Porsche 993 turbo

[Taipan]

Everyone is mentioning the 993T4 or 996TT as the decent equivalent to the RS4 (estate/kids/dog asside).
Besides being 4WD, is it solely due to the Turbo factor being a pre-requisite ?

The reason I'm asking is : has anyone considered/driven one of the last special editions of the 993 C4S with 3.8L 300hp engine (the M64/21S engine from the RS 95 or the 993 Vesuvio) ?
It's featured in this month issue of RS Magazine (french) and it says it runs the 1000 m in less than 24sec with a top speed of 295km/h, so not far from a stock RS4.

While being available for around £ 40,000 and keeping one of the best residuals of the 993 series (due to wide-body and 3.8L), or so they say.

Eric

[JSeven]

Personaly, I find the 993 Carrera 4 S much better looking than the 993 bi-turbo. The smaller rear wing makes the car look far more charming, actually I finf the 993 C4S maybe the most beautiful Porsche ever made.

[Alan]

Eric and Jose,
I couldn't agree more.
A good friend of mine has one and it's a wonderful car [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
One of the things I like *most* about the 996TT as opposed to the 993T4 is the lack of huge wings etc.

[gord]

Charles, Yes it was RUF in surrey somewhere - back in 1996/7 they did some suspension adjustments on my car and transformed it from a weapon of abject terror into the best-handling 911 I ever drove (even in the wet!). All for the princely sum of just over £100. I'm '911-less' for the first time in many years at present so don't know if they are still around in the UK, but if they are they come highly recommended!
Wish I'd bought that yellowbird though!
GM

[Jan]

The reason I'm asking is : has anyone considered/driven one of the last special editions of the 993 C4S with 3.8L 300hp engine (the M64/21S engine from the RS 95 or the 993 Vesuvio) ?
It's featured in this month issue of RS Magazine (french) and it says it runs the 1000 m in less than 24sec with a top speed of 295km/h, so not far from a stock RS4.


295km/h with only 300hp is not possible!

[Taipan]

295km/h with only 300hp is not possible!

Well, you know, bragging arrogant Frenchies...
Although they may have lost that World Title in the past weeks [img]images/graemlins/beerchug.gif[/img]

Eric

[Alan]

Hi Eric!
How's the dog?

How do you find the V6 4-motion?
Sort of considering one at the mo', along with an S3...is it very "heavy" at the front end like the VR6?

[Taipan]

Hi Alan,

The dog is fine, competing for the title of "Champion de France" this week-end so he's in the hands of two pro's training/grooming him before handling him at the competition [img]images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Never drove a VR6 so I couldn't tell the difference.

Just in case, I have the Passat Avant 193hp, not the Golf (just added the model in the signature). Bought mid-1998, did 85K km, had Koni and SuperChips mods last winter which really changed the car.
Very happy, good working horse and cruising fully-loaded at 160-180 km/h under the rain is no prob, feel very safe all the time.
Could catch +230km/h if needed and patient (someone checked that in his RS4 on the way to the Ring last Nov; was it Thorney ?)

Tiptronic plus Michelin Pilot Alpin makes it a cool toy on snowy alpine roads.

But with the power/torque of the new Diesel engines, plus the autonomy/consumption which is bummer on the Passat (it drinks between 1 and 4 liters more per 100km than the M Coupé depending on city or highway), I'd go for the BMW 330xd Wagon or the X5 3.0d today.

Are you planning to buy new or second-hand ?

Eric

[B5DOM]

I have never driven the 993 turbo, so not sure what sort of driver gismo's and gadgets it has 'like PSM on the 996', but I did have a 993 targa up to November last year, which was a fantastic car, but the arrival of "mini me" in Jan and the lack of decent child seats and space in the 993 prompted the purchase of the S4 Avant.

To be honest I have enjoyed driving the S4 as a daily car far more than I ever did the 911, just miss the fresh air from the roof, but the weather in this country is hardly reliable so the benefit of being able to drive at a reasonable speed all year round does have it benefits!

One last point if you do buy the porker prepare for people staring in a jealous and nasty way rather than in the Audi people just want to know what it is, Oh and they hate letting you at junctions in a porsche.

[img]images/graemlins/yellows4.gif[/img]

[TimJMS]

Could catch +230km/h if needed and patient (someone checked that in his RS4 on the way to the Ring last Nov; was it Thorney ?)

May have been Thorney, Eric, but I timed you at a steady 145mph (wots that in French? [img]images/graemlins/033102bigblink_1_prv.gif[/img]) when you were in the 4Motion. Well impressed with how you kept up that day.

[Taipan]

Hi Tim,

That sounds like 233 km/h (145 * 1.609) so spot on, thanks [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

I only kept up because once in a while one of you would slow down when I disappeared in the rear mirror and get the rest of the RS4 pack to cool down.

That Hockenheim + Nurburgring week-end was truly a great experience, thanks to everyone !

Eric

[Alan]

Hi Eric,
Glad to hear he's doing well!
I asked as we had a VR6 Golf and I found the handling appaling.
We have been considering a Golf R32 and I realised it was the same engine so was worried the handling may be similar.
Well we test drove an R32 this morning (after many S3's) and if you would like to see my impressions then see the "S3" forum, needless to say I have bought an R32, fantastic car IMHO [img]images/graemlins/beerchug.gif[/img]

Take care!

[Taipan]

Hi Alan,

I did read a lot of nice reviews about the R32 and it sounds like a good add to the stables

Seeing you already have a Mini Cooper S, how bigger is the R32 interior ?
(or is the trunk big enough for a dog plus a large suitcase ?)

Eric

[Alan]

Eric,
The dog is the reason we are getting the R32.
The MCS was a mistake, we can either get the dog *or* a bag in, not both unfortunately [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] So the R32 will replace the MCS.
With the R32, the dog fits in the hatch, leaving the back seats free for plenty of luggage [img]images/graemlins/jump_clap.gif[/img]

We both love the MCS to bits, it's a really great car, but not for anyone with anything larger than a pet hamster!

[Ernie]

So I test drove a second 993T4 and this time had a good drive in it myself.

To be honest, this time it didn't feel as fast as my RS4. Hard to say, of course, but was less convinced than before.
Found the Audi better finished inside as well but this might have just been the age of the car I test drove.

Also, as I park my car outside I suddenly got a bit nervous of owning a porsche. I mean, from the back the RS4 could be anything to the uninitiated - as my girlfriend keeps pointing out by mistaking every A4 avant for an RS4!!

So here is the latest dilemma. Do I go 993 T4 or mod. my car to e.g. AMD Stage 2 (ca 460hp).

Please can someone tell me whether this make a significant difference over the normal 430 hp re-map. If not then what are the 'reasonable' options to get rid of those T4 options for good. To make matters worse, T4's are pretty easy to mod. up to 500 hp.

Ho hum - problems problems. A nice dilemma to have mind you.

Test driving a 3rd T4 tomorrow. This could be the decider either way.

Please comment - I appreciate it.

Ernie