A Request to the 968 Community...

[stout]

Hello,

Pete Stout at Excellence Magazine here.

Our magazine is coming up on a milestone and part of the celebration is a comparo story on three interesting older Porsches. I don't want to get into all the details (as we would like it to be a fun surprise), but one of the three finalist candidates for inclusion is the 968.

I've found representative examples of the other cars, but am having a tough time finding the right 968. So we're asking for your help.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
A 1992-95 968 coupe with the six-speed manual. Color is unimportant, but could be a deciding factor if we get a lot of cars offered up.

*The car needn't be pristine; we aren't looking for a show car. We're looking for a car that's driven regularly and is either in excellent condition or in good, very presentable condition. The camera won't show every flaw. Trust me.

*Preferably, we're looking for a car with M030 either as original equipment or added later by a reputable shop — but a carefully/tastefully modified car will certainly be considered. Engine should be essentially stock. Chips are OK.

*The idea is to find a mostly stock/factory six-speed coupe that represents the kind of enthusiast who drives his/her 968 regularly and/or has tastefully upgraded the car. 17-inch factory Cup 1s or Cup 2s are a plus, as the other cars in our comparo will be wearing factory wheels.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
A mature, friendly, low-key owner with the ability to trust others in driving his/her car and a willingness to help out with the hard work (and fun) of doing a real-deal comparo and photo-shoot. It'll be an overnight gig on some of the best roads in the world (all located north of San Francisco). We'll cover lodging and food as well as gas over the two days, but it'll be fairly bare bones. What we DON'T need are hot-shot drivers or people with something to prove — because you'll probably be driving other people's cars, too. Including one of mine. You don't have to be the world's best driver, what we're really after is maturity/responsibility/judgment above all else and THEN the ability to keep up at a fun, fast pace.

HOW/WHERE/WHEN IT/YOU WILL BE "USED":
We've got a pro photographer lined up to come along after the ALMS race at Laguna Seca. We'll leave from San Francisco or Marin on either the night of October 22 or the morning of October 23 (early!) and be done late in the day on the 24th. We'll be heading north to roads undisclosed to use our "famous" secret test loop. If you're scared about how/where your car will be used, please contact Dane Burns over on the 911 Technical Forum; I am sure he can fill you in on what it's like to go on something like this.

The car will be driven as Porsche intended, but not abused. We have yet to give someone's keys back with a bunch of apologies, and I hope to continue that record for a long time to come. However, things can happen, whether here with us or on your way to work. Again, we need a 968er with a down-to-earth perspective on things of this nature. If people who like slam-shifts or other ham-fisted moves bother you, you'll be in good company. If you're worried about a rock chip or two, this probably isn't a good gig for you.

WILL WE ASK YOU TO WRITE?
Sure, if you're willing to. And don't worry, I can make bad writing look pretty darn good. We'll probably want you to write up your thoughts for inclusion alongside the main story. If you remember our GT3 vs RS 2.7 or the C-GT vs. GT2 vs. GT3 stories, then you'll know exactly what we're up to.

HOW TO OFFER YOUR TIME/CAR TO THE CAUSE:
Posting cars/candidates here in the thread would be the way to go. I'll be overjoyed if we get just one, but will be overwhelmed if we get a few to choose from.

Whoever is coming out will, at some level, represent the 968 community, and we want this to be a good/fun experience from both sides. To that end, I'd love it if some of you guys would watch my back and email me privately at letters@excellence-mag.com should someone post up a car or offer to be there that you feel would NOT be a good representative of your group.


THANKS!
Finally, (if you're still reading) I really appreciate any of you who are even thinking of helping us with this — it's an honor to have you guys as fellow members in the community and know that we here at Excellence still have a soft spot for 968s...

But then you knew that, didn't you?

Again, MANY THANKS FOR READING ALL THIS!!!!!

[Z-man]

Darn - I only have a 944S2.

-Z

[BoxxerSix]

I have a good customer who has a VGC+ 1994 968 meeting all your requirements. Only downside is that we're here in NY.

I will still pass this post onto him and have him contact you if he's interested.

[mike944]

I'd volunteer, but i'm completely across the country. Can't get much farther away!

[josephsc]

Darn it -- I'm local, but my car's a cab....

I've sent out e-mails to a couple of folks in the Bay Area and put links to this thread in other boards.

[stout]

Originally posted by Z-man
Darn - I only have a 944S2.

-Z

Don't ever let me hear you say that again...

There is nuthin' wrong with a 944 S2 — and much of what makes a 968 so good is present in the S2, usually for a lot less money — making it a great pick.

And a great Porsche.

But we've got a specific need for this story, one that the 944 won't quite fit.

Thanks for your willingness!!!

pete

[Z-man]

Originally posted by Ed@Excellence
Don't ever let me hear you say that again...

There is nuthin' wrong with a 944 S2 — and much of what makes a 968 so good is present in the S2, usually for a lot less money — making it a great pick.

And a great Porsche.

But we've got a specific need for this story, one that the 944 won't quite fit.

Thanks for your willingness!!!

pete

I suppose I play a good role of being the under-achieving little brother....

-Z

PS: I've been a subscriber to Excellence since 1996. Years before I bought my Porsche. Keep up the great work!

[ELZ's930]

1995 968 M030

[ether_joe]

hey Pete, I've got a 1992 968 arctic white/tan coupe, located in San Francisco.

I also sent mail to letters@excellence-mag.com

I don't lurk at these forums very often so if you could give a holler at sean - at - mouseandfrog.org that would be swell


Cheers
Sean

[ether_joe]

pix:

[Dantilla]

A good friend autocrosses a red/tan M030 968, quite successfully.

I'll ask him if he would be interested.

[Dtchy]

Wow! Nice opportunity for the 968 owners to be in a great magazine!

[stout]

Hey all,

Many thanks for the emails, etc. I am blown away by the generosity of 968 owners, with something like 6-7 very fine candidates found in only a couple of days!

And more than one of you willing to drive cross-country to be here and help. I am simply floored.

Looks like I have two CA cars that fit the bill perfectly. The pick is probably the 968er who was first to respond and who has one of the nicest examples. There's a good local back-up as well.

Again, many thanks!!! (and I hope this article will end up being all I hope it will. if the 968 is anywhere as good as I remember it, it should hold up very well against some stiff competition — they should be worried —_and get a spot back in the greater Porsche community limelight where it belongs no matter how it places...)

pete

[Techno Duck]

There was another Excellence writer asking about 944's a few months back, any idea how that article is going?

I look foward to this article also!

[Blondie]

here here!

[FRporsche]

My car would have been perfect. Guards red '95 coupe with a 6-speed, no mods and very well kept. EXCEPT, I just moved to socal last week. DAMN!

Sean is my friend and I can vouch for his car. It is also well kept and a good representative of 968s. It has the hard-to-find LSD and the older-style recessed hood crest which add interest to the car. It has the 951 calipers which show a relationship to it's predecessor.

My car had the gold plated center caps, the special rear seat made of mostly carpet, and all the other little late-968 tidbits.

[JimboDean]

Originally posted by FRporsche

My car had the gold plated center caps, the special rear seat made of mostly carpet, and all the other little late-968 tidbits.

Pics please? I'm interested in seeing those rear seats. Thanks

[FRporsche]

[FRporsche]

I've never seen anyone else with rear seats like mine before.

[callmethewander]

yeah, what's up w those?