PushingMyLuck

What made you get a 964 over a 80s 3.2 ?
Price? Mileage?
The main difference cited seems to be: Bumpers, ABS, Airbags.
Bumpers? Whatever.
And the other 2 are pros, not cons.
The 964 car seems just as DIY friendly as 80s 911s

How is the 964 vs 993 ?

Vegas993

I loved my 993 but the last of classic 911 body combined with the coilover suspension. I remember the uproar when the 964 came out and ugly everyone thought it was. The 964 is like the librarian that hides behind horned rim glasses and frumpy clothes but is really super hot underneath.

BrownGill

I do not love the front of the 993. The hood line and line around the lights I have always disliked. I also do not like lowing the lights/fenders down closer to the bonnet. I was 11, 12, 13 when the 964 was the newest 911. It just became ingrained into my taste at a very formative age. If that makes any sense.

tcabler

OMG are you serious?! There is nothing uglier, frumpier looking, or dated cheese than the accordion-style bumpers of the 3.2s. UGLY!! I got the 964 over the 3.2 mostly because of the looks and good functional A/C. The 964 over the 993 because of the front end styling and obvious affordability. The 993 is still an absolutely gorgeous car.

GT9111

I have a 964 and a 3.2. My father has a 993. I cannot decide which model is better but I like driving all of them.

LPMM

With an open ended question like this, you'll get every answer and opinion under the sun. All 911s have their appeal, it all depends on what you are looking for and what makes you warm and fuzzy inside.

Johnny G Pipe

For me in 2002 I couldn't afford a 993 and 3.2's were way too dated with the accordian bumpers and long gearshift. Now 993/964 prices are similar, I have no desire to change to 993 for all the usual reasons - just a little too civilised for an old 911 and that face which just seems to look more dated, but not 'retro', with time.

The 964 look really seems to work these days, and with new suspension to replace the OEM lawyer-appeasing set up, and an exhaust bypass or two, they become just a gorgeous thing to drive, all nuggety and growly...in other words the secretary takes off her glasses and lets down her hair.. :-D

964 is less DIY friendly than 3.2 in the areas that were new - e.g. the high pressure brakes/ABS and AWD with its sensors, accelerometers and stuff, and the twin ignition system and so on...

mf_rsr

...the type of people owners tend to be and the general acceptability towards tailoring/ tuning. 964 = Winner :-)

964Lovac

Couldn't agree more. I love all 3.2's and 993s but I really just loved the look of the 964, the light "cannons" as I call them and just the beautiful classic yet slightly modern lines.

Regular (non turbo or S variants) of the 993 don't get me going the same way a 964 does...

Chiefyb

I echo what others have said. I owned a 3.0 SC Sport which was lovely in it's own way, but the bumpers always bugged me to be honest. I then went for a 356 Speedster which I loved but couldn't get on with. I then brought 996 C4 with GT3 body kit. Now this car I love, but.....I brought a 964 C2 as well as I couldn't resist the whole air cooled experience. If I have to sell one........no, no I love both couldn't possibly.
I do find the 993 a bit too round and flat kinda like it's melting

Jaye Bass

964 has the high fender look in a mostly modern package.

Geoffrey

The 964 has the perfect blend of creature comforts (power steering, A/C that works, ABS, etc.) and traditional styling. the 993 looks just as good as long as it has the aero kit on it, but it has too many electronical things like OBD II, keyless entry, etc. that are simply unnecessary. The only thing I'd like the 964 to have would be the 993 rear suspension because it significantly reduces the road noise inside the car.

keynes

As time goes on, I like 993 styling less and less. It's not aging well. The 964 on the other hand has a timeless classic look, once its lowered.

Vegas993

@Tcabler I wasn't speaking of personal taste, although I don't have a problem with them. Porsches had accordian bumpers for 14 years until the 964 and it wasn't well received when it came out, hence the reason for low resale values for many years as well as low production numbers. I think over time the 964's styling has become more appreciated, as stated above, because it has aged well.

Jacke2c

3.6 litres.... I had rebuilt a 1979 3.0 litre to euro spec and later was blown away by a 964 with the 3.6.... and air conditioning living in Tx and La, it made a difference. although I didn't care for the accordian bumpers, I had considered putting the 964 bumpers in my '79 911, but it still came down to the difference in performance. I probably could have uprated the 3.0, but was about where I was going to have to spend serious money for what a slightly warmed 964 could bring to the table. EFI also has several advatages over the older systems (I know the 3.2's had efi) and I had even purchased a 3.2 manifold to go that route, but sold the car as I began my search for the 964. The only 993 I would have considered that I think looks good is the 993TT.... I believe it does kill bugs faster.. but with the 964 I got everything I was wanting in a Porsche: 1. displacement (performance), reliability, roadability, and still retain the classic lines while riding in the traditional cacoon of a Porsche 911 interior.