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Considering a 968/944 S2 as a daily car limited mileage

911FirstTimer

New member
Hi there, I'm new to the site and am looking for some advice. I am looking to purchase a 944 S2 or 986 as my station car. I want to get something that is fun, has some practicality and hopefully won't suffer much further depreciation and might even appreciate in value. My budget is £20-25k but I'm not really sure were to start, am I likely to be able to use a car of this age as a reliable daily driver, if so which is likely to be better option? From what I've read to date the 968's were produced in much smaller numbers and so good examples are harder to come by. Sport if not Club Sport seem to be most in demand and the most expensive.

From what I've seen on sale at the moment there are small numbers of low mileage cars offered by specialist dealers at premium prices with the private sales predominantly being much higher mileage cars.

Anyone willing to share their journey into 944 or 968 ownership with a newbie?
 
I will make a quick start . For regular use i would avoid the high end dealer stuff .
These low mileage cars may give a lot of problems when they get a rude awakening from
just sitting in collector / dealer garages ! I looked at a lot when i was looking for a transaxle
Porsche and ended up buying a 90k mile car with a LOT of maintainance history over
recent years . Its a fun reliable car , but still always small jobs to do when time allows .
I dont think theres a lot between an S2 and a 968 Sport , both would do the job ,
just take your time and the right car will come along .
 
Quite why 968 Sport and Club Sport values have taken off has caused a lot of discussion on the Porsche968uk forum. Coupe values have also increased, but not to the same extent. If you're after a station car, I'd suggest you look at S2's and 968 coupes rather than Sport/CS. The differences between Coupe and sport are quite small - 17" wheels as standard rather than 16", lowered suspension, no airbags are the main ones, all to reduce the 0-60mph time by 1/2 second! Also don't discount the tiptronic 968 until you've driven one. OK, it has 4 gears rather than 6, but I've never missed the extra cogs (in almost 19 years of 968 ownership after a 944 lux and a 944S), you can go from standstill to exceeding NSL in 2nd and licence loosing speed in 3rd! The tip box is clever, in full auto mode it adapts to your driving style with about 5 different maps, in manual mode (where you change gear by pushing the gearstick forward and back) it also has built-in safeties. Redline the car without touching the stick, it will change up. Let the revs drop to 1200-1000 and it will change down so you never find yourself stationary in 4th gear!

Maintenance history is paramount, especially cam/balance belts and rollers, water pump, cam chain/cogs and slipper pad, filter changes. Some parts for pre-1993 968's are NLA, notably fuel line parts, which meant I had to change my car to the 1993on spec parts when advised that the fuel lines needed changing.

You'll get good advice on here about S2's as the 944 section is very active. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the 968 section, so I'd suggest you join the Porsche968uk forum which has many active members and a lot of help and advice.
 
Thanks very much, interesting about the tip box as the current station car is a TTS coupe auto so am used an auto box these days but had assumed the 90's equivalent wouldn't be that good and that manual was the way to go. I guess as you say the best way is to drive them, that will be my next challenge I guess to do that.
 
I used to have a 944S2 as a weekend car, but used it as a daily driver for about 6 weeks, after which, it no longer felt special. It was up to the job in terms of reliability, but some of its dated charm became tiring so I went back to a modern car and used the 944 for weekend fun.

With your budget, you could buy a low mileage minter, but it will have had a pampered life, which is obviously the opposite of a daily driver. Because of that, you may lose on depreciation, which is what you're trying to avoid.

Rusty cills, neglected maintenance such as belts, water pump and cam chain tensioner slipper (or chain, or even camshaft teeth), brake calliper lift, clutch (removal of torque tube required, so lots of other stuff to do at the same time) & tired suspension are the things to look out for. Plenty of other stuff too and plenty of articles on here for research.

That said, a sorted 944 is a wonderful thing.

Cheers,
Bryan
 
Hi

I ran a 968 Sport for 3 years as a daily, in general it was great & very reliable, my only down side was a little tough to live with in the winter as i didn't have any spare garage space & it had to live in the drive, would have kept it as a daily if it had been garaged.

For me it was just down to cosmetic looks between the S2 & the 968, loved the rear arches on both but preferred the all in one slicker front & rear end of the 968.

Regards

Karl
 
Hi There, i have been over from New Zealand for just on a year now and decided to join PCGB when I arrived, moving on to 968's ! What a car! The most underrated Porsche ever! I have had mine coming up to 13 years and it has now clocked up 307,000 kms on the SAME motor! It is NZ new, Grand Prix White and Tiptronic. I am the 2nd owner. PCNZ have track days just like here in Britain and you can also opt to join alternative track day organisers. Apart from around town flexibility ,I have been on the track numerous occasions with great enjoyment. Sure, I can use manual mode if I wish but if I leave it in tipo , well! . As it normally pulls away in 2nd gear anyway,it accelerates up to 145kph before changing into 3rd ,then moves up to 4th at 200kph. At 210 kph I then have to slow down for a particular hairpin on one of our numerous NZ race tracks.
I, like a lot of enthusiasts have looked at clubsports ( I think we only imported 6 to 8 new in NZ anyway) but have shyed away as the price difference ( 3 to 4 times more) doesn't seem to stack up!
Before the 968 I had a '87 944S and contemplated the move to a 944 Turbo or 968. I liked the idea of a standard 240HP plant and Tipo box. The early 220hp and later 250 hp 944 turbo's made me a bit nervous as I am no mechanic and still sound a bit of work to keep running smooth, but don't quote me on that!. As for being quoted as the best balanced car of its time, or of now , I feel as I'm sitting in the middle of a see-saw. My opinion anyway.
 
