Porsche’s Greatest Model: 5 Things to Know about the 911/993

Porsche is synonymous with luxury and high-end performance, and unlike some other sports cars, its vehicles are reliable and dependable. It’s believed that about 70 percent of all Porsches ever built are still on the road. The Porsche 911 is undeniably the most popular and best-ever model created by the manufacturer.

The rear-engine sports car, which debuted in 1964, is still being produced with 2022 models selling at prices ranging from $101,200 (911 Carrera) to $219,800 (911 Turbo S Cabriolet). J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study named the Porsche 911 as the most trouble-free vehicle to own. In 2019, the model had a depreciation rate of 37.2 percent, about 11 percent lower than the average for sportscars.

The Porsche 993 is a particularly popular version of the 911. The successor to the 996, the 993 was the first 911 to have a six-speed transmission and the last to have an air-cooled engine. Every Porsche built since has featured water-cooled engines. While this feature represented a shift for Porsche toward modern design and engineering, many enthusiasts prefer the air-cooled engine.

Almost an Entirely New Design

The 993 is not only a favorite among collectors for its air-cooled engine but also of its unique, lightweight design and performance metrics. Considered the benchmark in Porsche design, the 993 is vastly different from its predecessors. All core components of the vehicle, including its engine, were rebuilt from the ground up. The doors, front hood, and roof were unchanged from previous designs, but the exterior looks and feels vastly different to prior models. This due in part to the flowing lines designed by Anthony Hatter as well as smoother bumper designs, larger retractable rear wing, and teardrop mirrors.

Underneath the hood, the 993 featured a 3.6-liter engine with features that created a 15 percent power increase from the 964. At 402 horsepower, the 993 Turbo variant has a 0–60 speed of 4 seconds. Some variants included the Tiptronic four-speed automatic transmission with optional wheel-mounted controls, allowing for smoother and quicker shifting. Other improvements included an alloy multilink rear suspension to improve handling and reduce interior noise, revised power steering, and a dual-flow exhaust system.

The VarioRam System

The 993 has a distinct power advantage over its predecessors in large part due to the implementation of the VarioRam induction system. First used in the 993 Carrera RS’ M64/20 engine, the VarioRam optimized airflow at different RPMs to boost low- to mid-range torque.

Whereas the prior M64/05 engine had a single throttle body, the VarioRam induction system features an additional upper throttle body with air flowing through to a central plenum. There, six vacuum-operated induction runners are extended to almost twice their normal length to enhance low-range airflow and increase torque. This system has since become the standard for all Porsche 911 series models.

Variants and Production Figures

There are 13 variants of the Porsche 993, the most prominent of which is the Carrera (272 PS). This is the most produced 993, with 14,541 vehicles manufactured, almost double the 993 Carrera Cabriolet (272 PS). A silver Carrera coupé was one of the first 993 models shown at the 1993 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. The Cabriolet featured a small spoiler, automatic wind blocker, and electrical, hand-stitched soft top, while the coupé was the lightest of all 993 models with a weight of 3,020 pounds.

The Targa is a less lauded variant of the 993 than the coupé or Cabriolet. This is due to its inferior handling performance and problems like excessive cabin heat and unreliable roof mechanism (it has a glass roof that retracts below the rear window). The Turbo variants were known for their high-powered engines. The GT2, with its six-speed gearbox, can reach 0–60 in 3.6 seconds with a maximum speed of 187 mph.

Overall, Porsche built and sold 68,029 vehicles of the 993 model.

Most Expensive Models Ever Sold

While the 993 was originally sold at reduced prices from its predecessor, its value has increased dramatically over the years in large part to it being the last Porsche with an air-cooled engine. There are only 57 editions of the Turbo GT2, making them the rarest of the 993 models. One of these, a Riviera Blue finished version, sold for a whopping $2.47 million at an RM Sotheby’s London auction in 2016.

Safety Car in 1995 F1 Season

Although it’s one of the most popular high performance vehicle brands in the world, Porsche doesn’t have much history with Formula-1 racing. It enjoyed a successful partnership with McLaren in the 1980s but its last attempt at creating its own team, in the 1991 season, was a disaster plagued by engine issues and accidents. Porsche explored the idea of returning to F1 in 2026, but those plans didn’t come to fruition.

The Porsche 993 GT2, however, was at least on an F1 track. The vehicle was the safety car in the 1995 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps.