RE: Porsche 911 (993) Carrera 4: PH Carpool
Discussion
A great write up Highway.
Re the C4 comments, for me when looking (for 2.5 years!) it had to be narrow body, varioram and C2, however I'd implore anyone looking for a 993 NOT to follow that, to simply get the best one they can. Life's too short, they're all superb and an utter joy to own - and I like to think I know what I'm talking about after 8.5 years
Re the C4 comments, for me when looking (for 2.5 years!) it had to be narrow body, varioram and C2, however I'd implore anyone looking for a 993 NOT to follow that, to simply get the best one they can. Life's too short, they're all superb and an utter joy to own - and I like to think I know what I'm talking about after 8.5 years
.... A very well considered real-world write up - well done. The description bought back memories of my silver 993 4S manual that I parted with (somewhat foolishly some would say in 2012) - it had to go when I realised I'd covered about 4,000 miles in nearly 8 years of ownership and it was more of an garage queen than a weekly drive, and pending front end re-spray, and suspension work were looming.
I do remember 'pushing on' in it once or twice though on the rare occasion when the environment and conditions were perfect, and it was impressive for a normally aspirated 1.5 tonne car. Fuel consumption on my wide-bodied Varioram car was shocking though on Super U/L (typically 14mpg average in my experience), at a time when petrol was fast approaching £1.60. So I went back to my roots and exchanged it for a 550kg Caterham R500 Duratec, and later followed this with the Caterham JPE that I had always wanted since the mid '90s.
In hindsight the 993 was equally as special, very pretty, and well put together (but special for in a completely different way to a top end Caterham or Lotus of course). I have since gone back to the Porsche camp recently in 2016 by buying a well documented 968 Sport privately which appeared on trusty Pistonheads classified 2nd time around. That's a good driver's car too, same era as my 993, and a relatively light and well balanced car too. I'm not as nervous driving or leaving the 968 anywhere as I was the 993, and I can work on it myself. 968s big 3.0 4cyl motor is very strong, and straight line performance is comprable to the 993, but of course it doesn't have the drama of the howling 3.6 flat 6 behind you.
If I were buying a 993 again (which I doubt I will becuase of the crazy UK prices for a good one today), I wouldn't bother with the wide-body or the 4WD, but the 6-speed manual is a must, as it was such a nice gearbox. It is a nice dilemma for someone to have: but I'd be torn between a 996 GT3 or a perfect 993 C2 manual, and because I've "been there and done that" with the 993 I would probably go GT3 for similar money. So, until my boat comes in; I'll make do with my 968 and Caterham as I love them both to bits on a early summer Sunday morning when I'm not out on my bike.
I do remember 'pushing on' in it once or twice though on the rare occasion when the environment and conditions were perfect, and it was impressive for a normally aspirated 1.5 tonne car. Fuel consumption on my wide-bodied Varioram car was shocking though on Super U/L (typically 14mpg average in my experience), at a time when petrol was fast approaching £1.60. So I went back to my roots and exchanged it for a 550kg Caterham R500 Duratec, and later followed this with the Caterham JPE that I had always wanted since the mid '90s.
In hindsight the 993 was equally as special, very pretty, and well put together (but special for in a completely different way to a top end Caterham or Lotus of course). I have since gone back to the Porsche camp recently in 2016 by buying a well documented 968 Sport privately which appeared on trusty Pistonheads classified 2nd time around. That's a good driver's car too, same era as my 993, and a relatively light and well balanced car too. I'm not as nervous driving or leaving the 968 anywhere as I was the 993, and I can work on it myself. 968s big 3.0 4cyl motor is very strong, and straight line performance is comprable to the 993, but of course it doesn't have the drama of the howling 3.6 flat 6 behind you.
If I were buying a 993 again (which I doubt I will becuase of the crazy UK prices for a good one today), I wouldn't bother with the wide-body or the 4WD, but the 6-speed manual is a must, as it was such a nice gearbox. It is a nice dilemma for someone to have: but I'd be torn between a 996 GT3 or a perfect 993 C2 manual, and because I've "been there and done that" with the 993 I would probably go GT3 for similar money. So, until my boat comes in; I'll make do with my 968 and Caterham as I love them both to bits on a early summer Sunday morning when I'm not out on my bike.
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