As some of you know, I posted a thread awhile back soliciting advice about what sports car to buy with my hard-earned first bonus. I considered - and drove - an M3, an Elise (well, nearly), and a few others, but I ended up with the one I really wanted all along - a 993.

When I was in high school a friend of mine had an E46 M3. It was fast, and we did a lot of dumb, risky stuff in it. His dad forced him to sell it after the maintenance bills began to mount up (few 17-year olds are acquainted with the concept of mechanical sympathy). Based on those experiences, when the E92 M3 was introduced, I was sold. I just knew I would have one as soon as I graduated from college and got out from under my parents' purse strings. Gradually, my devotion began to waver, and I started lusting after a 997 GT3, like so many others on this board. I graduated last spring, and started work last summer, with the intent to get into a GT3 within a year or two.

Last fall I was at Petit Le Mans with my dad, prowling through the PCA corral. We came across two 993s that had both of us smitten - a very convincing 993 RS clone in Speed Yellow, and an Arena Red turbo on 997.2 turbo wheels (it worked; looked marvelous). So I started to shop for one.

When bonus time rolled around, I started making appointments to test drive cars. The local Lambo / "Exotic" dealer happened to have a 6MT E92 M3 and several Elises on the lot. I expected plenty of attitude there, but they were very nice and accommodating, a pleasant surprise. Perhaps symptomatic of the potential ownership experience, the only unsold Elise had a flat battery. And nevermind that, I was too tall to fit with any degree of comfort - and I'm by no means tall! Strike that one off the list. The M3 was next. I had a lot of anticipation to drive this car, given how long I wanted one. Initial impressions: A big, heavy car, with a very "digital" clutch - difficult to feel any mechanical interaction, which is, after all, the point of driving a stick for me. The steering was characterized moreso by weight and effort than subtle feel, and was not done any favors by the thick, bolstered wheel. In a straight line, the car was quick, but I expected that. I had read all the reviews and criticisms, and discounted the descriptions of the M3 as an all-rounder GT car versus a true sports car. They were right. I walked away a bit underwhelmed.

On to the 993.

Although it's difficult to be picky when shopping for a 15 year old used car imported in somewhat limited qualities, I was hunting for the following spec:

A 1996 or later (I wanted the extra hp of Varioram and don't have to worry about the emissions testing gremlins resulting from the OBD II transition; plus, I despise the basket handle brake light) base Carrera (I prefer the classic, pure spec, as well as the narrowbody; the widebody 993 looks a bit overwrought - pear-shaped even - and commands an unjustified price premium versus the more prosaic base car) with a stick (duh) in Guards Red.

I found a few that were close to my desired spec, but I was hesitant to buy a car sight unseen without driving it first. There were none that fit the bill in Atlanta, but I made an apointment with a broker to drive one anyway - what could it hurt? Online the car looked a bit rough, tired even. In person, however, it looked stunning. Having read Adrian Streather's excellent 993 guide, I looked the car over inside and out in detail - everything looked fine. Amazing how poor lighting, dirt, and terrible photography can undersell a car. This particular car had was a 1996 (check) Carrera (check) with a stick (check) in Black (indifferent) over Marble Gray (indifferent), with the OEM aerokit (at first I disliked it, then indifferent, now love it) and 18" OEM turbo twists (love 'em).

The Test Drive: Open the bank vault door; slide into the surprisingly supportive seat; byzantine dash featuring curious "ergonomics"; skinny A-pillars; upright windshield with panoramic view; challenging floor-mounted pedals; heavy clutch and shifter; heavy steering; key on the left;sensory overload. Twist aforementioned key; starter catches; charismatic and inimitable air-cooled music; we set off. After jerking away like a 16-year old driving a stick for the first time (broker: "You know how to drive a stick, right?"), we head down the road. The experience was glorious: Raw, unfiltered, decidedly "analogue" in comparison with the newer M3. We tooled around until the engine warmed up - and then I went for it. Although not fast by modern standards, the car was very rewarding in a straight line, as the whole car resonated with intake noise once varioram engaged. The brakes, phenomenal. The steering feel, sublime. I put a deposit on the car right away, subject to a PPI.

The PPI was performed two days later. And I picked the car up the next Friday evening.

To be continued...

 

Ok, I may break down and buy a camera this weekend.

Alternatively, you can conclude that I just made up everything above.

 

Sounds like a great buying experience, makes me anticipate the day I can finally buy myself my first true sports car even more. What you mention about shopping cars online is very true, pictures never do justice. How much mileage does the 993 have?

 

The car had right at 86,000 miles on it when I picked it up 9 weeks ago today; I've put ~2800 on it during the interim. It's definitely a "driver", but that's what I wanted. It's my only car, and I drive it every day, rain or shine.

The mileage was initially a concern for me. My family has several older cars - more or less of a similar vintage - and they show their age. They have paint issues, they have high mileage, the HVAC systems perform marginally, etc.

My 993 drives better than most new cars. There are no squeaks, no rattles, the paint is - in my obviously subjective opinion - ~8/10 in quality, with the interior 8.5 - 9/10. It won't win any concours events or command huge premiums at a specialist dealer in the future (not that I'd sell... ), but so long as it roughly holds value, I'm satisfied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back to the narrative:

The night I got it I drove ~100 miles to my hometown. Given the choice between dual carriageway and familiar back roads, I took the long way home, although I initially drove with considerable trepidation, unsure of the car's dynamic limits, and driving in the darkness. The next day I took a long drive with a friend, hitting some of the well-known driving roads in North Georgia. The area has numerous roads that are of a similar quality and character to the Tail of the Dragon, but without the automotive paparazzi, law enforcement presence, hucksters selling junk to tourists, motorcyclists going under the speed limit, etc. Again, we took it pretty easy given the roads' technical nature and the mystique of 911 handling at the limit.

I've done similar drives on two other occasions, each time going farther, faster, harder, etc., culminating in ~150 miles of roundtrip, 2 lane driving on Good Friday that left me somewhat exhausted. I'm obviously still developing the ability to drive the car while taking full advantage of the benefits of weight transfer, but an opportunity to take a few hours and simply drive, reveling in properly executed heel-and-toe downshifts and the full utilization of the car's mechanical grip.

In addition to these trips, I've driven it briefly on track at Road Atlanta ("charity laps," not at full speed, but well above the suggested 55 MPH limit ), and to the PCA corral at the IndyCar race at Barber.

Otherwise, it's been a commuter car.

 

 

 

 

 

'97 ctr2