Can a 30-Year Old "Regular" Porsche 911 REALLY Be Worth £70,000? 993 Carrera Revisited 

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Fuchs wheels and 993s are sort of like putting together ice cream and tomato sauce. Good in isolation, questionable together.

That engine sounds glorious. Much nicer than the latest model. The fact you get to listen to it longer because it is not as fast is also a bonus.

Happy owner of a 993 C2 manual here. Drove a lot of faster and more recent cars, including the newer Porsches. But the way this thing speaks to your senses is unrivaled.

This video gave me goose bumps. Have been lucky enough to own a 1994 C2 manual in midnight blue for the last 20 years. 312hp thanks to Neinmeister some14 years and 40,000 miles ago - now 156,000 miles. Slightly lowered with 18" turbo hollow spokes. A bit stiffer ride than standard but I don't care!! It just looks perfect and I love it! Have enjoyed the Italian lakes, the Swiss passes, Nordschleife, factory visits & some memorable track days. Nirvana? My annual trip to the west coast of Scotland for a week with some Porsche mates - bliss. Thank you Porsche (& Tony Hatter!).

I believe this cars are worth every single penny they are commanding. If one remembers Porsche were losing money on each model when they were still on production. The other thing with this cars is they are bombproof, untiring and unrelenting. Driven mine all over the Mediterranean roads France/ Spain etc on mountains of all sorts at stupid hot temperatures, they are unrelenting and will just mash up the road non stop day in day out. My take on them is, they are like a Swiss mechanical watch, pick up, wear on wrist and go about your day. So well built, so reliable and that sound lord, that sound is incredible! Wow. Perfect 10/10 every single day including Sunday ❤🙏🏿

1996 Carrera 2 owner here (& previous 944, 928, 964, 328, 360, F355 and 456GT). Best thing about the 993 are those sexy rear arches! Tony Hatter designed a lovely update from the 964 when Porsche were struggling back in the mid 1990s until they introduced the Boxster. I'm pushing 66 now and will keep mine and enjoy its visceral thrills until I can't get in and out of it anymore...Thankfully my wife 'doesn't think it's too bad' - happy wife, happy life! Thanks James for another entertaining video. Cheers from a (not at all summery) Otford, Kent.

Parents buy two 911's. My parents bought a ancient Lada Niva!

This is still my favourite generation of 911. It's still such a pretty thing. A 993 Turbo S is my ultimate money no object car.

My first experience of the 993 was driving around Donnington Park with Johnny Mowlem. I was going flat out and he was very complimentary, and then he got behind the wheel a drove it off the handles and as we're going through Mcleans up the hump towards Coppice he says, 'now we're doing about 80% of what the car is capable of' while I'm hanging on for dear life. Wow, he could drive and the car was fantastic, what a memory.

I'm with the naysayers. I am a massive Porsche fan, and I love this, but I don't 70 grand love it. I see these a bit like the Cosworth Fords, it obviously has the 'air-cooled' tax applied, a bit like an RS500 has the Cossie tax applied. Neither of them are actually that amazing, but as you pointed out, the 'legendary' stories factor has pushed the values way beyond what they are actually worth in reality.

The difference between the reliability of a Porsche and a Ferrari is a Ferrari will sometimes catch fire after a smooth evening drive, where a 993 might have a little oil blow by after not running for a month and smoke a little on a cold start

Always been my favourite the 993,the classic 911 looks with a slight modern twist, beautiful cars

The GT2 racing version of this was my fave car growing up. I was lucky enough to catch them racing in there final years when i was a teen

Older Porsches much better looking than the new ones in my opinion

Bravo! You brilliantly captured the essence of what a 993 is like to own and to drive! Anyone looking to buy a 993 should really refer to this video as what to expect from experiencing a 993! The shorter ratio gearbox combined with the Vario ram engine was not specific to the Targa but as you assumed were cars assembled with the newer engine and the older gearbox : very late 1995 and early 1996 cars had this sweet combo, I found one 993 coupe in this configuration. I am happy to see that you become more and more expert on the 993 over the years! Yes, they are more expensive now but it is all worth it. To me, it is like buying a ticket to go back in time to enjoy this very special car. And those rear hips and this a$$, what a sensual car this 993!

The problem with the horn is common. The airbag mount collapses, so when the brakes are applied the whole thing moves forward far enough to blast the horn.

Should have the cup alloys in my opinion but still the best looking 911 ever...

