Porsche 959 vs 993 GT2

That 993 GT2 result at auction was a bit of an anomaly, and about 2X the auction estimate. I don't think it would be appropriate to use that single price as the current market level for 993 GT2's. Call them roughly the same price for all practical purposes, which makes the original question all the more interesting.
Which would you choose?

To drive: I'd take the 993 GT2
To covet, marvel at, and dust occasionally: The iconic 959

I'm more of a driver than a duster, so make mine the 993 GT2!

 

Honestly?

I'd rather own the 959. As I'm getting old, I'd settle for a Komfort versus a Sport.

Having looked up close (not driven) at each, only one really stirs my soul...

 

959 is an infinitely more usable car and, emotionally, growing up it was f40 vs. 959 in my 12 year old mind. That'd be the car I'd want.

 

I remember the 959 launch as I even used it as my topic for a school presentation at that time. Having said this, I would choose the GT2 due to my perception that it offers a better (raw/visceral) driving experience and my subjective opinion that it is better looking.

I also choose it as I would trade it for a same period race car, so I might as well pick one that likely has a higher value.

 

Well being the owner of a 959 and having driven a GT2 I can say they are night and day in terms of performance and feel. The 959 is a much more civilised, better all round car, whilst still delivering pretty much identical performance to a GT2, although of course the 959 has a higher top speed by about 10 miles an hour more.
The GT2 by comparison is quite a bit harsher, rawer and twitchier to drive with a different power delivery. Really it is probably more suitable for track driving rather than road driving.

Of course I won't even go into the fact the the 959 was and is unique and bespoke in pretty much most of the drivetrain, suspension, engine, and body, whilst the GT2 is based on a jumped up, more common 993 platform and ancillaries.
Which is better is obviously a matter of taste for the individual.

As to prices, well in 1987 the 959 was the equivalent of $500k today whilst the GT2 in 1995 was the equivalent of $350k today. So perhaps someone could tell me which is the better value today if we assume that they are the same price now(something we can't automatically assume of course as both models are history and mileage sensitive and will vary/depend)??

 

I own a 959 Komfort, and I recently asked myself the same question and was tempted about trading it for a 993 GT2, but in the end I realized that the 959 is more special, it was the first Porsche supercar and it is in a class of its own, the 993 GT2 while a very special car is based on the 993 series while the 959 will always be THE 959.

Plus they are very usable and very comfortable for long drives.

 

993 gt.

959 never did anything for me. Certainly not at $1m.
The 993 GT however was always a favorite of mine.

 

959 please - parked right next to the F40
Both iconic game changers.

 

Love the F40 but what game did it change? The 959 set the direction in technological terms for Porsche for many years. The F40 was visiually stunning, extremely exciting and desirable (I want one!) but a bit of a dead end. In terms of technology it was rather old school and it didn't seem to establish a path for future Ferraris (or any other make for that matter). Don't get me wrong, I think that might me part of the appeal - you see a bit of the 959 in thousands of subsequent Turbos while the F40 remains unique.

Back to the GT2 vs. 959, I think the appeal of the GT2 is like that of the F40 - it's all about the visceral experience. Drama and visceral experience won over technology in the late 80s (the F40 was definitely a bigger commercial success) and it's not surprising they still matter in a world where new vehicles provide plenty of technology and not much excitement.

 

I think the game changer for the F40 was that it showed there was a market for incredibly expensive raw cars (which the F50 and Enzo followed, the LaF being a bit more luxurious than the 3 before it). Also, wasnt the F40 one of the first full carbon body car?

 

The F40 changed the game for production of a "Super" Ferrari. The 288 before it was a bit of a test mule for the F40 (a fantastic car and one which I actually prefer on the real-life roads here in UK). Once the F40 established this new exclusive market it triggered F50, Enzo, LaF

 

Yes true it did, however if you think about how the 959 is probably as civilised and as capable as many newer more contemporary cars, it just blows your mind considering it is nearly 30 years old and still relevant. When you put that into context, it appeals more to the cereberal thinking man rather than the guy that just wants to be wowed with rawness and in many respects crudeness.
Don't get me wrong, I love the F40, and own one too, but for me the F40 is only good in small doses at a time, and its great for that. And in fact for me it is much much more sensory overload than a 993 GT2 for that matter, and yet seems to cost less these days so go figure.
If however I want to go cross continental or long journeys in something that is unique, exclusive, and classic yet can provide me with similar levels of performance and near modern levels of refinement...well it has to be the 959 despite its 30 years age.

In the end guys there is no "one" car. That's why many of us have a number of cars to appeal to different circumstances. But be under no illusion guys, whatever you think of it, the 959 made its mark on motoring history in a huge way and you have to give it is place and credit for that. Respect.

 

The 959 is really a supercar you could drive everyday. I put close to 5k miles on it this summer and it did it without a problem. A/C blows cold, radio works, and suspension is comfortable for long trips. It's geared great for long highway runs, I had no problem leading the LaFer from Salt Lake to Monterey.
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Nice!

 

993 gt2 > 959

 

I have a 993 GT2, and have flirted a few times with purchasing a 959. Something to consider - while most good Porsche shops can service a 993 GT2, you really need a specialist to keep a 959 in top shape. A serious consideration for some....
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Not for any reason other than icon status, I would choose the 959.

I actually prefer the looks of the GT2 but I have seen a couple 959s on the road and my jaw dropped. Not because of anything other than how I used to slobber over pictures of it when I was a kid and it is right up there with the F40.

Too bad it will never emerge from the F40s shadow.

 

959

 

Mike, was your 959 parked at the Hyatt where the mecum sale was? I saw a black 959 with tons of bugs splattered all over the front of the car. It was f'ing amazing! Also were both of the cars delivered to Boise?

 

it's apples and oranges... the GT 2 / 3 / 4 are racing classes governed by their own rules and conditions / specifications under which they will race and nothing to do with the capabilities of the brand to present a car for competition... a 959 is a car built to showcase the available technologies of the brand at the time without regard in complying with any rule to be eligible to race... driving impressions are skewed by the opposing purposes of each car... getting a car built to a racing rule does not imply one is getting the latest or best performing car offered by the brand... one's driving impressions are between a race / track skewed car and one of a GT ( non track skewed car )

 

A big congrats to you for driving your 959!

 

Yep that was us