Tuesday 31st May 2016

Porsche 968: PH Buying Guide

As we celebrate 40 years of transaxle Porsches a guide to buying one of the best

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As last hurrahs go, the 968 was a rousing cheer Porsche's models derived from the 924's front-engined, rear-drive platform. It may have sold only 12,776 units during its three-year production life, but it helped keep the firm afloat during a difficult period. That relative rarity has also helped it appreciate in value recently as scruffy cars have fallen away to leave solid, well cared for examples now worth upwards of £15,000. Aim for the rarer yet Sport or Club Sport models and you'll be looking at spending at least another £10,000 on top of that to get one worth keeping.

Club Sport commands a hearty premium

So why has the 968 has finally been recognised by the classic car market? Launched in August 1991, it was largely based on the 944's chassis due to expedience on Porsche's part. It simply didn't have the cash to develop an all-new model, but the 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine received lighter pistons and con-rods, as well as the addition of VarioCam variable valve timing.

All of this freed up 240hp from big four-cylinder, and it drove through a six-speed manual gearbox to give 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds. If you opted for the four-speed Tiptronic auto that sprint took 7.9 seconds and top speed was 153mph, compared to the manual's 156mph.

Search for Porsche 968s here

From 1992, Porsche also offered the 968 Cabriolet, which was a popular choice when new even with a £38,000 asking price. The same year, the halo model Club Sport arrived, which shed 50kg from the standard Coupe's weight by ditching electric windows, mirrors, seat adjustment and hatch release. Also left on the shelf were the rear wiper, central locking and back seats, while Recaro front seats further helped with the weight loss.

Rare Turbo S one for the collectors only, sadly

Unlike modern Porsches where less weight means more money, the Club Sport cost less than the standard Coupe. Now, it's the most sought after 968 due to its superb handling balance. However, Porsche GB recognised some buyers loved the CS's appearance but wanted some of the luxuries back, so the Sport arrived at the start of 1994. It had the same 20mm lowered suspension as the CS but gained the electric goodies to make it more civilised for £32,995.

There were also 16 Turbo S versions of the 968 built with a 305hp engine based on the race-only Turbo. These cars are the preserve of very wealthy collectors, so we'll concentrate on the ones you can find for sale and enjoy either as a classic or an everyday car.

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PHer's view:
"I've fond memories of my 968. I don't think I've had a car since that had such nice, forgiving balance - grandmothers could drift 968s on the way to get their blue rinse and be entirely unruffled by the experience."
John Mulcahy

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Buying Guide contents:
Introduction
Powertrain
Rolling chassis
Body
Interior
At a glance

Search for Porsche 968s here

[968 CS and Sport Photos: 968ClubSport.com]

[Dan Trent]

Apologies for the stock shot illustrations; we had a car lined up for photos but it sold unfortunately. We've got another in our sights and will update the story with fresh pics when we have them.

Cheers!

Dan

[LarJammer]

No menton of camshaft chain wear and its associated problems, probably the 968's biggest reliability issue??

[323ti]

This car has been on my bucket list for I can't remember how long.
But prices have been silly for the last 15 years, and they're just getting sillier.
For the price of a decent 968CS you could now easily buy a 2009 facelift Cayman S.
And that is VERY silly.

[Waylander]

Having owned a 968 coupe for the last three years, I can say it's a really practical classic,

Easy to work on no cam chain issues at 147k miles, and if you check how many left there are now less coupes than sports and CS added together, and the underrated and unloved tiptronics are very rare

So don't just go with the media hype, coupes are just as good as a sport or CS with options

[FraMac]

Waylander said:

Having owned a 968 coupe for the last three years, I can say it's a really practical classic,

Easy to work on no cam chain issues at 147k miles, and if you check how many left there are now less coupes than sports and CS added together, and the underrated and unloved tiptronics are very rare

So don't just go with the media hype, coupes are just as good as a sport or CS with options

Commendable lurking. I've enjoyed my 968CS for twelve years or so. Took if out for a really agreeable clatter yesterday.

[AQRS2]

I'm not sure that the point regarding the Koni dampers is correct, I'm pretty sure that these were an option, M030?

[V8RX7]

I wanted one as I'd owned a 944 Turbo in the past and the 968 seemed a great 2+2 daily driver.

