rome

The 993 oozes quality. The car was definitely built to an ideal (and not necessarily to make a profit) and pretty much perfected over 35 years. And, they didn't built too many of them. So, all of that adds up to strong and lasting value.

NickyP

Let's face it, Porsche is a brilliant marketing company in it to make a profit. They tease us every 5 or 6 years with the latest iteration of the venerable 911, and I fall for it every time. I always lust for the latest and greatest version, and somehow, as I look back, the current version always seemed to be the best looking, best performing, better than the car it replaced version and I had to have one. This started in 1984 and I won't admit to how many "new" Porsche's I've owned, up to a 2006 Carrera S. All are/were great cars, especially when they were the latest offering...at least to my eyes and butt.

Cars like this have to induce a little chubby and stir your soul a bit, otherwise we would all drive white Toyota Camry's. For my money, chubby and soul the "modern" Porsche I like best is the 993, but in no way do I think 996's or 997's aren't great cars; they are, they are just different animals, get there different. I like the 993 simply because of its direct connection to the early 911, a car designed to go fast, handle well and be beautiful and not encumbered by government regulations impacting design (impact bumpers) or performance (thermal reactors). The footprint of the 993 is the same as the 73 911S that I own, the evolution and refinement are evident and quite easy to recognize.

I say whatever spins your beanie is the best car for you. All of them have their virtures, their flaws, their unique qualities that give them character. Nobody is wrong in this equation. Porsche is a damn smart company and if you need further proof just ask why they haven't ditched the rear engine layout of the 911 as their flagship model in favor of the Cayman/Boxster chassis yet.

My $0.02

Nick

Magdaddy

as long as we keep it in context...

Serena...really?

Sean Hamilton

Spot on, Nick. The 993 has a character a bit naughty, edgy and moody too. A de-sanitised rawness, all things that keep you alert? And for all those reasons, for me the 993 is my daily driver by choice. 250k’s, 4 days a week - single lane, twisty, bumpy bayside and country driving at around 80-100k’s p/h. No, not a fast “workout “ on any stretch, but the 993 seems to appreciate and respond to this regular and varied exercise compared to its previous mostly garaged custodianship.

993RS

It used to take well over 100 man-hours to assemble the 993. The last 911 to be built by hand. Speak to Porsche insiders at Zuffenhausen, and they well tell you that the production years of the 993 were internally rated as excellent.

Close the door of a 993, and you hear a solid "clunk".

At the dealers here, 993s resell immediately, the other models don't...

cabrio993

I predict a 20 page thread...

993RS

Only 20????

dcdude

At the risk of sounding like Quad, your erection revelations are a little creepy, but I think I get what you're trying to say...

race911

Revisiting this, I'll pose a little 993 owner dilemma--what if the 993 was continued on into the 1999 model year, the only change being to accommodate the M96 engine? Similarly, what if the "regular" 1999 996 was a Mk1 GT3, and the M96 never was installed outside of the mid-engined cars?

The first leaves the 993 dead in the water in my view, as I don't trust the reliability/rebuildability of the M96 engine. The latter would probably have me out of the air cooleds at this point in time, as I would have enhanced my skills to understand and work on the GT3/Turbo engine.

Quadcammer

oh there is no risk, come over to the dark side hahaha

The Brewmeister

OK, now this is over the top.

David993S

I agree with the above with one exception. They didn't build too many of them?? Think again. In terms of collector car numbers, there's no shortage of 993's. Their numbers a low enough to somewhat help maintain their value, but they are never going to be considered rare in collector car terms. Porsche just simply made too many of them (nothing wrong with that).

Kika

relative to the quantities of 996's produced, there are fewer 993s. Certainly there are enough 993s that they will never be in the same category as say the Ferrari Daytona however.

993RS

For those who haven't read this article....
http://www.insideline.com/porsche/91...rsche-993.html

race911

Not sure I'm happy to have read it:

"hear the cam belts working in the engine" Uh, news to me. Only had my hands in 2-300 of these engines.......... (Who proofs this stuff, and how can you take anything else they write seriously when that slips through?)

"You're not allowed to go for quick lap times at the Porsche facility" Wow. Just wow. Let's vroom, vroom the engine, like that lame *** Cayenne ad from a few years back with the guy sticking his cell phone up to the exhaust to show his buddy how with it he is. So glad I'm just about out of here with the Spec Miata in tow, but the faux RS up at the track in the garage, for a couple of days of being "allowed" to go for quick lap times..........