What is the best or preferred year model of 993?

[6S219]

I want to do my research and due diligence and try to get as much information as I can before committing to purchase a 993. I could use some help from those who know these cars as to which is the best year model to purchase? I've had different opinions, and I appreciate all the information that I can get so that I may make an educated decision when the time comes to purchase.
Thank you in advance for your replies!

[soundbehindyou]

No best year, just the best car you can find for the money...

[crg53]

Your choices are, none varioram vs. varioram, C2 vs. C4, wide body vs. narrow body, and the "S" model, and then of cause the turbo. It's then up to you to decide what you really want and the price range that you are comfortable with. They are all great cars, so find the best one within your budget.

[KNS]

Well, many say that the 1995 model year (also sold throughout most of 1994) is simpler to own because of the lack of the SAI check engine light. A light illuminated may cause headaches at emission inspection time. Also, many of the 1995s don't have the Drive Block (anti theft) which has given some owners fits.

Nineteen ninety fives don't have the Varioram so they are down a bit on horsepower compared to later models.

As mentioned above, though, find the nicest example you can.

[Bill Verburg]

Since you live in Ca. emission inspections are going to be imporatant

'95 is the last year for OBD1 which is easier to get past emission inspections than the '96 up OBD2 cars.

All US 993 have a check engine light and SAI system, the '95s won't throw a flag that will cause emissions failure, 96 up will if there is an isue w/ blocked ports(there usually is)

"95 is also the last year where the chip is user swapable, this is nice if you want a performance chip or if you want to add vram. Adding vram is very easy once you have the parts.

vram has more torque overall than non, most noticeably in the midrange where you will likely use it a lot

[6S219]

Thanks for the replies. What has been the general consensus on 1995 cars that have over 100,000
miles with what appears to be good service records? My mechanic is saying that is an extensive amount of miles if proper maintenance has not been done on the car.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 6S219

Thanks for the replies. What has been the general consensus on 1995 cars that have over 100,000
miles with what appears to be good service records? My mechanic is saying that is an extensive amount of miles if proper maintenance has not been done on the car.

Go by the condition as seen in the particular car you are looking at, 100k mi is nothing if the car has been taken care of and all the little problems addressed properly as they arose over the years.

[Rufian]

Either the first(95')....or the last...(98').

[BimmerDob]

The best one is the one you can afford and you enjoy driving.

For me the best are the two I have, oh and Bill's and Juha's and KMR RSR 001's and ...

A '95 is a good place to start.

[rayng]

i'd get the best 95 you can find. vram is not an issue, but emissions is a huge issue in socal.

low mileage 98s are not worth the premium imo.

[wesleyc]

If I had to deal with emissions a 95 would be on my radar. No emission standards in my state. But I have a non imobilizer ( early 95). I chipped it and installed performance exhaust. ( thanks to KNS for cat bypass) which makes up for a little lost power from vram models.

[KNS]

^^ Glad you like it!!

I looked for a '95 just to avoid any potential headaches. Just breezed through emissions a couple of weeks ago in the 993.

[Rinty]

Originally Posted by 6S219

...which is the best year model to purchase?...

For me, the biggest worry item on a 993 is the Immobilizer. If there is a failure in the system, the car won't start, and you're in a remote area, you have a major problem.

The easiest model years to de activate the Immobilizer are '95, '97 and '98.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Rinty

For me, the biggest worry item on a 993 is the Immobilizer. If there is a failure in the system, the car won't start, and you're in a remote area, you have a major problem.

The easiest model years to de activate the Immobilizer are '95, '97 and '98.

'95 is easy to bypass the immobilizer, you need a chip(this can be swapped by the owner) and a relay bypass(OE part from Porsche) the relay can also be bypassed w/ a wire which you can make up easily enough

for the '97 and 98 the DME must be pulled from the car and reflashed by a specialist, the relay bypass is the same as for '95

[bri450sl]

I'm so happy with my '95 993. I had no knowledge of the immobilizer and the issues some have had. I chose based on price and condition and just got lucky. Not bragging, but just amazed - for a 20 year old vehicle, my '95 has been trouble free and I drive it all over the great U.S. of A.

[autobonrun]

In today's market, purchase the best one you can buy with full maintenance records. Seriously, I wouldn't add another requirement to my search. Trying to find a mechanically sound, maintained car in the color you want with the options you require is enough of a limitation. I'd buy a 95-98 regardless of the year.

98 will carry some weight because it's the last year for the 993 line. 95 will be preferred by others because it's OBD1 so no CEL light from SAI issues.

96 has some limitations related to easy upgrade of the ECU if you decided to chip it. I know the 96 also has 1st and 2nd gear fixed on the shaft if changing the gear set is something you might want to do in the future. A complete gear set is expensive. For that matter, even 3-6 gear change is expensive. I don't know if other MY 993's have the same tranny design or not with respect to the fixed 1st/2nd gear set. With that said, I have a 1996.

[aigel]

I have never heard a guy owning a VR car regretting it and wanting the 95 for ease of smog. It usually is only the 95 guys that claim this.

None of the issues you may encounter on the VR are unsolvable or super-complicated, especially if you DIY. Smog is a technical aspect just like any other technical detail on these cars. The 993 is more complicated than an accordion bumper car, but it rewards you with much better performance.

I have mixed feelings about higher mileage cars. They do wear out. With 100k they may not need anything but they are closer to needing major attention. My car needed a new differential assembly at about 140k and this resulted in a "might as well" full transmission rebuild with a GT LSD, steel synchros, shift forks, wevo shift coupler etc. etc. My engine is great, but it had been rebuilt at about 70k by TRG due to the PO money shifting it.

G

[Farrell]

how about a car with 200k? i was looking at one of those recently, its a great deal for a 993 and i know these motors can last if taken care of, but its not just the motor that goes out, its suspension, clutch, syncros etc. but for a car that starts with a low 3 its definitely on my radar...

[Rinty]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

'95 is easy to bypass the immobilizer...

I remember your interesting thread in the Rennlist on this.

[Rinty]

Originally Posted by aigel

I have never heard a guy owning a VR car regretting it and wanting the 95 for ease of smog. It usually is only the 95 guys that claim this.

None of the issues you may encounter on the VR are unsolvable or super-complicated, especially if you DIY.... Smog is a technical aspect just like any other technical detail on these cars....

My impression from reading many Rennlist threads over the years is that not many owners of '96 - '98 cars worry about Varioram issues. I certainly didn't when I had my '96. IIRC, it's pretty easy to test the system, and pretty easy to fix.

I do think that many OBD2 car owners worry about passing smog tests.

But the reality of the current market is that you have to move quickly if you want to acquire a well maintained car.