Ah to be young....
When I was your age I drove just like you... until I flew off the road a few times figured it wasn't worth someone getting hurt. Although I wouldn't listen to anybody then so why should you listen to us old dogs now.
Funny thing happened, old girlfriend and her husband are in town to visit, they order pizza, me and her take the Porsche to pick up pizza. ( I didn't do anything crazy). She gets out back at their place and says "You are going to kill yourself with that thing!" (we had been joking about our age and I said I was going to go out with my Porsche)
But that is not what this post is about!
I was looking at pictures on your webpage and what wheels tires are you running? They look nice and fat! I would like to look into getting some for my 944 so I can drive faster... I mean safer (DOH)!
1.2gees huuuum

Which set of tires are you talking about? I've had a lot of different sizes on the car, from 215/60/15s (nittos, or yoko avs' all around)to 225/50/15s (yoko avs' all aorund) to 245/50/15s (dunlop sp sport 8000s in the rear, yoko AVS intermediates in the front, which is what's on there now on painted cookie cutters, with spacers in the rear), to 225/45/17s, to 255/40/17s... If it's the 17s, then the last two size tires were on there. Using cup style rims (commonly seen on 993 gen. 911s), with custom offset 7.5 inches wide up front, and 9 inches wide in the rear on Bridgestone RE 71 tires (RE-730s are a better replacement btw).

I think my next set is going to be either 215/60/15s, or 225/50/15s, I would choose a 225/55/15 (I believe to be the optimal size for an early 44 on stock rims), but only michelin makes them, and sell it at about 4 times what I'm willing to spend on tires.

'Bout the 68, I might still go for one, but I'd like to put 10k into savings (2k in Roth IRA, 3k in CDs, 3k in medium and 2k in high risk mutual funds), buy a descent 944 turbo (and sell my current 44), and reconsider a 68 when I'm getting my masters seems like a more logical thing to do... I won't have to worry about the spoiled rich kid image, or the anality that would come w/me owning a 968, worrying about where I park, and insurance... Input on this subject would be appreciated btw.
Ahmet

I would say get the 951, turbos are great. However, since you can always turbo the 968 later, go for that. I mean the six-speed alone should be worth it. I'm getting a six speed myself. More gears + more power = more fun.

I think I will own a 968, with a turbo on it within the next 10 years. I can choose to go through the first 4 or so years of college with a 944 turbo, or a 968. The latter would allow me to save about 10k through these not so certain times. +If I get a 968 now, I can't afford a second car, whereas if I get one in a few years, the turbo I'd purchase in the next few months would be my daily driver. Then again I really want a 968, and I can afford one now... I'm not real clear on your take, are you suggesting I spring for a 68 now, and turbo it later?

BTW, as much as I (honestly) liked your 930, it's nice to see you interested in the front engined water pumpers.
Ahmet

I'd really like some input on this from anybody who's willing to offer some wisdom!
Ahmet

Precisely, I'm saying spring for the 68 and turbo it later, even if the later means far in the future. The reason is that you'll get to enjoy the car you really want, right away. Correct me if I'm wrong, but stock acceleration of 968s and 86-88 951s (not s) are both around 6.1 seconds to 60, so that's not much of an issue. Sure, if you get the 951 you could but a little bit of money into it to make if fly, however this money would be going towards a car you ultimately don't want as your final, and greatest, water-pumping four. That would be a super-car caliber 968 turbo. Get a hold of the your base for your dream car, don't get an intermediate car if you don't have to.

BTW: I've always liked the water pumpers. I don't need to tell you that they handle great, but I also enjoyed the road feel and steering, it came the closest to my 930 of any other car I've driven. If a friend is interested in performance cars, I always suggest the water-cooled four cylinder series. However, my personal taste for my one and only p-car lies with the tail-dragging folks.

EDIT: I found a source saying that 951s will go to 100 kmph (62mph) in 6.3 and 968s do that in 6.5, or about 6.1 vs. 6.3 to 60 mph, so there is a difference, however one fifth of a second does not alter my opinion in the least. Get the 68 :D

Ahmet:
If you plan on keeping the car (mostly) stock, get the 968 or 951-S.
If you want to modify it get the 951 (non-S)

There is more aftermarket for the 951 than for the 968, and 968 aftermarket stuff can run you more $$. Also, if I had a 951-S, I would leave it alone: it's problably the most 'collectable' in the 944 series, IMO.

Turbo-ing a 968 is definately possible (ex: factory turbo-cup car), but again, it's gonna cost bucks.

Have you considered a 944S2? It's ALMOST a 968! (minus the variocam) and if you want, you can turbo it too. (Just considering the cost factor: S2's are less than 968's).

Personally, I wouldn't modify a 951-S or a 968. But I don't plan on modding my S2, either!

Just my $0.42.
-Z.

