993 vs boxster
Discussion
I've been reading this site for some time now - very impressed.
I would be greatful if anyone could tell me if they have experience of driving both a boxster and a 993. I have been looking to buy a 993 and have a budget of around 30k. However it has recently occured to me that i could buy a much younger boxster for the same money, True the 993 has the best looks but are the two comparable to drive?
I would be greatful if anyone could tell me if they have experience of driving both a boxster and a 993. I have been looking to buy a 993 and have a budget of around 30k. However it has recently occured to me that i could buy a much younger boxster for the same money, True the 993 has the best looks but are the two comparable to drive?
I had the same choice as you to make back in January.
I went to an OPC and drove a Boxster S. Nice car, very refined (for what it is), quite easy to drive, fantastic steering, loads of luggage space for a 2 seater cab.
I also took a 993 C2 for a test drive. Again it's a nice car, no where near as refined, heavy clutch, off set peddals & steering, not much luggage space, similar performance to a Boxster S.
However much the Boxster was the more sensible purchase (newer car, still under warranty, less than 10k on the clock) the sense of occasion and the fact that I'd always wanted a 993 pretty much made up my mind for me.
It was a nice choice to have all the same. Good luck.
I went to an OPC and drove a Boxster S. Nice car, very refined (for what it is), quite easy to drive, fantastic steering, loads of luggage space for a 2 seater cab.
I also took a 993 C2 for a test drive. Again it's a nice car, no where near as refined, heavy clutch, off set peddals & steering, not much luggage space, similar performance to a Boxster S.
However much the Boxster was the more sensible purchase (newer car, still under warranty, less than 10k on the clock) the sense of occasion and the fact that I'd always wanted a 993 pretty much made up my mind for me.
It was a nice choice to have all the same. Good luck.
You need a flame-proof suit to answer this one however you argue. 
The December 2002 issue of 911 and Porsche World did a back to back test of the Boxster S and 993, and they gave the nod to the Boxster S, but it was close. Try to get hold of a copy.
Last weekend my mate took delivery of an N reg 993 (varioram 285 BHP model). It has 17" Targa wheels (althought the car is a coupe), sports seats and a 6 speed manual box. I took my car 'round to his place to compare the 2. I have a 2001 Boxster S running on 18" wheels, 6 speed manual.
It was the first time I had driven a 993. I have driven a couple of 964s and the 993 felt like a more refined version of that 911. You still get the clutch pedal like a toadstool (on the negative side) but on the plus side, you do get that row of 5 massive dials spread across the dash like an old Le Mans car.
When comparing the 2 cars, it is important to compare Boxster S to 993 and not Boxster 2.5 or 2.7. That way the on-paper power-to-weight ratios are similar. When I drove both cars back to back on Sunday, I honestly thought the acceleration of both cars felt identical. Incidentally, both cars had equally good brakes. The Boxster S has tasty big brakes with red callipers whereas the other Boxsters do not.
I'll list each car's strong points:
993:
1. Awesome engine note. Harder edged than the Boxster.
2. 911s look better than Boxsters. And the 993 is the best looking of all 911s.
3. You gotta dig the 5 big dials on the dash.
4. Solid feel to build.
5. Rarity, you hardly see them.
6. They hold their value very well.
Boxster S:
1. I (and others!!) think it handles better than the 993. After all, the engine is in the middle and this must account for it not having the understeer that the 993 CAN have. Basically, the turn-in of the Boxster S is superior, and this inspires more confidence.
2. The clutch feels much better....it has a "normal" pedal. I know, I know....you get used to the toadstool!
3. The gear change was better on my Boxster than the 993. Just as light, but slightly shorter throw, more positive and each gear "snicks" home.
4. As a convertible with the hood down, the Boxster looks better. The 993 cab looks a bit pram-like. I know, I know....cabs are for girls....
5. They also hold their value well (but not as well as the 993).
6. Servicing is a fair bit cheaper than the 993.
7. The ergonomics are far superior. The climate is great.
8. You have the advantage of owning a nearly-new car, including an OPC bomb-proof warranty if you buy from an OPC. Not many 993s are left in the OPCs.
A simple way of looking at it is that the Boxster wins in pretty much every area if you use purely objective criteria....think handling, gear change, ergonomics. The 993 wins if you judge the contest with more bias towards the subjective......think looks, noise, those dials.
Nice choice to have.
The December 2002 issue of 911 and Porsche World did a back to back test of the Boxster S and 993, and they gave the nod to the Boxster S, but it was close. Try to get hold of a copy.
Last weekend my mate took delivery of an N reg 993 (varioram 285 BHP model). It has 17" Targa wheels (althought the car is a coupe), sports seats and a 6 speed manual box. I took my car 'round to his place to compare the 2. I have a 2001 Boxster S running on 18" wheels, 6 speed manual.
It was the first time I had driven a 993. I have driven a couple of 964s and the 993 felt like a more refined version of that 911. You still get the clutch pedal like a toadstool (on the negative side) but on the plus side, you do get that row of 5 massive dials spread across the dash like an old Le Mans car.
When comparing the 2 cars, it is important to compare Boxster S to 993 and not Boxster 2.5 or 2.7. That way the on-paper power-to-weight ratios are similar. When I drove both cars back to back on Sunday, I honestly thought the acceleration of both cars felt identical. Incidentally, both cars had equally good brakes. The Boxster S has tasty big brakes with red callipers whereas the other Boxsters do not.
