355 or 993 turbo
Discussion
Given that im in a Fattari section i think i can predicet the answer here but im toying between a 355 late 355 spyder or a 993 turbo. The car will be a weekend toy only. I was looking for a manual not a F1 as i have been told they are a better car ? Maybe you guys could advise me ? Also id be greatful for things to lookout for etc ?
i havent had a 993 turbo, but had a 944 turbo for many years which i absolutely adored
it was reliable and very practical , but expensive to maintain to the standards that its maker suggested
in this limited way i think there are similarities between the 944T and the 993T
the 355 however is a total event, and this additional aspect makes the additional costs involved with more acceptable
performance-wise, i think the main difference you will notice will be in the very different torque delivery characteristics of these 2 cars(and the rear vs mid-engine layout)
it was reliable and very practical , but expensive to maintain to the standards that its maker suggested
in this limited way i think there are similarities between the 944T and the 993T
the 355 however is a total event, and this additional aspect makes the additional costs involved with more acceptable
performance-wise, i think the main difference you will notice will be in the very different torque delivery characteristics of these 2 cars(and the rear vs mid-engine layout)
depends how often you plan to go out at weekends I'd think and how much of a fair-weather convertible driver you'd be. I've not driven a 993 Turbo, but the thing about Porsche is you can just jump in and go out. I find with my 355 it takes me time to get into the zone to go out in her. I always want her to look at her best, so I spend even more time cleaning her [and then the sun's usually gone back in].
johninspain said:
Given that im in a Fattari section i think i can predicet the answer here but im toying between a 355 late 355 spyder or a 993 turbo. The car will be a weekend toy only. I was looking for a manual not a F1 as i have been told they are a better car ? Maybe you guys could advise me ? Also id be greatful for things to lookout for etc ?
What do you prefer ?If you want a sense of occasion, amazing sound, timeless looks, lots of attention and that badge, then get the 355 but expect bigger bills and more of them and not much in the way of mpg. And I agree, get a manual ... The F1 is woeful.
If you want more reliability, a rock solid sense of engineering, greater acceleration and more of a GT type car then go for the 993 turbo.
I faced this same conundrum 2 years ago now. I had agonised over and pined for both the cars you mention for most of my adult life but in the end and to my surprise I discovered that for driver satisfaction reasons my destiny rested with a with a basic NA narrow bodied 993 (which has since been fettled extensively in the suspension department).
The 993 turbo is a lovely looking car and has plenty of happy owners but don't expect it to offer an archetypal and pure 911 experience. For that you want a vanilla 993 or an RS. The turbo is heavy, all wheel drive, a little numb and a bit of a ponderous point and squirt machine by comparison. Of course there is nothing wrong with that and as with all 911 turbos you may be looking for that sort of car, but just go in with your eyes open and possibly expand your test drives to include an RS and a regular 993 which are the more natural comparisons to a f355 IMO. A fettled NA 993 is more of a drivers car than a 355 imo with a lot more feel going on and more depth to the dynamics but it will never have the presence and sound and low slung mid engined cockpit experience of a 355. I also think that a 993 needs sharpening and stiffening up a bit to make it more fun/focused/engaging as the 964 was more out of the box.
Best of luck though, great sort of vintage to be shopping in.
Edited by jackal on Sunday 22 May 20:40
The 355 is a beautiful fabulous car. The 355 is a great Ferrari.
The 993 turbo is a Porsche that will go down as one of their best all-rounders and last of air cooled tubos with the classic 993 look.
Look at the value and importance already being heaped on the 993GT2 which is a very hard car to live with as they are almost F40 like in that they are a thinly disguised racing car for the road.
In five years time the Porsche will be worth more £££ than the 355.
The 993 turbo is a Porsche that will go down as one of their best all-rounders and last of air cooled tubos with the classic 993 look.
Look at the value and importance already being heaped on the 993GT2 which is a very hard car to live with as they are almost F40 like in that they are a thinly disguised racing car for the road.
In five years time the Porsche will be worth more £££ than the 355.
I was in a similar situation a few years back and think your choice should be more like 355 or GT3.
I opted for the "safe" route and went GT3, as I knew the cars well and was a little unsure of 355 resale value etc in 2 years or so which is when I had to sell it.
Dont regret the choice I made and I got my money back on the GT3,(looks like I would have on the 355 as well as it goes) however I still want a 355 or 360 next time the chance comes up.
I opted for the "safe" route and went GT3, as I knew the cars well and was a little unsure of 355 resale value etc in 2 years or so which is when I had to sell it.
Dont regret the choice I made and I got my money back on the GT3,(looks like I would have on the 355 as well as it goes) however I still want a 355 or 360 next time the chance comes up.
I spent 20 years driving 911s. They are magnificent cars. Got my first Ferrari 2 years ago. It costs more to maintain, it burns more fuel, it may depreciate more, it may be more unreliable (this is open to question, I'd say they are pretty much equal in my experience). Do I care? Absolutely not, I couldn't care less. IMHO the Ferrari is just worth it. It may not be as quick, but what does that matter in reality? They are great cars, BUT you either get them or you don't, the fact that the OP had to ask the question suggests he may be happier with the 993 Turbo. Nothing wrong with that. Either way, hope you enjoy it. Personally, I'll never go back. One another note, some of my 911s may be worth more now than when I sold them, but lets face it, if you're in the position to choose between these great cars then hopefully you'll have other investments working for you. These cars are an indulgence, pure and simple, thank goodness I'm fortunate enough to be in the position I am. Happy motoring.
