944 vs 968 - Comparison
- Thread starter MarinerChris
- Start date
Fat Albert
New member
Finally got to drive the 968 today to pick my son up from school, so took the back route - some lovely sweeping Northamotonshire B roads!
But of course it is tipping it down and got stuck behind a tractor on the way there and a bus on the way back...also I was a bit cautious with it being a new car...
So, you do have to work the 968, a few times I cam out of slow corners a gear too high and expected to be saved by the boost...it will accelerate but you have to wait for 3,000 revs for it to start happening and the at 4,000 the variocam kicks in and it tries a bit more urgently!
If you take it up to the red line and change up it puts you back at 4,000 revs, so it kicks straight back in for another go, so more instantaneous thrust than on a turbo that takes a few milliseconds to spool up again. It makes a better/different noise than the turbo (mine has a Janspeed exhaust) so it has a more throbbing tickover and a nice rasp above 5,000 revs, whereas the Turbocharger robs the exhaust soundtrack from the 944, but you do get a spectacular induction roar and the whoops and hisses.
The 968 feels very firm, solid and planted but that is probably more down to age/mileage than anything else, as they are both riding at about the same height.
Obviously I have lost my electric seats, air con and 10 speaker pack, but the seats are comfy enough and this one has the original head unit and multichanger
What does absolutely boil my P**s however is that they have re-arranged the buttons on the centre console, the bidet switch is now far left, rather than the second from the right, so every time I try to wipe my backend I lock the car!
Pull the box out and you should be able to get at the switches no problem[
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Fat Albert
New member
Well that's second job added to the list then!
I might have to do something with the hifi, things have moved on a little in 18 years
First job was to refit the passenger mirror glass that had come adrift on the drive over yesterday, 20 seconds with a screwdriver in the hole on the underside sorted that one!
I might have to do something with the hifi, things have moved on a little in 18 years
First job was to refit the passenger mirror glass that had come adrift on the drive over yesterday, 20 seconds with a screwdriver in the hole on the underside sorted that one!
Copperman05
New member
Red and black is a classic combo and looks great with cup 2 wheels, good to see you finally come round to the sensible world of NA.
Edd
Edd
Copperman05
New member
Excellent, apparently its red under the pink too!
Edd
Edd
Fat Albert
New member
Yep, Sure is!! With moving house I haven't managed to do its spring Clay & Polish
Fat Albert
New member
Depends if it stops bloomin' raining!
Fat Albert
New member
It won't!
The 944 was pink when I got it, and actually had a lot of marks where the previous owner had tried to sort it unsuccessfully.
A few good pointers from the chaps here had me heading in the right direction and over the years I have perfected a technique to get it red in spring and keep it red over the summer. In the winter I just don't have the time/weather/light evenings and anyway I like upsetting the sensibilities of a certain ex-member who thought all 944s should be tucked up in a heated Garage from September- April and not doing 340 mile round trips to Manchester in the snow!
My learning is to not let it get to that state in the first place!!
The 944 was pink when I got it, and actually had a lot of marks where the previous owner had tried to sort it unsuccessfully.
A few good pointers from the chaps here had me heading in the right direction and over the years I have perfected a technique to get it red in spring and keep it red over the summer. In the winter I just don't have the time/weather/light evenings and anyway I like upsetting the sensibilities of a certain ex-member who thought all 944s should be tucked up in a heated Garage from September- April and not doing 340 mile round trips to Manchester in the snow!
My learning is to not let it get to that state in the first place!!
Chrishazle
Active member
Put a Promax 7100 chip in the 968 and that minor hole in the torque curve dissappears, it becomes much more straight line - Stu at K300 sells them and includes detailed fitting instructions.
Fat Albert
New member
The 944 has cost me 15.2p a mile in maintenance and depreciation over 3 years/36,000 miles, my Wife's 535D has cost over 30p/mile for the same mileage over 18 months....
Chris, I will have a look at that chip, I have heard of a lot of people using it
Andy, This will be no Garage Queen.....
MarinerChris
New member
Well today and yesterday I test drove a couple of 968's and 944 Turbo's.
Very interesting!
First impressions of the 968 are that they look nice and I actually do love the rear as well as the front. I mention this because I have seen so many people say they hate the back end of the 968, so it must be a Marmite thing, love it or hate it. I love it.
However, pop the headlights up and it all looks a bit odd in my opinion, it will probably grow on me though.
Driving. Both the 968's make a lovely noise when giving some beans, I actually really like that. A lot! They seem to get on song with each gear change plunging you straight back into the power band, so I am really impressed with whoever designed the gearbox, as it seems to be really in tune with the engine's power delivery, more so than almost any car I have ever owned.
Then there are the two 944 turbo's. One was a 220 1986 one and the other a 1992 black 250 horsepower one.
First impressions are that they obviously look a little more dated than the 968, probably because they are an older design, I love the front end, lights up or down. I like the bridge spoiler on the later car, and the teledials of the earlier car.. Problem is, I doubt I would like a car with a bridge spoiler on a car with teledials, the earlier car just looks so retro-cool and the later car just looks nice and modern, almost like two very different cars which have their own charms which are well put together packages. Mixing between them would spoil them I think.
