The 993 Porsche represents the best of the breed in many ways. Its technical components were substantially upgraded over its predecessor, the 964. The body was completely restyled by British designer Tony Hatter, with a flowing front end and prominent haunches. If you’re fond of the air-cooled engine convention, the 993 was the last of those. It’s no wonder this iteration of the 911 has become a near-instant classic, with sales prices some 50% above the model’s cost when new. Today’s example is a 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera sunroof coupe listed here on eBay for $79,500; that’s a discount off the typical 993, largely because an accident is recorded on its AutoCheck report. If you can live with that, drive it home from Orlando, Florida.

The Carrera is powered by a 3.6 liter flat six generating 270 hp, good for a top speed in excess of 160 mph and a zero to sixty time in the five second area. A six-speed manual transaxle – the first six-speed in a production Porsche – brings power to the rear wheels. Thanks to a revamped suspension utilizing multi-link/lower control arm geometry hung on an alloy frame, the car’s famous lift-off oversteer was largely tamed. Despite these improvements, the car retains its “911-ness”, with the engine way back in the tail leaving the entire cabin with a sensation of roominess unmatched by the average sports car. A log with a start date in 2010 details upgrades, maintenance and repairs. Notably, the seller says that this ’95 is less susceptible to SAI (secondary air injection) problems, which can result in an engine-check light, failed emissions tests, and at the worst, a top-end rebuild. Technically the seller isn’t correct: it’s true a malfunctioning SAI on a ’95 will not wreck your emissions test but that’s because ’95 cars are OBD1 and won’t throw a warning. Unfortunately the ports can still clog up disastrously. For more info, check here.

The blue over tan color combination is intensely appealing, though this cabin isn’t perfect. The steering wheel has been replaced, with the original residing in the trunk along with a few manuals and the tool kit. The tape on the Momo wheel makes me think this car has been tracked. I spotted a couple of tears in the trim upholstery. On the other hand, the tires are nearly new and the odo reads just 58,065 miles.

This photo displays the rear fenders to excellent effect. The 993 is an evolution, not a revolution – in all the right ways. If you’re a Porsche fan and you haven’t owned a 993 yet, give it a good long thought. The next time you turn around, these cars could be knocking on the door of $150k.