Buyers Guide

[stevespic]

Hi folks My name is Steve and Im new to this register....after selling my 944s2 nearly 3 years ago after four years ownership Im hankering badly for another porsche so have decided to look for a 968 as that was the first porsche I ever realy remember seeing in the porsche dealer as a young man... Im into my trackdays a little so im going to on the look out for something mechanically sound but dont mind a few miles or a car that needs a little tlc inside the cabin or out... I know the 968 and the 944 share alot of similarities but would loved to read through a buyers guide to if someone could post alink for one as im sure there are a few different things to be on the look out for. Also im on the look out for a car with LSD in manual form so is there a certain model I should be aiming towards like the sport (but not the CS due to price) as I would like to buy the car with the best suspension I can get due to the costs involved with re-indexing on the rear .

Any help apperciated

Thanks

Steve.

 

[Chrishazle]

Hi Steve,

Have you also registered on porsche968uk.co.uk - the 968 register on here is pretty quiet, you'll possibly get more help on that forum!

As with any car, service history is very important - in particular, for the 968, is that the cam belts, rollers, cam chain, tensioner have all been done correctly and at least every 6 years / 60k miles, more frequently if the car has been tracked and/or has high miles. Also see if the water pump has been replaced - the front of the engine has to come off (as for the cam belt change) to access the pump, so people tend to change the water pump maybe every second cam belt change even though it's still working, as it's a good few hours mechanics time to do the belts.

You'll be looking for a car with the M030 suspension and ARB's, as well as the optional LSD. You'll also probably want the sports seats option rather than the comfort seats (lateral support in the comfort seats is pretty good, but not as good as the sport seats). A Promax 7100 ROW chip is another "nice to have", but not a deal breaker as it's only £95 to buy and quite easy to fit. Wheel size is another - you'll want 17" rather than 16" to give sharper handling on track without being too hard for road use. I've driven a cabriolet on 18" wheels (and 225's on the front, 255's on the rear), I found the ride quite harsh and the steering a bit heavy even though the handling was very precise.

First port of call should be Pistonheads, followed by Autotrader and eBay - there are 30+ 968's for sale at the moment, including my tip coupe. Don't rule out the CS, sometimes they come up at "reasonable" prices - there's a yellow one that's been on PH a while, but it was Cat C some years ago so be sure to read carefully and ask pertinent questions!

Good luck with your search, and welcome back to Porsche ownership!

 

[Toms968CS]

I've got an old copy of PPC (March '06) with a buying guide in if it's any use to you - it helped me out. Good luck with your search.

 

[Chrishazle]

Just spoted this on the Bay :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/911-Porsche-World-No-74-5-00-968-Buyers-Guide-/270781134983?pt=UK_Magazines&hash=item3f0bd03887

10 page buyers guide to 968's included.

 

[kenwill]

You can start by reading the buyers guide produced by Hartech


http://www.hartech.org/buyers.html


'Barry' sponsors a team of two 968s in the PCGB championship (which is well documented and photographed here)

 

[Chrishazle]

Be nice to see a post from Steve acknowledging the response his thread has had - always annoys me that people ask for help then dissappear!

 

[stevespic]

Thanks for the replys chaps and also the links its much apperciated.

ORIGINAL: Chrishazle

Be nice to see a post from Steve acknowledging the response his thread has had - always annoys me that people ask for help then dissappear!

Chris. Thanks for the welcome back. Unfortunately I dont have time to sit at my computer very often so therefore cannot brouse the forums regularly so all I can do is pop in every now and then and only try to make a small valid contribution to the forums I vist. I have also been away on holiday for two weeks so have only had very limited access to the net for emails so please forgive me for not replying straightaway.

Any replys to to my thread are much apperciated and will be read and followed up along with any pm's .

Steve.

 

[Swindon_Mick]

Steve - good to hear that you are back in the market for a proper front-engined german sports car! (by the way, how was the 'ring trip with the 3 series?)

You are very welcome to pop round and have a look at my 968 and I can point out the common problem areas etc - give me a call or e-mail if you want to.

Mick

 

[stevespic]

ORIGINAL: Swindon_Mick

Steve - good to hear that you are back in the market for a proper front-engined german sports car! (by the way, how was the 'ring trip with the 3 series?)

You are very welcome to pop round and have a look at my 968 and I can point out the common problem areas etc - give me a call or e-mail if you want to.

Mick

Hi Mick hope your all well.... Thanks for the offer I may take you up on it altough I have done a bit of reading up on the 968 over the last few weks and feel confident about what I should and shouldnt be looking at so I just need to come across a steal now [] Im not sure how far I will go with the car as far as stripping it out for track use because Im going to be keeping the BM just where I want it for a track car so Im thinking I may just fit the safety equipment but leave the carpets, door cards ect in for a little comfort.
The Ring Trip was realy good and it was nice to revist the track after having nearly two years off. The car went realy well and with the weather being mixed this made for an intresting weekend. To topit off the The Renault World Series was also up on the GP track so there was more then enough to do over the 4 days. 90% sure im heading out again at the start of septemeber for another long weekend if you wanna tag along [] Heres a cheeky pic anyhow.... Speak to you soon.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee119/spicster1974/267270_1805521149922_1596708568_31669712_5464965_n.jpg

Steve.

 

[Paz]

Hmmm, I have a 968 Sport with air conditioning (great for summer trips to Spa and Nurburg) fitted with bigger front brakes and KW v3 coilovers.
All the big jobs have been done - cams/belts/head refresh etc, I've not scrimped on servicing & maintenence.

I bought the 968 primarily for trackdays but had to be sensible with modifications because it was my only car, it's been a fun few years but I'm hankering after a Cayman S now.

If you want to know more about it speak to Al or Kevin at EMC.

 

[stevespic]

I apperciate the offer Paz but im realy looking for a car to put my own mark on and something I can have as a project...(keep me out the Mrs's hair []) Not only that but car that have been modified dont realy come along at a bargain price which again is what im realy after so im left with some pennys to carry out the mods I want.

Thanks again though.

Steve.

 

[Swindon_Mick]

Steve - like the photo of your E30 on Karussell - that's a classic 'ring shot [8D]

I'm doing the Castle Combe track day on Friday 2 Sept so a trip to Germany in early Sept is unlikely for me, but is something on my list for 2012!

Any luck with your 968 hunt yet?

Mick

 

[stevespic]

No luck as yet mate . Hope combe goes well and may be I will catch up with you on the next action day .

 

[944s2]

You could look at this nice car

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=633517&mpage=1&key=&#643542