968 or 964?
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Discussion

adl

Original Poster:

7,927 posts

267 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2003
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At the moment I am driving an accord type-r! Whilst good fun and with reasonable performance and handling, i do not acctually require all that room in the back.

A meeting with Melv a while ago and mentioning my 911 dream has now had me looking at 964s for the last 6 weeks, I have now rounded it down to a 1993 C2 if possible and have seen various ones for sale either LHD or RHD, obviously RHD is prefered but I have owned a left hooker before.

Recently the 968, 968CS qestion has been raising its head, for the same money there is a great one in the fore sale section at the moment. What are your views? Both can be financial disasters, the 964 being less risky if bought on condition and history so it seem (like most cars).
I know it is a bit risky but the car will be a daily driver 55 miles, but this shouldn't pose any problems. (should it). I do not plan to track the car at the moment at all, so the sway is slightly toward the 911. Also max speed through corners isn't everything but feel and noise are. Hope your years of experience will prevent a first porker disaster!!

Many thanks in advance.

iguana

7,197 posts

276 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2003
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Beware beer induced dis-jointed sentances & rambling follows -


Wells its a tough decision but a decent lhd 968CS can be had for £8k and the nicest low mile rhd CS for sub £14k which is where a lot of tatty lhd 964s are priced at and lots of non RS 964s are optimisticly priced over £20k that and if its an RS you are thinking of it will cost you a minimum of 3 times more than a really nice 968CS, so ther is quite a price differential.

Other than the cavat ref checking the cams on a 968 I disagree with your idea that a 964 is less risky than a 964 (have you read the 964 buyers guide on PH?) a 964 by no means spells a bag of problems but a bad one will cost a lot lot more to bring up to a decent standard than a bad 968.

A 968/944 engine is good for an easy 200k miles with nothing more than routine attention but no way will a 964 get to those miles without 1 posibly 2 top end re-builds. Not a bad thing as long as you & your wallet are aware, oh also a low miles on an aircooled 911 engine is not nessarily allways a good thing either, lots of top end rebuilds are needed at low miles due to lack of use.

ahh I see you played the feel & noise card! hmm not much can beat the sound of a howling flat 6 through a sports exhaust and the 964 engine sounds beter on full song (IMHO) than any pre 964 911 since the 2.7RS and is leagues above & a lot nicer vocally than the 968 which for a 4 cylinder is pretty ok but is like a washing machine on the spin cycle in comparison, so the 964 wins that battle convincingly!

Feel is a tough one and there is no right or wrong answer, its all down to your preference. A 968CS is a superbly balanced tool, but a 964 (particually 2 wheel drive) offers a driving experience that no other type of car can provide, & some people myself included prefer the feel of a 964c2 or 4 over a 993 c2 or 4 its just a feel thing that is dificult to quantify.

At the end of the day even most of the most vocal of front engined porker owners ( regulars will note I'm excluding Thom in this equasion ) will have a wish to move on to a 911 for the different but unique experience that it provides & many confirmed 911 owners try a 968CS & love 'em & buy one and so its 6 of one and half a dozen etc etc

Either way you need to be applauded for considering 'proper' Porsches rather than a.... aghhhh I can barely say it without grimicing......... a 2.5 Boxster aghhhhhh

ADL

Original Poster:

7,927 posts

267 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
quotequote all
A what? No chance with the old oxter! They are simply so GAY and hairdresser. I have never seen one driven in anger, although there must be a few enthusiastic owners about. Also they are fairly common around my area! The 911 is the dream but the with a budget of 14-15k a 968cs is an attractive posibility. Combined with low depreciation I could move up to the 964/993 in a couple of years, prehaps a 30th birthday present!!!

clubsport

7,372 posts

274 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
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Check the 968 pistonheads classifiieds,my previous 968 CS is for sale there,top end has been done and it's under the budget you mention.

ADL

Original Poster:

7,927 posts

267 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
quotequote all
Is it the red one?

