Models · Porsche
Porsche 911 Carrera 993 buying guide
The 993 Carrera, built from 1994 to 1998, is the last of the air-cooled 911s, with a 3.6 flat six, multi-link rear suspension and a 6-speed gearbox. It came as the Carrera and Carrera 4, the wide-bodied Carrera 4S and Carrera S, and as a cabriolet and a sliding glass-roof Targa.
The versions
- Carrera and Carrera 4: 3.6 air-cooled flat six, 272PS to the 1995 model year
- From the 1996 model year: VarioRam induction, 285PS
- Optional factory power kit: 3.8, 300PS
- Carrera 4S and Carrera S: Turbo-style wide body; the 4S also has the Turbo's brakes and four-wheel drive
- Coupé, cabriolet and Targa (sliding glass roof, from 1996) bodies
- 6-speed manual, or 4-speed Tiptronic S on rear-drive cars
What to check on a 993 Carrera
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Smoke on start-up
What to look for: Start the engine from cold and watch the exhaust. Then let it idle for a few minutes and blip the throttle. A small puff that clears straight away is normal on an air-cooled flat six. A blue cloud each time, or smoke that continues when warm, is the thing to note.
Why it matters: Valve guides on these engines can wear from heat, letting oil past into the cylinders. Smoke that persists can also point to worn piston rings. A compression and leak-down test tells you how healthy the engine is, and a cylinder head overhaul is the usual cure for guides.
Oil use
What to look for: Ask how much oil the car uses between services and how the seller knows.
Why it matters: Around a litre every 600 miles is normal for a 993, and more on a car used for short trips. Use well above that, together with smoke, points towards guides or rings.
The check engine light and air injection
What to look for: With the ignition on, the engine warning light should come on and go out once the engine starts. Ask whether it has come on while driving, and look in the history for secondary air injection work.
Why it matters: On cars with secondary air injection, carbon from oil passing worn valve guides can block the small air passages in the cylinder heads, which turns the warning light on. Cleaning the passages helps for a while; replacing the guides is the lasting fix.
Also in the full guide
- Oil leaks
- Window frame corrosion
- Targa glass roof
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the 993 Carrera
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Porsche.