Porsche 911/993 Carrera S Coupe : 1997

According to Excellence Magazine, prices for the 1989 thru 1998 911s, more specifically the 964 and 993 Carreras, continue to drift downward.

While the 964s are holding up fairly well after years of heavy depreciation, it appears the much-loved 993s have slipped quite a bit in the last 12 months.

These were the last of the traditional, air-cooled 911s, but that doesn't seen to matter. They are falling into normal depreciation after years of high resale values.

The split grill is unique to the Carrera S, along with a special script on the engine cover.

(source: Excellence Magazine)

The Porsche 993 C2S was introduced in 1997 and perhaps was built to boost the sales of 993 prior to the new 996 arriving.

Again this Porsche had the Turbo wide body, a unique "split" electric spoiler, but the regular 993 Carrera 2 chassis. 18" Turbo wheels were optional.

In the photos below, you can see the Carrera S script on the engine lid, the split" spoiler and the small spoiler mounted to the back end of the roof.

(source: Performance 2and4)

1997 Porsche 911/993 Carrera S Coupe specifications.

Performance & Efficiency Standard Features.
- 3,601 cc 3.6 liters 6 horizontal rear longitudinal engine with 100 mm bore, 76.4 mm stroke, 11.3 compression ratio, light alloy block, light alloy head, overhead cam and two valves per cylinder
- Premium unleaded fuel
- Fuel economy EPA highway (l/100km): 10.2
- Multi-point injection fuel system
- Main 73 liter fuel tank
- Power: 210 kW, 282 HP @ 6,300 rpm; 250 ft lb @ 5,250 rpm

Handling, Ride & Braking Standard Features.
- ABS
- 3.44:1 axle ratio
- Rear differential lock
- Four disc brakes including four ventilated discs
- Electronic traction control via differential
- Immobilizer
- Rear viscous limited slip differential
- Spacesaver steel rim internal spare wheel
- Strut front suspension with stabilizer bar independent with coil springs, multi-link rear suspension with stabilizer bar independent with coil springs

Exterior & Aerodynamics Standard Features.
- Front and rear body color impact absorbing bumpers
- Coefficient of drag: 0.34
- Driver and passenger power heated body color door mirrors
- External dimensions: overall length (mm): 4,260, overall width (mm): 1,796, overall height (mm): 1,316, ground clearance (mm): 119, wheelbase (mm): 2,271, front track (mm): 1,412, rear track (mm): 1,506 and curb to curb turning circle (mm): 11,735
- Front fog lights
- High pressure headlight cleaners
- Projector beam lens halogen bulb single headlights
- Luxury trim leather on gearknob
- Gloss paint, black paint, metallic paint
- Fixed rear window
- Front body color lip spoiler, trunk/hatch body color wing spoiler
- Front steel electric sliding sunroof
- Tinted glass
- Weights: gross vehicle weight rating (kg) 1,740, curb weight (kg) 1,450, gross trailer weight braked (kg) 0 and gross trailer weight unbraked (kg) 0
- Three-speed windshield wipers with W/S wiper mist setting and variable intermittent wipe

Interior Standard Features.
- CFC free liquid air conditioning with climate control
- Element antenna
- Remote control anti-theft protection
- Front illuminated ashtray
- Audio anti-theft protection: code and detachable panel
- Stereo Becker audio system with AM/FM
- Cargo area light
- Cargo capacity: rear seat up; to lower window (liters): 125, rear seat down; to lower window (liters): 0, rear seat down (liters): 0, all seats in place (liters): 125 and all seats removed (liters): 0
- Front seats cigar lighter
- Analog clock
- Floor partial console with open storage box
- Delayed/fade courtesy lights with two switches
- Steering wheel mounted cruise control
- Door pockets/bins for driver seat and passenger seat
- Floor covering: carpet in passenger compartment and carpet in load area
- Driver and passenger front airbag
- Sports seat
- 3-point reel front seat belts on driver seat and passenger seat with pre-tensioners and grabbers
- Lockable illuminated glove compartment with lid
- Head restraints on front seats
- Heated washer
- Internal dimensions: front headroom (mm): 953 and front leg room (mm): 1,092
- Low fuel level warning
- Remote power locks with internal switch operates from passenger door
- Power steering
- Front power windows with console mounted switches
- 3-point reel rear seat belts on driver side and passenger side
- Bucket symmetrical two rear seats
- Rear view mirror
- Mechanical remote fuel filler door release
- Mechanical remote trunk/hatch release
- Leather seat upholstery with additional vinyl
- Seating: four seats
- Six speakers
- Leather covered steering wheel
- Tachometer
- Driver vanity mirror, passenger vanity mirror
- Ventilation system with variable fan speeds, recirculation setting and micro filter

(specifications source: Motor Trend)

993 Series (1993–1998)
The 911 was again revised in 1993 and was now known as the Type 993. This car was significant as it was the final incarnation of the air-cooled 911, introduced in 1964.

