Porsche 968

Price Paid:  $18000.00 from Lexus of Brookfield

Year / Model Reviewed:
1993 968 Coupe

Summary:
This car was a dream to drive. Maintenance, however, was a nightmare. It was so complex, nothing went wrong that didn't cost at least $500 to fix.

Strengths:
Performance, and relative fuel economy. Style!

Weaknesses:
Reliability, maintenance costs.

Similar Products Used:
'87 Porsche 924S -- exactly the same deal. Fun for what it was but so expensive to fix.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $18000.00 from north carolina

Year / Model Reviewed:
1992 porsche 968 cabriolet

Summary:
This car is absolutley amazing and get attention wherever i go in chicago. Girls constantly come up to me and say i have a nice car. The car is powerful, fast, and has timeless styling. If you dont buy the car in midnight blue with convertible top your missing out. The interior has every luxury feature you need in a sports car including a trip odomter, and leather everywhere you touch. The engine is nicley trimmed, and the car resembles a ferrari! I cant begin to tell you the compliment youll get, stick with the convertible though it has nicer lines.

Strengths:
Fast, 6 speed, 236 hp, 225 torque, faster then a boxster, enough room for 6 foot plus people, on 2200 in us, very exclusive

Weaknesses:
reliable, if kept up , repairs can be expensive but worh the attention youll get

Similar Products Used:
porsche 993, porsche 928, like the 968 convertible the best

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from West Side Motor Spor

Year / Model Reviewed:
1992 Porsche 968

Summary:
The Porsche 968 is the final model of front-engine cars that originally began with the 924 series. Gradual improvements were made over the years, so that the 968 is the most "well sorted" model of all. I have had the Cabriolet version for little over a year. It's a 1992 model. I've found it to be pretty reliable, have an excellent engine, and great handling. I initially put money into the car by having all the brakes redone with drilled calipers and new pads, with some new sensor wiring as well. The AC compressor needed replacement and now works great. The Porsche climate control works very well, and the vents are huge and blow an enormous amount of air into the cabin. Handling is very good, and since I'm close to Angeles Crest, I've taken the car up there many times and it has impeccable handling. The weight distribution is excellent, steering weighty but not uncomfortable, and the car hugs the road well with the Dunlops I had installed. The rear 6-speed transmission has excellent gear ratios, but the throw is farther than modern cars. It still shifts very lightly and positively. The engine revs without complaint up to its red line, and in its mid-range gears pulls hard on corners and on hills in canyon driving. Body lean is very controlled. Some wiggle in the rear but only when pushing the limits of the car's adhesion. First gear very light, and the car doesn't take off like a Corvette from a complete stop. It does its best when you're around 4k RPMs and the variocam system kicks in. In any case, I tend to drive it smoothly and feel for when the car needs a gear change. Some tendency for the car to run a bit hot on hills on hot days. Had both the water pump and the timing belt and guide rollers replaced by the dealer when I bought the car. This is important for this model engine, and is one of the few maintanence issues. Some models had pinion bearing issues in the Getrag transmission, but it is not evident in every car and only a few seemed to suffer with this problem. My car now has slightly over 80k miles on it, and it still feels tight and runs flawlessly. They are a great value. Few people know what the car is, and I've had people ask if it's a "new car."

Strengths:
Terrific balance, good suspension, excellent steering control. Rear wheel drive appreciated. Interior holding up well, no rips or tears. Engine runs very smoothly, decent gas mileage on the road -- up to 25 mpg, under 20 in city. Well made, good quality equipment that holds up well. Convertible top works well, has interior liner that keeps the heat off your head on summer day. Power top motor requires the key "on" but the engine not running. Storage areas behind seats are practical. Small leather covered panels can be swing down to allow long objects placed in trunk to extend inside car. Good storage capabilities for a sports car. Good drivers position, reasonably good instrumentation. One of the last cars with pop-up headlights that have sturdy lift mechanisms. (see weeknesses on headlight trim below).

