993 vs. Boxster maintenance
 

I've decided I need to get a 993 before they skyrocket in price. Does anyone have experience with one of these? I've read that they're more expensive to own. True? I plan on driving it 5 000 miles per year-summer only.

I hear it's really hard to refill the radiator.

Make sure you get the newest revision (4) cap also.

TO

Worst issue is valve guide fit/wear usually requiring the heads to be rebuilt by 70,K miles. This requires dropping the engine etc. My WAG is $5,000 for this alone & generally speaking most is more expensive maintenance wise except IMSB related issues.

Values wise 3 993's have been stolen from a 8 mile radius of me in the last 6 months. So demand is there.

993 pricing really took off the past 12-18 months. A quality, documented, no-stories widebody (C2S or C4S) with low miles (<20) is easy +$60. Mid mileage cars are +$45,000 all day long.

I owned a 1997 993 Turbo for 4 years and drove it 40,000 miles. Maintenance and tires costed me about $7,000 per year. I sold it this summer for +$35,000 MORE than I paid for it. So, I drove one of the greatest air cooled cars for 4 years and 40,000 miles for free!!:dance:

The 993 market is very-very hot.

Nope, I believe you got paid for driving that 993 Even if you take into consideration the gas!!!! :)

You're a lucky guy!!

One of my customers has a 95 cab 993 for sale for 30k.

I drive a 993 daily.. Wouldn't have it any other way.

If a 993 and 986 are on par with each other mileage and maintenance wise, I'd honestly give the 993 the edge as far as being cheaper to own / drive / maintain. The real problem is that they are older than 986's and as a result more incidental / ancillary items will need addressing. I bought mine (1996 C2, not a wide body....damn) from a very nice early 60's lawyer who was not mechanically inclined at all whereas I am. My guess his independent mechanic told him it was on the verge of needing many small items to be dealt with, they would of run a few grand dollar wise for the shop to perform and I did them (hood struts, spoiler bearing, F & R bumper resprays, radio, suspension, replace / touch up some interior bits, etc.) myself for a fraction of what he would of spent.

From browsing this forum since selling my 986 I get continually amazed at the new "failure modes" exposed by Jake and others outside of the IMS bearing (water pump, intermix coolant tank, broken chain paddles, etc.) that would of concerned me. 2 biggest issues for the 993; replacing valve guides as someone else mentioned and SAI issues which can be addressed on a DIY basis. If seriously thinking about making the move I highly recommend Rennlist Forums, they are the 993's version of what this forum is to the Boxsters; the best resource. :cheers:

I don't own one, but the common wisdom is the last of the air cooled Porsches, middle to late 1990s, are the really only collectible modern Porsches, cars that appreciate in value. Excellence mag has a couple of articles on which models are the best value.

I think you missed the timing on this one... 993's have gone through the roof. The hot ticket (in terms of great car for the money) right now is a 964.

My opinion is buy any 993 you can afford. They are spectacular cars (I love mine) and are going up and going back to the mother land by the day. If you aren't mechanically inclined, buy the best one you can afford with the best documents possible (you'll pay dearly for it). If you aren't scared of working on it, buy whatever you want and it most likely will be a good car. OBD1 would be best so you don't have to deal with the SAI issue these cars have. But you're more likely to have the valve seal issue on the earlier cars. Look for white/blue smoke when running and warmed up, its the sign seals are bad.
The good thing is at least the issues 993's have don't grenade the motor from crappy inferior shaft bearings!!

964's are also coming up in value but still the bastard child of the 911 line. Heavy, slow and transitional between the coveted Carrera and awesome 993!

The 993 board over on Rennlist used to be the best group of guys I've found anywhere. Some of the old school patrons have disappeared but there's still a few knowledgeable guys around. Check it out if you haven't already.

So watch out for one with fresh heads on it -ok thanks.

yes I know the Turbo's are already rocketing in price- I hate to say it but you may have sold it too soon! $7000 for 10 000 miles is more than I want to spend and a turbo would be so 'special' that I'd never drive it. It's got to be a wide-body car though.

DD 993- you're living many peoples dream!

Hey cheaper to maintain would be great! And yes the many problems with the 986 seem overwhelming at times- than I drive it and I'm worry-free again! I'd think of the 993 as a classic and wouldn't be surprised when something fails, unlike with my Boxster. Thanks for the info.

An appreciating, classic Porsche - the kind that makes sense! Thanks.

Now that I've started looking, I'm amazed at how 'affordable' 964's are. But, like most people, I love the 993's shape best.

Thanks for the tips! I'm losing my fear of owning an older Porsche! And I don't think there's anything worse than owning a car that could grenade at any moment! Valve guide seals that slowly wear out seems less anti-climactic in comparison!