Porsche 993 vs 996: Owner of Both Reveals The Truth

As a 996.1 enthusiast, your analysis couldn’t be more accurate. The best $ spent is properly sorting out a 996 from day 1. My prerequisites are oil fed IMS, RMS, AOS, clutch, coolant tank, engine mounts, lower dash delete, Numeric racing short shifter, fresh fluids, filters, low temperature thermostat, and clean or replace the radiators.

My wife bought me a 02 996 for my 50th and I love it! Since then I’ve had the chance to drive a few of the other “contenders” I was thinking of, and am so happy I have the 996. I’ve put 20k on it in 4 years, including a recent 2k trip to Rennsport. I love it!

You could look far and wide and not find a nicer guy or more well informed Porsche enthusiast than Nathan Merz. As I sat and watched this great video and listened to his well thought answers I could only nod my head in approval over and over again. A true enthusiast and wonderful custodian of Porsches and also their history, Nathan is always a treat to visit with and learn from. I'm very fortunate and proud to consider him a friend and mentor in the world of Porsche, and this video is a real testament to why I enjoy learning from him. Way to go!

I owned and loved a 996.1. I currently own a 993, and that car is my preference. There’s always a faster Porsche. But if you want a car that triggers your sense of nostalgia in a daily drivable 911, you can’t beat a 993. Nathan that 996 is one of the nicest I’ve seen. I love it.

Not even 4 min into the video and I cannot fully agree more with Nathan’s friend that the 993 is actually a 911 Classic restomod - directly from factory! It’s THE original 911 restomod! 😄Happy that someone else thought the same about 993s 😊

996.1 aero has become the most beautiful 911 over time and yours is a stunning example 💛 as you say they have aged so well and are pure timelessclassics 👌

I agree 101.99% with everything Nathan said. What a great comparison. Thank you for putting this together!

I’ve watched hundreds of 911 videos. THIS one is one of the vert best. Nathan clearly understands these cars and is highly articulate in sharing his knowledge. Well done on this world class content!

I'm more of a Chevy guy but always loved the Porsche 911. The air cooled cars from the 80s have one of the best profiles of all time. You have to respect the build quality and always loved the door click... His advice at the end of the video pertaining to low mile collector grade cars, performance, ability to park the car and use it on the street, etc is something all enthusiasts should listen to. A lot of people think they need more car than they do, a more rare and expensive model, lower miles, and then never end up using the car. This guy cuts right through the snobbery and elitism you see out there. I like this guy's advice and attitude towards cars.

I think this particular 996 with the OEM aerokit actually looks stunning. Since the 996 has been disliked by so many, it is actually a very unique 911. No other 911 has running egglights....LOL....and it actually looks now miles ahead of its time. A bit of 959 flavor in a much lower price category. I think this 996 is a keeper for life especially since it will become very rare.....

Thanks so much for this video! Great perspective and glad to see that people have come around on the early 996's! Twenty-odd years ago I was comparing 993 vs 996 and the 996 was by far the more comfortable, modern and .. de rigeur for living in Florida... had much better air conditioning! If I recall it was the first 911 up to that point that weighed less than its predecessor. Mine was a 99, very minimal options also center console delete (but not a fan of the taco wing!) and definitely more care-free when driving it to brunch in midtown, leaving it at the airport, etc. It ended with about 113,000 miles on it and other than having a crowded storage space I wouldve kept it just for the low cost and high fun quotient. It was just a fun car to me so I was always a little surprised that regular folks would still take photos standing next to it, but I always believed it was such a beautiful, elegant and clean design that I'm glad it's finally getting some recognition for what a transformative car it was for the company. Good work Pinky!

Very nice comparison. Love listening to Nathan and absorbing his experience and silky smooth delivery. He's the only one that convinces me to take a second look at the 996. I have to admit, this is the best specemin Iv'e seen yet. Keep'm coming guys!

As an owner of an 02 986 Boxster S ( midnight metalic Blue BBS Sport Classics etc.) I completely agree that the original .1 headlights are better looking than the .2 version... They are simply more clean and timeless looking. They were also featured on the Porsche GT1 which is my favorite Porsche Lemans car.

Great comparison! I have and enjoy a speed yellow 993. Among other things, I love the seating position and view from the driver's seat. It's like being in the cockpit of a small airplane with the upright windscreen and 360 views.

Thank you for bringing up the reality that all generations of 911 have their inherent/potentially catastrophic issues. I previously owned a 996.1 and absolutely enjoyed it. Better interior and faster than the older cars. Lighter and more analog and newer cars. It’s the Goldilocks 911.

996 is ageing so well. In fact parked next to that 964, it’s hard to understand the price difference. I never thought I’d say this but to my eyes, today, watching this video…..the 996 just looks more special to my eyes. I see big 996 price appreciation coming over next 2-10 years.

Fantastic video!

Great comparison, I haven't seen the comparison between these two many times and there are a lot of good points, much appreciated!

Great content Will! Really enjoy your videos from your time in that shop. Awesome insight.

After riding in my friend’s 2001 986 and subsequently one myself, I have really come to appreciate the Porsche sports cars of that era. I used to think that I wanted a 997.2, 991.2, or an air cooled car. Now, I think that the only 911 I’ll be able to afford—as I look at my financial picture—is the 996, and I’m no longer disappointed by that idea. One day, I might try to make my boyhood dream of 911 ownership come true with a 996.