In this blog entry, I'm reviewing my one of my 2 ULTIMATE DREAM CARS (the other being the McLaren F1), the Porsche 993 Turbo.
This 993 Turbo's the last of the air cooled 911's, it offers twin scroll turbocharged, 4-wheel drive, a computer controlled differential (passed on from the 959) and rock solid reliability which makes this an everyday supercar.
Is this the world's best all round usable supercar? The new 996 Turbo and subsequently 997 Turbo may have taken that crown but to many, this is the Best 911.
In Malaysia, I only managed to spot 1 unit of 993 Turbo for sale over the last 4 months. It's a 1995 black unit UK Import with Service Record. Asking RM290,000.
As usual, I don't have a car to test and brag about. All is not lost, I dished out 5 Videos review, 1 Specification and 2 Owner's review.
VIDEO 1: TOP GEAR: best of the 90's - Porsche 993 Turbo. By Tiff Needell.
Video 2: PORSCHE 993 Turbo SPOT (In German)
Video 3: Porsche 993 Commercial:
Video 4: Porsche 993 turbo vs Nissan Skyline R33GTR vs Mitsubishi GTO. Battle of the 4WDs...
by BEST MOTORING.
Video 5: PORSCHE EXPERIENCE TV: Porsche 993 Carrera
END OF VIDEOS REVIEW. Now's the turn for Specifications...
Specifications: Porsche 911 993 Turbo 1996-98
Specifications
Porsche 911 993 Turbo 1996-98
Source: http://vista.pca.org/stl/993turbo.htm
Engine:
Horizontally opposed 6-cylinder; SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder; lightweight aluminum-alloy block, heads and pistons
Bore and stroke: 98.5mm x 75.25mm
Displacement: 3.6L. or 3,600cc
Horsepower: 408bhp@5,750 rpm (300kw)
Torque: 400 lb-ft @4,500 rpm (540Nm)
Compression ratio: 8.0:1
Cd: 0.33
Fuel system: Motronic electronic fuel injection and single-plug ignition with knock control
Induction: Twin scroll intercooled turbochargers
Drivetrain:
Full-time all-wheel drive, limited-slip differential, ABD (automatic brake differential) traction system, 6 speed manual
Suspension:
FRONT: MacPherson struts, aluminum control arms, stabilizer bar
REAR: Independent multilink LSA axle with toe correcting characteristics, stabilizer bar
Body: Unit steel monocoque
Dimensions:
Curb weight: 3,307 lbs
Wheelbase 2271 mm (89.4 in )
Track:
front 1411 mm (55.6 in)
rear 1504 mm (59.2 in )
Length 4245 mm (167.1 in )
Width 1795 mm (70.7 in )
Height 1285 mm (50.6 in )
Brakes and Wheels:
Dual-circuit, vented and cross-drilled discs, 4-piston aluminum-alloy fixed calipers, ABS
Wheels (F/R) 8 X 18/10 X 18 Cast Alloy
Tyres (F/R) 225/40 ZR18 / 285/30 ZR18
Fuel Economy (source:
http://www.cars-data.com/en/porsche-911-turbo-408hp-28794/specs.html):
Urban consumption: 23.5l/100km (4.3km/L)
Extra-urban consumption: 11.2l/100km (8.9km/L)
Average comsumption: 15.7l/100km (6.4km/L)
Performance:
0-60mph: 3.9 seconds
0-100mph: 9.2 secs
0-1/4 mile: 12.1s @ 116 mph
Top Speed: 184 mph (295km/h)
SAFETY AND SECURITY
ABS: Yes
Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD): No
Brake assistant: No
Driver airbag: Yes
Pessenger airbag: Yes
Side airbags: No
Electronic Stability Program (ESP): No
Traction control: Yes
END OF SPECIFICATIONS.
Saving the BEST FOR LAST, let's proceed to Owner's Reviews:
OWNER'S REVIEW:
Owner 1: 1998 Porsche 911 993 Twin Turbo review from UK and Ireland
"Astonishing blend of performance and usability - the ultimate super-car you CAN drive every day"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
It's an air-cooled 911, so mercifully nothing has gone wrong with it. It's my third 911 (993) and none of them have suffered any "failures".
