Which 993 to buy?
Discussion
Guys
Having taken advice from my Porsche Independent, I am selling my 944S and buying a 993. Question is, which model?
Budget 20-25K and criteria is as follows:
Manual
2 wheel drive
FSH
Perfect mechanically, cosmetics less important
Can you shed some light as to what are the differences in models and which are the models to avoid? Ideally I don't want to be shelling out thousands on brake and suspension upgrades after 6 months
LHD a possibility, as is a road legal track prepped car as I am prone to the odd track day myself.
Comments appreciated- also if you have a car that fits this description please let me know (ideally Polar silver)
Having taken advice from my Porsche Independent, I am selling my 944S and buying a 993. Question is, which model?
Budget 20-25K and criteria is as follows:
Manual
2 wheel drive
FSH
Perfect mechanically, cosmetics less important
Can you shed some light as to what are the differences in models and which are the models to avoid? Ideally I don't want to be shelling out thousands on brake and suspension upgrades after 6 months
LHD a possibility, as is a road legal track prepped car as I am prone to the odd track day myself.
Comments appreciated- also if you have a car that fits this description please let me know (ideally Polar silver)
It's difficult to know where to start. Most of this has been posted before so do a search for more detail.
Your budget rules out any of the "S" derivatives unless they are LHD. On the basis that you want to track it I would rule out Cabriolet and Targa. This leaves a standard Coupe.
Things to look out for are AC (I regarded this as essential others do not). Is the car Pre or post Varioram and when was the clutch last changed? Renewed / upgraded suspenison is a bonus.
Other than that check service history and condition.
BTW a new set of pads and discs is about £500 pounds in parts.
Can't think of anything else for now. The Peter Morgan book / pamphlet is a good guide and good VFM at around £10.
Good luck.
pp
Your budget rules out any of the "S" derivatives unless they are LHD. On the basis that you want to track it I would rule out Cabriolet and Targa. This leaves a standard Coupe.
Things to look out for are AC (I regarded this as essential others do not). Is the car Pre or post Varioram and when was the clutch last changed? Renewed / upgraded suspenison is a bonus.
Other than that check service history and condition.
BTW a new set of pads and discs is about £500 pounds in parts.
Can't think of anything else for now. The Peter Morgan book / pamphlet is a good guide and good VFM at around £10.
Good luck.
pp
lanesra10 said:
Have a look at Northways site several in low £20's and he will do a deal on a few, you might squeeze into a LHD 'S' type. If you are going to track it a few times go for a C2.
Be very careful of £25/7k 964's as decent ones are £30k plus.
Very true but same for any Porsche can get a fair example at the moment prices will double in 5 years not the reason to buy but what a car.....drive one and then compare it....guarantee you'll want it....
for guidance I've spoken to dealers who would let rhd 993 coupe's & cabs go sub 20 with warranty & service and history, prices not as high as you'd think. I'm currently looking about having done the classic thing of starting with a 12k budget for a 3.2, moving past 964's now looking at 993's !
ultramarine91 said:
What's the difference between a Carrera and an S?
Sorry to sound like a luddite. Is it wider bod, wheels susp and brakes?
Assuming we're still talking about 993s (hard to keep up sometimes ...) there are two S variants to sonsider:
Carrera 4S which is basically a turbo (wider) body with turbo running gear (lowered stiffer suspension, big red brakes), 4WD and turbo look solid spoke wheels.
Carrera 2S which is basically a Carrera with a turbo body but none of the running gear, however, it does have the real turbo hollow spoke wheels (possibly as standard possibly an option not entirely sure).
In short a 4S is a turbo except for the actual turbo charger and the wheels, whereas a 2S is a turbo wannabee (except for the wheels).
(think I got that right).
If I were you I'd buy a standard Carrera - beautifully narrow bodied, unspoilered, sounds fantastic and plenty fast enough. There is also scope for some performance enhancements if you really want - re-map etc. is worth 10% or so, and 9M have ever more extreme enhancements beyond that. Though to be hinest if that is your thing then probably better to go straight for the turbo.
Edited to add I just saw your variocam question - I assume this was a typo as the later 993s had varioRAM engines, which as far as I know are not problematic, just newer and more expensive, with a small power uptick (12 bhp iirc). From what I have read (ie I may be talking out of my a**e here) the pre-vario engines seem to respond better to re-mapping, effectively wiping out the initial deficiency.
VarioCAM was I think introduced on the 968?
Dan
PS I went from a 944S2 to a 993 Carrera
>> Edited by tertius on Tuesday 21st March 21:20
Re : 964 RS & similar derivatives (road legal track cars etc), be careful you aren`t compramising 362 days road use for 3 days track use a year. I would tend the other way.
Not sure why you`ve dismissed C4`s. At the age of car you`ll be buying it all comes down to individual cars. Yes the Varioram engine is supposed to be a gnat`s cock quicker but if just one injector was a little off on it`s spray pattern or the cylinder leakage a fraction out then you`d lose the edge and then some over an "on song" pre-varioram.
Similarly a light and nimble C4 is a better prospect than a heavy C2, it`s all down to the individual car. A good car is a good car. And unfortunately given their age not all 993`s fall into the good camp. Infact I`d say there are more bad than good out there.
No such thing as a cheap car either. Not sure where the good fully warrantied sub £20k RHD 993`s are from, not any of the dealers we know.
Good luck
Henry
>> Edited by henry-f on Wednesday 22 March 12:55
Not sure why you`ve dismissed C4`s. At the age of car you`ll be buying it all comes down to individual cars. Yes the Varioram engine is supposed to be a gnat`s cock quicker but if just one injector was a little off on it`s spray pattern or the cylinder leakage a fraction out then you`d lose the edge and then some over an "on song" pre-varioram.
Similarly a light and nimble C4 is a better prospect than a heavy C2, it`s all down to the individual car. A good car is a good car. And unfortunately given their age not all 993`s fall into the good camp. Infact I`d say there are more bad than good out there.
No such thing as a cheap car either. Not sure where the good fully warrantied sub £20k RHD 993`s are from, not any of the dealers we know.
Good luck
Henry
>> Edited by henry-f on Wednesday 22 March 12:55
Thanks chaps
The info on the S was particularly useful, as I thought this model had better brakes and suspension. Seems to be a lot more dough for a fat botty and different wheels. I too prefer the narrow body.
It wasn't a typo, merely lack of knowledge!
I am hoping that a 944 to a 993 will be a big enough leap to keep me entertained 'til I can afford a 997
The info on the S was particularly useful, as I thought this model had better brakes and suspension. Seems to be a lot more dough for a fat botty and different wheels. I too prefer the narrow body.
It wasn't a typo, merely lack of knowledge!
I am hoping that a 944 to a 993 will be a big enough leap to keep me entertained 'til I can afford a 997
ultramarine91 said:
I am hoping that a 944 to a 993 will be a big enough leap to keep me entertained 'til I can afford a 997
Sure it will - though they are really chalk and cheese.
If you're in/near London you're welcome to see/try mine and see how you like it. (Its not for sale btw!)
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