That’s one nice thing about the 996….my 2003 is currently ULEZ/CAZ and Scotland clean air zone compliant. I quite like the look of some of the older models but I’m glad the 996 is the one I could justify buying. Couldn’t live with any of the older models day to day. I feel they’re second or more cars, occasional driving for most people, which must be very nice indeed.

The last 911 before the Accountants came in. Love them.

humans are ridiculous. the fact that manufacturers have to come out with new chassis every few years to keep the demand up and not just retrofit new concepts is the reason we're in the shit. 993 chassis should still be made today and all petrol heads should buy them, but no, we're all poor and everything is limited numbers with massive price tags.

I also had a very sensitive horn in my 986 Boxster, which had the same steering wheel. Dealer said it was the steering clock and replaced it. Few months later it was back. Turned out it was caused by worn out rubbers in the airbag bracket. Replaced it myself (very proud moment that, as I'm far from a mechanic) found out that to replace the steering clock, you had to get past the airbag bracket and clearly see the by now almost non existent rubbers and loo and behold no more sensitive horn fsince. There are also replacement bushing/rubbers I see now. Either way it is an easy fix for a very anoying problem.

I've had a 1995 C2 for 20 years. Other cars, including TVR's, AMG's, Bentleys, Aston Virage and Rapide S 'family' cars have come and gone, but I could never bring myself to sell the 993. Why? Because when I drive it, it all comes together and seems so right! Ignore James; if you were a child of the 80's and want Fuchs wheels and a whale tail, go for it!

I like the small size of an aircooled 911. Ideal for narrow-ish UK roads, I guess. The prices probably reflect, or should, the costs made to keep it in good shape. A bigger engine, gearbox or brake job isn't cheap. Nice video, again. 😊

Hand built car. Production numbers for 964 and 993 manual coupes were relatively low. I'd say half of the produced cars were cabrios, tiptronics or targas. Not difficult to see why the newer ones aren't nearly as valuable. And never will be. Production numbers. G 1974-1986: 196,000 964: 63,762 993: 68.029 996: 175,164 997: 212,964 991: 233,540

993 is my absolute favourite of the air cooled. Wonderful review James, thanks :)

A great honest review, I bought a C2 just over a year ago and it’s an amazing car. They are a bit of a money pit to bring back form small niggly issues but worth it. Buy them to drive and you won’t be disappointed.

The production values of this channel are second to none

That interior; colour and layout; is beautiful.

Ran a 993 for some years way back-really impressive performance given the power the engine developed.Very reliable.

I don’t think you can compare the reliability of this with a Ferrari of the era. Just look at the market and how many miles some of the 993s have driven compare to Ferrari…

I never thought I’d say this when I was younger. But I just sold my last classic. I race a 2018 gt3, and nothing ever breaks. I just can’t deal with “the ac doesn’t work, the cruise control doesn’t work, and the oil pressure gauge doesn’t work, but it is well sorted” anymore.

Yes, the 928 had the swing axle originated Weissach-axle which was then further developed to multilink suspension labelled as LSA-suspension (Leicht, Stabil, Agil). The LSA suspension of 993 forms the base for all the 911 rear suspension after that. The princples are the same up to the 4 wheel steering in which computer brain takes over the toe-in control and perhaps also the bump steer up to a point. Already the 964 had a slight development in the swing-system but the LSA is truly a big step forward as it does allow proper trail-in driving style without the fear of spin like in the old air cooled. My landlord has a 993.1 and I have a 996.1. I am envious for the engine sound in the 993 it has much more bass and umph than my so silent 996. The 993 is more like a lion purring and growling MRRRRR than the kitten hissing hssss in my car. I agree with Jayemm that the legend of the unbreakable air cooled engine is a legend amplified by forums. They do require quite a lot regular love at higher mileage. And respectively the M96 engines are actually much more reliable that their reputation is. Though I would not rate them as reliable as the air cooled are. Let's be clear. These cars are very well made. One thing that strikes me everytime I work on my car is that you can tell the Porsche-engineers have spent time at the race track pits taking cars to parts and reassemble them again. They are not designed only for production line like, say, Audis are. Despite being very tightly packaged the access is surprisingly often there when you don't expect it and you know the design engineer has been under the car exactly where you are fingers in grease. Sure you still can use with some good swear words :)

Not sure about the wheels, but the interior colour scheme is totally class. Overall, a lovely car.

Great review and camera work as ever but your lapel mic audio levels seem to be continually varying.

"I think a lot of part numbers were changed" made me laugh out loud 😆

Had a N reg C2 993, wonderful Porsche, wonderful air cooled engine sound. Fabulous drive.

