Porsche 911 types 964, 993 and 996 (1989 to 2005)

These three generations span the 911's biggest change of direction. The 964 (on sale from 1989) kept the classic profile but was largely new underneath, with coil spring suspension, power steering, ABS and, in the Carrera 4, the first four-wheel-drive production 911. The 993 (1994 to 1998) is the last air-cooled 911, with smoother styling, a six-speed gearbox and multi-link rear suspension that tamed the old car's tail-happy reputation. The 996 (1997 to 2005) was a clean-sheet design with a water-cooled flat-six and a front end shared with the Boxster, and it upset traditionalists when new.

All three were built by Porsche at Stuttgart. On the road, the 964 feels mechanical and firm, the 993 more polished and supple, and the 996 roomier, quieter and quicker but less tactile. Reputations differ sharply. The 964 and 993 are respected for engines that can cover very high mileages when serviced, though both corrode and leak oil with age. The 996 carries a lingering reputation for engine failure, which club and magazine sources describe as real but often overstated for well-maintained cars. Turbo, RS and GT models in each family are a separate, more specialist proposition and the most likely to be faked or modified.

• 964: Carrera 4 coupé launched January 1989, Carrera 2 from model year 1990; production ended 1994 to early 1995 depending on model. About 55,000 built according to Classic & Sports Car; treat as approximate.
• 964 bodies: coupé, Targa, Cabriolet, Turbo-look, Speedster.
• 964 engines: 3.6-litre air-cooled flat-six (M64), 250PS (247bhp); Turbo 3.3 around 316 to 320bhp; Turbo 3.6 360PS (355bhp); Carrera RS 260bhp; RS 3.8 300bhp. Sources quote PS and bhp interchangeably, hence small differences.
• 964 gearboxes: five-speed manual; four-speed Tiptronic automatic on Carrera 2 only. One club guide states a six-speed manual for 1989, which conflicts with the magazine sources and appears to be an error.
• 993: 1994 to 1998 (model years run August to July). Coupé, Cabriolet, Targa with sliding glass roof (from 1996), wide-body Carrera 4S and Carrera S.
• 993 engines: 3.6-litre air-cooled flat-six, 272bhp, rising to 285bhp with Varioram intake from model year 1996; RS 3.8 300bhp; Turbo twin-turbo 3.6 408bhp.
• 993 gearboxes: six-speed manual; four-speed Tiptronic on rear-drive Carreras.
• 996: 1997 to 2005. Coupé, Cabriolet (with hardtop), Targa, wide-body Carrera 4S. Classics World reports over 175,000 built.
• 996 engines: water-cooled 3.4-litre flat-six, 300bhp; 3.6-litre from the facelift, quoted as 315bhp (Hagerty) or 320bhp (club guide). GT3, Turbo and GT2 use the separate "Mezger" engine family.
• 996 gearboxes: six-speed manual; five-speed Tiptronic.

• 964, 1989 to 1990: Carrera 4 first, then Carrera 2, Targa and Cabriolet. Dual-mass flywheels on early manual cars were weak.
• 964, 1991: improved cylinder head sealing; build quality generally better from this model year.
• 964, 1991 to 1993: Turbo 3.3 (right-hand drive from March 1991), Turbo-look bodies, Carrera RS, then Turbo 3.6, RS 3.8, Speedster and special editions.
• 993, 1994 to 1995: Carrera coupé, then Cabriolet, Carrera 4, RS and Turbo.
• 993, 1996: Varioram engines, Targa and Carrera 4S.
• 993, 1997 to 1998: Carrera S; final Turbo S. Sources disagree on Turbo S output (424bhp to 450bhp quoted).
• 996, 1998 to 2001: 3.4-litre Carrera, Cabriolet, Carrera 4 with stability control, GT3, Turbo and GT2.
• 996, 2002 facelift: Turbo-style headlamps, 3.6-litre with Variocam Plus, Targa, Carrera 4S, glass rear screen for the Cabriolet. One source dates the facelift to 2001; the club treats it as model year 2002.
• 996, 2004 to 2005: 40th Anniversary Carrera, Turbo S, GT3 RS; Carreras replaced by the 997 while some versions ran on to 2005.

