993 C2S vs 997 C2S

[CRfromW4]

I've been longing for some time to upgrade upgrade my 88 3.2 Carrera to a 993 C2S. However, as prices for these models rise steadily and converge with falling prices for the 997 C2S, I'm starting to wonder whether it makes sense. I am sure that air-cooled purists will say that these cars are chalk and cheese but much as I love the 993 it's difficult to justify buying a car that's 10 years older, with a higher mileage, for similar money... Anyone else struggling with this dilemna or is it just me?

[MrCooke]

Just you

The 993 is an old air cooled thing that's appreciating.

The 997 is a modern water cooled thing that's depreciating.

If you like new stuff that loses money, don't make a mistake and buy the 993

[March2008]

Yeap, agree, if you want the car as an investiment.

But can somebody honestly tell me the 993 C2S is better than 997 C2S? (as a car that you want to drive to the Highlands or Alps in and come back in)
Surely the 997 is a better grand tourer?

Edited by March2008 on Wednesday 11th August 18:21

[MrCooke]

Yes, by miles.

[CRfromW4]

MrCooke - was that a reply to the first Q (which is the 993 a better car?), or the second(Surely the 997?)?

[98C4S]

You can not compare the two - chalk and cheese.

Drive them and you decide, both are fantastic but in different ways.

[Crimp a Length!]

The 997 is probably the best GT tourer there is, Porsche don't go backwards.
The 993 in its newest form is 12 yrs so you cannot compare in relative terms.
I owned a 993 C4S and have driven a 997 C2S, night and day in ability and speed
It depends what you want the car for at the end of the day, a 993 will always hold its money more due to supply and demand, you'd be daft to say its the better car.

[MrCooke]

CRfromW4 said:

MrCooke - was that a reply to the first Q (which is the 993 a better car?), or the second(Surely the 997?)?

The second.

As has been said, it's daft to compare; the 997 is faster, quieter, comfier, bigger, more economical, grippier, you get the idea.

You buy a 993 because it's a classic car with a history and a soul, not because it's in any way comparable to a modern car - it just isn't. It's like choosing between a Lancia Fulvia and a Nissan Micra.

I'd say if you even have to ask then the 993 isn't for you.

[g7jhp]

I had a 3.2 Carrera sold it bought a 993 C4 sold it and I'm back in a 3.2 Carrera.

The old 911's are great raw and have serious character. 993 wasn't worth the extra when I bought it and didn't feel any quicker just a bit more refined.

The newer models are more refined and more capable (but lose some of the raw feeling).

I'm currently looking for a 996 Turbo because I want the more refined drive with the performance of the newer models offer.

[CRfromW4]

Thanks all. As I said in my original post, I'm currently in a 88 3.2 so (at the risk of sounding defensive), I'm a big buyer of the original raw 911 experience and soul, esp vs my previous slightly soulless 996 C4. Perhaps my point is more that prices for good 993 C2S's have got a bit out of hand. Maybe a good halfway house move for me would be a 3.2 Supersport, another model I've long coveted, giving me the widebody look but for a little less wedge?

[Crimp a Length!]

CRfromW4 said:

Thanks all. As I said in my original post, I'm currently in a 88 3.2 so (at the risk of sounding defensive), I'm a big buyer of the original raw 911 experience and soul, esp vs my previous slightly soulless 996 C4. Perhaps my point is more that prices for good 993 C2S's have got a bit out of hand. Maybe a good halfway house move for me would be a 3.2 Supersport, another model I've long coveted, giving me the widebody look but for a little less wedge?

3.2 SSE would bore you after the narrow body trust me.
I love SSE owned same car twice, but from a driving perspective they are pretty slow by todays standards and not that raw really, from a classic feel my SC felt more nimble and quicker.

[mollytherocker]

CRfromW4 said:

I've been longing for some time to upgrade upgrade my 88 3.2 Carrera to a 993 C2S. However, as prices for these models rise steadily and converge with falling prices for the 997 C2S, I'm starting to wonder whether it makes sense. I am sure that air-cooled purists will say that these cars are chalk and cheese but much as I love the 993 it's difficult to justify buying a car that's 10 years older, with a higher mileage, for similar money... Anyone else struggling with this dilemna or is it just me?

It is a dilemma for most of us. The 997 looks like awesome value against a 993 until you realise that the comparison is of limited relevance. Is a giraffe better than a snake?

I drove a new 997S PDK recently and was trying to compare it to my 993 but just couldn't. There is almost no similarity.

The 997S is of course a fantastic car but is not a replacement for a 993. It has a totally different persona and comes from an entirely different place.

That test drive is still confusing me now, I had 3 hours in it but just didnt get excited by it. Impressed, yes, but not excited. The launch control is absolutely mega and genuinely shocked me, but it wasnt me 'driving'. It reminded me of a roller coaster!

Justifying a 993S is a difficult call. There is no logic. Maybe we should all buy Micras?

Enjoy your search, its the best bit!!!

