993 Cab - any good?
Discussion
Hi,
Having sold my 993 a couple of years back I'm regretting the sale and thinking of getting another.
My previous 993 was a coupe but for some reason the wife thinks we should get a convertible.
Would appreciate any feedback from 993 cab owners about living with a soft top 993 that's at least 13 years old.
Cheers
Marc
Having sold my 993 a couple of years back I'm regretting the sale and thinking of getting another.
My previous 993 was a coupe but for some reason the wife thinks we should get a convertible.
Would appreciate any feedback from 993 cab owners about living with a soft top 993 that's at least 13 years old.
Cheers
Marc
Hi Marc,
In my personal opinion only, I find that the 'old' pram type style hoods, which the 993 has, look rather clumsy & intrusive from a design point of view. There is also the question of security with fabric hoods which I would find unsettling when parking the car in towns etc.
I think with the 993, the coupe is the only way to go as IMHO, it suits the design lines of the car far better.
If I was to go for a convertable car now, it would have to be a metal folding roof such as SLK, BMW, MX5 etc. This obviously rules out older classic type cars if you want the wind in your hair.
As I said, this is only my personal point of view, and I'm sure others will differ; I've had fabric convertables in the past & always found them a bit of a pain compared to the SLK55 I had, where the roof is brilliant.
Good luck whichever way you go.
In my personal opinion only, I find that the 'old' pram type style hoods, which the 993 has, look rather clumsy & intrusive from a design point of view. There is also the question of security with fabric hoods which I would find unsettling when parking the car in towns etc.
I think with the 993, the coupe is the only way to go as IMHO, it suits the design lines of the car far better.
If I was to go for a convertable car now, it would have to be a metal folding roof such as SLK, BMW, MX5 etc. This obviously rules out older classic type cars if you want the wind in your hair.
As I said, this is only my personal point of view, and I'm sure others will differ; I've had fabric convertables in the past & always found them a bit of a pain compared to the SLK55 I had, where the roof is brilliant.
Good luck whichever way you go.
My Mum has a 993 C4 Cab, there is a little body movement as you'd expect but it's far from excessive, and it's still a fantastic car to drive.
The roof isn't the prettiest when folded, but it does have a tonneau that can be fitted to improve things. I wouldn't really worry about security any more than I would with any convertible car. As for folding hard top vs soft roof, then totally out of personal opinion I favour rag tops. Lighter, more reliable and, in my experience, less likely to leak believe it or not.
I suppose it depends on what you want the car for. If it's for the occasional blast down your favourite roads but mostly for cruising around on sunny days then the cab is great. If you're a serious driver and are going to take it up to the highlands for regular sessions or the occasional track day then hard top all the way.
The roof isn't the prettiest when folded, but it does have a tonneau that can be fitted to improve things. I wouldn't really worry about security any more than I would with any convertible car. As for folding hard top vs soft roof, then totally out of personal opinion I favour rag tops. Lighter, more reliable and, in my experience, less likely to leak believe it or not.
I suppose it depends on what you want the car for. If it's for the occasional blast down your favourite roads but mostly for cruising around on sunny days then the cab is great. If you're a serious driver and are going to take it up to the highlands for regular sessions or the occasional track day then hard top all the way.
stewart rix said:
You might want to consider a 993 Targa. Kind of the 'best' of both worlds. More closely resembles a coupe, but with some fresh air when you feel like it.
This.I love the targa and tried to find one when I was buying. I ended up with a Coupe.
The only issue with the Targa is that I have heard from an owner that the glass roof itself is a fortune from Porsche if it breaks/cracks.
MTR
Thanks guys useful advice.
I share the view that the pram top look is not great but I do fancy some open top motoring on sunny days.
Have never been a fan of the targa as my neigbour had one and the glass roof used to squeek and rattle a lot. He also had lots of technical failings with the roof mechanism. i recall that bits kept breaking and falling off it and it was a very clever but very complicated mechanism with loads of wires and motors (3) to pull all the bits back and forth.
I'm test driving a cab tomorrow so fingers crossed.
Marc
I share the view that the pram top look is not great but I do fancy some open top motoring on sunny days.
Have never been a fan of the targa as my neigbour had one and the glass roof used to squeek and rattle a lot. He also had lots of technical failings with the roof mechanism. i recall that bits kept breaking and falling off it and it was a very clever but very complicated mechanism with loads of wires and motors (3) to pull all the bits back and forth.