This is the same argument about JDM cars here in the states. The AE86 is an excellent example. Is it a great car? Surely. But is it worth the prices that people demand? To me, no. I kind of feel the same about air cooled Porsches. I’d love to have one, don’t get me wrong. But is the experience that much better than a 996 or later? I don’t know. To me the value isn’t there and it’s more a price to get into the “club” than it is about the car. There are so many cars that I personally can enjoy just as much, for far less.

The fact that the 993 still has those standing seam rain gutters on the roofline….this car hasn’t strayed that far from the g series…and it sounds incredible

Hey James, Great review! I have one of these (identical to the one in the video) sitting in my garage. A 1996 model that I bought in 2003 and used as my daily driver until 2010 when it was replaced by a 2005 997 C2 which is still my daily driver! It’s a wonderful car that was used for everything from daily school runs, many road trips, one fantastic Le Mans adventure and much more. Every trip, even to the shops, was a special occasion. Sadly not been driven for a little while and due to get some TLC this year before getting out on the road again. Good to hear values are up but not likely to ever sell it 😊 PS. Even made it to the centre of Edinburgh 😄

Your narrative always amazes. Fluid, informative, eloquent and expansive. Well done!

Thanks Jay - very lucky to have had two 993 a Targa and a Turbo which I’ve had for 15 years. I paid a fraction of what it is now worth. The fact that I can’t imagine selling it even with what else I could buy tells you how good it is. What else looks or feels this good, this involved, special or usable? I dream of V12s but the reality it they take V12 running budgets. The only thing I’’d swap it for might be a 550 and the costs of running one stops me. The true cost of any car is what you lose when you sell it. I just don’t see these losing money and the people who say that’s too expensive have probably never had one. I am lucky to now also have an early GT4, parts are available and labour is cheap enough to afford - but I had to sell one of the two.I’d keep the older car. The maintenance has always been really reasonable. Just get on top and stay on top of it. I budget about £2K a year for the Turbo but it’s a high days and holidays car now. I think the 993 sits in a sweet spot, fast enough, small enough, engaging, enough and your money back when you sell it.

Thank you, enjoyed your great video! ❤ Love my 993 Cabrio - best way to enjoy the aircooled engine 😊 Biggest difference with next generations 911 … not only was this one put together (by hand) by man with facial hear 😂 It is also the last that came from Porsche “the engineering led company”. Later generations come from Porsche “the marketing & finance led company”. Clearly today is much better for shareholders, but such a difference for those of us who enjoy the car and how well it is made. It makes the 993 even more a legend for me. ps: Your friend Gregor has some additional work to do, a.o his broken rear spoiler wall and misaligned spoiler fit.

A brillant video from a brillant car. The turbo has a super power, the normal 993 sounds more aircooled

Peak 911 last of the real 911's (air cooled)

I remember the first time I checked the oil in my air cooled 911 and found it low. I put oil in, then found out it had to be checked when the car was running, hot and level. So, yeah.

I hesitate to say this, but I almost think the higher production numbers of the Porsche vs a Ferrari or Aston Martin of similar cost might be what's actually pushing the value up. More people had them or saw them when they were younger, and parts are more available, making it easier to fix. I've noticed a more extreme version of this here in the United States where used SUVs and trucks from the 1980s and 1990s are going for more than lower-mileage Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. 99% of the people aren't using them like SUVs and trucks; they are just driving on roads that the Rolls-Royce, but everyone's so scared of something going wrong and it not being able to be fixed that nobody seems to want them anymore.

Hello James. I've got to a point where I watch pretty much all of your videos because I very much enjoy the films you make, regardless of the car involved. Many of the cars I like, some not so much. Notwithstanding your best efforts during a very enjoyable video, these cars remain in the latter category for me, so I won't be rushing to AutoTrader to buy one. But I enjoyed the emotional feeling of being almost persuaded 😇

Had the same exhaust boom on my 993. Particularly bad between 2 and 3,000 revs (70mph in 6th). Swapped recently for a Carnewal exhaust and a real game changer. No boom just a the right amount of sound. Great review BTW.

James, love the 2 quotes: "comparison is the thief of joy" and "my mom bought two 993s". 😄

No not worth it at todays prices.I owned one and I drive a 997.2 GTS now.

"Are you sure it's on!? I can't hear a thing!" "IT'S WHISPER QUIET"

£70k? That Sir, is a bargain.

