968 - what a great car!
Discussion
I have had my 968 for 4 months now and every time I pop out for a drive in it I just think what a joy it is to drive.
I also have a 1976 911 in the garage which I also love so this is not a front vs. rear engine Porsche thing. The 968 is such a nice and well balanced car to drive on the road with everything feeling just right from the seats, driving position, steering, ride and 6 speed gearbox. The engine maybe lacks a bit note to the ear but performance is spot on for British roads with good economy too.
I tried a Club Sport version before buying mine but as a road car I did not see the point. On track, then yes, the CS has the firmer ride, slightly less weight and bigger wheels but for a car that is mainly used on rural B roads the standard car on 16 inch rims is as sweet as a nut.
Having also owned a Cayman S a few years ago I think the 968 is a better package despite preceding the Cayman by 15 years. The load space and rear hatch back design are great and the car is a good example of how front engines can be just as well balanced as mid-engine layouts. The build quality of this era Porsche is superb and I like the fact that there are not many around.
Mines going to be tucked up in the garage for winter soon and I'll be looking forward to getting it out again next year.
I also have a 1976 911 in the garage which I also love so this is not a front vs. rear engine Porsche thing. The 968 is such a nice and well balanced car to drive on the road with everything feeling just right from the seats, driving position, steering, ride and 6 speed gearbox. The engine maybe lacks a bit note to the ear but performance is spot on for British roads with good economy too.
I tried a Club Sport version before buying mine but as a road car I did not see the point. On track, then yes, the CS has the firmer ride, slightly less weight and bigger wheels but for a car that is mainly used on rural B roads the standard car on 16 inch rims is as sweet as a nut.
Having also owned a Cayman S a few years ago I think the 968 is a better package despite preceding the Cayman by 15 years. The load space and rear hatch back design are great and the car is a good example of how front engines can be just as well balanced as mid-engine layouts. The build quality of this era Porsche is superb and I like the fact that there are not many around.
Mines going to be tucked up in the garage for winter soon and I'll be looking forward to getting it out again next year.
yknot said:
Have recently acquired mine and I concur with your assessment!!
Compared to my other 'special one', a TVR Chimaera (if you haven't tried one you are missing out!!), it is a joy to drive. This is not a criticism, but they remind me of my old Audi Quattro, brilliant road holding and performance when you want, but can be as docile as any modern hatch in traffic.
The added bonus for us, of course, is that these cars will be appreciating in the next few years just as the VW/Audi's of this era, and before, are doing!
Mk1 Golf GTI anyone????
Funnily enough I sold a Chimeara to get the 968! Really like TVRs and have had few - on a sunny evening with the roof down and the rumbling V8 they take some beating. Will probably get another one day as like the 968, they put a smile on your face.Compared to my other 'special one', a TVR Chimaera (if you haven't tried one you are missing out!!), it is a joy to drive. This is not a criticism, but they remind me of my old Audi Quattro, brilliant road holding and performance when you want, but can be as docile as any modern hatch in traffic.
The added bonus for us, of course, is that these cars will be appreciating in the next few years just as the VW/Audi's of this era, and before, are doing!
Mk1 Golf GTI anyone????
Wozy68 said:
968 fantastic car ... CS the best of the bunch IMO and with the race seats one of the most comfortable cars I've driven in a (400 miles) day. Not sure about your B road comment... maybe the CS you tried had worn dampers. One of the finest track cars for the road I've ever driven.
If you want to make your 968 sound a lot better, get the system from Janspeed, just make sure you get the right one (the correct one comes complete from the cat back). I bought mine from Hartech, I think it was around £400.00. Makes the four pot sound alot lot better.
Thanks for the info regarding the exhaust. I may consider a swap if/when mine needs a replacement one.If you want to make your 968 sound a lot better, get the system from Janspeed, just make sure you get the right one (the correct one comes complete from the cat back). I bought mine from Hartech, I think it was around £400.00. Makes the four pot sound alot lot better.
My B road comment - I don't think the CS I drove had worn dampers but the point I make is that most rural roads in Britain (certainly around me) are in a pretty poor state of repair with potholes, patches, etc. and a car that is set up and designed to excel on track will never be as comfortable on these types of road as a car that is a little softer and more compliant.
All 968's are great cars and Porsche nicely made variants to suit all requirements of driving.
GC8 said:
You have to realise that people who have owned the cars for a long time see this over and over again. In the majority of cases the fawning new owners have advertised and sold the car within a few months, too.
Talk about classic status and increasing residuals accompanies every post.
Whilst I wouldn't have posted such a picture, I too have little time for these threads, as an original 968 owner, and in an undesirable colour (Maritime Blue) too. Elitist? A little, perhaps, but ten years of this s
t wears you down.
I didn't realise that PH forums were inhabited by so many old cynics.Talk about classic status and increasing residuals accompanies every post.
Whilst I wouldn't have posted such a picture, I too have little time for these threads, as an original 968 owner, and in an undesirable colour (Maritime Blue) too. Elitist? A little, perhaps, but ten years of this s
t wears you down.I posted a thread based on my experience of the first few months of 968 ownership and having owned many Porsches over the years I have always found other peoples comments on ownership to be generally useful and interesting.
So what if a topic or car may have been discussed by others a 1000 times before - you don't have to read it and certainly don't have to get in and make a comment.
Cue the hand bags photo!
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