Porsche 911 Carrera (993) Review

Porsche 911 Carrera (993) Review

Revered for being the last air-cooled model built by Porsche, the 993-model 911 will always be held in high esteem. And rightly so

What's not to like about the 993? Let's look at the facts: it's the last - the very last - air-cooled 911 (or any Porsche, for that matter) ever made, marking a veritable end of an era. Twenty years on, it still looks modern - a truly timeless design. It's practical, available in a wide variety of specifications and, best of all, there are plenty of them about.

Porsche 911 Carrera (993) rear view

It is said that leading Porsche engineer Ulrich Bez disliked the 964, feeling that, in particular, ‘the Carrera 4 didn't drive like a Porsche'. But he cautioned against change for the sake of change: ‘We should not make something new and different. Instead we should do the 911 better.' This led to the development of what many regard as a true modern classic: the 993-series 911.

Porsche 911 Carrera (993) side view

This new 911 was launched in the autumn of 1994 and was claimed to be 80 percent new - don't forget the 964 had been declared 87 percent new! Gone were the upright headlights, replaced by streamlined headlights which blended seamlessly into the front wings. The body was altogether more curvaceous, more sensual in style but - and very importantly - the profiles of the doors and rear quarter windows remained unchanged from earlier models.

For all its flowing curves, the 993 was still every inch a 911 in the traditional manner - and that's one reason we love it so much.

What makes the 993 such a pleasure to drive is the suspension set-up, and in particular the rear end. Whereas the 964 was criticised for its lack of refinement in this area, the 993 excelled, with a multi-link suspension system that gave the driver greater confidence when pushing hard on his (and possibly the car's) limit.

Porsche 911 Carrera (993) interior

Designed to give a level of passive rear-wheel steering (the ‘Weissach effect'), thus controlling the way the suspension behaved under cornering, braking and acceleration, it transformed the 911.

The front suspension was a coil-over strut design, largely carried over from the 964. But the 993 scores highly in the practicality stakes - it was the first 911 to be equipped with power steering, alongside a more sophisticated ABS system.

Launched with two-wheel drive, the range expanded a year later with the addition of the Carrera 4, featuring an all-new 4WD system which was not only cheaper but also lighter than that of the old 964 C4. The transmission was a development of the worthy G50 unit, but now with six forward gears.

Porsche 911 Carrera (993) engine

The 993 used essentially the same 3.6-litre engine of the 964. There were detailed changes to the specification which saw the power output rise to 272bhp, but the most practical improvement was the adoption of hydraulic lifters, which reduced service costs by around 30 per cent. August 1995 saw the introduction of the Varioram induction system helping to boost power to 285bhp. For real power junkies, there was the mighty twin-turbo, er, Turbo. That's a real modern classic in every way!

A well-maintained 993 can be remarkably problem-free and, with exemplary handling and a top speed of close to 170mph with acceleration to match, a bundle of fun to drive. Coupé, Targa or cabriolet - you'll love it.

Porsche 911 Carrera (993) front view

But values are rising. Even the cheapest Tiptronic models are hitting £20,000, while you might need to add another $16,800-25,200 to that to get a low-mileage coupé with manual transmission. Turbos now command $109,200 and more privately, with the very best examples topping $168,000 at a dealer.