Any high mileage 968s?

iolguy · 07-19-2005, 07:27 AM

I am looking at purchasing a 92 968 with 119k miles currently. It looks like all work has been done and I will get a PPI. The price is right- $7k. I was wondering how many high mileage 968s there are and were there any engine/transmission/rear end failures. I drive about 100 miles/ day to work so I need a reliable car. Anyone hear of high mileage 968's?

PhillysMostWntd · 07-19-2005, 11:23 AM

um.. if you dont buy it pass it on my way, shes a beauty

legion · 07-19-2005, 11:24 AM

$7k seems low for any 968.

iolguy · 07-19-2005, 11:36 AM

He had it posted on PCA website, in here, and in 968.net for $9900. No takers at all. I may have been the only one looking at it. So I wittled my way down to $7k because I would be getting rid of an 01 Acura CL with only 80k miles on it. The Acura is pretty much gas up and go. I have added a cold air intake and sway bars so it is a fairly nice ride. However, it would never be able to corner like the 968. Anyway, if I don't buy it he is putting it back up for sale.

Blackfoot · Blackfoot's Garage

The price is about right when you consider early E36 M3s are around $10k.

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mike944 · 07-20-2005, 08:20 AM

Watch out, $7K is really low for a 968, even with 119K miles. Could be the owner has been deferring some maintenence, and the PPI's keep coming back that it needs work. At that price, i'm sure it's generating a LOT if interest.

Do a carfax. Has it been in an accident? This seems to affect the value of "specialty" cars much more significantly than normal cars.

Normally, i would say that 119K is not very high for a 968. But.....at that mileage, if the owner can't prove the variocam chain and tensioner ramps have been replaced recently, it needs to be done IMMEDIATELY. Typical failures are between 100K and 140K, and the consequence of failure is VERY expensive. Engine failures (other than valvetrain) are very rare. Some manual transmissions (about 10-15%) suffer from a pinion bearing problem, but usually the problem shows up before 60K. If the pinion bearings have been replaced, as long as it was done by someone familiar with 968 transmissions, i wouldn't worry about it. If they're never been replaced, with 119K, chances are this car is fine. (short history: some transmisions were assembled at the factory with the pinion bearings preloaded too tightly. These are the only ones that fail, and they usually fail early)

Definitely get a PPI with someone familiar with 968's specifically, and pay the extra for the mechanic to pull the valve cover and inspect the cam gears, chain, and variocam mechanism.

Beyond that, they're probably even more reliable then the 944's, considering they had the benefit of evolution of the 944 for almost 10 years.

The Chris · 07-20-2005, 10:44 AM

Just a rule of thumb I used when shopping for 968's...

Seems to be the avg price is around >$15k+. So if hes selling for $7k, it's very possible it might need up to $10k in repairs to bring it back "up to snuff".

$10k in repairs seems high, but I have seen other 968's for sale around the $7k range, and they all had no records, no history, random issues, and just plain scared me away.

Just be careful, and get a PPI done by somebody who knows these cars!

iolguy · 07-20-2005, 10:49 AM

This car has all the records and I have talked to the repair shop about the car. It could be that these cars are not that popular in Texas. The Varioram chain and tensioner ramps have not been changed but the timing belt has been changed routinely. There have been no pinion issues with this car.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

If it gets inspected and is clean, and there are receipts, GO FOR IT. She is a beaut.

mike944 · 07-20-2005, 12:21 PM

If he's got records, sounds like a steal, even if you need to change the variocam parts immediately ($600-$1K to get it done, about $100 if you do it yourself.)

What worries me is that somebody should have already bought it long ago, even at $9900. Why is it still available at that price?

I suppose it's possible that they're just not popular in texas, if it's really in that good condition, jump on it, just make your purchase dependent on a PPI, which, in my opinion, is especially important on a car being offered at a below-market price.

Still have the mechanic pull the valve cover for the PPI, as the cam gears can sometimes wear, and require replacement of the cams, which is about $1800 in parts alone. The cam gears wear, when the chain stretches, and can't be seen without pulling the valve cover (unless the mechanic has a small-diameter borescope)

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

I have a feeling that if there was a gorgeous white 968 like that in CT for $7000, it would be gone within days...

mike944 · 07-21-2005, 04:11 AM

Ya, even with some minor defects, it would be gone within minutes.

Heck, i only paid $1500 less for mine, and half the engine was in the trunk with 8 bent valves, and that was a fantastic deal