Weaknesses:
Not the best low-end torque at standing stop. Engine needs brief warm-up time, (7 quarts of oil). Long shifter throw, easy to get into reverse accidentally. Headlight housings are plastic, somewhat fragile and can crack easily over time. I've replaced several parts and had them professionally repainted. Parts are expensive. Simple valve cover bolts are from $10 to $20 each depending on length. Shop for your parts for the best price. Ignition system wiring, distributor cap and rotor prices vary widely. White wheels impossible to keep clean. Sound system could be better. Convertible top tonneau cover is fancy but flaps around at freeway speeds, enough so that it can't be used without concerns of losing it. While instrumentation is reasonable good, a trip computer and brighter display illumination at night would be an improvement. Because the car had such limited distribution, not many enhancements available for this model. Far more available for 944 series, but the 968 is a better car.

Similar Products Used:
Corvette, MR2

Price Paid:  $26000.00 from in 1999; Isringhause

Year / Model Reviewed:
1994 Porsche 968

Summary:
I simply love the styling of this beautiful Porsche, the peak of the front engined 924/944 line of Porsches. This is a rare vehicle in the US with about 2400 units and 12,000 worldwide in coupe and cabriolet form. Exclusivity at a bargain price. My car had 32k miles when I bought it in 1999 and it looked and ran like new then and I have kept it machanically and cosmetically perfect. I show the car at local PCA concours events and it has won various awards, Best of Class, Best of Show, and People's choice awards. In Guards Red this car is eye candy at it's best. The 968 is so uncommon on the street, I have been asked more than once if the car is a Ferrari! The front end styling is nearly identical to 911s of it's day, with a scrumptiously rounded butt reminiscent of the 928. This is a great car for sports cars enthusiasts, for Porsche enthusiasts or first time Porsche buyers (Be sure to buy one that has been lovingly maintained. As with any Porsche, a poorly maintained example is the wrong example). Not recommended for people who do not enjoy driving.

Strengths:
Acceleration 0-60 mph in 6.1 sec with the 6 spd. 240hp, a huge 3.0L inline 4 cyl engine than pulls like a team of oxen. Slick 6 spd manual. Strong braking, flat cornering, perfect 50/50 weight balance front to rear. A joy to drive fast and on the twisties. Steering is perfectly balanced at road speeds. This is the best handling car I have ever driven. And I've driven a lot. Beautifully styled and not a car you'll see everyday on the road. Beautiful fit and finish and excellent materials inside and out. The paint is perfectly executed. The interior is rich but not over-stated in a most Teutonic way. For a sub-compact sport car, amazingly roomy in the hatch. Comfortable enough as a daily driver.

Weaknesses:
Not cheap to maintain, but what do you expect of a Porsche. Seats could use more lumbar support. Factory radio and speakers a little weak. Steering is a tad heavy at parking lot speeds when compared to newer cars, but at road speeds the steering is perfect.

Similar Products Used:
87 Audi 5000CS Turbo Quattro, 93 Audi 100CS, 02 Audi A6 4.2, 01 Audi S4, 2004 BMW 530i.

Price Paid:  $21000.00 from in 1998, just sold f

Summary:
Read the other review, I will just be echoing them. The 968 is a rare, fantastic sports car that is also eminently practical and suitable for everyday use. I owned my 1993 Coupe for four years and put 40,000 miles on it with no mechanical problems and I can honestly say that almost every time I got in the car it put a smile on my face. Fast enough, incredible handling, a 3 liter four-banger with 75 ft-lbs of torque per liter! Did I mention superb, timeless styling? Totally exclusive! I can not tell you how many times I left the car with the valets at some of the best restaurants and hotels in Los Angeles only to find it parked right out in front with the most expensive and exotic cars imaginable when I came out. I sold it because fortune has smiled on me and I can now afford a new 911 but I still miss the hatch-back. Buy one of these cars if you can find one: the 968's are absolutely great cars.

Strengths:
Power, handling, styling, exclusivity, reliability, resale value. (Oh yes, practicality. You can also fit a 9 foot fishing pole inside the coupe with the rear hatch closed. This is the perfect vehical.)

Weaknesses:
I went through four sets of high performance tires while I owned the car. Is that a weakness? You will spend money changing oil, other fluids and timing belts. Considering how well the resale value holds up, this car was actually incredibly inexpensive to operate over the four years I had it.

Similar Products Used:
'02 Porsche 911, '87 Porsche 911, '83 Fiat 2000 Spider