MTR

[911Thrasher]

Dude you are comparing apples and oranges! The only thing in common is that they are fruits: tasty and sweet...just eat them.

993 is a superb daily drive: in the last 3.5 years I've had both 993 carrera and 993 turbo S, used daily, covered more than 35,000miles
I did:
- London Bournemouth at least once a month
- went surfing in Cornwall and Cap Ferret (Bordeaux) 5/6 times with a rack on the roof for the boards
- went snowboarding twice in the Alps (on the snow) with no more than "snow socks" and with the fiancee and 2 snowboards behind the seats
- went on a UK/Scotland tour last Xmas in the snow again fully loaded w/ fiancee and snowboards again (yep we road powder in Scotland for 3 days)

Note: if you do a thread search under my name, there numerous trip reports w/ pictures of the car everywhere they went (here and on 911uk)

Amazing car...and NO 993 R NOT OVERPAID/OVERVALUED: they are paid what people are willing to pay for them in this current economy (bad should I add?)...hence they are worth this money at this time.

You choose

[os993]

993s looks so much better than the 997. Exclusive, and feels like a proper sports car. You can hear the wonderful air cooled engine, its just the best.

I try to like the 997, but it does not feel like a sports car. Tried a 4s and a Turbo, they have lost the magic.

[christer]

I drove 1150 miles in one day in my rather tuned 964 with no aircon with the windows down that is one drive I will remember forever - totally epic

[GGS]

Crimp a Length! said:

CRfromW4 said:

Thanks all. As I said in my original post, I'm currently in a 88 3.2 so (at the risk of sounding defensive), I'm a big buyer of the original raw 911 experience and soul, esp vs my previous slightly soulless 996 C4. Perhaps my point is more that prices for good 993 C2S's have got a bit out of hand. Maybe a good halfway house move for me would be a 3.2 Supersport, another model I've long coveted, giving me the widebody look but for a little less wedge?

3.2 SSE would bore you after the narrow body trust me.
I love SSE owned same car twice, but from a driving perspective they are pretty slow by todays standards and not that raw really, from a classic feel my SC felt more nimble and quicker.

That's surprising i thought the difference in performance/handling would be minimal. I was discarding the sc for the sse. Hmmm

[GGS]

christer said:

I drove 1150 miles in one day in my rather tuned 964 with no aircon with the windows down that is one drive I will remember forever - totally epic

Windows down listening to that beautiful engine hum Nice!

[PH5121]

As others have said, I can only echo the same comments.
They are very different cars.

The 997 will be a fantastic car, very capable and a pleasure to drive. I have only driven one around the track at the Porsche factory at Leipzig so am not qualified to comment on day to day running, however I can say it was quick, great to drive but didn't 'feel' like a 911. (The 911 'feel' is something that I cannot really describe).

The 993 will in essence be a similar driving experience to your 3.2, you will know it is an evolution of the car you have. If you like that more 'connected' feel that the air cooled cars have then go for the 993. Driving my 993 is always feels like an event. I use it only for the pleasure of driving it.

Why not go for the 993, and if it doesn't suit you then get a 997? If the 993 range is holding its' money well you shouldn't blow a fortune in depreciation, and in the same time the 997 will continue to depreciate.

If you have already had a 996 and found it lacking in soul then I would imagine that the 997 would be very very similar. If you have had an ambition to try a 993 C2S then I would get that car. I would have preferred a wide bodied car when I bought mine 2 years ago, but my pockets were not deep enough.

[Crimp a Length!]

GGS said:

Crimp a Length! said:

CRfromW4 said:

Thanks all. As I said in my original post, I'm currently in a 88 3.2 so (at the risk of sounding defensive), I'm a big buyer of the original raw 911 experience and soul, esp vs my previous slightly soulless 996 C4. Perhaps my point is more that prices for good 993 C2S's have got a bit out of hand. Maybe a good halfway house move for me would be a 3.2 Supersport, another model I've long coveted, giving me the widebody look but for a little less wedge?

3.2 SSE would bore you after the narrow body trust me.
I love SSE owned same car twice, but from a driving perspective they are pretty slow by todays standards and not that raw really, from a classic feel my SC felt more nimble and quicker.

That's surprising i thought the difference in performance/handling would be minimal. I was discarding the sc for the sse. Hmmm

A good SC will feel quicker than the SSE, however the widebody does make the car feel more planted at speed but on the windies..........Nar a good SC will see one off
SSE obviously with the 930 body looks the biz though

[jigonda]

Had a 997C2S as multi-purpose daily driver, weekend tourer and track car here in dubai (short shift manual, PASM deleted for -20mm & LSD etc)........... amazing car ............. but have now upgraded to a 1997 993C2 manual on sports suspension & 18" wheels. As a weekend car it's an infinitely more satisfying thing. On the long desert straights it's obviously down by 100hp and I wouldn't run it much past 220 k's (997 was comfortable to 265 k's) but in the mountains a well driven 993 can keep in touch with a 997 & is much more of a sportscar experience ............. even my 9 yr old son appreciates the difference !