what are they like?

[shnozz]

a mate is interested in a 968 Convertible. Its a 93 on an L and looks fairly tidy. What can he expect from performance/running costs/living with it every day etc?

BTW - he wouldnt consider a hard top despite the fact its considered one of THE best handling cars in the last decade...

[C3 GTK]

shnozz said:

a mate is interested in a 968 Convertible. Its a 93 on an L and looks fairly tidy. What can he expect

People asking him for a "short back and sides"

[domster]

shnozz said:

a mate is interested in a 968 Convertible. Its a 93 on an L and looks fairly tidy. What can he expect from performance/running costs/living with it every day etc? BTW - he wouldnt consider a hard top despite the fact its considered one of THE best handling cars in the last decade...

Search these forums for running a 968. Biggest worry is cams, cambelt, balancer belt - ie top end of engine. Other than that, PAS pump, water pump and a few other glitches are not unheard of.

Running costs are v reasonable assuming no big maintenance bills. Easy to live with ona daily basis, although visibility over the shoulder is affected by the roof a bit.

And unlike the coupes, the cabrio is not one of the all time greats in the handling department. Too much understeer, but they are pretty safe even in the wet, considering their '240' bhp. (Nearer 230 apparently). Shame he won't listen to you and get the tin top

>> Edited by domster (moderator) on Tuesday 8th July 16:48

[dazren]

Although a nice car your mate should forget the drop top and take a look at the PH classifieds. He should finds clubsports Red RHD 968CS. Definitely worth a look at.

DAZ

[iguana]

I've never quite understood that Ben Lovejoy the man who probabaly spends more time at the Nurburg ring than any other Brit has a 968 cab rather than say a CS or some form of RS. Mind you before that he had an MX5 so the man is clearly mad, maybe an XR3i cab for him next!

ref what to look at the 968 suffers from the potential top end grief that most 944's do but even more so- in particualar coz of the variocam arangement it is very heavy on camshaft teeth. It is vitally important that this is checked as I think all the regular PHers with 968s have had replacement cams- even in some cases at low miles.

944 buyers guide here- (of which most other than prices is applicable to the 968)

www.pistonheads.com/porsche/default.asp?storyId=6090

[AJLintern]

I hear that Ben Lovejoy's 968 Cab is no more and he is going to replace it with a 944 S2

[clubsport]

before Mr Lovejoys unfortunate incident,he did fit it with bespoke Koni suspension & leather Pole position with harnesses,so it was a car more suited to the Ring than your average 968 Cab.

[dazren]

iguana said:

I've never quite understood that Ben Lovejoy the man who probabaly spends more time at the Nurburg ring than any other Brit has a 968 cab rather than say a CS or some form of RS. Mind you before that he had an MX5 so the man is clearly mad, maybe an XR3i cab for him next!

Not mad he just likes convertibles. I know his criteria when buying the 968 cab was for open top motoring with rear wheel drive and 200+bhp. It may have escaped some peoples notice but some of the Lemans cars don't have roofs!!.

DAZ

[iguana]

dazren said:

Not mad he just likes convertibles. I know his criteria when buying the 968 cab was for open top motoring with rear wheel drive and 200+bhp. It may have escaped some peoples notice but some of the Lemans cars don't have roofs!!. DAZ

Fair enough he likes convertables, for a track car I can particully understand the not wanting to be stuck sweating inside a normal car given the amount of track hours he must have racked up.

However to compare a purpose built single seat le mans car to a road going coupe coupe that has had its roof lopped off is hardly a valid comparison.

A cab which is a roof chopped coupe will never be as torionaly rigid as a coupe, which is fine given a cabs normal use of scooting about town, top down on sunny days.

I'm just supprised given this is not a 1 track day a year type car & with the track use he gives his cars he chose a cab over a CS for example, which in MO30 form offers bigger brakes, LSD, stiffer handling etc etc & more suited for this purpose out of the box for the same dosh, and a 964RS was a similar price to a 968 cab a few years ago before the recent appreciation.

[dazren]

Not disagreeing with you iguana, in that price range I'd be looking at a 968CS too. Although the car was seriously kitted up with safety items like bucket seats, "safety bar" (roll bar), harnesses, fire extinguisher etc... making it a good compromise for both road and track day use.

DAZ

[domster]

For the record, Ben is considering having two cars: a track car and his beloved convertible/targa

A 944S2 has been mentioned, as AJ points out. But so has a 944 Turbo, and...

...the car he is viewing tonight... a 911 SC.

It would be unwise to go on Ben's choice of car as an indication of what is best to tackle the 'ring in. He has different tastes, budget and criteria to many, and fair play to him

[GR4]

I once heard Willie Green saying that despite all the priceless exotica and technology he gets to drive, he generally gets more enjoyment from his old 2.8 Capri. I guess as long as you are not clock watching it can often be at least as challenging and enjoyable (and cheaper!) to wrest the max from something that is not 'ultimate'.