I purchased an '05 C2S 997.1 about six mos ago. The car is great, no issues what so ever and I love driving it - 2500 miles thus far. Except, I don't care for:

1. FM Radio/BOSE system
2. GPS/Nav
3. Heated Seats
4. The Wart – fun to time my commute but that’s it. Throttle mapping adds no value
5. 6th gear
6. Electric Windows
7. Power Adjustable Seats
8. Digital MPH or whatever you call that computer thing on the console
9. PSM
10. Homelink

I do like spirited drives during the commute through the hills and want something that doesn’t feel so watered down so to speak. The 997 does everything for you that its rather boring (almost clinical) - for the most part. I'm not looking for a DD, rather something to break up the everyday 30-minute commute a few times a week (plus weekends). I don't mind tinkering to get things right and I don't mind the expenses one would expect with an older car. Don't get me wrong; I like the 997. It is easy to drive but I could care less for all the gadgets and gizmos other than perhaps ABS. I like the looks of the 997 body, but I think I like the 993 body a bit more – for some reason the lines look cleaner. I've always wanted an older version, but I had to try out the current body style first.

 

I'm a previous 997 C2S owner and felt the same way. You'll lose a bit of absolute speed with a 993 and the N/A air-cooled motors, even the Varioram ones, need to rev to feel fast but you'll gain a more organic driving experience. The steering feel is more pronounced, the 993 is going to be more subject to the ruts and imperfections in the road, and the engine chugs noisily behind you but it's a unique experience, especially when you consider how new the 993 is yet how classic it feels.

I don't miss my 997 one bit.

 

Sounds like you want a 964.

The 993 has 6speeds, & is a bit more refined. My advice would be to go & drive a FEW (they drive differently) 964 & 993's, then pick the one you like best!

On rawness, the 964 wins, but you can make a 993 raw, it just takes a few key suspension components.

 

Well said mr bonus... Agree 100%. Don't miss my 997 C2S one bit!

 

Your 993 is gorgeous. I saw it in person summer last year in SB while I was looking for a 997. I know I'm going to give up power, but that fine because I want a more visceral experience and power is only part of the experience IMHO. I'm going to have to drive a few and see I prefer. I was leaning towards a MY 1995, but I've got some time to figure this out. Thanks!

 

Agree, I've driven my uncle's 964 for a couple of days and the car feels raw. No luxury just pure driving bliss.

 

i hate reading these posts, it makes my decision so much harder!

i can definitely agree and relate about wanting to feel that raw and visceral experience while driving a car. most modern day cars are so refined, great for daily commuting, but thats not what i'm looking for.

how reliable are the 993? do the air-cooled run hotter than the water-cooled? some of the much older cars were built without the modern day congestion and low speed idling in mind.

 

Yes, they run hotter however they have a high-speed fan that kicks in to maintain oil temperatures if you're stuck in traffic. At speed, they have no problem keeping oil temperatures at a more than manageable range. I find it funny that I see higher oil temperatures idling in traffic than I do at full bore on the track.

The general consensus is that the core components of the 993 are very stout but the maintenance cost is high. 30,000 mile services are generally expensive (remember, 12 plugs, not just 6) and replacement parts have the typical Porsche markup. Any car you're getting is going to be at least 13 years old so you have to be aware of the normal wear items on cars that age like weather stripping, bushings and the like. My car with 111,000 miles had shot front control arm bushings and rear toe arms neither of which are particularly cheap even from the aftermarket.

Be sure to get a thorough pre purchase inspection to ensure there aren't larger, hidden problems, often evident by poor leakdown numbers or excessive oil consumption.

The list of necessary items I've had to replace outside of routine maintenance in the last year:

-Front control arm bushings (steering developed a gummy wobble at 40 MPH+)
-Rear toe arms (Were on their way out)
-Seat shaft (I think this was a $90 part. They tend to bind if moved all the way forward.)
-Window switch

I wouldn't trade this car for anything though. It's such a pleasure to drive even when I'm not going fast.

 

I'd say they are more reliable then a comparable 997.

Of course they run "hotter" then a 997, they just have oil for cooling. But daily driving mine, temps have never been high. Really I don't know of any 993 owner that even thinks or worry about engine temps.

The couple of killers on the 993...
Rear tires, you get about 8-12kmi out of them
stock shocks, they are leak prone, most are already changed out
valve guides, they also wear faster then they should, the indicator is high oil consumption.

Other then that, they are very stout cars, & are wearing very, very well. I would put my 95 C4 up to any early 996, & you would think my car is much newer.

 

I agree with this statement completely. My 997 had squeaks and rattles throughout the interior at 32,000 miles. My 993 at 111,000 miles is like a vault. Not a single creak in the entire interior.

A good Porschephile friend of mine says you aren't just owning and maintaining a 993, you're a curator for its next owner.

 

Agree with the comments above. Just passed 110k on my 993 and it is like a vault. No squeaks or rattles what so ever. Currently my daliy commute is 102 miles in So-Cal stop and go traffic and oil temp is the least of my concerns (not road raging is my #1, lol). I truly could not ask for more from my now 15yr old 110k mile car. The key is the maintance, which is not cheap when you need to do it, but not frequent either. You'll find very few 993 owners who are not completely in love with thier cars. They are really something special.

 

LOL - the buzzing and vibrating plastic click and creaking sounds are getting annoying. Tonight I had to hit the top should belt anchor cover a few times to keep it from buzzing into my ear.

 

yes yes yes buy a 993 (a 95 c2) .......and if you want an even more visceral feel get an rs america: manual steering rack, 2700 lbs, no arm rests and no 40 lb hole in the roof.

 

MrBonus is right about the 993. The true following lineage of the 911-964-993 is the 996GT3. The 996 and 997 water-cooled versions run with a totally different new engine designs that are not validated by racing at LeMans (24h of longevity testing!). Only the GT series of 911's carry on the rawness and competition-bred feeling of total control of the driving experience. the RS America weighs 2970lbs not 2700 lbs and is the best raw experience from a model available to the American market that comes close to the unadulterated RS models from ROW.

 

+1. I find the 993 easier to drive than a 964. But like said, need to drive a few with mods and stock, and get own opinion. It's a win win.