GregE240

10,857 posts

283 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
quotequote all
ADL said:
A what? No chance with the old oxter! They are simply so GAY and hairdresser. I have never seen one driven in anger, although there must be a few enthusiastic owners about. Also they are fairly common around my area! The 911 is the dream but the with a budget of 14-15k a 968cs is an attractive posibility. Combined with low depreciation I could move up to the 964/993 in a couple of years, prehaps a 30th birthday present!!!

Alex,

Although biased as I am, I wouldn't call a Boxster "so gay and hairdresser" - bit ignorant of you, if you don't mind me saying. Our S goes like a train, even without the oil filler cap back on.

For the record, it handles like a dream and was clocked at over 160 at Bruntingthorpe recently. Good as I know your Honda is, I venture its not in the same league.

Admittedly the first 2.5 was a it underpowered, but still a good drivers car in the right hands.

clubsport

7,372 posts

274 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
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Yes ADL the red one,,,wasn't over keen on the colour at first,but it does suit the car well.


Alex very harsh on the boxstaaa,you know how hormonal the owners get to negative comments.
Maybe you don't like them as there is nowhere to hang your bananas..?

GregE240

10,857 posts

283 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
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Wrong Paul - theres a hook on the back of each seat. Possibly designed for a suit jacket but probably okay to hang fruit from, if that takes your fancy.

clubsport

7,372 posts

274 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
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Is that a coat hook or somewhere to hang the curling tongs?

Sorry too easy...i will stop now.

ADL

Original Poster:

7,927 posts

267 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
quotequote all
One little comment and you all explode. Ok the new boxter S is a good car I admit it however I still think Porsche sold out a bit even if the car is a great sucsess!

And you are right about the Honda but at the moment it is an end to a means, it getting the company to Ok a 968 or 964 as a car SUITABLE for comany work. I think they are both more than capable!!!

scottster

627 posts

281 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
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Owned both - very very hard to say which is 'better'.

If you don't want to do track days, aren't too fussed about severe cornering I'd go for the 964 - they look great (if on cups, teardrops, lowered etc) and sound superb with a good exhaust.

IMHO they look very bland on Design 90 wheels with square mirrors - in fact I wouldn't touch one that looked like that at all, would rather have a classic 3.2

968CS sounds lame in comparison but will out handle it any day. They still feel/look quite special as you can get wild colours (assuming yellow/blue are your bag), decent buckets and lots of nice racing goodies to bolt on should you want more from it.

Dave

rodsmith

261 posts

277 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
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ADL said:
A what? No chance with the old oxter! They are simply so GAY and hairdresser.


your mama

diver944

1,846 posts

292 months

Thursday 24th July 2003
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These cars are both Porsche but totally different in what they do and how they achieve it. You have to weigh up exactly what you want it for. If engine noise is the main factor then the 964 wins hands down (and I'm a bonafide water cooled nut). If the classic Porsche shape is what you want because you simply have to own a 911 then yet again the 968 stands no chance.

A great 968 could be bought on your budget and will be just as practical as your Honda. I do an 80 mile round commute in my 944 (which is very similar to the 968) and it will do this day in day out with luggage space and useable rear seats for quiet non-complaining persons of smaller stature.

The 968 is well rekowned for it's handling (especially with m030 suspension) but often criticised in the power department. This has recently been addressed in the UK by Ninemeister with their 350bhp supercharger upgrade

dick dastardly

8,325 posts

279 months

Sunday 27th July 2003
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iguana said:
have you read the 964 buyers guide on PH?


Could someone please point me in the direction

neon_fox

409 posts

300 months

Sunday 27th July 2003
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Well, like they say, you pays your money and you takes your choices. I've owned both 968CS and 964C2, I prefer the 964 (just) but I will admit that it's considerably more expensive than the 968, which was almost in 944 territory as far as frugality goes.

Coming from "ultra-reliable never need to service it and when I do it costs two peanuts and an almond" Honda ownership the 968 is certainly more wallet-friendly :-)

Fox
---
964C2

ADL

Original Poster:

7,927 posts

267 months

Monday 28th July 2003
quotequote all
Well I hope a 27k sevice cost less than the main dealer service I just had. An air, fuel and oil filter plus inspection of everything else cost 310 quid. They didn't even clean it!