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i've not owned a 993 turbo, but I do have a 911 Carrera. When I bought my 355 it was a revelation. It's a sheer joy to just look at it, let alone drive it. The whole process of taking the 355 out is much more of an event. The pleasure is in the Italian design flair and exuberance in every detail, compared to the more earnest teutonic engineering of the 911
The 355 offers a level of comfort over my 911 - air conditioning, better suspension and smoother ride, power steering etc. By comparison my 911 is like a multi-gym but more involving when driving it. If anything the 355 is too comfortable and easy to drive. I'm not sure how well the 993 Turbo performs by comparison
A potential issue is that whereas I don't worry about mileage in the 911, I have succumbed to the mileage anxiety that often goes with Ferrari ownership. It's mad really, and life's too short and all that, but still I think of the mileage
If I owned neither a 993 or 355 and was knocked down by a Clapham Omnibus tonight and on my deathbed, I wouldn't be wishing i'd had a Porsche.....
The 355 offers a level of comfort over my 911 - air conditioning, better suspension and smoother ride, power steering etc. By comparison my 911 is like a multi-gym but more involving when driving it. If anything the 355 is too comfortable and easy to drive. I'm not sure how well the 993 Turbo performs by comparison
A potential issue is that whereas I don't worry about mileage in the 911, I have succumbed to the mileage anxiety that often goes with Ferrari ownership. It's mad really, and life's too short and all that, but still I think of the mileage
If I owned neither a 993 or 355 and was knocked down by a Clapham Omnibus tonight and on my deathbed, I wouldn't be wishing i'd had a Porsche.....
TISPKJ said:
I was in a similar situation a few years back and think your choice should be more like 355 or GT3.
Kind of agree and similar to the point I was making RE: an NA 993 but kind of disagree because its not really fair. A GT3 is late 996 generation i.e. more akin to a 360 Stradale and as such, light years ahead of a 355 in every department, just a much more modern car from a different era (not even handbuilt in the case of the Mkii) and when you drive them both its pretty obvious.Well... I'm probably in a good position to advise as I have owned both. And a lot of it will be down to how you plan on driving it. If a fair weather weekend car without a doubt the 355. If you plan on using it all year round then the 993 is the better bet.
To be honest though, I was sorely disappointed with my 993 Turbo. It lacked any sort of character - it really had zero in the charisma stakes. So dull to drive, it barely raised my pulse level and I never really bonded to it - it went fast, that's all I can really say about it. I was pretty glad when it went. I also have owned a 993 Carrera 2 and a 3.2 Carrera - they were completely different propositions, far more involving and fun to drive. I would take a mint 993 Carrera 2 (narrow hips) over a Turbo.
I can't think of a bad word to say about my 355 (other than it caught fire....), loved every moment with it and have very fond memories.
To be honest though, I was sorely disappointed with my 993 Turbo. It lacked any sort of character - it really had zero in the charisma stakes. So dull to drive, it barely raised my pulse level and I never really bonded to it - it went fast, that's all I can really say about it. I was pretty glad when it went. I also have owned a 993 Carrera 2 and a 3.2 Carrera - they were completely different propositions, far more involving and fun to drive. I would take a mint 993 Carrera 2 (narrow hips) over a Turbo.
I can't think of a bad word to say about my 355 (other than it caught fire....), loved every moment with it and have very fond memories.
jackal said:
TISPKJ said:
I was in a similar situation a few years back and think your choice should be more like 355 or GT3.
Kind of agree and similar to the point I was making RE: an NA 993 but kind of disagree because its not really fair. A GT3 is late 996 generation i.e. more akin to a 360 Stradale and as such, light years ahead of a 355 in every department, just a much more modern car from a different era (not even handbuilt in the case of the Mkii) and when you drive them both its pretty obvious.Mart-1 said:
If I owned neither a 993 or 355 and was knocked down by a Clapham Omnibus tonight and on my deathbed, I wouldn't be wishing i'd had a Porsche.....
I think this^^ answers the question really. Life is too short, so if you can do it, do it and b*ll*cks to everything else. Get the Porsche when you *need* to have something cheaper to run/more practical/ugly etc etc, until then, buy a 355, put the loudest exhaust you can physically bear on it and take it to Italy via the Route Napoleon and the Cote d'Azur...you'll be an absolute hero to the locals everywhere over there. Just ask jdw1234 and the like. You won't even be giving the porsche a second thought at that pointMario149 said:
Mart-1 said:
If I owned neither a 993 or 355 and was knocked down by a Clapham Omnibus tonight and on my deathbed, I wouldn't be wishing i'd had a Porsche.....
I think this^^ answers the question really. Life is too short, so if you can do it, do it and b*ll*cks to everything else. Get the Porsche when you *need* to have something cheaper to run/more practical/ugly etc etc, until then, buy a 355, put the loudest exhaust you can physically bear on it and take it to Italy via the Route Napoleon and the Cote d'Azur...you'll be an absolute hero to the locals everywhere over there. Just ask jdw1234 and the like. You won't even be giving the porsche a second thought at that point;-)
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