968 or 944
 

I was seriously looking at buying a 911 until I realised that to get one I wanted was going to cost a minimum of 25K. So I've set my sights a little lower and fancy either a 944S2/Turbo or a 968 Sport/Clubsport- whichever car it is MUST have air con.

I've seen a tasty Clubsport for 15K with air con, I thought this option wasn't available for the CS but I must be wrong. I haven't seen any 944's that are suitable yet let alone any with air con.
Does anyone have some idea where I could look besides autotrader and also if there are any problems I should know about with either model -apart from the transaxle problems with the 968 that I already know about.

Finally what are the real differences between the 2 models, is the 968 just a facelift?

In my mind the 968 is just a face lift - although it does have a 240bhp Varioram engine compared to the S2 211bhp.

The 968 CS is a nice car - but in my mind its only worth buying with the M030 suspension upgrade. This gave firmer Koni adjustable shocks and thicker anti roll bars.

All the later 944 Turbos (after 88) had Climate as standard.

You are in exactly the same dilema as I was and I went for a 1990 Turbo, simply because 300bhp can be obtained for verry little money. All the 968 suspension options bolts straight on too!


I have detailed costs here: http://www.pistonheads.com/members/s...asp?carId=7185

http://www.dave.malings.btinternet.c...no_parking.jpg

944 Turbo has a very respectable 250bhp ;)

0-60 in 5.7

0-100 in 13.5

meaning the 60-100 time is quicker than a P1 ;)

..and those times are from a standard 250bhp car.

Both good cars, I would be more inclined to go for the 968 clubsport you might get more power from the other option(944), but it's a class package..

You wont get any more power from a 968 without bolting on a supercharger kit. It would appear that a lot of 968s don't reach there quoted bhp.

It really depends what you want. Track? Road? Mixture?

It's going to be mostly road use over long distances but the car needs to be a bit of an all rounder really.
A trip to the nordschleife might be on the cards but not that often.

I've seen a great 968 for only 3K more than the price of a tasty 944 Turbo, the only thing that worries me is the idea of a cheap power boost to the Turbo allowing me more options tuning wise.
Should add the insurance is about £200 cheaper for the 944 as well.

go for the 968, no question!

968 is a good choice for day to day driving.

Turbo if you have the tuning urge.

944 S2 if you want a half price 968!

944 buying guide here - http://www.pistonheads.com/porsche/d...p?storyId=6090
Personally I would go for the turbo (in fact I already have one :D) The S2 is a nice enough car but you are limited to its standard 211 BHP, which is a shame as the chassis can cope with much more. The 968 is an updated S2 but does not offer much more while costing nearly twice as much. The CS is very nice but the 944T offers the same performance while keeping its creature comforts - electric windows, mirrors, seats, climate control etc.
If you want to do any modifications then there is no question - has to be the 944 turbo. See here for what can be done relatively cheaply - http://www.autoporsche.co.uk/
I have had mine for a year now and absolutely love it. It is cheaper to run than my Impreza. 12k service is about £250 plus an interim oil change at 6k which I do myself. Depreciation is nil. Personally I think the 968s have a little way to drop as more people realize they are not worth the money over an S2, although this probably does not apply to the CS which is in strong demand.
Once you decide that it is a 944T that you want :D there is a 944 register here - http://www.titanic.co.uk/944/ with an email mailing list. There are normally some good cars for sale. Either join the list or I can ask whether anyone is selling at the mo.

Steve

Thanks for all the info, I'm looking at a 968CS with air con (still can't work out why a CS has this) for 16K and I've seen some nice 944 Turbos at around the 10K pricepoint. I wasn't planning on any mods but 250bhp seems like a better place to start.

Any reliability problems with the Turbo over the regular S2 that I should know about?

16k - and I bet this does not even come with M030.

10k will buy a good 944 Turbo, 12k would buy the very best around.

As long as regular maintenance is kept up, then you will bet no reliabilty problems. I have seen S2's for sale with over 220k miles! The s2 has a timing chain block that should be changed and is not on the service schedule.....this MUST be changed!

Confused now, does the turbo have this timing chain block that has to be changed or just the S2.
Did all later turbos come with the M030 handling pack? Or was it just the TurboSE model of 1988 that the pistonheads site talks about?
Just got an insurance quote for a 1991 944 Turbo- £100 cheaper than my Impreza.

Only the 16 valve engines have the timing chain block. The turbo is 8 valve.

The Turbo SE (silver rose) had the M030 as standard. It was an option on other years.

I have my Turbo on a classic policy £300 with track day cover. I have fitted Leda coilovers as mine did not have M030.