somewhat raw. And I wanted to do all this below triple digits. The early 911 accomplishes that in abundance and it looks great doing it.

I vote the early 911 route. Or maybe a mid year with a 3.0 and 2 in, 2 out sport muffler. Good luck with the hunt.

[CBRacerX]

I have both, and like them both for certain tasks. There is no doubt that the 993 is just a great 911 package, period. Sounds great, stops great and the rear suspension is excellent. You even get working A/C! And the interior still feels like a true 911.

The 3.2 Carrara feels somewhat lighter, and is certianly much more of a handful on rough roads and in the wet. Heat and A/C? Yeah, it has them and they work, but more Beetle than Audi

View out the front? The 3.2 every time, those fenders are just terrific. Fun to work on? The 3.2 again, I've done a clutch change and services on the 933 and it is more time consuming to deal with.

Uniqueness factor? 3.2 again, they are getting rarer and you really only see enthusiast drivers these days. This is also starting to be the case with the 993, but there are still some commuters out there tooling around in them.

It might not matter to you, but the on track experience with the 3.2 is much more involving. And since the limits are lower, spirited street driving can occur with a bit less fear of license loss.

The "look back after a drive" factor? The 3.2 gets me again, since it is iconic/classic/unique in todays jelly bean world.

[berettafan]

action you need to find some pelicans in your area and go for some joy rides. you're welcome to my passenger seat if you are on the Md. shore (well...after i get the carbs back together and........okay, lets say April 15 or so).

Erik

[ActionDad]

This board is amazing. Thanks all for your replies and your offers to drive cars...I am in Boston and since winter has decided to not show-up am happily driving my car. Anyone out there wanna make an afternoon of it and swap cars and driving impressions?

[CBRacerX]

Next time you are in the New Hope, PA area you are welcome to the "Silver Bullet" for a bit. And no, it's not for sale

[jittsl]

Don't know which Boston you're in but the Boston in MA where I am is pouring rain at the moment otherwise I would take you up on the offer. I finally and reluctantly put the 71 away for the winter on the weekend but I nice sunny day probably would have dragged it out again.

[911boost]

Sell the 993 and buy an early 930. That'll force you to concentrate while your driving....

Bill

[dd74]

ActionDad - don't fret. The 993 4 is a very nice car. My neighbor just bought one - his is a 993 4S, and he loves it.

My tastes, however, gravitate to nothing newer than a 964, and even then, I've heard all previous 911 models up to the earliest 911s on this board, more driving appeal. But appeal is very subjective. Yes, while knowing the early air-cooled cars are probably some of the strongest-built and most reliable performance-oriented automobiles in history, one needs to take that with a grain of salt. The early cars are no doubt louder, more difficult to drive, and have a less compliant ride. I'm not certain earlier cars are all that slower, because speed depends on how and where you drive. Also, it's a very good bet that the earlier cars may have an increased number of small quirks and idiosyncracies from simply being older, and that in itself, may be a drag to deal with as you own a Porsche.

In any event, there is a good chance that you might sell your 993, get an SC or Carrera, and absolutely hate yourself in the end.

My thought is as you're a new owner, that you should simply deal with the devil you now have, and enjoy it as much as possible. Make it your daily driver for a month or so, then take it to a couple track events. Learn the car and its behavior.

[Drago]

You're not crazy.

I went from an '87 Carrera to a '69 coupe. Couldn't be happier.

Scratch that, if I sell the Carrera I'll be happier.

[Loaded]

sounds about right do it

[rbuswell]

is really all about repair bills IMHO. If you don't mind a few frustrations with things needing fixing and maybe some renovation costs up front, many Porsche guys would say buy the oldest car you can afford.

I bought an '82 SC because I wanted the classic air-cooled car feel and sound and to be able to work on it. I don't think I'd be comfortable working on your car. You probably wouldn't be comfortable with me working on your car either, now that I think about it.