1996 Porsche 993 Targa review: Retro Road Test

For some Porsche enthusiasts, this is as good as it gets. The venerable 911 has been in production for 61 years (and counting), but the ‘993’ version lasted just four: from 1994 to 1998.

This was the last Porsche 911 with an air-cooled engine – the car became water-cooled for the 996 of 1999 – and its sleek styling, compact dimensions and engaging character, combined with relative rarity, make it highly sought-after today.

This particular 993 is a Carrera 2 Targa, meaning it has rear-wheel drive and a retractable glass roof. It was supplied by renowned Porsche specialists, Autofarm – and has since been sold.

What are its rivals?

The current 911 has a long list of rivals, from the Mercedes-AMG SL to supercars such as the McLaren Artura. Buyers weren’t so spoiled for choice in the mid-1990s, though.

BMW’s E36 M3, built from 1992-1999, comes close for on-paper performance and is a lot cheaper to buy. Expect to pay from £15,000, compared to least £45,000 for a 993. The Mazda RX-7 is a less exotic and cheaper alternative – if you can find one that hasn’t been modified.

Potential 993 buyers might also consider the – much newer – ‘997’ Porsche 911, sold from 2005-2012. Prices start at around £20,000 and there are many more examples listed in the classifieds.

Which engines does it use?

A 3.6-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine is mounted just aft of the 993’s rear axle. This 1997 car has the Varioram intake system, which boosts power to 286 hp (earlier cars has 272hp). It also boasts a six-speed manual gearbox, rather than the less desirable Tiptronic semi-automatic. 

The 993 Carrera 2 Targa hits 62mph in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 162mph. Those are pretty respectable stats, even today.

What’s it like to drive?

First impression of the 993 is how compact its cabin is – even for my equally ‘compact’ 5ft 8in frame. The pedals are very offset to the left, too. 

Any minor discomforts are soon forgotten when you fire-up that air-cooled engine, though. It’s turbine-smooth, and surprisingly quiet at low revs. But push the floor-hinged throttle a little further and that familiar hollow bark echoes around your eardrums. There’s nothing quite like it.

On the road, the 993 feels darty and surprisingly dainty; it’s closer in size to a Cayman than a new 911. The steering is wonderfully talkative and the brakes are better than expected for what is now a classic car.

At lower speeds it will understeer, but push a little harder and the rear end comes into play. Tail-wagging oversteer is there on-demand if you want it. However, conscious that 993s lack any electronic stability aids, I back off before my brimming confidence gets the better of my modest talent.

Reliability and running costs

The 993 comes from the era that spawned the ‘Germanic build quality’ cliche. Serviced regularly, it should prove a paragon of reliability. The most likely issue will be rust – we’ll come to that shortly.

No 911 is cheap to run, but a network of knowledgeable specialists, such as Autofarm, means you aren’t reliant on pricey Porsche dealers. Budget up to £1,000 for a minor service (every year), and £2,000 for a major one (every two years).   

With official fuel economy of 16.8mpg (ouch!), filling up could be your biggest expense. At least classic insurance and a pre-2001 road tax rate of £345 a year should keep costs down.

Could I drive it every day?

Assuming you could stomach the fuel bills, the 993 is comfortable, refined and practical enough to use every day. There’s less room in the front ‘boot’ than current 911s offer, but many owners simply use the child-sized rear seats as additional luggage space. 

The 993 was the first 911 Targa with a sliding glass sunroof in place of a removable panel. So you can enjoy the sunshine at a moment’s notice – along with styling that’s barely distinguishable from the 911 coupe. 

How much should I pay?

Porsche prices have rocketed over the past decade, and the 993 is one of the biggest appreciators. That’s good news if you already own one, but less so if you’re looking to buy. GT2 versions can top £1 million, with the lightweight RS also deep into ‘POA’ price territory. Even the once-unloved 993 Turbo is now a six-figure car.

Fortunately, prices for ‘regular’ Carrera 2 and Carrera 4 versions of the 993 aren’t quite so inflated. The cheapest cabriolets are around £45,000, with coupes with around £50,000, although we’d advise spending upwards of £75,000 for a tidy car with sensible miles and a comprehensive service history. 

What should I look out for?

Autofarm founder Josh Sadler is a leading expert on Porsche 911s. Here are his top six tips for buying a 993 Targa: 

1. Check for poorly-repaired accident damage. These are sports cars that were driven hard and the rise in values means even damaged cars may have been repaired for a quick profit.
2. Look for good history. Brakes and dampers wear out, which is normal, but check the car has been serviced by a specialist.
3. Targas can rust around the roof mounts and it’s a real pain to sort out. Walk away if these are rusted.
4. Also check carefully for rust around the windscreen. That said, rust is less of an issue than on earlier 911s.
5. There have been some cars with clicking door hinges. The weld cracks, possibly because the door is swung open too hard. It requires welding to fix.
6. Parts availability is good, but the two-piece alloy wheels on the Targa are specific to that model. As such, they may be harder to find.

Should I buy one?

We’ll leave the air versus water debate to the Porsche purists, but there’s no doubt the 993 is a high-point in 911 history. And when we’re talking about arguably the world’s greatest sports car, that makes it very special indeed. 

The odd driving position and haphazard ergonomics would take more getting used to, but we suspect the 993 is a car that worms its way into your affections over time, transforming flaws into mere quirks, and eccentricities into something broadly defined as ‘character’.

Yes, you could have a very nice 997 for less money. However, we doubt that any of the water-cooled cars – GT3 and RS models excepted – will ever be revered like the 993. And besides, drive it carefully and the older car’s increase in value should, hopefully, more than cover its running costs. A free Porsche? Now there’s a thought…

Pub fact

The first 911 Targa was introduced in 1967 and had a zip-out plastic rear window, replaced by a fixed glass window just one year later.

The early ‘soft-window’ Targa picture here is actually a Porsche 912 – a budget four-cylinder version of the classic 911 sold between 1965 and 1969.