Greg recently purchased a 1996 Porsche 993 C4S. Those are pictures of his new baby below. Greg’s purchase brought him a beautiful example in Arena Red (one of my favorite colors for a Porsche 993, second only to Forest Green which we all know is the fastest color) with 19k miles, and a multitude of upgrades including: HID headlights, Euro-front bumper, factory wing, Eibach springs (to lower from SUV ride height) and RSR mufflers. All in all a very well configured Porsche 993 C4S.

On Greg’s car, the previous owner had simply installed the shorter Eibach springs and did nothing else to the suspension. As a result, Greg wanted more information on PSS9s. He was familiar with most of the upgrades on my best upgrades for the money list, but not the PSS9s. After a brief email exchange, we were able to distill the question down even further:

“What is the ideal Porsche suspension set-up that provides a lowered ride height and still offers a compliant ride?”

As my car is still at stock ride height with no plans on changing it (I like the supple ride as my wife and I take long road trips as often as possible) I didn’t feel I was the best person to answer the question. I did explain that the PSS9s are probably the most common option, that I was aware, of and the reason people liked them was their ability to be adjusted. So, instead of just publishing one opinion, I wanted to open the floor to all of you, the readers.

Don’t let the URL of this site fool you, we’re not all about 993s. I hear from the onwers of plenty of other models (911 SCs, 930s, 964, 996) with similar questions. Let’s hear your opinion. What suggestions would you give to Greg for lowering his ride height while still keeping a supply/compliant ride? Use the comment field below to let us know or email me at suspensionsuggestions@993C4S.com

Remember, nothing can take the place of a well-performed PPI

1. Limited or no service history: While a good PPI can uncover most of the potential problems or fixes a car may need, they are not bullet proof. In addition, service history gives you a good idea as to how well the car was cared for over its life and if certain maintenance items were deferred (not done). Not to mention a full-service history and documentation will greatly add to the resale value of certain cars as they continue to age.
2. It’s too good to be true: You’ve done your research and you know that the used 993 C4S you are looking for should cost between $50,000 and $60,000 but you just found a one-owner car with low-miles and complete records for less than half of market price. I’m not saying this couldn’t be the deal of the century, just remember not everyone is honest.
3. Used car dealers: Not all dealers are created equal. There are many excellent private Porsche dealers. Companies that have been around for years and have an excellent reputation (i.e. Richard Sloan, TruSpeed, Willhoit, Premier, Weissach Autohaus, Holt, etc.) are always good sources for used, well cared for Porsches. However, it seems there are just as many other dealers with bad, if not horrible reputations, when it comes to selling Porsches. Remember, there are lots of resources available to check other people’s experience with a certain dealer. Use them! Do a search on Rennlist or Pelican Parts on any dealer you are thinking of working with. You may be very surprised at what you find.
4. Private sellers: Are they forthcoming with information? Do they seem to know the history of the vehicle well? Do they seem trustworthy on the phone? Are they happy to go through details? With a private seller it is much more difficult to vet them out and sometimes you just have to trust you instincts. If you don’t get a warm fuzzy feeling from the person you are dealing with I suggest you walk away. Finding the right seller is one of the most important steps in finding the right Porsche.
5. You found it on craigslist: I say this mostly as a joke. Craigslist is a great resource and you can find some nice cars and accessories. However, craigslist is also home to some of the worst scams known to car buyers. Buyer beware!

Porsche Buyers’ Guides Available on the Internet

Another great option is to look at one of the many Porsche Buyer’s Guides available on the internet. In my opinion, one of the best and most frequently recommended is Adrian Crawford’s Porsche Secrets Revealed series. Available on-line in an e-book format, it is comprehensive with great details and photos and very inexpensive given the amount of knowledge that Adrian shares.

If you have other items that you think should be on this list, please let me know!

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Porsche PPI Information

It is possible to conduction your own PPI using a thorough Porsche Buyer’s Guide. While we are affiliated with the company that sells this Porsche PPI Buyers Guide, we do think it is one of the best available. So, if you feel like doing the PPI on your Porsche yourself (or just want to know more about what you should be looking for, these are great Porsche buyers guides to walk you through the process.

Why is a PPI for Your Porsche Important

Well, besides the seemingly limitless number of horror stories from both current and past Porsche owners who chose not to conduct a PPI, it is the single best insurance policy you can get for your “new to you” Porsche. Using a qualified Porsche mechanic (independent or otherwise) to inspect your potential new purchase prior to consummating the deal can literally save you thousands in needed repairs that are not obvious to the naked eye or the inexperienced.

The number of Porsche sales via the internet is surely growing. Technology has allowed even the “little guy” to have a global presence on the internet. The days of only having one or two local options for a good quality car are long gone. We now have Porsche brand exclusive forums such as Rennlist, auction sites like EBay, price comparison sites like Edmunds and dealers across the country with their inventory on-line. There is an overabundance of pre-owned Porsches available to us. How can you possibly, tell a good Porsche from a bad one, especially when viewing remotely? The only way is with a Porsche specific PPI.