Bodywork and structure

• 964: rust is the first check. Look at the headlamp surrounds, the seam where the front wing meets the bumper, the front and rear screen surrounds, and the rear arches near the suspension mounts. Use a magnet above the front bumper for filler. Lift the luggage bay carpet and spare wheel to look for old crash damage.
• 993: galvanised, but bubbles appear around the screen frames (corrosion can hide under the seal), headlamp apertures and bumper brackets, usually after poor repairs. A creaking driver's door often means a broken check strap. Uneven bonnet and door gaps suggest past repairs.
• 996: rear inner wings and arches rust first; stone chips can break the galvanising. A damp front boot may point to front impact damage. Check the underside for scrapes, as these cars sit low.

Engine

• 964: look for broken cylinder head studs (oil leaks, high-speed misfire), weeping cam covers and an undertray wiped suspiciously clean. Ask whether the distributor belt vent kit is fitted. Blue smoke on overrun suggests valve guide wear; blue smoke under boost on a Turbo suggests a worn turbo.
• 993: lower cam cover gaskets shrink and leak; a burning smell from the heat exchangers can betray a leak not visible underneath. Varioram valves can stick on little-used cars, and the secondary air injection ports can clog with carbon, causing warning lights and emissions trouble that may need engine removal to clear.
• 996: know the issues. The intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing can fail and wreck the engine; ask for proof of an upgraded bearing. Sources disagree on which years are most at risk, with one placing the weaker single-row bearing from model year 2000. Rear main seal leaks are common but not usually fatal. 3.6-litre cars can suffer bore scoring: a sooty right-hand tailpipe or oil smoke is a warning, and a borescope inspection is advised. Check both front radiators for corrosion where debris collects. Mezger-engined Turbo and GT models do not share these failings.

Gearbox and drivetrain

• All three gearbox families are generally robust. Clutches last roughly 70,000 to 80,000 miles.
• 964 manuals to around 1991: a rattle or clonk at idle or on take-up points to a tired dual-mass flywheel.
• 993: reluctant selection usually means worn linkage.
• Tiptronic (all): a noisy torque converter signals trouble.

Suspension, steering and brakes

• Front lower control arm bushes wear at 70,000 to 100,000 miles; dampers are usually tired after around 15 years.
• Listen for anti-roll bar link rattles and look for broken springs on 996s.
• Check brake pipes, disc corrosion and brake fluid age, and tyre date codes: tyres harden even on low-mileage cars.

Electrics and interior

• Cabriolet and Targa: lift carpets for damp, check roof motors and microswitches, and inspect plastic rear windows on 964, 993 and pre-facelift 996 Cabriolets for clouding or splits.
• 993: test the alarm, immobiliser, central locking and instruments. 996: window regulator cables fail; test the manual switch for the rear spoiler.
• Air conditioning on all three often needs more than a regas.

Identity and paperwork

• The 10th character of the VIN gives the model year (for example K for 1989 and L for 1990 on the 964). Many 964s were registered a year or two after build, so check rather than assume.
• On a 964, the vehicle identification label sits under the front lid, with data and paint labels inside the front compartment and the bodyshell VIN on a tab under the fuel tank.
• RS, Turbo, Carrera S/4S, Speedster and GT models are copied. Turbo-look mirrors and Cup-style wheels are commonly added to ordinary Carreras. Confirm specification with the option codes and, for rare models, get expert authentication.
• Mileage can be altered: compare service records and the online MOT history.

Parts supply is good for all three, with Porsche's own classic parts operation and a large independent network supplying engine, suspension and trim items. Air-cooled engine rebuilds and 996 IMS or bore repairs are specialist jobs, and owners generally use independent Porsche specialists for servicing and pre-purchase inspections. Cars that sit unused suffer: annual oil changes are advised even at low mileage because of condensation. The main UK club is Porsche Club Great Britain (https://www.porscheclubgb.com), which runs registers for the 964, 993 and 996 and publishes buyers' guides.

• Is there a full, dated service history, and when were the oil, brake fluid and tyres last changed?
• On a 964, have the head studs, flywheel and distributor vent been addressed? On a 993, when were the cam cover gaskets and secondary air system last done?
• On a 996, is there an invoice for an upgraded IMS bearing, and has a borescope check been carried out?
• Can you confirm the model and options from the VIN and factory data, especially for RS, Turbo, S or 4S cars?
• Has the car had accident repairs, a respray or non-standard modifications, and are invoices available?