I say drive them both. Who cares which one you end up in, as long as it's a Porsche. I got to say and please don’t take this the wrong way, but i would never ask for what anyone else’s thinks of the car I buy. Only you will know which one is for you.
The 993 VS the 996 thing is a waste of time, they are both AWSOME cars and both are very different. I went with a 996 TT because that’s what I wanted....I will always have a spot in my heart for the 993 and even more so the 964, but I am a firm believer in going forward with technology not backwards. Good luck and keep us in the loop.

 

With nearly 3 years passing since a post in this thread I figured I'd bring it back to life. It's personal to me since I have been recently searching for a 996TT but now considering a 993TT (I do like the updated interiors of the 996s but it is not a deal breaker). I just love the exterior styling of the 993 wide body. Interestingly, with a mid 45 budget the 996TTs seem well in-play but this appears to he the low end of a nice "low" mileage 993TT. Any further insights on the last air cooled model in turbo trim versus the 996TTs? While I plan to have a budget for maintenance stuff, I really want to be able to drive the car almost daily with perhaps a DE once a year or so. And I agree going to drive both helps but not very practical, most of the cars require significant travel for me (it's not like both models are on my local dealers lot). Thanks!

 

i purchased both in the past 9 months. very different cars -- i wouldn't buy a 993tt as a daily driver. it's a 15 yr old car and has an wimpy air conditioner vis a vis the 996tt, but then i live in texas. in every single way except styling and future re-sale value the 996tt is a better car: it's faster, more modifiable, cheaper to maintain and get parts, more comfortable. that being said, the 993tt has a visceral appeal to people that's hard to explain. if i were you, i would spend 40k on a 996tt and mod it for an extra 5. for 45k you're going to get a beater of a 993tt.

 

I'm debating the same question and leaning toward the 993 but as a garage queen hobbyist type car. If it had to be a DD then the 996 wins hands down IMO.

 

You make some great logical points.....but DAMN you have a beauty right there!

 

i think we need a pic

 

+1. Just sold my DD 993 C4S. Gorgeous car, but a royal PIA for DD duties. Driving a 12 year old Porsche was a fun novelty for a year, but began to grow old fast. (Conversely, my 993tt for Sunday drives is pure heaven.)

Suggest for a DD you buy a 996tt and mod it a bit. You'll have a more modern DD that offers far greater comfort, HVAC duties (yes, the AC on a 993 ain't all that great). You can also drive it to within an inch of its life and not feel one ounce of remorse over road rash or mileage depreciation.

 

wow look at the size difference between the 993 and 996. the 996 looks much bigger.

 

I am a 996TT owner, but I love both cars. As a qualifier, I have always been a fan of the 996 looks. Even before they were affordable. As for classic porsches, I love the 964 3.6T the most. It is my favorite car.

As for the two cars, I don't think one is better than the other just different. The 993TT is a primitive ***** out bad ***. Don't expect the suspension to not rattle your fillings. Don't expect a cozy ride with tons of amenities. And don't expect the car to be forgiving when pushed. It is twitchy. The 993TT interior is a true classic porsche interior. The engine is a work of art, but will need a top end rebuild and probably a case reseal sooner than most water cooled cars. This is not to say the 993TT is a horrifying ride that will kill you. These things are not bad. It is a true Porsche owners experience to own. Very pricey to repair, though. All that said, it is a great car that is miles above previous 911 turbos in reliability and maintenance.

The 996TT is a great car too. It is much more tame though in the way it drives. More understeer and not near as twitchy. You can definately make the car twitchy if that is what you are aiming for though. Many enthusiast have dubbed it as "limp wristed". You can definately learn a thing or two about your driving on the 996TT if you get it wrong just like the 993TT. The 996TT is a very maintenance friendly car as long as you are not bolting big turbos on it without adequate fueling. Do bigger injectors if you do. The interior on the 996TT is more refined and cozy on long drives and the suspension is pretty soft until pushed. I have yet to hear anybody needing a top end rebuild on a 996TT due to mileage yet. The thing to do is drive both cars and decide for yourself. They are too different to truly compare apples to apples.

 

I was thinking the same thing months ago... Lost out on a purchase to a guy in Cali for a beautiful 996TT. So I bought a local (Houston) 993TT. I am a long time Porsche fan and I love my 993TT. My father had 993's galore. If you want a porsche that makes sure you are listening to the car 993TT. If you like to listen to music full blast then 996TT. The reason I say this is the 993TT is the last of the "uncivilized" Porsches. The 996 was Porsches endeavor into "taming the beast". That said... They did a good job. You can find many old magazines giving these cars praise. Both for that matter. Everything tech-wise that I read in this post is correct. In the first few months of owning my car it has been right at 12K or so in repairs and maintenance (seals, clutch, i/c hoses, plugs and a long list of others) the P.O. spent over 25K in 4 years prior. Mind you it is a beast of a car though. 993 TT will stop traffic, Turn heads, and make other drivers around you forget where they were going (This can be very bad People pull out there cameras and cells while driving very often)

996 TT on the other hand is a leap... I repeat LEAP fwd in tech standings. Great cars. But I will close this out at. It will never be any kind of classic.

I am super happy I purchased the 993 TT and though the budget wasn't there for another turbo. Now there is a super nice 996 Carrera 2 in the driveway 15K mi. lots of options. To share the driving of two totally different eras of automobile. So if you can... Just get both The other doesn't have to be a turbo. Remember the big thing about Porsche is... There is no substitute.

 

I haven't seen bad AC in a 911 since the 964...

 

As much as my 993tt is a keeper, here's a great reason to move onto a "996tt":
http://inventory.racperformance.com/...--Dallas-Texas

A Porsche is a Porsche is a Porsche is a...etc

 

i saw this car last friday and someone needs to jump on it ..... it's worth every dime.

 

I second that.

 

993TT, my favorite street Porsche, ever. But ideally, you would have both-I do: