Need help - resolve dilema

[acadmd]

Current drive E46 M3 - sad I know! Need to make (tough) decision. 993 C4S, mint condition, very low miles or 996 C4 Millenium, also mint, right history and miles. 993 42K, 996 40K, cant wait for either, both superb in their own way, BUT which to buy?

Cant sleep, keep changing my mind - need help - any views, or am I mad to ask?!!

[Shed17]

I would suggest you drive them and then decide.

They are two very different cars. The 996 will be like the BMW and the 993 will be just great

I know, a slightly biased view, but the best advice is to try them.

William

[verysideways]

[bias]993[/bias]

[cyberface]

993 !!!! (obviously biased)

seriously - too little information: everyday or weekend, road or trackday, auto or manual, city commute or country roads?

A 993 as my daily drive is perfection to me, but many people will prefer the greater refinement of the 996. A standard 993 will also not be as fast as an M3 or, indeed, a 996.

I'm not intending to start the old war again, but you should also look into servicing costs and likely failures. The Porsche water-cooled flat 6 engine issues (i.e. RMS) are well documented, it is up to you to decide exactly how likely this is (there's a lot of noise on the web, but there is also a large silent majority with non-failed engines). Equally, a 993 that has low miles may have done many stop-start journeys, or been left in storage for a few years. Porkers are damn reliable but regular use is a good thing!

I'd also recommend a sports exhaust of some sort on the 993, it's a bit meek and mild as standard. The factory 996 sports exhaust sounds cool...

[verysideways]

cyberface said:

I'd also recommend a sports exhaust of some sort on the 993, it's a bit meek and mild as standard. The factory 996 sports exhaust sounds cool...

993 with RSR exhausts

[cyberface]

verysideways said:

cyberface said: I'd also recommend a sports exhaust of some sort on the 993, it's a bit meek and mild as standard. The factory 996 sports exhaust sounds cool... 993 with RSR exhausts

You should have heard mine when it had the Fabspeed Supercups on... absolutely mental

[Butzi]

993 993 993 993

Seriously though, those two cars are actually quite different to drive, and to live with. If you liked your BMW, 996 will be more familliar, but if you're bored of the BMW, then 993 has more rough edges that might tickle your fancy. Furthermore, just look at the ass of that 933....

[acadmd]

Thanks everyone for the input - not surprised the 993 is getting the vote. The car I am very close to buying is a 97/98 C4S in black with 14000 miles and the history to support, overall condition is superb (as you would expect) just OPC serviced. In the showroom for 42K, does anyone think this is way too much for a C4S?

The car will be my daily driver, I do about 12K miles a year with some business mileage.
Apart from the fun factor and pride in ownership I am fed up with the residuals on the M3 - they seem to be droping like the preverbial stone - nearly 10K in 12 months - why oh why did I buy it!!!

Roll on a (which?) 911!

[superlightr]

996

didnt like driving the 993, offset pedals, layout, etc.

[pesty]

had a good look around a 993 C4s today.
Get that. it was wonderful and it was white!

[MOD500]

The 993 is your best bet depreciation wise.

Let us know what you decide!

[verysideways]

Reading through this thread, i get the distinct impression our points have been well proven.
With a 996, it tends to be the GT3/GT2/TT drivers who really have a passion for their cars, whereas most 996 drivers see their cars in a similar light to how you currently see your M3:
A fun, quick, ubiquitous tool.

As you can probably gather, the 993 is a car that provokes emotion. Ok, you may drive it and think it's straight out of the dark ages, but if you like it then you'll very quickly love it.

Let us know when you've driven both won't you?

VS

[fugatso]

993 C4S. Couldn't agree more more with some of the comments regarding the 996, great car but no real soul, in fact I would probably stick with the M3 (and upgrade the brakes) rather than get a standard 996. I had a 993 C4S for 12 months from 6K on the clock to 38K. Everyday driver, bike rack on roof sometimes, track days the works. Never missed a beat great to drive and yet still subtle. (You will see from my profile that subtlety went out of the window with my next 911) The only changes I made were an OE sports exhaust (plenty non OE that are probably better) and removed the Airbox and replaced with Zucz powerflow airfilter. Noise was awsome and throttle response seemed sharper. Anyway nice problem to have whichever you choose ENJOY IT!!!!!

[acadmd]

Just in case anyone has been following this thread (and thanks for all the advice), I went for the head rather than the heart and bought the 996 C4 Millenium (No 102)!!

The purist in me said 993 but the practicality and daily driver requirement, and probably familiarity told me the 996 was right - hopefully this weekend it will replace my M3 - Yippee!!