Tony, you've pushed your tip 968 harder than I ever have, but you've confirmed my earlier statement that 2nd will take you above NSL in this country, and 3rd will take you into licence loosing country! Did you ever have transmission donut problems after tracking your tip? I've shied away from a trackday as an aquaintance on 968uk tracked his tip, blew the donut and faced a £1k repair bill! Unlike you, I seldom use my tip in full auto and routinely drive in manual mode - until, as happened with both the coupe and recently the cab, the actuator arm on the manual select microswitch under the gearstick broke. Thankfully I had one of the last spare actuators in captivity, so hopefully this new one will outlast my ownership of the cab.

Personally I feel that the 968 tip is the most under-rated of the 968's in coupe form, and stupidly under-rated in cab form as, although you can rag a cab, it's better roof down sunny day B and unclassified roads enjoying the views and smells of the countryside, often at 20mph as the road is 1 car wide with limited passing places! Wife agrees with me, that's what we do most summer Sundays!
 
If you find a guards red tip coupe L456GKE let me know - it was mine for 12 1/2 years as second owner, bought from Porsche Tonbridge at 26k miles in 11/98 and sold to the owner or 9Excellence at 64k miles in July 2011, seen a year or so later for sale in Buckingham as Ken swopped it for a 964 tip, lost track of her since!
 
I'm a 968 club sport owner of 2 years. Previous owner used it as a kind of daily driver for 10 years before I bought it. Saw it up on ramps last week and no rust at all underneath even with Scottish roads all year use over those 10years.
968 are pretty practical, good vision with all round glass, reasonable size inside and the boot so good for general use, my steering is pretty heavy not sure if that is the norm or not. CS not the most practical but isn't as bad as you think I use it to get to work occasionally although prices probably mean outside your budget. Some parts can be expensive and others no longer available which means buying even more expensive 2nd hand parts, guess most of this applies to any 944/968 but I feel they are suitable as a daily driver.
Indie's in my area (Scotland) arent best at doing 1day turnarounds on work as it isn't the norm so probably good to have some kind of back up plan for station trip if car is in for repairs.
Has been mentioned about low mileage cars having problems, other angle is you will put a few miles on it with daily use so affects a mint standard premium priced low mileage car a lot more and if in a 'almost unused' condition would you be happy driving it mid winter in all weather parking next to other cars etc etc
Overall it is viable and easily possible so why not is my view for any 968 model.
 
Judging by the small number of cars for sale at present and generally available I'm guessing that some long standing owners/members have a reasonable knowledge of certain cars that come round in the market?

Have seen a couple that are interesting and might pursue if anyone has any history on either they could share would be much appreciated.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/968/porsche-968-3-0-coupe-77-000-miles/6596607

https://www.pistonheads.c...c/7066753#/description
 
Chris, i will concede that the 968 hasn't completed that sort of mileage without some ongoing expense! Yes! I did have a transmission problem, stuck in 2nd, and so had the box reconditioned.
Was a bit nervous thinking the car might never drive the same again, however back on the track sure enough one line into the red and 145kph it changed from 2nd up to 3rd as before! Yippee!
I could go on, however had 2 cambelt and water pump changes( probably time for another one) in that time. One possibly helpful hint, the standard tyre size is 205 front and 225 rear (x16) I found that if I put 225 on the front and 245 on the back I had no under steer on the track. You don't have to put the 245's on the back to experience this. At the moment it has 225 all round, as you can save a bit by putting your front tyres on the back then put the new tyres on the front. Sure I'll get a comment on this item? Tyres were SO2.
 
Tony Maddocks said:
. One possibly helpful hint, the standard tyre size is 205 front and 225 rear (x16) I found that if I put 225 on the front and 245 on the back I had no under steer on the track. You don't have to put the 245's on the back to experience this. At the moment it has 225 all round, as you can save a bit by putting your front tyres on the back then put the new tyres on the front. Sure I'll get a comment on this item? Tyres were SO2.



Interesting, so a 225 on the 7J front and a 245 on the 8J rear, were they both 45 sidewall profile ? (225/45/16 & 245/45/16)

R
 
Many thanks Tony, really interesting. Are the tyres same rolling radius as "standard"? Reason for the question, speedometer on both my 968's is "optimistic" and reads 8+% high compared to my satnav, maybe tyres with a slightly larger rolling radius would reduce the over-read!
 
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but i really should have bought your red 968 Chris! ,,
A 968 is still a big itch that will get scratched sometime in the future,,,,
iris blue or amethyst ,,,,,,jasonp
 
Jason, if I still had the big garage I had at the old house, I'd still have that car (and the cab, summer and winter cars!). Ken Napier of 9Excellence bought it, only kept it a year before trading it in for a 964 tip (also GR) at a trader in Buckingham (I saw the car on Ebay then a couple of weeks later at the trader's site and spoke to the guy!). That was almost 6 years ago, and I've had no news of her since, would love to know where she is.

There's a couple of nice looking 968 tips on the market ATM.....[;)][;)][;)]
 
Chris, very interested in your comments re. Speedo reading, as mine also reads 8+ % more than the actual speedo. It has done this even when I first purchased the vehicle. I actually prefer it as you know you are always in the limit when the oncoming officer has his sights on you! (Radar) otherwise he does a u-turn and then the inevitable happens. My comment about Tyre sizes! I always preferred 225x50 ZR16 on the front and 245x45 ZR16 on the rear. I only put the 225's on the rear once I felt the front position had done its dash. (The wheel sizes were the factory 7" and 8".) I replaced the 225's on the rear with the 245's once I felt I'd got my monies worth but not sacrificing safety. Let's face it!, what Porsche ever delivers equal wear and tear to front and rear tyres??

 

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