[The Donkey]

For those of you that have driven or haved owned either model above, what do you think the major differences are between each vehicle? I have driven both but not more than once so I can't really speak to it. Other than cost what do y'all think about performance, reliability, build quality, future resale values, fun to drive factor, etc.

As some know, I am considering getting rid of the 530 and getting one of the above for my DD which is about 12k-15k per year generally in my 8-10 mile each way commute and occasional 60 mile trip to Richmond and then jaunts to DC probably 5 times a year. As long as the car has a decent A/C (doesn't have to be great, the 530's sucks) and not overheat in traffic. What do you think? I will probably either keep the SC or sell it and get a beater truck. That part is undecided. I don't know how much sense it makes to have 2 911's but I tend to change my mind with cars quite a bit.

Thoughts?

[Rick Lee]

If you put that kind of mileage on a 993 in a year, you will need to budget for at least 1-2 sets of rear tires per year and plenty of other maint. If you drive in a lot of traffic, you may need the turbo oil cooler, certainly the fan switch upgrade.

[The Donkey]

I don't drive in a lot of traffic but why the turbo oil cooler? That is my fear. I don't want to get in a traffic jam, which I tend to get into multiple times a year even though I travel little, and have to worry about overheating. Last week for example in the dreaded 95South Hazmat spill where I was gridlocked for 4 hours. The SC would have been toast or I would have been a stress case. I don't want that worry. Would I have been worrying in a 993?

For as little as I drive in traffic it shouldn't be a concern but I am just curious. The 2 sets of rears is a great point. I do hear they are good for 10k each.

Let me spell it out. I want a 911 that I can drive every day. I want the thrill every day. I did not like the 99 996 that I drove. I think (or at least from what I have checked) that the 997 is too expensive. Maybe the later 996's are better but I have a thing with sound, smell and feel. I don't care that much about speed. that is why turbos have never interested me.

I want to get into the leather seats that smell of oil, listen to the sounds, have the reliability, have an AC, and have rear seats with shoulder belts for kids.

Thoughts?

[Rick Lee]

Well, if traffic is that bad, you can always turn the engine off. Nice thing about the 993 is that you can raise the spoiler grill, which gives a tad more cooling in bad traffic. I've only ever had my temp. needle go above 9 o'clock on the track.

[racer]

What is the price point here? Are we talking a $20K 993 or a $40K 993? Same for the 964. The adage of "get the newest you can afford" may work here. I will say, that a 1996 or newer 993 will have OBDII and may trip more CELs than you appreciate. In that regard, a 964 or '95 993 would be prefered. I feel both are "modern" enough for a DD and the 964 will feel a bit "rawer" than a 993.

[The Donkey]

Let's say 30-35k. I don't worry that much about CEL's since we don't have emissions in C'ville. Tell me if I am wrong about that failing inspection though RickV. CEL's could hurt me on resale though.

I could go higher if it was a great purchase but the wide bodied S 993's don't tempt me enough. So, that is basically the range I think.

[racer]

Cels aren't all bad.. could be emissions, could be a serious issue. My point is, they will go off and because they can be more than emissions related, I would think at annual inspection time, it would fail and 2, its a Porsche, and you should always want it running correctly to be that "reliable daily driver".

$30-35 will get you a very nice example of a 964. Nice 993s seem to have asking prices just at or above this because owners think they have something truly special, but you would certainly have a nice number of cars to look at.

[kaefer]

Do 993's start to overheat if caught sitting in traffic for extended periods of time? Say if it is 95 degrees F outside and sitting in standstill traffic with the A/C on?

[The Donkey]

Agreed with Kaefer...enquiring minds want to know. That is a concern of mine. Is it the same as driving a water pumper BMW, Honda, etc. or do you still have to worry about the 993 or 964 in traffic overheating?

[Rick Lee]

I rarely use my a/c in the 993, since the solid motor mounts make the compressor very loud inside the car. When a 993 a/c has problems, get your wallet out.