This was the end of the breed, a mid 1998 993 turbo (arctic silver with black leather).
General comments?
Utterly standard power wise, with 408bhp and 398lb/ft. Wonderfully quiet engine (too quiet I think), responsive even when off boost and immense torque above 3k rpm. Slick 6 speed manual gearbox is a jewel, and the 4wd system retains a largely rear wheel drive bias, thus enabling power slides (given enough space) and yet maintaining some sense of security in wet conditions. It doesn't pay to use full boost in any gear short of 5th in the wet though, even in a straight line! Brakes utterly astonishing for feel and capability.
Comfortable heated and electrically adjusted seats are comfortable, though very heavy and do not provide enough lateral support for the cornering ability of the car. Unique (in the super-car world) visibility - yes, you can actually see the outside world in every direction! Makes parking easy. The car is not particularly big either, barely over 4 metres long i'd say (less than 14 feet).
Don't get it serviced at a main dealer, use a well respected independant instead. 12k miles means a £200 oil change, 24k miles means a more thorough £420 service. Tyres go at the rears every 6k miles (£400), all four at 12k miles (£650). I use either Continentals or Bridgestones, the Pirellis don't afford the appropriate grip and the Michelins are noisy.
I have put a GT3 clubsport seat in place of the driver's seat, retaining the diagonal belt for normal use (commuting, etc.) but I have also added a 6 point Willans harness for "spirited driving" and track days
I even have a roof rack for those odd occasions when I need to carry something bigger, like my mountain bikes!
Autocar tested this version of the 911 back in May of 1998, and achieved 0-60mph in just 3.7 seconds. I haven't managed that myself (nor am I likely to try given their rather brutal methods), but I am capable of achieving 100mph in 10 seconds (with a relatively gentle start). Subsequently I can keep up with Fireblade/R1/GSXRthou riders without too much trouble in almost all situations. This car covers ground across country every bit as quickly as my Fireblade did (i have sold the bike now for personal reasons).
OWNER 2: 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo review from UK and Ireland
"Amazing!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
No faults.
General comments?
An absolutely astonishing car. It's spectacularly fast thanks to 408 bhp, immensely useable thanks to permanent four wheel drive, and totally reliable thanks to a level of build quality which has to be seen to be believed.
The sheer grip and unflappability of the chassis makes my old R33 Skyline look stupid, which is the highest possible compliment that you could pay to a car. Yet it has none of the electronic trickery to help it. You simply turn the wheel and it goes where you point it. Come streaming rain, high winds or sleet, this car is impeccably behaved, yet can be provoked into lairy oversteer if you feel like destroying a £450 pair of rear tyres. It's tricky on the road though because of the silly speeds you need to be doing in order to break grip.
Performance is astonishing. It's hard to describe the sensation as the twin turbo flat six snarls and whistles its way through the gears. It feels as if a giant, unseen hand has scooped you up and propelled you toward the horizon with brutal yet strangely civilised force. It's amazing, and even two years on, it still gives the same stab of adrenaline fuelled excitement that it gave when I first dropped it a cog and floored it on the test drive. Only a well ridden superbike or a handful of specialist British manufacturers cars would be significantly quicker in the dry, and in the wet, it will simply squat and leave them for dead!
Running costs are actually surprisingly reasonable. Fuel consumption averages between 18 and 30 mpg depending on use, and reliability is flawless. Servicing is not horrendous either considering the superb ability and attention to detail of the dealers.
A stunning and pretty all-rounder which is outrageously fast, yet civilised enough for daily use. A triumph!
END OF OWNER'S REVIEWS:
SOURCE: www.carsurvey.org/reviews/porsche/911.
Before I sign off, here's some parting shots:
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:
1) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/ (for some Photos)
(VIDEO SOURCE:)
2) http://www.dailymotion.com/ (search: 993 Turbo).
3) http://www.youtube.com/ (search: 993 Turbo)
That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.
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