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993 or 997?

MF1212

New member
Joined
11 Apr 2014
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2
Hi
Starting process of looking for a Porsche. Budget £25-30k, ideally would like a 993 but concerned about reliability. Does that mean I should go for a 997? Will use very low mileage in general probably 2k miles a year base but want flexiblity to also use for long trips around europe.

-Is a 993 likely to withstand these long drives without giving me too much hassle?

-Looking for around a 50-60k mileage model, should I be reluctant to go over that?

-For 2k base mileage plus 1k miles "extra" every other year on long trip is £1.5k /year running cost reasonable?

-When buying what should I look for? I will probably buy from dealer rather than private for peace of mind.

Thx for your help
MF
 
:welcome:

You've made a good start coming to this forum. Almost everyone's gone through the process you're now going through so you'll get some good advice on here. A lot of it though will come down to what you want emotionally, in particular regarding the air/water debate. One thing I would say though is make sure you drive all of your eventual options. Even wheel size can make a difference and we all have our individual preferences. When you eventually get one you'll love it - especially if you're fortunate enough to find what you want in Guards Red :thumb:
 
993 or 997 = chalk and cheese

If you like the 993 you'd best be quick as they'll soon be out of your budget - especially with sub 100k miles.

Subject to you buying right you'd have no concerns about the reliability of a 993 and for your anticipated mileage it would go on forever.

Normally the best advice would be test drive both but you might find it difficult to get into a 993 before it's sold.

Re the 997, there are hundreds of cars available in your budget. Read the 997 sub-forum for answers to everything that you could possibly think of asking.

Higher mileage cars will always be cheaper so you'll get a newer car with your £'s. Service history and current mechanical condition are more important but for £25k - £30k you should get something really decent with average (8k a year in a 911) miles and a great spec'.

If you buy from a dealer expect to pay c15% more than for an equivalent private car but you'll get a warranty and SoGA protection which is very worthwhile. When buying from anywhere other than a Porsche Specialist make sure you get a PPI done.

Once bought, £1,500 a year is a pretty typical service/running cost budget.

Good luck & :welcome: to 911uk.
 
I concur with T8's view :thumb: 993 is an 'old' car with 90s technology. Can be heavy, AC can best be described as adequate and small things will be fail or you need to continually tinker. That said 993 is an experience not matched in modern cars, oil smell, heavyish steering right ankle ache on long journeys due to the pedal box over to the left etc.

997 will be a modern, comfortable cross Europe machine with all the creature comforts you have come to expect. I need these in a daily driver but not in air cooled. If you do buy 997 be aware of the engine issues and make sure it has PSE :grin:

Also you won't necessarily save anything in depreciation by doing low mileage in a 997 you may as well clock up 10k pa and use as a daily. 993 on the other hand is a rock solid investment. Don't be put off by private sale, just get it checked out. The mark up with well know 993 dealers is huge.

Two very different cars...........
 
MF1212 said:
Hi
Starting process of looking for a Porsche. Budget £25-30k, ideally would like a 993 but concerned about reliability. Does that mean I should go for a 997? Will use very low mileage in general probably 2k miles a year base but want flexiblity to also use for long trips around europe.

-Is a 993 likely to withstand these long drives without giving me too much hassle?

-Looking for around a 50-60k mileage model, should I be reluctant to go over that?

-For 2k base mileage plus 1k miles "extra" every other year on long trip is £1.5k /year running cost reasonable?

-When buying what should I look for? I will probably buy from dealer rather than private for peace of mind.

Thx for your help
MF

First of all welcome

Looking at your post IMHO you have a simple choice and that is buy a 993, you'll need all your 30k budget though and the way things are going you'll struggle, there are shooting up in value on a monthly basis, now Is a bad time to buy ( but will probably still look like a very wise choice in a few years) personally I'd avoid dealers on a 993 there mark up just too big. Your reward will be a sensational 911, that will only depreciate if you bang massive miles on it, and even then it probably won't long term. A well sorted 993 is bulletproof, but not an ideal European tourer. Your main issue with a 993 is finding one, then hoping the inspection doesn't turn up anything too severe..
You have to remember also although a 993 doesn't depreciate, if you turn into an "Average" owner you will spend a fortune on it!

IMHO your money's wrong for a 997 (Unless you can scrape in a gen 2 by adding a few k) if you buy a 997.1 at that money you'll lose plenty and always worry over perceived reliability issues. A 997.2 is as bulletproof as a 993

Good luck the fun is in the chase...
:thumbs:
 
993 every time for the sort of use you mention.