My classic car, a 1989 V12 Jaguar XJ-S can be driven in any ULEZ zone in Scotland. I think there may be a 30 year limit before classics are exempt.

The PCCM+ works brilliant when you plug your iPhone in and use it with a windscreen mount. ❤

Ooh, great roads in our back garden. Welcome north of the Border once again James. We are blessed up here.

I think cars like the bmw e39 m sport cars were and will always be great cars no matter new or 60 yrs later for all the right reasons , as a Porsche owner I tend to feel the likes of RwB and Singer has done a these older Porsches a huge favour as I genuinely don’t think they are as good as the current perception would lead you to believe.

James, I still love your funky intro music and drum my fingers to it in EVERY video. Keep up the good work!

My neighbor has a 993 since 1994, he is the first owner with km 372.000 = 231000 mls with the first engine

100% the exhaust is not standard ! You can’t tell by the exhaust tips as the originals bolt straight on to the aftermarket silencers - sounds great tho I have a 993 Carrera S manual 47k miles. A different kettle of fish to the F355 manual I also owned. Contrary to your experience my 355 had cracked manifolds, catalytic problems ( probably caused by the manifolds ) cracked windscreen, faulty heating/ ac . Cracked rear buttresses, I could go on !! 993 ? Aircon fault - the condenser turned to dust after 20 yrs otherwise nothing 🙂. Great video James 👍👍

Looks light years better with the stock 993 wheels. Better yet the Turbo wheels. Fuchs on that car is an abortion

Had 3 993's moved through the generations (notables, 997gt3, 997tt,tts)up until 991.1gt3rs. Now i only own 3 996's they make the perfect 911 all for the price of 1 high mileage 993. Now im exploring other brands for my collection as i feel my 996's capture the essence of 911 well enough

The ‘good’ thing about the Edinburgh LEZ is that the age limit is only 30yrs not 40, so he can drive it in later this year without a charge

They are the best 911 , retro and modern enough to drive all the time - good performance too 70 they are cheep compared to a rusty Old Ford

Possibly the car I would love to own above all others

18:52 it'll always make me laugh the fact that my 1989 mr2 somehow still has working cruise control. Still working the a/c tho.

I followed one down the m40 last week. Driven by a pilot in full uniform. An awesome looking car

The 993 is one of the best looking 911s but the 996 is a much better drivers car overall for far less money.

The 911 was too expensive for me to buy and or maintain. Therefore I bought a Boxster S was back in 2009. Since then I have owned several including my latest which is a 2020 718 Spyder. You gotta love a Porsche. Cheers mate🍺

Love a 993, recognise the road to Kirriemuir too 😉

You need to do one on the 997 Carrera Cabriolet - Does it offer the true 911 experience or does the drop top compromise it.

4:05 How dare you throw that up in the middle of a beautiful 993 video! That's criminal lol

Not convinced... I’d say the 996/997 probably gives a better ownership experience for similar price. Of course, my heart lies with 986/987 which is even better bang for buck

I've owned an 86 carrera when they where cheap. I've had a 997 and still have a 996. I don't see the value in a 993. Not saying it isn't good nor pretty. For the same money I would definitely get a 996 GT3 before buying a 993.

The best looking 911

I love you reviews and comments “a lot of part numbers were changed” that should be on a shirt with a Porsche logo 😅

A 992 is nowhere near mid engined the entire block is still behind the rear axle but in the same way Audi managed to push the engine in the A4-8 further into the car through re-engineering the gearbox Porsche have done the same. They're both still forward/rearward of the axle centre line. Albeit the weight distribution on the 911 is now close to that of a mid engine car, which is where the dynamic change comes from. But a lot of that is chassis electronics too, turn absolutely everything off (you need access into the ECUs to do this, rear steer, torque vectoring, ESP, TC all off fully) they suddenly feel really rear biased again.

I am one of a handful of people who dislikes the 911 Cabriolet. With the exception of 997 and 991 Speedster, all 911 cabrios looked wrong. Targa, however, looked just right. I don't even mind the 'mega-panoramic' version on the 993 all the way to 997. Also, 993 is good but I don't see any excuse to spend over GBP70k for 'regular' 993. Not when the market is littered with good 996s and 997s for quite a lot less. Then again nostalgia is a powerful drug. If it was my money, I'd spend GBP70k on manual 997.1 Turbo or a PDK 997.2 Turbo. And for the 993 Turbo kind of money? 991.2 GT3 is still my dream car, and it'll be 991.2 GT3 over any 993 all day long.

