Porsche's 993 vs. 996 911 From a Guy Who Actually Owns Both

Screenshot: Rennthusiast via YouTube

Obviously, I’m biased because I own a 996, but damn, it feels good to see people doing an about-face on this once very unloved and much-maligned generation of Porsche 911. Of course, the 996 is unlikely ever to be revered like its predecessor, the 993 generation, aka the last of the air-cooled 911s, but is that adoration totally warranted? Let’s find out from a dude who owns both.

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More than owning both a 993 and a 996, this guy owns a bunch of both as well as other generations of 911, so I’m inclined to value his opinion. That opinion might surprise a bunch of you who read and vehemently disagreed with my ranking of the 993 in the list of best 911 generations, but nostalgia aside, it’s hard to argue the numbers.

Porsche 993 vs 996: Owner of Both Reveals The Truth

What’s the tl;dw for this then? Well, it breaks down like this, cousin. The 993 is historically significant, much more traditionally styled and generally better built with nicer materials. The 996 is handsome in its own way, and it’s a better driving 911 thanks to the characteristics of its regularly-shat-upon-on-the-internet M96 engine and improved gear shift.

Add in the 996’s creature comforts like its roomier cabin, especially for passengers, and much better HVAC systems, plus the availability of more modern safety technology like Porsche Stability Management, and it’s just a nicer car to live with. It’s also considerably cheaper to run than an air-cooled car and easier to find service. (I’ll take the dude’s word on this, living in LA, finding someone to wrench on your air-cooled car isn’t tough.)

So, knowing that things are a lot closer than you might think, does this change your opinion at all? Does the 996 speak to you with its better performance, lighter weight and considerably lower cost of entry? Or will you continue to worship at the altar of air-cooling? Let me know in the comments.