Driving them had me quite shocked how well these have aged, both cars seemed planted and solid, no buzzes, rattles or other signs of age. But the real shock was the performance. Both cars commanded respect, both felt like they could bite you if you abused them, yet both seemed to inspire just the right level of confidence that they were planted and any issues would be down to the drivers lack of skill. which I love.
Another shock was the seat-of-the-pants dyno testing.. Both cars did feel equally quick, even though they both had different power deliveries. The 250 boost came in later, but seemed stronger, the early 220 car seemed to have less lag and power was more immediate. I think in a drag race there would be little in it, others here would be able to say what the real score is.
To be honest, as I reflect on it, I would even say a race between a 220, 250 and 968 would actually be very close. So performance wise, I think they are all on the same playing field for me, although the boost does add another element of fun.
Back in the states I had a 996 turbo. As far as driver engagement and fun goes, I am really impressed with how much better the 968 and 944 turbo is in comparison. Not as fast by any means, the 996 turbo makes progress without drama, but that lack of drama also make it a little bit boring, as odd as that may sound.
All in all, the test drives have told me one thing. The 968, 944T220 and 994T250 are all on an equal playing field. I do like the more modern looks of the 968 as well as its improved soundtrack from the exhaust and intake, but I keep thinking about the 220 turbo and its retro looks, I did find myself just looking at it and as I left I kept having to look back at it.
I was quite honest with all the sellers, I told them all the dilemma I have, and I am happy to report all of them were more than happy to give their own feedback on how they feel about the 944t versus the 968, as well as letting me drive their cars, they all seemed happy to show off their cars and I think they all have small doubts about selling, but they have their own individual reasons.
In conclusion, I still have my doubts about which to go for, but I do now know a 944 turbo is certainly in the running for me.
Over the next couple of days I am going to drive a couple of 993's and maybe buy one if I find the right car. Once I have got used to the 993 and what it has to offer, I think I will be in a better position to know what gaps I have left to fill and what the second car will be, 968 or 944 turbo
Very interesting!
First impressions of the 968 are that they look nice and I actually do love the rear as well as the front. I mention this because I have seen so many people say they hate the back end of the 968, so it must be a Marmite thing, love it or hate it. I love it.
However, pop the headlights up and it all looks a bit odd in my opinion, it will probably grow on me though.
Driving. Both the 968's make a lovely noise when giving some beans, I actually really like that. A lot! They seem to get on song with each gear change plunging you straight back into the power band, so I am really impressed with whoever designed the gearbox, as it seems to be really in tune with the engine's power delivery, more so than almost any car I have ever owned.
Then there are the two 944 turbo's. One was a 220 1986 one and the other a 1992 black 250 horsepower one.
First impressions are that they obviously look a little more dated than the 968, probably because they are an older design, I love the front end, lights up or down. I like the bridge spoiler on the later car, and the teledials of the earlier car.. Problem is, I doubt I would like a car with a bridge spoiler on a car with teledials, the earlier car just looks so retro-cool and the later car just looks nice and modern, almost like two very different cars which have their own charms which are well put together packages. Mixing between them would spoil them I think.
Driving them had me quite shocked how well these have aged, both cars seemed planted and solid, no buzzes, rattles or other signs of age. But the real shock was the performance. Both cars commanded respect, both felt like they could bite you if you abused them, yet both seemed to inspire just the right level of confidence that they were planted and any issues would be down to the drivers lack of skill. which I love.
Another shock was the seat-of-the-pants dyno testing.. Both cars did feel equally quick, even though they both had different power deliveries. The 250 boost came in later, but seemed stronger, the early 220 car seemed to have less lag and power was more immediate. I think in a drag race there would be little in it, others here would be able to say what the real score is.
To be honest, as I reflect on it, I would even say a race between a 220, 250 and 968 would actually be very close. So performance wise, I think they are all on the same playing field for me, although the boost does add another element of fun.
Back in the states I had a 996 turbo. As far as driver engagement and fun goes, I am really impressed with how much better the 968 and 944 turbo is in comparison. Not as fast by any means, the 996 turbo makes progress without drama, but that lack of drama also make it a little bit boring, as odd as that may sound.
All in all, the test drives have told me one thing. The 968, 944T220 and 994T250 are all on an equal playing field. I do like the more modern looks of the 968 as well as its improved soundtrack from the exhaust and intake, but I keep thinking about the 220 turbo and its retro looks, I did find myself just looking at it and as I left I kept having to look back at it.
I was quite honest with all the sellers, I told them all the dilemma I have, and I am happy to report all of them were more than happy to give their own feedback on how they feel about the 944t versus the 968, as well as letting me drive their cars, they all seemed happy to show off their cars and I think they all have small doubts about selling, but they have their own individual reasons.
In conclusion, I still have my doubts about which to go for, but I do now know a 944 turbo is certainly in the running for me.
Over the next couple of days I am going to drive a couple of 993's and maybe buy one if I find the right car. Once I have got used to the 993 and what it has to offer, I think I will be in a better position to know what gaps I have left to fill and what the second car will be, 968 or 944 turbo
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