1995–98 Porsche 911 Carrera Buyer’s Guide [Econo-Exotics]

Porsche's version of the Goldilocks tale is the 993-generation 911, the one many Porschephiles agree that the company got just right. It's an ideal blend of technology and classic 911 air-cooled heritage. Today, a naturally aspirated 993 is a fantastic way to score a legendary sports car for V-6–family-sedan coin, but finding and buying a good one may not be just a roll in the edelweiss in lederhosen. engine The final version of the air-cooled 911 had a 3.6-liter flat-six engine. Most let out a puff of smoke on startup, which can point to worn valve guides. A good pre-purchase inspection (PPI) with a leakdown test should reveal the extent of any problem. other problem areas Leaky rack-and-pinion steering gear • Excessive oil consumption • Rust around the windshield seal • Weak A/C • Electrical gremlins. cough All '96-and-later 993s are likely to encounter the infamous secondary air-injection clog, which trips the check-engine light. Cleaning can be expensive. Be sure to check with a dealer's service department to verify whether all recalls have been performed, and scour the engine for oil drips. 993 model-year timeline 1995 Porsche introduces the last air-cooled 911 in '94 as the 1995 Carrera coupe. A few months later, the Carrera is joined by the 911 Cabriolet and both are available with all-wheel drive (Carrera 4). 1996 Turbo, glass-roofed Targa and wide-body Carrera 4S variants arrive. Engine management gains OBD II and a variable-intake manifold (VarioRam) that boosts output from 270 to 282 horsepower. 1997 Wide-body Carrera S and Turbo S variants show up. 1998 The end of an era: The final year of the 993 made way for the fully redesigned, water-cooled 996. Estimated Used Values*: MODEL PRICE: HIGH MILEAGE LOW MILEAGE 1995 Carrera/Carrera 4/ Cabriolet $26,000 $39,000 1996 Carrera/Carrera 4/ Cabriolet/Targa $27,000 $40,000 1996 Carrera 4S $36,000 $52,000 1997 Carrera/Carrera 4/ Cabriolet/Targa $29,000 $42,000 1997 Carrera S/ Carrera 4S $37,000 $54,000 1998 Cabriolet $29,000 $42,000 1998 Carrera S $38,000 $55,000 Approximate Repair Costs: PARTS LABOR Oil change $112 $188 Clutch replacement $850 $1700 Steering-gear replacement $1700 $400 Top-end rebuild N/A $7000–$8000 Dual-distributor belt change $15 $430 Lower valve cover gasket replacement $50 $350 Upper and lower valve cover gasket replacement $90 $780 Chain box cover gasket replacement $160 $900 Replacement of blower motor resistors $120 $430 Four-wheel alignment N/A $300 *C/D est. for excellent condition. High mileage is about 125,000 miles; low is about 50,000 miles. Deduct $2000 for Tiptronic automatic. Turbo models not included. Instrumented Test: 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet Porsche 911 Generations: The Legend Grows Long-Term Road Test: 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera ask an owner: charles juckett (1995 911 carrera) C/D: Any surprises with the car? CJ: The real surprise was that the only place to do a pre-purchase inspection was the Porsche dealership that had been servicing the car since new, and it performed a surprisingly lackluster inspection, only hitting the main points. C/D: Any regrets? CJ: In hindsight, I may have opted to spend up front the additional money I spent on a repaint to get a car with good-condition original paint and fewer miles. Additionally, I would have used a non-dealer specialist to perform the PPI. C/D: Any advice for shoppers? CJ: Do your research, read the forums, and look for a while before buying. These cars are generally reliable, but quality maintenance is key. Avoid cars in need of immediate engine or drivetrain maintenance–even at a big cost savings. Many jobs require the engine to be removed and are costly. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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