Hi Ahmet,

I'd like to try VIR, but I doubt I have anything running. Wife's 924t is getting awful weak. I'm buying parts now for an overhaul as the money is available. I let my brother borrow my helmet to take his Alfa to VIR a couple of months ago & he enjoyed it. I look forward to running into you somewhere or other in next year or two.

drew1

Thanks for the responses
 

Although this by no means is for certain:

I think I'm going to buy a 951 for the time being. Yargk, I do appreciate and value your opinion, and you're right I'd love a 968 ASAP... However the image issue, the fact that if I were to buy that 968 I'll invest in, I'll be taking my time (I want a car soon), insurance is still very high, and the whole image thing when I'm a full time student, not to mention having to park it everywhere, etc. I think if I wait 4-5 years or so to get the 968 (as my second car mind you, next to the 44 t), I can probably take care of it better, and end up with a 944 turbo and a 968 (turbo)... But, this is still not final.

Z-man, I can't picture myself leaving a 944 turbo alone, specially not an S, but you're right they're getting rare, so I wouldn't want to mess one up either. On the other hand, although a stock 968 is tempting, I want way more than 240hp... +I'm sure the #of 968s people modify, and the #of 44 turbo Ses people modify don't even compare... There are many original 968s in great shape... I'll probably get an 87 or later turbo, so at least I can get fabcar arms, the 18 inch speedlines, perhaps big reds and kokeln sway bars, etc. that I can swap to the 68 few years down the road. I thought about an S2, natural aspiration is great, but I'm not going to pass on big power for cheap this time around... And as for aftermarket on the 68, I won't be paying anybody for anything besides the 'hard' parts (turbo itself, con-rods, brake calipers, etc.), all the tuning, engineering, etc. I will do.

Drew1, that's too bad about VIR, it's really an awesome track, I still remember portions of it quite vividly... Looking forward to meeting you as well :)

Sorry about responding late--road trip.
Ahmet

My next door neighbor has 1993 968 Cab. He has had no problems with his car other than a bad battery but has nothing to do with the car. The rides he has taken me in were great top down. From my estimation i would say it was about 6 and a half seconds zero to 60. But he only really gunned it once so that is just a roughjudgment. But it was one nice ride. I would say go ahead and buy a 968.
-Lee

Ahmet,

If you are thinking about a 968, drop me an email. I have a 95 Cab, and can tell you about some of the quirks.

AFJuvat

Unless I get tired of dealing with 944s (oh wait, I already am!), I might have an emotionally driven decision to buy a 968... But unless that happens, I still have to put a transaxle in my car, and sell it before I can buy a 968, don't know if I can wait that long...

I kinda want a turbo car for all the challanges too, and if I bought a 968 I feel like I would want a virgin car (one or two owners, less than 70k on the clock, no scratches on factory paint, etc.), and that'll take me a while to find...

We shall see what happens.

PS: See the 'tranny #4 gone' for updates on tonight's events!
Ahmet

Ahmet,
If you sell your current car, may I suggest parting it out? You would make a crapload of money that way... but I'm sure you already thought about that...

...my guess is that you wouldn't be able to stand seeing your baby torn apart like that... in which case i might know a few people that would be interested in your 44 if the price was right. You can email me any time to let me know what's up.

My opinion? If I were to upgrade, i would go for a 944S2 next. Everyone loves the 2.5 Turbo's accelleration, but I have a feeling that the constant pull of the big 3.0 might suit someone that does autoxing occasionally (as you do, and as I am going to) more than the 951 with its sometimes-jarring Turbo lag. I can totally see why you would want the 951 or (even better) 952, but I believe that my eventual line of succession will probably be to an S2 and then to a 968 and then (crossing fingers) to a Boxster S.

Just my two cents... you know more about these cars than I do.

-CJ

Yeah, I'm selling...

Price is $3900 obo (and sell ASAP!!!), that'll include everything I've put in the car, save for powered sub. (MP3 player, bilstein shocks, bushings, pagid pads, ss brake lines, etc. etc.) The car isn't that sharp cosmetically, but it's got factory paint (dent on driver's side fender, and a couple more around the car, paint faded on roof). Besides that it feels exceptionally solid, and no noticable play in suspension, even with the 245 wide tires all around.

Help me, please...
Ahmet

I would go with the 968. as mentioned , you can alway's turbo it later.
Eric Mckenna
78 SC
83 944

Well, I got the 951...

But I've still got $9200, of the $10k I wanted to save... I only paid $3150 for the 944 turbo.

With the 944 for sale, I think this was the best way to go. I'm about to go down to the garage and put the car back on the road after almost two weeks of work, hopefully...
Ahmet

you blew it, should have gone with a 911sc. they are so much better. i mean, they are real porsches :-)

<img src="http://home.pacbell.net/nirky/turbo_120.jpg">