New guy

[MarinerChris]

Hi

I have just returned from working in the US for quite some time and am looking for a couple of cars (not to mention a house and all the other bits that go with a new life!)

My whole life I wanted a 968 or a 993 and now I find myself older, able to insure them cheaply and with disposable income, I am thinking of scratching this itch and buying one of each.

The plan will be to share my driving between the two of them and I will be doing long journeys so they need to be ultra reliable and not let me down (I need to drive to their birthplace for a week once a month for the next couple of years) so a really good example will be important.

I want both cars to be ones I can love and lavish lots of attention on, but I would rather spend my time keeping them pristine rather than fixing them up!

So, apart from this being my "hello chaps" message, I have some questions..

1. Am I going to hate or love driving a 968 and a 993 on long journeys into the continent? Or am I completely bonkers?

2. Is any 993 or 968 going to be up to the task?

3. What kind of maintenance should you all recommend, over and above what will be done at a service? (such as some parts having a service life of xxxxxx miles or x years)

4. What should I be looking at paying for each car? (ball park)

I would also like to use both for the occasional track day or trip to the Ring.

Sorry if I double post this, but I will be polling the 968 and 993 communities, now no being rude about the other model guys!

 

[jetbox]

Hi and welcome...

The 968 is a great car as everyone here will agree.

I have had mine about a year now and its a good long distance cruising car as well as good for a quick back road blast although the suspension is "firm" for some of the really poor back roads in the uk.

Due to the age most need a suspension refresh by now to make them feel there best.

Good luck with the hunt... A 993 will make a good addition too.

 

[Super_Marv]

I've done 3 trips across to the European Alps (around 4000 miles each time) and my 968 hasn't let me down. A good one is certainly upto the task.

I can't see a 993 being any different either. Both cars are capable GT's

Make sure you get one with air conditioning for them hot European days []

 

[Ewan]

You could get a 968, or, you could treat yourself to something faster and prettier but equally as practical for the long journeys. A 944 turbo[]

 

[Chrishazle]

I started with a 1983 944 lux 2.5l, had that for a year or so then swopped for a 944S 16V - purely to get the vertically adjustable seats for SWMBO! IMHO that is the worst of the 944's as the engine had no bottom end torque. Had that for a year or so (and a big bill for a new clutch) then swopped to a 968 tip coupe - which I kept for 12 1/2 years and loved, only sold it last year as I needed to scratch the cabriolet itch (with a 968 tip cab!) and only have garage space for 1 car. Did a few long trips in the coupe without problems - including a 5 day camping trip to Le Mans last year, carrying tent etc without problem. Having had a turbo car for a while - admittedly a Rover 820 turbo vitesse, not a 944 - the worry I would have with a turbo is getting caught out by the turbo kicking in as you exit a roundabout on a damp/wet day. I managed to step the back end of the lux out big time leaving a roundabout - on crappy tyres admittedly - so I don't know how a 944 turbo would behave. For me, the 968 with a Promax chip has more than enough power and smooth continuous power delivery throughout the rev range - just wish I still had my old garage so I could have coupe and cabriolet, winter and summer cars!

 

[lali]

I've got both... Love them both for different reasons. My 993 is my road driver, having just done a 1200 mile blast around Scotland I'd say you'll be fine going across Europe.

The 968 is my track car... Well it's a racecar with headlights.

Price wise.. Well the 993 will be anywhere between 16-50k depending on what they are. But typically you're looking at 25ish for a nice example.

968--- anything from 5k to 20k depending on model and mileage. I reckon about 9k for a nice sport.

Both cars are awesome, for diff reasons. The 993 is truely something else. The 968 no longer feels special but I wouldn't 'ring the 993...

 

[Fat Albert]

You do have to be a bit careful with a turbo, the worst time is when you are not trying, ease your foot down gently and suddenly find a great wall of torque being delivered when you least expect it! I have had a couple of incidents in the wet in 3rd gear as it comes on boost at around 2,500 revs and the back end steps out...

As for doing mileage, I regularly did 5-7 hour days in my 944T, and will in my 968[]

 

[MarinerChris]

Please do not think I am a yob, but, what you said about a turbo having the back end stepping out is music to my ears.

In the states I had a 996 Turbo and that was just the opposite, it never did anything to catch you out, one of my complaints was any idiot could get into it and do anything and it would behave, I like a car that I have to reserve some respect for.

The 996 Turbo was like being the driver of a train, as long as there was some track in front of you, you could do anything to the throttle and brake and it just did it.. made for a boring car.