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Model Guide: Type 993 — The last air-cooled Porsche |
PCA—In this edition of Test Drive News, a monthly newsletter for PCA Test Drive participants, we explore the 1995-98 Porsche 911, the 993 generation. It was
the last of the air-cooled Porsches, the ultimate evolution of the breed. This guide covers naturally aspirated models, including the Carrera, Carrera 4, Carrera S, Carrera 4S, and Targa. Find out when certain models were available, the major changes from the 964 generation, plus updates made throughout the 993's run. At the end of the guide, you'll find a list of common problems that affect 993s, things you'll want to pay attention to when shopping for
one. |
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Test Drive is a unique program offered by PCA specifically for prospective Porsche owners still searching for their next vehicle. In addition to this newsletter, PCA Test Drive allows
you to experience several member benefits, including a six-month subscription to Porsche Panorama magazine, and access to PCA classified ads and the Tech Q&A forum. If you're not a Test Drive participant, click here to learn more and join. |
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PCA—The 993 in all its configurations was the fourth-generation Porsche 911, and sold in North America for model years 1995-98. Design sketches for the 993 were first started in 1989, the year the 964-generation 911 Carrera 4 was launched. The exterior styling design responsibilities were
given to Tony Hatter, and his objective was to revise the shape and flow of the 911 body that he (and others) felt had become to some extent a little ponderous with the 964. The result was a well-balanced layout that became popular right away. | | |
| | Road and Track—For a long time, the 993-generation Porsche 911 was just another used car, until everyone seemingly had the collective realization that they were something truly special. The 993 is last air-cooled 911, and offer a combination of old-school feel and modern usability that isn't found in many other cars. Unfortunately, that means that 993 prices have climbed to the
stratosphere. |
Nick Murray via YouTube—Lets take a spin in the
much loved 993 911, the last generation to feature the air-cooled engines. | | |
| | Car and Driver—Would we offend someone if we called the Porsche 911 a religious icon? Probably. But clearly, the 911 doctrine—the gospel according to Ferdinand—keeps packing ‘em into the pews. The Stuttgart sect of the sports-car faithful observes its longstanding tradition (30 years of production), inviolable
orthodoxy (the rear-mounted, air-cooled engine), mysterious rituals (turn the ignition key with your left hand), and canonical law (don’t lift in a corner!). |
TopSpeed—The last of the air-cooled Porsches, the 993 generation of the iconic 911 is seen by some hardcore Porsche purists as the last truly great model in its long lineage, despite the fact that in terms of performance, comfort and safety it has been obviously surpassed by all subsequent generations. Launched at the end of 1993, it was the third all-new 911 in the history of the Zuffenhausen sports car maker, albeit it did feature some carryover parts
from the 964 generation | | |
PCA—Mart Fresh is a column in which PCA media staff pick what they think are the freshest Porsches currently available in The Mart, and then attempt to explain their reasoning. Check out the most recent reviews
below:
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| | duPont Registry—Evolution is supposed to be a gradual process, but Porsche packed 50 years of innovation into their 993 series 911 models. The limited run lasted only 1995 to 1998, and it brought the 911 into the modern age. That is why many Porsche purists run the 993 series as the basis for their collection. If you are considering Porsche 993 for sale, follow along with
us for a synopsis of these four model years in order to make an informed decision. |
Car and Driver—It's a good bet that any poor sap selling a car with a 32-year-old body will have fingernails approximating Al Davis's festering stubs, a trailer-park address on his business card, and a hellish thatch of strawberries on his knees from all that begging and scraping. The exceptions are persons who sell Harleys, Jeep Wranglers (with their snappy Iwo Jima styling), Zamboni skating-rink ice resurfacers, and Porsche
911s. | | |
| | MotorTrend—It seemed simple: Any Motor Trend long-term Porsche ought to be finished in the sleek, sophisticated silver that German race machines have worn. Silver 911s have a dignified ferocity; an elegant disdain for mortal cars and vulgar showiness. Hmmm. But then again, the exhibitionist in us wanted something that would really pop, a color that would snap heads even among the
jaded, seen-it-all drivers along Sunset Boulevard. Ah, "Speed Yellow." The name says it all. |
Heidi and Franny's Garage via
YouTube—For a little over two years now, we have been the fortunate owners of a 1995 Porsche 993 Carrera Cabriolet – the last of the air-cooled Porsches; the “prom queen” of the entire 911 line. It is a beautiful car and an amazing drive! We will run you through the car and detail our experience and what stands out for us with the car. Come along on a beautiful day for a fall ride in the Colorado mountains for and some great scenery and a fun talk on what makes this car so
spectacular! | | |
| | Car Buzz—Ah the Porsche 911, we have read endless reports of how this rear-engined icon has rocketed in value in recent years and that there are no more good value alternatives out there, save perhaps for the previously unloved water-cooled 996. In truth there is nothing much wrong with these cars, the facelifted 996 is an accomplished sportscar and from a purely financial standpoint
they do make a strong case for themselves. But even if you have no issue with the looks or mechanical issues that affected the early cars, you know the one you really want is the 993. |
Car and Driver—In the early Eighties, I owned a Porsche 911S Targa that my dog and girlfriend loathed. Possibly for the same reason. When that car's solid chunk of roof was removed (for me, this was whenever the ignition was turned on), it had to be stowed in the Porsche's nose. This meant that every single item residing in that cubby-hole—including an inflated space-saver tire, the dog's biscuits, five spare quarts of oil, and an aging selection of
footwear—had to be transferred to: (a) the passenger seat, which more or less evicted my girlfriend, and (b) the rear parcel shelf, which more or less evicted my dog. This is true. | | |
| | Slash Gear—Few models in the Porsche family have been as celebrated as the 993 generation of the iconic Porsche 911 sports car. To those not intimately familiar with the internal codes assigned by the German brand to the various iterations of its most famous model, ‘993’ refers to the crop of coupes and convertibles that made it to American shores between 1995 and 1998 (after a bit of
a head-start in the European market). |
Auto Blog—These days air-cooled Porsche prices are blasting through the roof, and the 993 gets much of that love among collectors as the last generation before the 911's switch to water-cooled design. MotorWeek's latest Retro Review now looks back at the 1996 911 Targa. The coupe came from a brief period when the 911s were the only models in the brand's lineup, but the company made
sure those cars were perfect. | | |
Test Drive News I hope you enjoyed this issue of Porsche Club of America's Test Drive News. If you have any questions or comments, please contact:
Damon Lowney Digital Media Coordinator & Test Drive News Editor damonl@pca.org (410) 381-0911
If you wish to advertise with Porsche Club of America, please contact:
Ilko Nechev Advertising Director ilko@pca.org (212) 490-2079 | | |
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