993 Tune up really all that bad??

[rhart]

I've owned lots of P cars over the years but find I'm becoming attracted to the 95-98 993's in particular the C2s and C4s.

I just visited the local mechanic (all I can do is turn them on with a key) and he had **it fit when I mentioned 993's. He went on and on about how hard they are to work on. He gets $2,500 for a tune up on one. He even impugned people that buy them. What is the deal?? Are they really that bad? Or did he have a bad dream about one?

Thanks in Adv.
Rick

[cgfen]

Originally Posted by rhart

I've owned lots of P cars over the years but find I'm becoming attracted to the 95-98 993's in particular the C2s and C4s.

I just visited the local mechanic (all I can do is turn them on with a key) and he had **it fit when I mentioned 993's. He went on and on about how hard they are to work on. He gets $2,500 for a tune up on one. He even impugned people that buy them. What is the deal?? Are they really that bad? Or did he have a bad dream about one?

Thanks in Adv.
Rick

sounds like your mechanic is a real whiner, but if he was dreaming of changing the plugs and wires, he has a point, but a 964 is similarly a PITA.
can't speak to his pricing, i do my own work

buy a 993
find another mechanic

simple

[vintage guy]

Not that much different from earlier cars. Oils changes are a bit more difficult but offset by no valve adjustments. As mentioned, 12 plugs and wires are pricey.

[g_vaxed]

I'm about to do the plugs on my 993 & can either remove the muffler or drop the motor a few inches... decisions, decisions...:-). Yes, the plugs and oil change proceedures make me shake my head a bit, but it's offset by no valve adjustments (earlier said) + ice cold AC + a 3.6 that makes enormous power. Fuel & Air filter changes are equal to earlier models. Take cgfen's advice - find another mechanic!

[rhart]

Unfortunately he is the only guy in town. The only other works on 964's and older.

[dad911]

Then drive to another town. That guy sounds like an overpriced whiner.....

[rhart]

Whiner for sure. I'm still waiting for what a tune should cost for this car. Isn't $2,500 too much?

[yel911]

The sparkplugs on the front right side are hard to get at. One of them gave me some crap with the motor out!!! Other than that, dist caps, rotors and don't forget the dist. drive belt!!! Do it, you'll be happy you did.

[Schwarzeritter]

Get a 993, you'll be happy.
I hear this, read this, all cars have their share of complications, I hear this or that complaint about all generations. So that said honestly, you'll be fine.

I wouldt be so quick to judge the mechanic, it's hard to judge a man.

Some people " mechanics or other " can be a bit dramatic, but then again I've been a strong advocate of " being able at any given time capable of having their machine kept up right and solid! " Then again this goes back to my point of people buying things they can't afford in the first place and then justifying it.

Anyways, it's not that bad.
The 993 C2 C4 and so on are awsome! Besides if it makes you happy and if applicable wife allows, and you won't economically be effected do it, just be sure to find a up right and proper example vs a project.

^_^

[rhart]

Thanks for the answers guys. I'm STILL trying to find out what an average tuneup costs in average town west coast usa. Anybody out there buy a tune on a 993 in the last year??

[Tyson Schmidt]

He is technically correct. The 993 is the most difficult to service.

The one advantage is they don't need valve adjustments, but the downside to that is that they still need valve cover gaskets at about the 60K mile mark anyway, and because they don't need valve adjustments, Porsche didn't exactly make the valve covers so easy to remove.

The #6 intake spark plug is a nightmare. But I always did that one first while I was still fresh, then the others remaining seemed like a breeze.

Still, they are like anything. You figure out how to service them quickly with practice. And the skin on your forearms does eventually grow back after changing the plugs.

[Rikao4]

come on folks..
enough of it's hard..
but you can do it...
some of you must pay for this..
how much should he expect to pay for a tune-up..

Rika

[rbogh901]

It might depend on what $2500 includes. He might be doing some pretty significant work in his tune up. Did he detail it?

[rbogh901]

ps, in exchange for avoiding valve adjustments with 993's you buy new rear tires at about the same intervals, pretty much about the same cost. still a great car. maintenance may be a bit more than with my minivan but then, hey, it's not a minivan. and a tune up should go a long way.

[cgfen]

Originally Posted by Rikao4

come on folks..
enough of it's hard..
but you can do it...
some of you must pay for this..

Rika

must pay for this?????????
why?
it's easy.
LOL

O.P. could always just call another shop if he's really interested

here's one
European Motors
760.599.9307
Ask for Scott

good luck!

[john walker's workshop]

8 hours labor plus parts, runs about $1300 or thereabouts.

[rhart]

Yea!!
Thanks for the answer. Getting it was as hard as getting to plug #6.
Thanks John and Rika

[Stealth 993]

993's are reliable, & need a tune up every 30kmi, & one yearly oil change, or 15kmi change. If that is to much for you, then don't get the car.

The plug are not hard to change out, they just take some time, and are really no different from any other twin plug 911. in fact the 993 exhaust is FAR easier to drop, & is much lighter then the older systems.

Oil changes are about the same as the 964, it's the engine filter that adds about 15min to the oil change, that they say only change every other oil change. I do mine every year.

On the plug wires, they are a ROYAL PITA to replace, but that's like every 15 years. My back was sore from doing mine for 2 days, it's just a bad position to be in for a long time. But really only took me another 3 hours over changing plugs, most of that was the learning curve.