I viewed / tried a few approx 5 years ago when they were around £8k and none seemed like decent VFM, they seemed dull and slow compared to my 240bhp MX5 or my 340bhp RX7 both of which are worth considerably less.

[treetops]

The next Porsche to get pumped up, proceed with caution in the current market.

[ubbs]

Brother ubbs had one on the back of 4 944 s2's in the mid 90's he loved it until it caught fire in his garden some electrical fault under the dashboard, anyway it was written off but eventually made it back on the road.

[blade7]

Nice cars, I nearly bought one around 8 years ago the same colour as the one in the guide pic, but the dealer messed me around on the price. Ultimately though a late chipped 944 Turbo has the same chassis with an LSD and an extra 60 bhp, and an M3 a much nicer engine with 80-100 bhp more.

[probably chalk]

Jeez... I've just treated mine (1994 Sport) to a top end rebuild at Northway which I thought was pretty extravagant to be honest given that it was just using a bit of oil. But I'd been paying no attention to values, since I have no intention to sell it, and having read that it doesn't seem nearly so extravagant now.

I absolutely love mine, it's so easy to drive quickly. Providing you have smooth surface that it is. The CS suspension throws the car off line quite badly if the surface is bumpy but that's fair enough, it's not an SUV after all.

Mine was only the second top end rebuild Northway can recall doing on a 968 (150,000 miles) but once the head was off it proved to have been worth it. Northway reckoned the damage was caused by someone having used some poor quality fuel early in the car's life.

[F355GTS]

I loved my Club Sport but bought it for the wrong reasons (as a track car to replace a Caterham)

As a fast road car the handling was sublime, could have down with another 100BHP though

[Waylander]

Never ceases to amaze me, no matter what car some own and how much power it has, the owners always want more,

Nothing wrong with 240 HP car in a country with a 70mph limit!

The 968 is quite fast enough imho

The point of the car is it rarity, less than 400 cars left.
1 968 to each 100 M3's, but RX7 are getting a bit scarce too

Each to their own I guess

[V8RX7]

A quick check shows these have doubled in price and a manual with 100k is now circa £17k !

That just makes no sense when you look at the price of better Porsche - Boxsters & Cayman, 996.

Edited by V8RX7 on Monday 30th May 17:46

[blade7]

Waylander said:

Nothing wrong with 240 HP car in a country with a 70mph limit!

Are you lost ? If you never exceed 70 mph you really are in the wrong place .

[treetops]

V8RX7 said:

A quick check shows these have doubled in price and a manual with 100k is now circa £17k !

That just makes no sense when you look at the price of better Porsche - Boxsters & Cayman, 996.

Edited by V8RX7 on Monday 30th May 17:46

Asking prices have doubled...

[J4CKO]

V8RX7 said:

A quick check shows these have doubled in price and a manual with 100k is now circa £17k !

That just makes no sense when you look at the price of better Porsche - Boxsters & Cayman, 996.

Edited by V8RX7 on Monday 30th May 17:46

Are they really worth twice as much, or more than a decent 944 S2 ?

[blade7]

J4CKO said:

V8RX7 said:

A quick check shows these have doubled in price and a manual with 100k is now circa £17k !

That just makes no sense when you look at the price of better Porsche - Boxsters & Cayman, 996.

Edited by V8RX7 on Monday 30th May 17:46

Are they really worth twice as much, or more than a decent 944 S2 ?

No, they're a heavier S2 in a party dress.

[marshall100]

The Crack Fox said:

Here's my ownership write up; http://www.motorpunk.co.uk/fleet/my-porsche-968-sp... my 968 Sport now appearing in GT Porsche as a long-termer. I have plenty of pics if you want 'em?





Incidentally, I'll only sell mine when I can get an Evora for the same money.

Edited by The Crack Fox on Monday 30th May 12:15

Is this the same crack fox from the old rllmuk forum by any chance?

[killysprint]

Great cars - had a sport almost new in 1994, and sold a black clubsport last year to Leicester OPC - which they are currently restoring. Was a cracking car before they set about it.
They had been looking for one for around 6 months before they settled on my old car. They were after a good, solid un molested car and that's what they got. The buyer said he seen a lot of poor cars that look great, but once you start scratching at the surface they had a myriad of problems.

Might not be the fastest thing around, but they drive so well. Steering feedback and feel is fantastic, handling is their forte.

If prices were at sensible level would have another tucked away tomorrow !