I'm test driving a cab tomorrow so fingers crossed.
Marc
Have a '94 Cabriolet - great car
Maybe at the absolute limit the coupe is better, but how often do you drive at 10/10ths?
I still take mine on trackdays and it holds its own
The Cab has the advantage of being able to enjoy a cruise when you are not in the mood for a hoon
Looks - Coupe looks better, but the roof does not come off
regarding the "pram roof" you cannot see it when you are driving
Today is the best day to be out and about in a 993 with a roof that goes back
Maybe at the absolute limit the coupe is better, but how often do you drive at 10/10ths?
I still take mine on trackdays and it holds its own
The Cab has the advantage of being able to enjoy a cruise when you are not in the mood for a hoon
Looks - Coupe looks better, but the roof does not come off
regarding the "pram roof" you cannot see it when you are drivingToday is the best day to be out and about in a 993 with a roof that goes back
Just sold mine after 6 years and loved it. It never missed a beat and with weather like this it was ideal.
Yes it did creak a bit and it's dark inside with the small rear window. The only issue I had was the £1,600 for a new rood which would have made it look better.
The reason I sold was with two kids I needed the full rear seat belts. You can get them fitted but you can't use them and have the roof down.
I was sad to see it go, but it's now replaced with a nice 993tt which let's me get the girls in the back.
Just go for it.
Yes it did creak a bit and it's dark inside with the small rear window. The only issue I had was the £1,600 for a new rood which would have made it look better.
The reason I sold was with two kids I needed the full rear seat belts. You can get them fitted but you can't use them and have the roof down.
I was sad to see it go, but it's now replaced with a nice 993tt which let's me get the girls in the back.
Just go for it.
cragswinter said:
A993LAD did you used to have a 993 gt2 lookalike?
I remember that reg from somewhere?
A993LAD was the reg on my 993 coupe. I sold it with the plate but I saw that the buyer sold plate on pretty quickly. According to MID it's still registerd to a Porsche 911 so I guess that must be the gt2 pretender.I remember that reg from somewhere?
I'm 993 daft and have never owned a cab.
I think it's a great proposition, although ugly, I reckon you could turn a cab into something gorgeous and amazing with some tasteful changes. My old Carrera was totally reliable and a joy to own. Although I'll probably die in my 993 Turbo S, before that happens I'd like to have a cab like the one on here that's been turned into a speedster.
If I can't afford that I'll try pick up an old impact bumper like the silvery blue 911 cab with no spoiler in the Charlie Sheen film we all love called " no man's land"
Sorreeeeeee am pished
I think it's a great proposition, although ugly, I reckon you could turn a cab into something gorgeous and amazing with some tasteful changes. My old Carrera was totally reliable and a joy to own. Although I'll probably die in my 993 Turbo S, before that happens I'd like to have a cab like the one on here that's been turned into a speedster.
If I can't afford that I'll try pick up an old impact bumper like the silvery blue 911 cab with no spoiler in the Charlie Sheen film we all love called " no man's land"
Sorreeeeeee am pished
I've had a 993 C4 cab' since May 2009 and agree that it doesn't look the greatest with the hood down; however, fitting the tonneau does improve its appearance. (Usually, I can't be bothered to do that, though). As somebody else has commented, you don't see the "ugly" side of the design when you are driving. That said, I frequently have complimentary remarks about the appearance of the car - and it isn't in "concourse" condition by any means.
I'm in Scotland, and we haven't had the same great summer as further south, but I've still managed some great roof-down drives. I think if I had my time over, I would have been better with a coupe - mainly because of relatively sh....y Scottish weather these last two years. However, this particular cab' is a great driver and has been pretty well trouble-free since I bought it. If I lived further south, I would go for a cab' again.
The 993, though, is great car.
I'm in Scotland, and we haven't had the same great summer as further south, but I've still managed some great roof-down drives. I think if I had my time over, I would have been better with a coupe - mainly because of relatively sh....y Scottish weather these last two years. However, this particular cab' is a great driver and has been pretty well trouble-free since I bought it. If I lived further south, I would go for a cab' again.
The 993, though, is great car.
adsltd said:
What sort of cost was involved getting the full US rear belts fitted?
it's more a matter of trying to source them as they were US only. Fitting is relatively straight forward. It might be approx £500 fitted if you buy right & have a friendly specialist to fit them.car-tech & care Porsche specialist fitted mine for me http://www.car-techandcare.co.uk/
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