Surprised no-one has mentioned LHD. A boon on the continent & not really a problem here. There are many more of them if you include Europe in your search. The biggest plus for me is that I can actually drive mine for more than 30 minutes without getting pain in my lower back because the pedals actually line up, unlike RHD cars.

In 20 years time, there will still be lots of 993s on the road; not so many 997s will make it I fear.
 
ooohhhh 993 :cloud9:
oooohhhhh 964 :cloud9: :cloud9:
oooohhhhhh 996 turbo :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9:

Did anyone mention that the 993 is the last of the aircooled?

Now that I've got what I consider to be automotive perfection I am finding myself strangely drawn to an aircooled 911... As everyone knows the 993 is increasing in price rapidly at the moment but I'm always a little bit different and actually wouldnt mind a 964 project car to tinker with and make a bit special.

It wont be long before the price of a good '64 will be on the march in the same way as we are seeing the 993 methinks.

Thats enough from me, I'll go back to dreaming.......
 
ragpicker said:
.. As everyone knows the 993 is increasing in price rapidly at the moment.......

:hand: Not necessarily as someone has just posted a couple of reasonably priced ones up on this board. The OP needs to separate the 'dreamers' from the 'realists' in terms of price and how quick the seller needs to shift it.

I've seen 993 languishing in the classifieds for months because their price is too 'hexy' yet £20k+ C2 964 seem to sell within hours :floor:
 
Hi Zingers,

I drove my 883 for approx 1k miles last week when I was in the UK and my right ankle really ached at times! Never noticed that before.

A well sorted 993 is a very reliable machine. As much so as a 997 in my opinion.

Berni
 
Zingari said:
ragpicker said:
.. As everyone knows the 993 is increasing in price rapidly at the moment.......

:hand: Not necessarily as someone has just posted a couple of reasonably priced ones up on this board. The OP needs to separate the 'dreamers' from the 'realists' in terms of price and how quick the seller needs to shift it.

I've seen 993 languishing in the classifieds for months because their price is too 'hexy' yet £20k+ C2 964 seem to sell within hours :floor:

If you look closely both those reasonably priced 993's they have issues, a 993 correctly advertised saying the right things, sometimes dead simple things like Full and documented service history are extremely rare, and priced accordingly. Let's be honest the genuine enthusiast ain't selling their cars, and if they do it's crazy money for the best examples.
 
SB - Something tells me you really want a 993 as the 997.2 is just not cutting the mustard :hand:
 
Thanks for all the advice guys. One question in addition, I live in London and don't have a garage... Does this effect my choice? How does the relative "weatherproof ness" of the 2 cars compare? Should it effect depreciation?
 
The 997 capability for eating up long miles is excellent. The longest trip I did was a return to Hungary with a stop off at Chimps in Germany. :drink:

Crossing Germany with the speedo reading upwards of 150 as often as I could was an absolute breeze. I find its a comfortable place to hunker down and do serious journeys very comfortably.

On the 911uk Euro and Scotland trips there were two 993s, both clocking up thousands of miles of hard driving with out any issues. So as long as your car is in good shape either a 993 or a 997 is capable of the long trips you mention. Id feel more hip in a 993, but more comfortable and 21st Century in a 997.

I don't know how I'd feel physically after such a trip in a 993, or if I would want to put so many miles on a 993.

I cant comment on the garage/no garage. I wouldn't want to keep either on the street if I'm honest, but many do.
 
MF1212 said:
Thanks for all the advice guys. One question in addition, I live in London and don't have a garage... Does this effect my choice? How does the relative "weatherproof ness" of the 2 cars compare? Should it effect depreciation?

:hand: One simply cannot own a 993 without a garage. :what: You wont find a 993 without some level of corrosion (I've even seen a 'tidy' 993TT on 29k miles with scuttle/seam bubbling) so all you will do is speed up the process leaving it to the elements adding to your yearly maintenance.
 
Zingari said:
SB - Something tells me you really want a 993 as the 997.2 is just not cutting the mustard :hand:

Zingers, tbh I'm in a minority I think, having owned 993/996/997, driving a 964 and hating it, I genuinely prefer everything about the 997 to the 993.

And minority again having driven 997S the Carerra for me is a better drivers car. I suppose partly because my 997 is unusual it gets even more attention than any of my 993's did.

Re parking a 993 in the street as you say Noooooooooooo...............
 

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