968 Specialist?
- Thread starter Andy Roe
- Start date
timward
New member
sorry, but I suspect what he is after just doesnt exist! there are too few 968s around for a garage ever to sustain its busniess by specialising in that model. The price you pay for having a brilliant all round practical porsche is in the preparation and dedication to buying one. They do come up, but infrequently and spread around.
When i was looking for my cab I had 24 (yes 24) different independent porsche dealer websites on my desktop at work. I looked casually for 6 months then for 12 months I went through every single one every single day. it sounds like I dont do any work but in truth it only took about 15mins once you start to recognise the stock. during that time I found 5 cabs, three of which sold immediately, one was a bit of a pup and the other I bought, having by chance logged on only 10mins after the dealer had posted the ad. Dont mean to be discouraging. I was specific about a manual cab so the pool was even more limited - but it will take time and effort.
I also had my name down with dealers which is good, but you have to be prepared to move asap when they call, or they call someone else.
the following have websites which are updated often and will take a name if youre looking:
autobahn
911virgin
strassse
eporsch
northway
portiacraft
specialist cars of malton
hartech
shirleys garage
cridfords
paragon
RSJsportscars
Oakhills (mainly LHD)
Fuchs (mainly LHD)
911sport
Paul devyea
Turbocentre (where I got mine)
EJW sports
hamilton cars (bristol)
porschtech
charles Ivey
You will always find a selection of private sales at pistonheads.com and of course tehre is always Porsche Post magazine.
Just a brief flick through today - turbocentre.co.uk has a grey tip cab which has been there for 4 months and is optimistically priced so they may be open to offers. Pistonheads has a selection of six of varying kinds. strasse has two, cridfords one. they are scattered about. just be patient, systematic...and careful!
When i was looking for my cab I had 24 (yes 24) different independent porsche dealer websites on my desktop at work. I looked casually for 6 months then for 12 months I went through every single one every single day. it sounds like I dont do any work but in truth it only took about 15mins once you start to recognise the stock. during that time I found 5 cabs, three of which sold immediately, one was a bit of a pup and the other I bought, having by chance logged on only 10mins after the dealer had posted the ad. Dont mean to be discouraging. I was specific about a manual cab so the pool was even more limited - but it will take time and effort.
I also had my name down with dealers which is good, but you have to be prepared to move asap when they call, or they call someone else.
the following have websites which are updated often and will take a name if youre looking:
autobahn
911virgin
strassse
eporsch
northway
portiacraft
specialist cars of malton
hartech
shirleys garage
cridfords
paragon
RSJsportscars
Oakhills (mainly LHD)
Fuchs (mainly LHD)
911sport
Paul devyea
Turbocentre (where I got mine)
EJW sports
hamilton cars (bristol)
porschtech
charles Ivey
You will always find a selection of private sales at pistonheads.com and of course tehre is always Porsche Post magazine.
Just a brief flick through today - turbocentre.co.uk has a grey tip cab which has been there for 4 months and is optimistically priced so they may be open to offers. Pistonheads has a selection of six of varying kinds. strasse has two, cridfords one. they are scattered about. just be patient, systematic...and careful!
Guest
New member
Good advice from Tim there - you just have to be very patient, committed and lucky. The only other advice I would give is for your mate to talk to those dealers who get 968's regularly (Hartech, 911Virgin, maybe Specialist Cars and Strasse would be my faves - Hartech have two for sale currently) and get them on the case for him. He might find that he gets a call about any car they have found before they are even advertised - this is what happened when I bought. You have to be prepared to act quickly though, and it weakens any price negotiating position you have a little. Worth paying for a good car though. Tell him to get himself over to the forum at 968uk.com - some of the guys over there are good at spotting what comes up for sale.
Try also Andrew Mearns at Gmund Cars.
Try also Andrew Mearns at Gmund Cars.
John H
New member
I agree with all of the above, but must add a mention for www.968uk.co.uk - both the for sale column there, and the forum, which is the leading repository of 968 info in the UK right now.
Having bought a 968, owned it and run it, and then sold it again, I'd have to say that the 968 is a great car. My personal tip (above and beyond all the obvious ones of history and condition) is to ask about the two C's. This stands for Camshafts and Calipers.
Any owner who knows about these, and has had them attended to, is one to consider buying from. This means having had the cam chain recently changed, and perhaps a new inlet cam fitted, and also has had the dreaded plate lift seen to in the calipers. These are the two main achilles heels of the car in my view, and if they have not been seen to, they soon will, and it will relieve you of a couple of grand. Not a huge sum in Porsche terms, but the difference between the car being a bargain or not.
Conversely, anyone who clearly knows nothing about these two issues (private or trade) and who fobs you off, is not someone to buy a 968 from.
Just my 2 cents of course.[
]
John H (ex 968 list moderator)
Having bought a 968, owned it and run it, and then sold it again, I'd have to say that the 968 is a great car. My personal tip (above and beyond all the obvious ones of history and condition) is to ask about the two C's. This stands for Camshafts and Calipers.
Any owner who knows about these, and has had them attended to, is one to consider buying from. This means having had the cam chain recently changed, and perhaps a new inlet cam fitted, and also has had the dreaded plate lift seen to in the calipers. These are the two main achilles heels of the car in my view, and if they have not been seen to, they soon will, and it will relieve you of a couple of grand. Not a huge sum in Porsche terms, but the difference between the car being a bargain or not.
Conversely, anyone who clearly knows nothing about these two issues (private or trade) and who fobs you off, is not someone to buy a 968 from.
Just my 2 cents of course.[
]John H (ex 968 list moderator)
David Hooper
New member
Andy, see my advert in For Sale bit. Go back a bit for full description.
