We often compare the 964 to the 993, and the 996 to the 997.
The 993 marked the end of the Porsche built air-cooled engines, moving to the better performing water cooled engines. Although some will argue Porsche took away beauty and grace in the 996, they also welcomed performance and accessibility in sheer volume. The 996 brought their GT cars to the mainstream market. The GT3 and GT3RS are still hard (and expensive) to obtain, but their production numbers went up overall.
If you consider the Porsche 993 generation’s highly sought C2S wide body, only 3,714 units were built worldwide. In comparison, the 996 had nearly 4,457 cars built, or just 20% more than the C2S. Debate the 996 headlights all you want, a Metzger GT3 racing motor in the 996 is quite phenomenal. Performance wise, it is certainly more exciting than the 993’s M64 engine.
993 C2S
- Horsepower: 282hp
- Weight 3,064lbs
996 GT3
- Horsepower: 381hp
- Weight: 3,043lbs
Both cars are very analog, with near identical width and length in dimensions, only the 996 has improved aerodynamics. Minimal electronics, insulation, and input made these cars very enjoyable. It is worth noting that the 996 GT3 did not come with traction control.
Now, let’s look at some statistics for both of these cars.
Comparing the MSRP prices for both cars, compared to today:
- 993 C2S cost $110,645 in 2004 ($186,860 adjusted for inflation)
- 996 GT3 cost $70,085 in 1998 ($135,700 adjusted for inflation)
In the past year on Bring-A-Trailer, these averages can be observed:
- 42k mile 993 C2S sold for $160k
- 28k mile 996 GT3 sold for $130k
In summary, we can say that 996 GT3 cars are trading for -30% under their original MSRP, while the 993s C2S trades for over +19% of it’s original MSRP. Additionally, average mileage will be -30% lower on the 996 due to its later production.
The 993 might be the last air-cooled 911, but you can get a Metzger GT3 racing motor for much less. Both vehicles are great investments and driving experiences, but one is the better value. Don’t expect either of these cars to get any cheaper either.