The exterior featured an all new front and rear end. The revised bodywork was smoother, having a noticeably more aerodynamic front end somewhat reminiscent of the 959. Styling was by Englishman Tony Hatter under the supervision of design chief Harm Lagaay.

Along with the revised bodywork, mechanically the 993 also featured an all-new multilink rear suspension that improved the car's ride and handling. This rear suspension was largely derived from the stillborn Porsche 989's rear multilink design, and served to rectify the problems with earlier models' tendency to oversteer if the throttle or brakes were applied while in mid-corner.

The new suspension, along with chassis refinements, enabled the car to keep up dynamically with the competition. Engine capacity remained at 3.6 L, but power rose to 272 PS (200 kW) thanks to better engine management and exhaust design, and beginning with model year 1996 to 286 PS (210 kW).

The 993 was the first Porsche to debut variable-length intake runners with the "Variocam" system on 1996 models. This addressed the inherent compromise between high-RPM power production and low-RPM torque production, and was one of the first of its kind to be employed on production vehicles. A new four-wheel-drive made a return as an option in the form of the Carrera 4, the rear wheel drive versions simply being called Carrera. A lightweight RS version saw capacity rise to 3.8 L, with power reaching 300 PS (221 kW). The RS version had rear-wheel drive only.

Non-turbo models appeared that used the Turbo's wide bodyshell and some other components (the Carrera 4S and later the Carrera S).

The rare Targa open-topped model also made a return, this time with a large glass roof that slid under the rear window. The highly prized air-cooled 993 Targa had a limited release between 1996-1998.

Carrera Coupe / Cabriolet.
The Carrera represented the "base model" of the 993, and was available in rear and all-wheel drive versions. It was equipped with the naturally aspirated 3.6 liter M64 engine, further developed from the 964 and combined with a new dual-flow exhaust system now incorporating two catalytic converters. In contrast to the Type 964, Porsche deleted the "2" from the rear-wheel drive "Carrera" name tag. However among enthusiasts, to differentiate between the rear-wheel and all-wheel drive variants of the Type 993 Carrera they were (and still are) commonly referred to as "C2" and "C4", respectively.

The options list for the 993 Carrera (and most other variants) was extensive and offered the possibility to easily configure highly individualized cars, depending on the amount of money a buyer was willing to spend. Options included up to five different styles of wheels, various suspension set-ups, at least three different seat styles (comfort, sport, racing), uncountable upholstery options including the possibility to have almost any interior element of the car covered with leather, wood or carbon fiber, and various hi-fi systems including digital sound processing. Further, Porsche offered the option to a customer to have their car painted in any color that they may desire if the standard palette wasn't satisfactory. Even more, the Tequipment- and Exclusive-Programs added further options and built to order almost any specific wishes of customers such as special consoles, fax-machines or even brightly colored interior upholstery.
The Cabriolet, introduced 1995, features a fully electrical and hand-stitched softtop reinforced with metal sheets and an automatic windblocker.

Both coupe and cabriolet versions were available with all-wheel drive under the tag 'Carrera 4'. From the outside the Carrera 4 is distinguishable by clear front turn markers and rear red markers (each instead of orange). The brake calipers are painted silver as is the 'Carrera 4' badge on the hood. The center wheelcaps carry the Carrera 4 logo instead of the Porsche crest.

In contrast to most of the following other variants, production of the Carrera Coupe and Cabriolet ceased with the end of MY 1997, except for a very few produced in a shortened 1998 model year.

(source: Wikipedia)

Porsche Chassis Numbers Explained.
How to identify the true build year and model of a Porsche from the chassis number.

The date of registration is not an accurate way of determining the model year of your Porsche, it's that the Porsche could have been unused in a showroom and registered later. Therefore it's worth knowing the real model year/ build year.

To find out accurately take a look at the 10th digit of the chassis number.

For example; WPOZZZ91ZGS10000.

The first, second and third characters - 'WPO' is the international Porsche code.

The fourth , fifth and sixth characters 'ZZZ' are fill in characters on European and rest of world cars.

For North American cars the fourth digit represented the body style; A/B or C- Coupe/Targa or Cabrio.

The 7th,8th and 12 digit represent the model code. Therefore a 911 will be WPOZZZ91Z?S1?????; a Turbo (930) will be WPOZZZ93ZS?0????; similarly a 964, 993, 996 and 986 (Boxster).

The 10th digit in the chassis number is the model year or series;

A=1980; B=1981;C=1982;D=1983?

E=1984;F=1985;G=1986;H=1987;J=1988;K=1989.

L=1990; M=1991; N=1992; P=1993;

R=1994; S=1995; T=1996; V=1997;

W=1998;X=1999;Y=2000; then it changes to a more simple format 1=2001;2=2002 etc.

The eleventh digit = place of manufacture S= Stuttgart.

The thirteenth digit onwards the production number.

NOTE; North American Porsche appear to be a little 'behind' Europe. For example, the first 964 Carrera 4 was seen in Germany in late 1988, but only in late 1989 for the UK and 1989 for the U.S.

(source: Performance 2and4)