Is the 993 a lesson in future value of 991?

[Cleric147]

In 1998 I owned a 993 C4 for a couple of years and I am now thinking of buying another 911.

I am considering either a 993 or a newer 991. I have learnt that the 993 values are very strong and I wonder if this affected by being the last air cooled engine. This lead me to wonder if a 991.1 NA will have stronger future values than .2 because it is the last NA car (other than specials).

Interesting also that the 993 C2S manual seems to be the most sought after as opposed to pricier models when new.

I am new here and going to take my time to find the right car. I am trying to think with my head as well as my heart!

 

[CaptainSensible]

All 911s hold their value very well, but I can see a 991.1 in a good spec becoming very sought after in the next 5 to 10 years. That's one of the reasons I just bought one

 

[Topcat44]

I’m in the same boat. I love the 993. The way it looks, last of the air cooled etc but my head says I can get a low miles 991.1 for the same (or less) budget. I realise they offer very different things in terms of driving dynamics, cabin aesthetics, sense of occasion but it’s the newer model I’ll be looking at. PDK seems to be the popular choice and I wonder why? There are only 3 manual 991.1’s Carrera S on Autotrader at the moment. I wonder if it’s because the 7 speed has its issues or is the PDK just so much better? I prefer a manual gearbox in my ‘fun’ cars and have an auto box in my daily VW.

 

[IMI A]

Buy another 993. Simply no comparison if a special weekend car to potter about in on high days. 991 a fab daily and special too but its very refined by comparison. 993 a pure unfiltered sportscar. 991 a GT.

 

[T8]

I am considering either a 993 or a newer 991. I have learnt that the 993 values are very strong and I wonder if this affected by being the last air cooled engine. This lead me to wonder if a 991.1 NA will have stronger future values than .2 because it is the last NA car (other than specials).

Values of 993s are primarily where they are due to their relative scarcity. The 'last of the air-cooled' is a phrase over-used by sellers but that fact undoubtedly adds a bit of value.

The 'last of the NA Carreras' thing with the 991.1s will attract enthusiasts/collectors in the future and will probably mean that prices between older cars and later cars will overlap. As ever, mileage will be the key driver of values of ordinary cars.

It's a personal choice but if you're buying a 911 to drive the 991 will, imo, be a better bet. Both should hold their value pretty well from where they are now.

 

[stichill99]

993's will always be rare,991's not so much!

 

[jerzybondov]

I think they’re a very different proposition: if you want to use the car as a daily or it will live outside, then get the 991. If it’s a weekend fun car and you like the foibles and faff of an old car then get the 993.

991 values may drop a little more. Will take a while before they go up significantly.

Get a nice, rare, desirable 993 and it will continue to appreciate from where it is now.

Question is really want you want from your car!

 

[Cleric147]

Yes, I will garage the car, and only use when dry for country lane spins (not actually, although I do remember my 993 being tail happy even though it was a C4!)

 

[jonttt]

As above very different cars. Assuming we are talking hobby / weekend cars here then it really depends what you are looking for out of your hobby car and that is a very personal thing ie there is no wrong choice just the right choice for you.

Personally I don’t think the 991.1 will follow a pricing model like the 993’s. Too many of them and too many other models / differentiators which you can argue for each makes them “special” compared to others, prices will simply merge and the differentiators will be more down to mileage, condition, history and options rather than specific standard models.

Ps the “higherarchy” of 993 prices, like for like is as follows (in the UK, slightly different in Europe and the USA)

- GT
- RS
- Turbo
- C4S
Nb all above only available as manuals
- C2S manual
- C2S Tip
- C2 manual
- C2 tip / C4 (only manuals)
- Targas
- Convertables

There are obviously cross overs for individual cars but generally that how 993 pricing works.

Nb in the UK there where less C4S sold then C2S and have a higher spec eg full leather, full Turbo braking system etc… (which is the opposite in the US for example). C2S’s in manual are rarer than tips (or at least don’t come on the market as often) and can cross over to 4S prices especially if optional full leather fitted.

 

[jerzybondov]

Yes, I will garage the car, and only use when dry for country lane spins (not actually, although I do remember my 993 being tail happy even though it was a C4!)

Tyres have come on a long way since then - I had some appalling moments back in the 90s, that looking back were likely largely due to the terrible tyres on the cars at the time!

 

[Harryblue]

I think the 991.1 is definitely a nicer thing than the 991.2 3.0L turbo cars and I think the 991.1 will be the pick of the 991s and will probably overtake prices of the 3.0 991.2s, but there are huge amounts of them out there and I don't know if being the best 991 is enough to make it a stand-out 911.

 

[jonttt]

This

 

[berni29]

Hi There

Honestly, for occasional use I would go with a 993. If you get the suspension refreshed (if required) and properly se up then they are not a tail happy car at all. In extremis of course physics takes over, but if you do not habitually drive it like you stole it then this is not going to be an issue. You DO need modern good tyres though. But this is true of any analog performance vehicle. The reduced width of a standard bodied car (over a 991) will work in the cars favour from a usability point of view. Country lanes and tight roads are rarely a major issue. Esp once you are comfortable with the car. I took my 993 along with my bro's 996 to the skid pan at Thruxton last month just for fun and it was as I expected.

Maybe have a drive in both and imagine each in your garage. I just get the feeling that the 991 is just not going to excite enough over time. As a regular driver though all bets are off and its the 991 all the way, although you can use a 993 that way, but it gets a bit tiresone vs the convenience and ease of something like a 991.

All the best

Berni

 

[BobbyT]

I’ve got. C4. I took it to a driving training day at Millbrook and couldn’t get the back to step out no matter how hard i tried.

It’s great fun to drive, not as fast as a 991, but when am I ever going to use that power on UK roads anyway.
Having said that, as mentioned above, the 993 is an occasional use motor and I would like a 991 on the driveway as well not instead of.

 

[Luddite]

I`m kinda with Topcat in terms of when I thought to go back to Porsche, a 911 SC or later air cooled was the primary target, that was until I saw the asking prices, and given I had repaired corrosion damage on my 82 SC circa 30 years previously, what might an old air cooled be in need of today in the way of repairs...and at what cost.. I ended up buying a 991.1 C4S, a wonderful bit of advanced engineering and with beautiful lines, but definitely not as engaging or demanding of driver involvement as I remember my old 82 SC was....Nostalgia perhaps plays a part... But everything is relative, being an old f*rt, I thought compared to my SC the then new 993 was less of a sports car, and more suited to a city slicker with all it`s extra comforts and safety features, ABS, power steering and complete suspension re design which reduced the chances of rear end breakaway considerably...thus removed a degree of sports car ...err...nervousness... (-:

To enjoy anything like matching the demands my old SC placed upon it`s pilot, on an open road with good visibility I suspect in a 991 you would be travelling at speeds in excess of the UK max speed limit for motorways let alone interesting back roads roads with the occasional flock of sheep grazing at the roadside...? On the other hand on a tight twisting road a 991 can be enjoyed within the speed limit for the road when generating a few G`s in the tighter corners...(-:

Good luck in your choices..