I'll list each car's strong points:
993:
1. Awesome engine note. Harder edged than the Boxster.
2. 911s look better than Boxsters. And the 993 is the best looking of all 911s.
3. You gotta dig the 5 big dials on the dash.
4. Solid feel to build.
5. Rarity, you hardly see them.
6. They hold their value very well.
Boxster S:
1. I (and others!!) think it handles better than the 993. After all, the engine is in the middle and this must account for it not having the understeer that the 993 CAN have. Basically, the turn-in of the Boxster S is superior, and this inspires more confidence.
2. The clutch feels much better....it has a "normal" pedal. I know, I know....you get used to the toadstool!
3. The gear change was better on my Boxster than the 993. Just as light, but slightly shorter throw, more positive and each gear "snicks" home.
4. As a convertible with the hood down, the Boxster looks better. The 993 cab looks a bit pram-like. I know, I know....cabs are for girls....
5. They also hold their value well (but not as well as the 993).
6. Servicing is a fair bit cheaper than the 993.
7. The ergonomics are far superior. The climate is great.
8. You have the advantage of owning a nearly-new car, including an OPC bomb-proof warranty if you buy from an OPC. Not many 993s are left in the OPCs.
A simple way of looking at it is that the Boxster wins in pretty much every area if you use purely objective criteria....think handling, gear change, ergonomics. The 993 wins if you judge the contest with more bias towards the subjective......think looks, noise, those dials.
Nice choice to have.
gsw said:
However it has recently occured to me that i could buy a much younger boxster for the same money,
Sorry gsw, but I think that you need to decide if you want be owning and driving a 2000/2001 car on an X/Y plate, or a 1995/1996 car on a M/N plate?
The cars are frequently compared against each other, but frankly they are different cars from different eras.
Functional against modern, raw against refined, classic against contemporary. Its all been said, but at the end of the day its... 911 against Boxster.
In the end, you buy for yourself. Try them out and work out which you can live with. Many people will think that you are mad to pay £30K for an old Porsche, when you could have a shiny new looking Boxster on the drive for the same money.
If we all thought along those lines, you would be able to pick up a 993 for a lot less money.
Great thing is, they are both Porsches...Good luck!
JamieBeeston said:
Just to throw in another option,
£30k will get you an early 996 now too
Would you risk £30k on an early 996? (Ok I'm not one to talk but...) Aren't they known for reliability problems?
My personal choice would be the 993... but I like a driver's car. So what if it doesn't handle as well... engine over back axel is part of the challenge... looks more serious too (never been keen on the 986... doesn't look as muscular/purposeful). Would love a 993 Targa S... and a sports exhaust
having said that I just saw one with what I can only assume to be a 996 Turbo front end grafted on it... looked like it was gonna eat me whole!
never thought a boxster could look so evil 
With the 911 you are buying into something so much more than simple subjective observations over whether it is faster or better handling than a Boxster , for me it has nothing to do with that.
To me, when firing it up you can not help be reminded that this is the same car which has won countless endurance events and indeed in 935 guise won the mighty Le mans 24 hour race. With all those idiosyncrasies you really can’t help be reminded of its illustrious past
It is the model which has underpinned the company’s very survival for more than a generation despite the companies various attempts to get rid of it, 924 and 928 however worthy have all come and gone whilst the 911 remains
And now today, better than ever having survived the hideous excesses of the late 1980’s it seems safer than ever in 997 guise however for some the last true 911 remains the 993 and as such the ultimate expression of the 911. So go and do it because lets face it, if you don’t ultimately like it you will get pretty much all your money back leaving you free to Boxster away,simple hey!
To me, when firing it up you can not help be reminded that this is the same car which has won countless endurance events and indeed in 935 guise won the mighty Le mans 24 hour race. With all those idiosyncrasies you really can’t help be reminded of its illustrious past
It is the model which has underpinned the company’s very survival for more than a generation despite the companies various attempts to get rid of it, 924 and 928 however worthy have all come and gone whilst the 911 remains
And now today, better than ever having survived the hideous excesses of the late 1980’s it seems safer than ever in 997 guise however for some the last true 911 remains the 993 and as such the ultimate expression of the 911. So go and do it because lets face it, if you don’t ultimately like it you will get pretty much all your money back leaving you free to Boxster away,simple hey!
steve-p said:
Mid engined & more compact for British roads.
I don't know how you work that out, bearing in mind the Boxster is longer (4340mm vs 4245mm) and wider (1780mm vs 1735mm) than the 993.
Hmm I've only tried a 996 (& Boxster) and it felt a lot bigger than the Boxster. More GTish.
vario-rob said:
To me, when firing it up you can not help be reminded that this is the same car which has won countless endurance events and indeed in 935 guise won the mighty Le mans 24 hour race. With all those idiosyncrasies you really can’t help be reminded of its illustrious past
Speaking of which, weren't the lights and windscreen of the 911 GT1 from the 993? I could drive this one every day although I'm not sure about the colour:
www.racecar.co.uk/talacrest/stock/WPOZZZ99ZVS396001.htm
Anyone got £395,000 to spare?
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff