swap my TVR for a 968 ?

[S2 Giles]

Hi folks

I know you will all tell me i must do it, but i'd like to hear why.....

I'm considering trading in my trusty, reliable friend (S2 TVR - see profile) and buying a 968 sport.

Ive always liked the 968 sport since my old man had a 944 & others in the past. Now the prices are in a good state I am considering trading up, however there are some considerations.

I currently run the following from my TVR and would like a comparison:
2.9 V6 with 175hp and 224 lb/ft torque (rolling road piggy back chip installed)
only weighs 1000kg
0-60 of 6.5 and 0-100 of 17secs but tops out at 135
Service costs are low & can be done by me - as ford based.
insurance is classic =£300 a year
running costs are low'ish.
26 mpg achieveable when using daily
NO RUST !!!!!

I'd like to know what to expect, chasis conditions, what to look out for, what to expect from service bills etc

Look forward to your comments !!!

Thanks in advance
Giles

[softinthehead]

S2 Giles said:

Hi folks I'm considering trading in my trusty, reliable friend (S2 TVR - see profile) and buying a 968 sport. Ive always liked the 968 sport since my old man had a 944 & others in the past. Now the prices are in a good state I am considering trading up, however there are some considerations. I currently run the following from my TVR and would like a comparison: 2.9 V6 with 175hp and 224 lb/ft torque (rolling road piggy back chip installed) only weighs 1000kg 0-60 of 6.5 and 0-100 of 17secs but tops out at 135 Service costs are low & can be done by me - as ford based. insurance is classic =£300 a year running costs are low'ish. 26 mpg achieveable when using daily NO RUST !!!!! I'd like to know what to expect, chasis conditions, what to look out for, what to expect from service bills etc Look forward to your comments !!! Thanks in advance Giles

Hmmmm.......

much as i love love love my 968, i just wonder if even the sport will be "raw" enough for you. my limited experience of tvrs led me to take out a large life insurance policy and take up walking more. you may be made of sterner stuff so...
chassis - porsche build, should stand the test of time better than your TVR but as henry_f is so fond of saying, buy on condition
what to look for - a very regular service history, evidence of cam/balance check renewal regularly and at least within 2 yrs prior to purchase, a thorough inspection of the camshafts and variocam tensioner (not difficult), brake calipers can seize adn cause grief. minor quirks - the interiors of the sport can look old before their time, the window motors often get sluggish and seize (as with 944) the boot lock mechanism often needs care and attention, the immobiliser is prone to getting damp and malfunctioning. check all these as some can be costly. as with the 944 most things that go wrong are minor and irritating rather than major and terminal.
Your 0-60 should be comparable or better, your power delivery is likely to be quite different - 968s like to be kept in the higher end of the rev range and only really come alive at 3500rpm+, 0-100 and vmax will be a bit better.
Servicing will probably be more, but you wont have to repair anything more than once.
26mpg sounds about right for town use.
extremely sturdy galvanised body so rust very very rare.

if you do get a 968 sport and can change only one thing, i'd suggest swapping the starndard exhaust for a sports box - the former makes it sound like a golf - no drama.

[S2 Giles]

Thanks softinthehead, love your drop top 968 in the pics. Part of me still wants a cab but this forum & 968uk have put me off ??????

So do you think the CS would be a better target for me. I was concerned at the comments on the seats being uncomfortable on long journeys.

I'm also concerned that if the performance isnt hugely improved over my TVR i may start hunting for more power quickly & if thats the case maybe i should be buying something else....

honest advice would be appreciated, is the 968 too pretty but soft ?

Giles

[Big 968 Dave]

Giles.
Just what has put you off the 968 cabrio.????

[gadgit]

Hi giles,

I had a TVR S1.5 (2.9) and have changed to a Porsche 944S2 Cab.

These animals are very different as I've just found out with my Cab.
New clutch, new waterpump, new belts and adjusters!!!! ££££££££.

First the TVR. My 89 TVR was in a hell of a state, and took me 18 months to get it round. I sold it because i'd had enough of lying underneath the thing stripping the rusty suspension of it and painting it all. Cylinder head bolts braking, every sensor going wrong etc etc.
But!!! it was cheap to do all the work !!
The best thing was the people who run them. the S forum is a blast!!

the Porsche. Great looking car, unbelievable build quality, just look underneath at the suspension arms, all alloy!!!!!!

The down side is making sure you check what you are buying. I would say now (after the event) that you must take it to a specialist to have it checked as things are not cheap, even to work on yourself.
£150 for a waterpump! £6-800 for a clutch (specialist). Rear discs £140.£40-50 for the rear pads.
Most of these jobs you cant do without doing something else.
Water pump for example, £150 for the pump, and you would be a mug not to do the belts and pulleys as well.This all adds up, even to the home machanic.
Service parts in general are ok and at least everthing comes undone, unlike having to grind off some of the bolts on the TVR.

It will loose money, no doubt. 944's 968's are coming down in price.

But if you get a nice one, its a far better overall car to own and drive, and they all ride nice as well. none of that scuttle shake you get at the front with a TVR S. I no I've had both.

I would not go back to the S, But a Griff ??????????

Your S will always be worth a good price if its a good un.

[iguana]

My experiences of Trevor V6 S's- are that they look good & sound glorious, however both those ive driven have been pretty un-impressive speed wise & the handling was on the scary side of awful.

968 is in an utterly differnt handling wise league, but being a 4 pot aurally looses out unfortunatly.

Other than a 968- to have a bit of a rawer edge & a much bigger kick a 944T with a mild fettle to 300bhp area might suit you better.

[S2 Giles]

I have worked on my S2 for 18 months also and she's now just nice & needs very little work. She's chipped up to decent enough performance. In fact i'd like to see her alongside a 968 on the track.

Ive also upgraded the shocks & springs so she has a very neutral balance and weight share. I took her on an airfield session with police driver training & slid her sideways until i cooked the tyres (only lost the slide twice in an hour of play)

I conclude that my S2 is a 'good un' and as such cant really fault her except for the power levels......always craving more power !!

On this basis i'm wondering (with a sinking heart) whether a change to a 968 would be rewarding ?

The reason i havn't gone for a Griffith500 is down to the fact i'd have to spend another 18 months making her 'right' to my standards..... Now a Cerbera 4.5 might be tempting..

But too be honest i'm not wealthy and dont want to spend £1000's on servicing work on a vehicle that is too new.... hence i've ruled out a cheap 911.

The key is that i'm bored and would like a change.

[S2 Giles]

Big968dave

I was put off the cab by the forums i read that seemed to suggest the CS had classic status and would hold its value whereas a cab wouldnt. Also that the CS & Sport had better handling.

Tell me if i'm wrong ?

[gadgit]

Wrong!!

The Cab are always worth more than the coupe! 944, 968.
whether this should be the case or not is down to debate.
But, the truth is the cabs (a good one, mind) will on average be £1000-1500 more to buy. So if you can pick up a cab, as thats what you have with the TVR you will be more at home.
Bear in mind that the roof cost £800 and its a bit heavier because of the twinn floor, 944 anyway.

The other way to go as far as money is concerned is to buy a really good 944S2 coupe, because there are some really good buys out there at the moment, they are in a bit of a freefall! The Cabs are hanging on in the price war at the moment, its all relevant to other cars so don't be put off.

[gadgit]

There is a 57,000 968 tiptronc with a new hood which looks a peach! which i would be tempted by if I was in your position?

I suppose the altimate question would be how much would you want to spend, then you really would be given some advice??

By the way, anyone no what the tiptronic is like to drive???

[softinthehead]

tip 968 - euuuuuuuugh!
no ok, maybe not being fair, but if youre coming from a TVR STEER CLEAR OF THE TIP!
I found them fairly frustrating. the 0-60 time is 1.5 seconds off the manual. There are reams of posts on other forums (rennlist, 968uk etc) about how to faff about with the tip to get it to behave more aggressively but you have to ask yourself, why bother, why not just get a manual? (the only possible response to this being that of the 1500 968cabs imported to the uk in total, 2/3 were tips so theyre easier to source). I'm afraid the tip is more of a gin palace than a speedboat. IMHO of course

I cant see why anyone would be put off a 968cab. Like anything its horses for courses. I came form a 944 and I love my 968. there is very little to criticise about it, if you like open top hooning. OK so the chassis isnt quite as rigid as the sport, adn of course the cabs only came in standard lux spec so the sport has a better suspension set-up (as per the clubsport). On the other hand its got more toys and a much nicer interior - i.e leather. Its still great fun, pretty, and rare as hens teeth, so it does turn heads.

did i mention binning the standard exhaust and getting a sports box? yes? oh well, I said it again then

[dogsharks]

not sure what the UK spec car has, but my 3-liter S2 pulls hard all the way up the rpm band, and a 968 is way more powerful due to the use of variocam and other tweaks. Personally, the 968 would be a lot more car, much much faster top end too.

Dogsharks

[AJLintern]

I'm not sure there's a huge difference between the S2 and 968 in terms of performance. The S2 is lighter for a start and doesn't suffer as badly with cam chain wear as the 968. It's often said that they rarely produce the claimed 240bhp, whereas the S2 output of 211bhp is fairly consistant. My 100k+ mile S2 was putting out 208bhp on the Weltmeister dyno.

[2alexcoo]

I concur, very little performance difference between S2 and 968 IMO.

The 968 seems to rev more freely though, and the six speed box is much nicer to use

[S2 Giles]

Hang on folks the S2 we are referring too is my TVR S2 - not a 944S2.
The upgrade would be from the TVR to a 968.

I would love the cab but am not as convinced by its looks, i'll find one to have a paw over.

I certainly would never buy a sports car with any kind of auto box (not even DSG) so the Tip is definately out.

Cheers

[S2 Giles]

Been to see

a 968 Sport, K plate with 127k on the clock. Full leather, electric windows & sunroof etc in pretty good body condition & average interior condition. What do you reckon its worth ?
its on an independant forecourt near me.

Why would it of had a new rear screen & spoiler ? smashed ?

I still want to see a Clubsport tho