LEE P

Hi folks!

i know ive darted about the car spectrum as to what to buy next!

But ive been thinking about a 968, i know thryre a basically a 944 underneath, which i like very much, but i think the 968 is a little more modern somehow.

im thinking along these lines as it would be a good drivers car and could do trackdays too!

Has anyone ran one as a daily driver? e.g 25k plus a year?

i know this is a daft question buuts waht sort of economy do they return?

can you fit a child in the back?

i also like 944 turbos to, as davyboys and RB295 look the dogs, but i kind of figured the 968 would cheper to run even if its less powerfull.

any views on the 968, 944T, S2 would be appreciated!

cheersd Lee

zero_to60

friend of mine had a 968 Sport, basically same as the Club Sport but with a few of the luxuries

it was quick but had rock hard suspension, lovely car and looked great in black

LEE P

Nice one!

I like the Black ones too! and the midnight ones, couldnt do red i think.

dont mind the hard suspension, better than this bouncy audi ive got! even with quattro sport suspension, thinks its a bad damper/spring rate match.

id probably loose less on a 968 over a couple of years too!

lee

RB5#295

The 968 is basically an S2 with a variable cam device (and inlet manifold?). It also has a 6-speed 'box that I understand can give more problems than the 5 speeder.

The CS would be the obvious choice but it has some stupid features like the only way to open the boot is by pulling a cable behind the passenger seat (assuming RHD) and they can be very basic - depends what you expect from a car / Porsche I guess.

I ran an S2 for 23k (mostly over 4 months) and it did about 400 miles on a tank (65 litres IIRC) cruising at 85-90 most of the time. Service intervals are 12k and the only real problem is that (as with all Porsche 16V fours and 32V eights) the cams have a single chain to drive one off the other that isn't checked as part of the main dealer service schedule and they cost well into 4 figures to replace if it's been let go for too long. Obviously you do not want it to break...

The 3.0 16V also doesn't respond very well to tuning so you're pretty much stuck with 225bhp from an S2 or 250bhp from a 968 (both chipped, stock is 210 & 240 IIRC). The chassis, brakes, interior, shell (all but bumpers effectively) are so similar as makes virtually no difference. The newer cars (CS excluded) are more likely to have things like climate control, leather and LSD's.

The turbo uses slightly more fuel, needs an interim oil change at 6k and is only marginally quicker. '89- (and with your budget you're looking at one of the last) have LSD, leather, climate and things like bigger drive shafts / torque tube etc. Maybe the 968 has those as well - I know less detail about them.

Basically the turbo is the one if you want to make it go faster, the 968CS is the best drivers car straight out of the box and maybe a 968 or S2 is the best allrounder if it's a road car first and you don't want to mod it.

Kid's seats fit, although you need to choose carefully, and bigger kids basically have seats just the right size for them as standard. I have a mate who takes wife and 2 daughters (in their teens) out and about in a cabrio, which has much less rear room.

That's long enough for one post, but if I can add any more then let me know - this is one of my favourite subjects

Fen

LEE P

Nice one Fen!

i actually love the look of the 944 s2 and turbo, i suppose i was looking at 968 for the newer content, But the weirdest thing would be going from a new scoob to a 02 audi to a 10 year old car, but i know davyboy has done the same and hasny regretted it?

im sick of new cars and there similarities, and they loose hand over fist.

I suppose with the late model 944 you get climate etc, which is a must for the little one in the summer.

i like the 968 front and back, and they are quitr rare, club sport for blasting about would be fun, but a sport may suit me better, as it needs to be slightly practical!

mind ive just phoned my insurance (privelidge) and they wont insure me at 29 until ive got 2 years no claims! as i stuffed my scoob and lost em. thats october then.

got another quote of 2009 quid for the 968s with some insurance company in porsche world mag.

When was the last 944 and when was the last 968?

cheers Lee

MarkCSC

Have a look here for some good info on the 924/944/968 series http://www.connact.com/~kgross/FAQ/944faq.html

RB5#295

944 S2 coupes run out on a K plate (probably actually finished on a J) with an SE model that had sport suspension and a Superchip from the dealer (225bhp). There's a bit about them in 911&PW Q&A this month but they're like rocking horse crap. Turbo coupes finished in 1991, so the last are J plate for sure. Cabrios went on for a year or so longer.

968's are all K, L or M - don't think I've ever seen a newer one, then the Boxster came out on a P (late N?) to replace it.

From inside the 968 and 944 are identical except the 968 has an analogue clock in front of the gearstick and an outside temperature display where the 944 digital clock is. Otherwise it's subtle stuff like a 180mph speedo (the S2 & 220bhp turbos are 160mph), slightly different stitching on the door cards and different trim colours.

I'm trying to stay neutral, but I prefer the front of the 944, the back of the 968 and the turbo lump (mainly because of the cam chain and lack of tunability). Interior makes no odds to me between the two.

968's came in wilder colours (you could special order anything you wanted IIRC) and all but the nastiest had 17" Cups.

Go to www.titanic.co.uk/944 and you can get some info and join a mailing list where the guys are helpful and friendly. I haven't been keeping up with it but they may have some cars for sale.

Finally you can insure it as a classic (even my mate with an M plate 968SC has a classic policy since December) although miles may be a problem for you.

Fen



[Edited by RB5#295 - 3/3/2003 4:18:34 PM]

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