Porsche 993 Buyer’s Guide – (1995-1998) 911 Carrera
Introduction: The Greatest 911 Ever?
Porsche enthusiasts seem to agree that the 993 is the most desirable 911 generation ever produced, a sentiment that is reflected in both its steadily increasing value and growing scarcity.
As the last of the hand-built, air-cooled 911s, the 993 has an appeal that is both classic and modern. It maintains the diminutive proportions of the classic 911s while still offering performance on par with more modern sports cars. It is currently, and probably will forever be, regarded as the “perfect” 911.
If you’re looking for one now, expect to pay a premium. Educate yourself first with this Porsche 993 Buyer’s Guide, and you’ll have all the tools you need to find that perfect 993 that can serve as both a solid investment and a source of motoring fulfillment that may never be equaled.
There Are Too Many Different 993s! Turbo, NA, AWD, RWD, Cabriolet, Targa?
There are a lot of 993 variations. They can be categorized primarily by body style, engine, and drivetrain.
The Carrera base model (C2) and Carrera 4 (C4) have a narrow body style, as do the Cabriolet and Targa. The Turbo, Carrera S (C2S) and Carrera 4S (C4S) have a widebody style and are 3 inches wider at the rear versus their narrow-bodied counterparts.
All naturally-aspirated 993s came with a 272hp, 3.6-liter flat-six in 1995, the first model year sold in the US. Power increased beginning with the 1996 model year to 285hp when the Varioram induction system was added to all M64/21 engines.
The Turbo had a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six producing 402hp. A more powerful Turbo S variant was introduced in 1997 and had 424hp in US-spec trim.
The base model, Targa and Cabriolet were all rear-wheel-drive. The Turbo, Turbo S, Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S had an all-wheel-drive drivetrain, influenced by the system used in the 959 supercar.
Pricing: Current 993 Values
Mileage influences price heavily, resulting in spreads of over $10,000 between high mileage and low mileage examples. The estimated value of a 1995 Carrera base starts at $26,000 with high miles and gets as expensive as $39,000 with low miles.
In general, the widebody C2S and C4S models command a higher price, but lower mileage narrow body examples can have asking prices that exceed their wider-bodied counterparts.
The extremely desirable Turbo has seen a recent spike in value, with premium examples commanding up to $300,000.
Pay A Premium For Low Miles Or Pay Less For High Miles?
In general with used cars, you always want to buy the latest model year with the lowest miles that is within your budget — a feat that may prove difficult with the highly sought after 993.
Those looking to save money by buying a higher mileage example should look for examples with 60,000 miles or skip ahead to those with 100,000 miles as the 85,000 mile mark is where 993s begin to depreciate steeply. Note that low mileage examples are now exceedingly difficult to find, especially manual C2s.
High mileage cars shouldn’t be dismissed immediately, however. The M64-series flat-six engine found in the 993 is known to be fairly robust if looked after properly. If buying a high mileage example, make sure to thoroughly inspect all documented maintenance records from the previous owner.
993 Common Problems And Issues
Rusted Windscreen
The front and rear windscreen on the 993 are known to rust due to an inherently weak design. A repair will mean the entire glass will have to removed and the frame will need to be treated, prepped and painted. Look to pay between $1,000-1,700 for a front windscreen replacement (price does not include any frame work).
Worn Engine Mounts
Crunching sounds from the gearbox and/or unpredictable roadholding can mean worn engine mounts. Owners commonly upgrade to the slightly stiffer Carrera 4 mounts or Carrera RS engine mounts. It’s $376 for Porsche OEM replacement RS mounts plus an hour of labor to install them. You’ll need new hardware as well which is not included in the price of the mounts.
Worn Suspension
The factory suspension is reportedly only good for about 30k-40k miles. You can replace it with new Bilstein HD dampers + M030 springs for $1,795 (+$100 for M033 springs) or upgrade to Bilstein B16 (PSS10) coilovers for about $2,719 — don’t forget to set aside some extra cash for installation labor (4-6 hours) and a fresh alignment ($100-$300).
Conclusion: Do Your 993 Homework
Buying an older performance car can be both stressful and rewarding. For the enthusiast of average means, even a less expensive 993 will constitute a large investment — that doesn’t mean ownership will be less fulfilling, however.
Do your homework, browse Porsche forums: Their is a ton of information online about buying a used 993 that can help you make an informed purchase. The more informed you are about the 993s particularities, the less chance their is of buying one that will more of a burden than a joy. Happy hunting.
Cobalt Blue Porsche 993 Turbo S For Sale