ALL of the things mentioned in Johns post plus lots of other bits done too.[]
Worth a look and I've got to pay for that hard top on Tuesday !!![]
Cheers,
DPH
ALL of the things mentioned in Johns post plus lots of other bits done too.[
] Worth a look and I've got to pay for that hard top on Tuesday !!![
]Cheers,
DPH
Mr968
New member
I agree with all of the above, I defintely would have a look at Hartech, every 968 they sell will have had a C service which is probably the most thorough thing I have ever seen. Having done the service they will have checked that everything that needs doing has been done, so you shouldn't get any nasty surprises.
Hi John H haven't chatted for a while but stil lurk here and on 968uk.co.uk. Agree in general with your comments but not about having the inlet cam replaced. This is only required (I understand) if the chain has started to slip and chipped the teeth on the cam. If you have caught the tensioner and chain in time then the cams should be fine. I asked Northway about this when they did mine and also when looking at various 968's that had either had it done or not......
For what it is worth I am pondering selling my 968 at the moment, no other reason then I fancy a change and am looking at 964's, but the decsion is very hard as the 968 is such a great all rounder, I have a friend who is keen to buy but I am really torn...... my ownership has not been "cheap" but then I have done all as John says (belts/chain/calipers) plus some others worth a mention such as steering pump and lower suspension mounts. Good luck in the serach to Andys mate. When I was looking I gave up on dealers as they tend to buy the cheapies and try and sell at unrealistic prices in my experience better with a private seller so long as you follow the advice given here.
Phil
'94 968 Sport
'74 914 2:0 litre
For what it is worth I am pondering selling my 968 at the moment, no other reason then I fancy a change and am looking at 964's, but the decsion is very hard as the 968 is such a great all rounder, I have a friend who is keen to buy but I am really torn...... my ownership has not been "cheap" but then I have done all as John says (belts/chain/calipers) plus some others worth a mention such as steering pump and lower suspension mounts. Good luck in the serach to Andys mate. When I was looking I gave up on dealers as they tend to buy the cheapies and try and sell at unrealistic prices in my experience better with a private seller so long as you follow the advice given here.
Phil
'94 968 Sport
'74 914 2:0 litre
John H
New member
The arguement from Hartech was that once the inlet cam teeth start to wear, they will ultimately fail, so better to change a slightly worn cam early rather than risk future damage.
I agreed with them, although I accept the slightly worn cam would have done a further tour of duty. It's all about preventative maintenance really.
John H
I agreed with them, although I accept the slightly worn cam would have done a further tour of duty. It's all about preventative maintenance really.
John H
Agreed if the cam is showing any wear better to replace whilst you are in there. My point was that they only (generally) show wear if the tensioner isn't doing its job which isn't universal, so not all inlet cams show wear so not all need changing. Whereas by 60k miles all tensioners and chains should be replaced without exception, on a preventative maintenance basis. Just didn't want the potential buyer to go away thinking that unless the cam is done it is a problem as there are many 968's out there where they didn't need doing when they replaced the chain and tensioner.
K300 the tensioner is (I understand) the real problem with the chain on the 968, it loses tension (I can't remember exactly why but suffice to say it does) and so the chain isn't taut enough across the teeth on the cam and starts to chip the teeth until eventually they break off, you get expensive bits of metal in places they shouldn't be and a large bill. ISTR there are some good explanations around as to the exact problem within the 968 buyers guide from 911 & P world or on 968.org.
I agree absolutely Chris if the chain and tensioner isn't examined pre 60k miles you risk the expense of new cams. It is worth noting that the OPC's do not check this as part of the normal service schedule. I was very pleased with my FPSH when I bought my Sport at 57k miles, but first spot and thereafter was to Northways where they know the weak spots for these cars....
btw I have as mentioned been pondering selling my 968 as I fancy a change and was/am keen on a 964, but to be honest I am on the verge of keeping my Sport as sub £20k there is very little else in the Porsche world that matches the all round qualities of the 968 as a daily driver particularly...... all this with a buyer in hand, typical .......
I agree absolutely Chris if the chain and tensioner isn't examined pre 60k miles you risk the expense of new cams. It is worth noting that the OPC's do not check this as part of the normal service schedule. I was very pleased with my FPSH when I bought my Sport at 57k miles, but first spot and thereafter was to Northways where they know the weak spots for these cars....
btw I have as mentioned been pondering selling my 968 as I fancy a change and was/am keen on a 964, but to be honest I am on the verge of keeping my Sport as sub £20k there is very little else in the Porsche world that matches the all round qualities of the 968 as a daily driver particularly...... all this with a buyer in hand, typical .......
Mr968
New member
Hi Phil,
just for clarification, the only thing that tensions the chain is the Variocam system, probably what is being referred to is the 2 sliders which move inside the chain to vary the valve timing, increasing and decreasing the effective length of the top or bottom of the chain for the timing of the inlet camshaft. The sliders can become worn, this allows the chain some freedom and will cause the wear, also small pieces may break off and cause problems. These usually get found in the sump.
In an extreme case I have seen a slider that had broken apart completely and it ended up getting carried along under the chain only to try to ride over the camshaft sprocket under the chain, this caused the chain to snap and of course catastrophic failure.
just for clarification, the only thing that tensions the chain is the Variocam system, probably what is being referred to is the 2 sliders which move inside the chain to vary the valve timing, increasing and decreasing the effective length of the top or bottom of the chain for the timing of the inlet camshaft. The sliders can become worn, this allows the chain some freedom and will cause the wear, also small pieces may break off and cause problems. These usually get found in the sump.
In an extreme case I have seen a slider that had broken apart completely and it ended up getting carried along under the chain only to try to ride over the camshaft sprocket under the chain, this caused the chain to snap and of course catastrophic failure.
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