? 968 Info

dlearl · dlearl's Garage

I'm going to post this on the 944/928 fourm as well, but I though I'd ask the 911 faithful what they think of the 968.

I live in Las Vegas and as much as I love my '78 SC, the sunroof ain't cuttin' it. I want a convert. The short list includes the final model Alfa Spiders (no flames please, I've driven Alfas for years and they're every bit as dependable as your maintenance schedule), Boxters, and 968s.
First, I'm wondering why people are asking roughly the same money for 968s as they are for 7-8 year newer Boxters . Is it just numbers?
Second, should I worry about parts availability?
And finally, Is there little known fact about 968s that I should be aware of before I make my decision like $700 oil changes or $1500 tune-ups?

And lest you worry, a 911 didn't make the list because I'm keeping the SC. A soft window targa (especially a 912) was on the long list, but with the 911 and my '78 Sprint Veloce I'm looking for something more modern car.

slope-nz · 11-09-2004, 09:28 AM

David, 968's are great cars,my wife has driven a93 tip,coupe for almost 75k and 7 years now.The problems have been minor and far between. The only major expence is timing belt replacement expense. This is no different than a 944. The 968 is a very modern porsche in many ways. There is a form of var.cam timing( later to show up in 993's) top notch auto in the tip trans. At 240 hp these little cars go. With a manual trans the are even quicker. Porsche didn't make a lot of 968's and they were a pricey car( 55k$). I feel that 968's are often over looked because of there price and the misconception that there just a fancy 944. I think you would do well for yourself to look deeper into 968's and if it could be the right car for you. Good hunting, Randy

1fastredsc · 09:39 AM

They are much more rare then the boxter. The 3.0 4 cylinder in the 968 has wonderfull torque, and the car overall is an awesome high speed cruiser. Having said that, it's no where near as fun to drive as the 911. But since your keeping yours, i don't see the harm.
EDIT: One more thing, if you don't do the maintenence on the car yourself, the clutch jobs on 968 are quite labor tedious like the 944's. So labor charges on replacing rear main seals, or clutch jobs are quite high.

einreb · 11-09-2004, 10:19 AM

My neighbor has one and it has been relatively trouble free except for a bizarre electrical gremlin that a dealer bent him over the table for and didnt even fix. (Chris Streit ended up diagnosing the problem).

Anyway, he likes the car and it is pretty much a nice daily driver. Its a tip and I thought it felt like a bit of a dog compared to my '88 911, but was a nice ride.

tholyoak · 11-09-2004, 11:14 AM

Clutch jobs on the 968 are actually much easier than the 944 series. They used a 2 part bell housing which allows for clutch replacement without removing the rear mounted transaxle.

These are great cars, the ultimate evolution of the 924/944 series. You are lucky since most of the 968s were convertibles, much harder to find a nice coupe. Early models had a LSD problem that is well documented in the forums. The pad on the cam chain tensioner should be inspected and replaced, if not the plastic pad deteriorates and the chain hangs up and destroys the head. Other than that, water pumps, and timing/balance shaft belts and rollers need to be inspected/replaced at regular intervals to avoid failures and the problems that come with them.

Todd

1fastredsc · 11-09-2004, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tholyoak
Clutch jobs on the 968 are actually much easier than the 944 series. They used a 2 part bell housing which allows for clutch replacement without removing the rear mounted transaxle.

Didn't know that, thanks for the info.

Sarc · 11-09-2004, 12:13 PM

How 'bout some pics?

Dantilla · 11-09-2004, 01:02 PM

Three of my friends have 968s. Great cars.

MuffinMan · 11-09-2004, 01:14 PM

I owned a 968 for about 6 years, and I really enjoyed it. Compared to the 911 or Boxster, the whole car feels a bit more numb. The steering is less precise in feel, and the shifting is notchier. I liked the shifting just fine, though. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but between 1992 & 1995, roughly 2500 coupes and 2500 convertibles were imported to the US. The desireable M030 package was not common, and some of the enhancements it gave were bigger brakes (same size as 928 S4), stiffer suspension, and LSD (changed types in '93). You could also option LSD in without the M030 package, as they did not come standard with it.

A few of the problems I encountered:

Heater valve failed a couple of times after tracking the car. It's only ~$40 and an easy fix, and doesn't seem to be an issue unless you track the car.

The rear hatch (I had a coupe) started to squeak and drive me crazy. The fix is to remove the glass, and reseal it. I believe it's roughly $500 +/-.

Windshield wiper motor died. I think was a random act of bad luck.

The balance shaft belt teeth wore off, and it ran incredibly roughly until the belt was replaced. This is replaced during the 30k service intervals that typically run ~$600.

Otherwise, the car was relatively trouble-free. It is easier to drive fast on the track since it's much more foregiving than something like a 911. 3.0 liters is large for a 4 cylinder, but I didn't have any vibration or buzzing issues. It is a unique car, I was simply ready for a change and moved onto Boxster. Definitely drive one to see what you think!

MuffinMan · 11-09-2004, 01:16 PM

Also, check www.968.net for plenty of information on the model.

RickM · RickM's Garage

That balancing shaft system was patented by Mitsubishi.

I may have a good article on the car. I'll look for it tonite.

MuffinMan · 11-09-2004, 03:11 PM

Oh yeah, one thing to watch for is a failing ring & pinion. It is most likely corrected on the problem cars by now, but you can detect it by abruptly lifting off the gas while traveling at a somewhat steady speed. If there's a clunk, be wary or work the fix (I think it was ~$1500) into the purchase price, after a PPI confirming the problem.

dlearl · dlearl's Garage

Thanks for all the great information. I'm definitely leaning towards the 968, especially after having found a couple of really nice ones to negotiate. The "less responsive..numb feeling" bit is actually a plus for how I intend to use the car. I have the SC and a bunch of bikes so a
8/10ths car sans top is what I'm after.
And thanks, MuffinMan for the tip on the M030 package and the website. I'll keep an eye out, it would help in the "8/10ths" department. And as much as I want a 6 speed, I'm really thinking Tiptronic. Decisions, decisions!