968 - what a great car!

968 - what a great car!

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Discussion

968CS

132 posts

178 months

Monday 8th December 2014
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Here's mine, maritime blue, with LSD, BIg Reds from 928 and GAZ 2 way adjustables.. Over the last 12 years have had three x 993's(including RS) and a 944 and currently have a 986 Boxster but this is the one I've kept.

shoestring7

6,138 posts

245 months

Monday 8th December 2014
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968CS said:


Here's mine, maritime blue, with LSD, BIg Reds from 928 and GAZ 2 way adjustables.. Over the last 12 years have had three x 993's(including RS) and a 944 and currently have a 986 Boxster but this is the one I've kept.
Perhaps its the repro, but that looks like Riviera blue to me!

SS7

GC8

19,910 posts

189 months

Monday 8th December 2014
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Blues are difficult to photograph using digital cameras, but that's not Riviera - its a great deal lighter. Also: Riviera is a later colour and those later cars didn't come on Cup1s.

SFV

467 posts

266 months

Monday 8th December 2014
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Not sure if this is comprehensive but differences for Clubsport model to standard model were -

Electric window motors deleted
Electric mirror motors deleted
Rear seats deleted
Central locking deleted
Some sound proofing deleted
Boot lock mechanism deleted
Suspension lowered by 20mm
RS style bucket seats
17" alloy Cup Design wheels, colour coordinated
Colour coordinated rear spoiler
Clubsport steering wheel
Clubsport side decal, optional
MO30 suspension and LSD available as options

The 968 Sport specification was per the Clubsport plus:
Rear seats
Electric windows
Electric door mirrors
Electric sunroof
Central locking
Standard front seats
Electric tailgate release
17" alloy Cup Design wheels, silver only


GC8

19,910 posts

189 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
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Most Club Sports had a sunroof too, as per my earlier post.

Sandy59

2,706 posts

210 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
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Depending on options on the CS, I think they could also have a lighter wiring loom and smaller alternator, plus less under bonnet trim pieces - less than the standard coupe anyway.

plenty

4,655 posts

185 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
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M030 and LSD were also options for non-CS cars (excluding cabs).

fastgerman

1,911 posts

194 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
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My old girl from 2008:

http://www.fastgerman.com/968.htm


fastgerman

1,911 posts

194 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
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Just remembered that I still have some 968 parts including genuine CS front springs. PM me if interested :-)

plenty

4,655 posts

185 months

Monday 15th December 2014
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Great writeup. Car looks low at the back in the pic?

pikeyboy

2,349 posts

213 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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My old CS, I liked it and always hankered after one but ultimately I found it a bit heavy and not very exciting to drive a bit too civilised.

GC8

19,910 posts

189 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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Heavy? Surely its lighter than a light thing?

There are far too many posts like this: bought one, didn't like it, wasn't what I expected, sold it.

NJH

3,021 posts

208 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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The funny thing is I can remember my old mini years ago having heavier steering and thus a 'heavier' feel at the helm than our rather lardy 968 tip. People these days are just to used to modern feeling cars or at the opposite end of the spectrum sports cars without an engine in the front.

Gompo

4,396 posts

257 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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Are 968s (and I suppose their brethren 944 S2s) cars that feel quite 'alive' at relatively normal speeds? How adjustable are they on the throttle? Are they set-up to understeer or oversteer, and if the former how easy is it to dial out?

I've loved the look and idea of a 968CS for a longtime, although now I'd probably settle for a Sport these days (and not just because they're cheaper!), I do however feel that I might be a bit underwhelmed were I to ever get to drive or indeed own one.. Possibly not quite quick enough and too composed, perhaps.

pete.g

1,527 posts

205 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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I think if were to buy a 968 I'd keep it to myself, rather than post about it on here!

NJH

3,021 posts

208 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Gompo said:
Are 968s (and I suppose their brethren 944 S2s) cars that feel quite 'alive' at relatively normal speeds?
Like anything this depends on exactly what you mean, if the question is does the car have design flaws that makes the steering writhe around at normal traffic speeds then the answer is no, does it have balance flaws that make it feel edgy at normal traffic speeds then again the answer is no. Does it make it feel like your going fast because the NVH is so high and the suspension/chassis design flawed and 70 years out of date then again the answer is no. The 944 S2 and the 968 that followed were well ahead of their time, very modern in some respects but old school in terms of over engineering/robustness, they are cars you really have to take by the scruff of the neck. My S2 race car is an extreme expression of that, without PAS and the heavy heat loading/soak on track its a real workout one has to be up for but on those days when the aggression has to be worked out and overcome its incredibly satisfying to drive. A really well setup car comes alive in a fairly magical way in that last few % of grip and performance, the front will slip a bit then all 4 then the rear. They aren't drift cars though because the weight at the rear will cause the car to spin with an arse out angle much less than traditional front engined cars with the gearbox up front. Watch any of the Youtube videos from the 924 championship and you will see that I mean, also look at the black 968 race car in this vid:
http://youtu.be/_E04W2cjdU0?t=14m6s
That guy can really peddle though but its an example of well these cars can come alive in the right hands.

pikeyboy

2,349 posts

213 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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GC8 said:
Heavy? Surely its lighter than a light thing?

There are far too many posts like this: bought one, didn't like it, wasn't what I expected, sold it.
Well I kept it for a good three or four years so I didn't just buy it and then sell it within a short period of time.

I ran it on road and track along side my Caterham Fireblade (413 kg) so compared to this and the AH frogeye sprite I used to race which weighed 580kg it felt heavy, even though a CS is a light weight sports car.

I also never really got a sense of occasion when taking it out, when I had my E30 M3 every time I used to start it up and reverse it out of the garage it felt special, my CS never really did for some reason. My caterham certainly does feel special although I cant use it as much as a CS as its quite extreme, even for a caterham where as I ran the CS everyday for a while.


plenty

4,655 posts

185 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Gompo said:
Are 968s (and I suppose their brethren 944 S2s) cars that feel quite 'alive' at relatively normal speeds? How adjustable are they on the throttle? Are they set-up to understeer or oversteer, and if the former how easy is it to dial out?

I've loved the look and idea of a 968CS for a longtime, although now I'd probably settle for a Sport these days (and not just because they're cheaper!), I do however feel that I might be a bit underwhelmed were I to ever get to drive or indeed own one.. Possibly not quite quick enough and too composed, perhaps.
I suspect your suspicions may be correct based on this description of your preferences. The S2/968 is not really an oversteer machine; its forte is excellent weight distribution and the excellent feel of all of the primary controls.

GC8

19,910 posts

189 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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boy said:
GC8 said:
Heavy? Surely its lighter than a light thing?

There are far too many posts like this: bought one, didn't like it, wasn't what I expected, sold it.
Well I kept it for a good three or four years so I didn't just buy it and then sell it within a short period of time.

I ran it on road and track along side my Caterham Fireblade (413 kg) so compared to this and the AH frogeye sprite I used to race which weighed 580kg it felt heavy, even though a CS is a light weight sports car.

I also never really got a sense of occasion when taking it out, when I had my E30 M3 every time I used to start it up and reverse it out of the garage it felt special, my CS never really did for some reason. My caterham certainly does feel special although I cant use it as much as a CS as its quite extreme, even for a caterham where as I ran the CS everyday for a while.
I believe the subtext to be that my reply was rather harsh and I agree. Apologies.

FraMac

785 posts

216 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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I've had mine for ten years, which I think is the longest I've kept a car.

I really like it. Great fun, and I've fannied about with a supercharger and other bits and pieces on it. Not the best modern car you can but great value for money imho.