Is a 993 practical for everyday use ?

[AUS911SC3]

I'm just about to trade in my 2009 a4 Audi (everyday car). As such considering a 94 tipt. 993 as my daily drive however I'm concerned about ongoing Maintanence, longevity, reasonable practicality etc. Has anybody had/ have a 993 as daily driver. Love to hear your thoughts

[wrxtremest]

Just sell the Audi and be done with it

I sold my 2005 S4 14 months ago and have been driving my 1980 SC every day (40 miles) ever since!

[Carrerax]

It is very practical as a DD. Fyi, they didnt have 993's (in the US) as MY 94. They start as 95's although many were sold in 94. I should have never sold mine!

[911lvr]

I love my Audi. Great DD.. keep it and get the 993

[Paul K]

Depends on how far you drive it. 911s don't like short trips (oil not up to operating temperature). Otherwise, they are great as a DD.

[dw1]

It also depends on where you will be driving it.

911's are not great winter cars. Even the models with all-wheel drive have issues in lousy winter weather due to their low ground clearance and wide tires.

[jibmaster1]

Originally Posted by dw1

It also depends on where you will be driving it.

911's are not great winter cars. Even the models with all-wheel drive have issues in lousy winter weather due to their low ground clearance and wide tires.

I absolutely LOVE my 85" RoW Carrera-as my second car! I live about 500ft on a steep hill above sea level North in the Puget Sound region. I get snow frequently, and travel in the mountains a lot in the winter. My 02' 6MT allroad that is chipped, and tuned perfectly is I feel fairly close to the acceleration performance of the 911. But doesn't hold a candle to the performance in the snow! This car can raise up to 8" with the touch of a button which gives me ample ground clearance in the snow too.
I have two daughters, so the wagon is much more practical then the 911 day to day. Trust me, I feel very lucky to have the option to drive both when I open the garage. IMHO they're two really phenominal german cars. I would wager the Porsche is actually cheaper to maintain then the allroad. The 09' A4 is a pretty nice ride-keep it!
It's all about the 'feel' of what kind of drive you want when you get behind the wheel of your car! I can tell you my pulse quickens a lot faster when I slide into those tight sport seats and bring that flat six to life than I do the allroad *snore*. The visceral emotion of the 911 doesn't compare to many cars.
The thread is such a social dilemma...

[Kidasters]

Yes and no.

The 3.6 in the 993 with Varioram might be the best air cooled engine they made. Plus - a lot of the bugs in the 964 engine are gone with the 993.

The bad - the dreaded "Check Engine Light" - caused by carbon build up in the secondary air ports in the engine. If you live in a state that checks for emissions, then the CEL being on will not allow you to pass emissions.

And to fix it - you have to dismantle the engine. Seriously. And it's really stupid.

Finally - if you are a DIY mechanic, the 993 is pretty challenging to work on. Way tougher than the SC, Carrera or 964. And the parts prices are high.

My verdict - If you want a low cost daily - this ain't it.

PS - and like was said before, 95 is the first year of the 993 in the US.

Ken

[BK911]

I drive 35 miles each way to work and alternate between a '72 914 and a '62 356. So a 993 should be fine.

[jdbunda]

Ten years ago I had a 993 as a DD here in Austin, where winter weather is not really an issue. By far my biggest complaint was cost of ownership, including multiple lengthy repair issues, partially due to parts availability. When I bought the car, I was impressed by all of the rock solid reliability claims I read, but that was not my experience - three of the eighteen months I owned the car, it was in the shop for service. I think an 80s Carrera is a far better DD candidate than a 993 (and that is what I have now). Not trying to rain on the parade, but personally, I think the 993 is overrated.

[DaveHak]

The 993 is too special of a car to be a DD...They dont like short trips, and AC. Thats my 2 cents..

[kilodawg]

My '96 993 with Tip is my daily driver and it does just great. Much better than an earlier car. More comfortable, better air etc. I find it funny that when you look at the big picture we get scolded for either driving them too little or too much....