In case anyone is wondering about the “quasi dry sump” in the 996… They put plastic baffles around the oil pump pickup to prevent oil from sloshing around, and they put scavenger pumps in the cylinder heads to return oil to the sump … which is admittedly wet. So it has scavenger pumps like a dry sump, and it has baffles to keep the oil pump from sucking air, but is otherwise a wet sump setup. 😎

Great cars with a lot of appeal though at that money I would look elsewhere. Agree with you Jay about the wheels. I loved the fuchs alloys on my '89 3.2 Carerra but they just look wrong on a 993.

Older porsches are classier than the new ones

I love the Fuchs alloys

Maybe you are aware, maybe not, but Nakai-san is currently building a few RWB Porsches in Reading. He just completed two 993’s, tomorrow and Monday(14 & 15 July 2024) he’s going to do a 997. If you’re interested in that you should check it out :D

Yes if you've got another million or so to take it to Gunther Werks.

The prices of those old 911s are beyond absurd, indeed. Same thing with more recent ones, by the way: compare the prices of a Jag XK (not quite the same philosophy, but no less car and a similar price tag when new) with those of a contemporary 997...utter nonsense. And before the ignorants bring it up: no, the XK IS a reliable car. The pre-2009 997s, on the other hand...

Porsche engines have a reliability and longevity Ferrari can only dream of, that why their engines don’t produce comparable power.

James I have been around since the earliest days when I found you making a video from FL I love your reviews

Hi Jay, great video as always. I am located around the Edinburgh area and was curious about the location of the roads you film on. I wouldnt mind taking my own car up them at some point for some scenic driving. Cheers, Cameron

Great review Kimosabi…up to your usual standard…usable, maintainable (read no crazy belt jiggery(355 crew))…fun to drive…quality.

Thank you, I really liked this video and great points. Spoiler alert, no they aren't worth it. I sold my C2 Manual 993 recently having owned it for 8 years. I was ready to part with it. I hate to say that in summary, the idea of a 993 is better than the reality. It lacks the visceral nature of the 80s 3.2s, which I have had in Targa and Coupe form, and certainly the sheer, agricultural rawness of the 70s long hoods, which I also own. The 993 is a beautiful car in either narrow or widebody form, and the Tony Hatter design plus the hand built style, offset pedals and the engineer-led dash layout all evoke what Porsche purists want. And manual it must be. The reality is that the drive is muted, feels sluggish, heavy and certainly not raw. It feels less a true sports car or 'purely Porsche' than moving towards an executive car (which I guess the Carrera was eventually to become) and that aligns with the customers in the 1990s needs, with some odd colour and interior choices and that ugly, large steering wheel (which can be changed easily). Drive one and you'll see for yourself. They are still amazing, quirky, with features like the curved windshield and they are so small vs a 992 they feel like a Mini. I loved owning one and had some great drives, but I don't miss it and will never rate it as much as my 73S or 911T - both of which feel like true drivers cars and true 911s. Prices for good, garage queen C2s or 993 Ss remain eye-watering and in my view, overpriced.

The design alone is worth the money

I wanted one of these in about 2012. I had the cash. But not house or garage. I loved them. A guy in my Road had one from new (I was about 17). I knew the rocket in value too. Not made for long. But I didn’t want to spend £15k so spent BMW 330 ci instead!

Great Video!

No it can't, it's a market equation. The tech in that car isn't worth more than 5k. Euros. But it's beautiful, so... There you go, take my money 😁

I sold a low mileage, two-owner, R-plate 993 C4 man about 15 years ago (and was in Arena fwiw). Looking online at its DVLA file, the mileage hasn't changed so it's clearly been in storage and must be worth twice what I sold it for. An undeniable investment but not my sort of thing: more agricultural than you've been lead to believe, and with more weird issues than you can imagine - for example, watch any 993 owner puff out his cheeks and sit down when you ask him about windscreens - and with EU regulation and taxation it's getting hard to enjoy what this car was made to do outside track days. Don't miss it.

It had the most underrated feature...rain gutters

“A pair of 911’s”. Living in my East Yorkshire village in the 90’s nobody could afford a 911, you’d occasionally see one drive through. I hope James realises how lucky and privileged he was and still is. Great video though.

Thanks for the video but you can keep your Ferrari and Aston. Nothing compares to a 911.

when the Boxster was released, the Autocar road test between the 993 and then new 986 declared the boxster the better car. It still is better to drive. The 993 is cool but not worth the premium.

At first I thought I was watching No Man's Land. 😂😅