Who conducts PPI(s) on used Porsches?

A PPI can be done at any authorized Porsche dealer. You can locate one any where in the world at this site (just choose your location). Alternatively, and more popular (at least on the forums and chat rooms that we frequent) is to have a local independent Porsche mechanic perform the service.

How do I find someone to conduct a PPI on the Porsche I Located?

Again, a PPI can be done at any local Porsche dealer. If you’re looking for an independent mechanic it’s a great idea to ask those people who would best know. Resources you can use to locate established and credible independents are:

Rennlist
PorscheFile
PCars Chat
The Forums of Pellican Parts
Early 911s
911UK (for those of you on the other side of the pond)
Porsche Club of America

Lastly, you can supplement your Porsche PPI with information from various buyers’ guides available on-line. WARNING!!! Not all guides are created equal. Adrian Crawford’s 911 Secrets Revealed, while not the least expensive, is an oft mentioned publication that has had many great reviews and is discussed frequently in many of the more popular and respected Porsche forums and chat rooms.

In my next post I’ll outline what a Porsche PPI should cost, things to avoid during a PPI and the basic things that should be included, along with some Porsche model specifics (including a checklist you can download and use as you need).

Related Porsche Posts
Porsche Buyer’s Guide. 5 Reasons to Walk Away
Porsche Deferred Maintenance. The True Cost
Advise for the First Time Porsche Owner

I’m sure most of you are aware of the Factory Service Bulletins that are published directly from Porsche (these are also called TSBs or Technical Service Bulletins). TSBs are issued to cover a wide variety of subjects including changes in parts or specifications, model changes and service problem areas.  Specifically, they are issued to the Porsche service departments to address these issues and other recurring problems. 

Included in a regular TSB you may find:

• A list of required parts
• Description of the issue or problem and update
• Instructions and illustrations on how to fix

Typically, the TSBs provide info not otherwise found in the workshop manuals or parts book.

So, how do you get this information?  As a Porsche owner, it’s actually quite easy to get updates and get them for free. 

At the very back of your owners manual is a “Transfer of Ownership” form.  Simply complete this form and send in to the address indidcated.  If you can’t find this form, or if you don’t have the manual, you can request one directly from Porsche North America.  The only problem with this method is it only entitles you to future updates.

So, if you want past updates, how do you get them?  You have a number of options. 

1. You can use an online database such as ALLDATA.  ALLDATA. offers online access, by year and model for a reasonable fee.
2. You can search the online forums, that I have discussed in the past. Your best bet will be Rennlist (some members are willing to share if you ask nicely). 
3. You can purchase directly from Porsche for a fee as well.  While this is coming directly from the source, it can get costly as they charge $1.80 per TSB.

If anyone knows of other sources, please be sure to let me know so I can update this post for the archive.

Here was my response (edited for content and privacy):

Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the family! 

As for enhancing the experience, that’s a tough one.  I’ve found that so much of what people want to get out of their Porsche is unique to the individual. 

With that said, I can let you know some of the things that I’ve done and the reasons for them.

•  JOIN THE PCA - When I bought my first Porsche, I immediately joined the PCA.  I did this for two reasons: 1. the subscription to Panorama magazine (this alone is worth the price of admission); 2. The social aspect.  I found it was a great way to meet people with similar interests.
• Take some DE (driver’s education classes) -  One of the great things about owning a Porsche (any Porsche) is that you truly have a “super car” that can be used as a daily driver (if you so choose).  DE classes are a great way to find out what your car is really made of and will also help you as a driver learn to handle your 993 in ways you may not have thought possible.  This is advice that I need to take as well.  While I have taken DE classes in my ’73 911, I have yet to do so in my 993.  I have put it on the calendar for this spring.
•  EXPLORE THE WEB - If you haven’t already, explore the various web forums (especially Rennlist).  There is so much great info out there that at times it is hard to absorb it all.  I’ve listed the most popular in this post and would still love to know if I’m missing any. 
• UPGRADE, UPGRADE, UPGRADE - There are lots and lots of inexpensive to very expensive modifications that can be done to your car in order to enhance both performance and looks (depending on budget, function and your own personal style).  I’m in the process of making my upgrade list right now and would love more input on it.  Fortunately for me, my car came with a lot of nice options.  I now need to do some small things to personalize it as well as getting rid of the “SUV” ride height.
• DRIVE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE -   More than anything, I think this is the most important piece of advice I can give.  While we all bought these cars for our own reasons, I have to assume that we share a common bond in our love for driving them (not to mention the way they look).

This list is by no means comprehensive and would love for you to share your thoughts on what else can be done to “enhance” the Porsche ownership experience. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to review these 3 reasons to subscribe to PorschePurist.com.