The last of the air-cooled Porsches: the 993

The Porsche 993: environment destroys more than you love

It was introduced in 1993 and the curtain fell in 1998. That brought an end to the legendary era of the air-cooled Porsches. And this year, the models of the first year of the 993 are officially classic according to current Dutch legislation and regulations.

Such an 993 looks a lot smoother than an 911

In terms of luxury, he also set the bar much higher than was usual with the 911. Moreover, the special glass sunroof brought back a piece of the old Targa feeling. And that the last air-cooled Porsche blocks were considerably better than the first water-cooled ones? That only makes the case more festive.

The 933 had become a lot more driver-friendly

The changed rear suspension had largely taken the venom out of the tail. And the sound production of the 270 + HP Carrera engine remained largely a kind of civilized in the interior. The driving was further made pleasant by the new manual gearbox or the faster thinking Tiptronic. The Carrera 4 also took advantage of the new visco clutch that replaced the previously used central differential. The earlier solution made the handling safe, but boring, according to the enthusiasts.

"Boring" is forbidden

And 'boring' is a word that should not be used in Porsche circles. Except when it comes to other brands. With the visco coupling, the 993 felt exactly like a real 911 again, but without the sweaty sweat between the buttocks.

And that these Porsches are and will continue to be well priced?

This not only makes them desirable as a car, but also makes them a safe investment at current bank interest rates. But don't put it on a Porsche like that to put it in the safe. Use it for what it was made: to drive! Moreover: the Porsche engines get very nasty when they are not used for a long time.

These Porsches are just as occasion still for sale at Porsche dealer

In principle, that is a perfect quality guarantee when purchasing. The technical state of affairs under the hood must be in order. Porsche repairs are pricey. The panoramic glass sunroof must be in order. With the convertibles, torsional deformations can occur in the bodywork. Check the seams between the panel sections and the fits of the hood. Broken door catchers are a thing with these Porsches.

Fortunately the problem is easy to recognize

There are even videos about it on youtube. The repair is of course pricey. Copies that have had to work hard can feel somewhat 'loose' because brakes, suspension, damping and bushings in the suspension are a bit tired. That doesn't have to be a problem if the price is right. But we warn again: Porsche parts and workshop rates are well priced.

The Toppers

Every ordinary, good 993 is attractive because of that air-cooled engine story. The Carreras offer all the goodness of the Turbos, but with regular 2WD. They are the most dynamic 993s. The Turbo with its completely redesigned rear suspension is actually 'a gentleman's sportscar'.