Guidance required please

TISPKJ · Apr 18, 2006

Hi guys, I have a friend that wants to spend 10 to 15k on a car.

He is looking at the likes of an old 500 SL (last shape) but I am trying to persuade him that he wont go far wrong with a nice 968 Club Sport.

Please can you give me some figures ie BHP etc to back up my argument, he seems to think that he would be better off with a 944 Turbo (which he does not want) at 7k less.

I have told him the 968 is a 3 litre motor ? is that right ? 4 or 6 cylinder in line ?

He is of the opinion that it is just a lowerd 944, I have said from my limited knowledge on the cars that they are nothing alike.

Can you please offer some guidance performance, ride, etc etc to the poor chap before he does something silly !!!

Are they just a lowered 944 with a VW motor ? [

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Guest · Apr 18, 2006

The 968 is 80% different from a 944 - so says the factory! In fact, it is very like a 944 and a 968 CS won't be quite as fast as a late 944 Turbo (240 bhp vs 250 bhp) but will have different delivery.

Tech specs can be found here http://www.968uk.com/Porsche-968-Technical.htm

The engine is a 3 litre 4 cylinder - basically the same as a 944 3.0 but with variocam, which gives it a nice fat torque curve. For 10-15k there is nothing to touch it for a balance of performance, handling, practicality and rarity - at least, I haven't found anything similar yet...

TISPKJ · Apr 18, 2006

Thanks David

paulf968 · Apr 20, 2006

I would add that the handling is as good as it gets, with its front engine but rear gearbox layout. With only 240bhp and weighing 1.5 tonne with me in it - it is not the fastest track car around (0-60 just less than 6 seconds) but it corners very well and the brakes do the biz.

Yes a 944 turbo may have 250bhp but it does not have the 6 speed box or variocam of a 968 -- of course the turbo can be modded to 300bhp and beyond using well tried methods if that is of interest. Finally 944's are going to be cheaper for obvious reasons, so probably the better route if you are looking for a track focus -- for road use the 968 sport or standard coupe is more civilised and IMO wins hands down despite the extra cost (CS not the prefrred option!).

I have gone what I call 'the best of both worlds route' by this I mean I bought a std coupe which has all the refinements one might want, then lowered it, added MO30 arb's and front calipers plus some KONI Sport shocks. I have now done about 3000 trackday miles in mine, it sticks to the tarmac like glue and can give more exotic machinery and 'standard' 968CS's a good run for the money.

paul f

gm997_1 · Apr 21, 2006

Both '68 + 44 engines are 4 cyl.
Also to add is the fact that the standard '68 Sport and CS sit slightly lower on the suspension than the 944 Turbo and the delivery of the 240HP compared to the 250HP repectively is more linear so is more controllable in the '68. Less of a kick in the pants, but steady build, in the '68.
With a non-chipped '68, there's nevertheless a fair shove felt around the 4500 rpm mark, but if the car is chipped by one of the custom-designed chips, eg Promax, priced only ca. GBP100 from for example www.radar-detector-shop.co.uk, the shove is smoothed out and the surge continues from standstill to rapido very much more smoothly.
That chip gives approx another 10HP anyway, so you have broadly the same output if you chip the '68. But coupled withthe fantastic Variocam giving the excellent low-end torque oomph and 6 speed box which are not present in the Turbo, the '68 Sport is the one to have for driving ability in most situations, for my money. [

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sawood12 · Apr 21, 2006

Another alternative of course is a good 944 Turbo. For that money he could get a good 250bhp turbo which has the much saught after M030 uprated adjustable suspension and uprated brake set up that was an option on the 968, spend a bit on maintenance items such as belts and then spend about £1k on mods making the car good for inexcess of 300bhp totally lag free performance and still have a good few grand in his back pocket sat there waiting for those little unexpected costs that might crop up from time to time - and they will.

The 968 is a fabulous car but with a good 944 turbo you are getting the same supreme driving experience as the 968 in terms of handling, but with a modified turbo you are getting bang upto date performance levels - easily enough to keep up with the Scooby's and M3's, and he would get to keep a substantial amount of money to put aside for a rainy day.