[Tom030]

[quote name='ds968' timestamp='1420242315' post='164883']The 944 was way overpriced compared to the so-called competition at the time but it still sold like hot cakes.. so can't figure out why the 968 had such a stigma attached to it. I blame it on clueless consumers, LOL.[/quote]



Cloud called it plus we were in a mild recession. No stigma but the basic design of the 968 had been around since 1977.

The RX 7 was fresh and at least a full second faster to 60 and could be had for $30,000 and change.

~tom

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[Cloud9...68]

Yup. That's why I bought an RX7. In its day, it was a rocket. I now realize the 968 is a better overall car, but not $10,000 better.



To be fair about valuations, though, other than an unmodified Supra Turbo, none of the 968's contemporary competitors are worth much today, either.

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[zippyzee]

I've owned and driven 356's, 914's, 914-6's, 911S's, even a Vette and my current 911SC. Bought my wife a '92 968 cab a few months ago for our anniversary. Had no idea the 968 existed until a few years ago. Started seeing nice 924's and 944's for sale at reasonable prices and started doing my research. Found the progression from 924 to 944 to 928's interesting from a number of aspects. Hardly any mention of 968's though. Don't remember where I first hit on the 968 but the more I researched the more interested I became. First of all it was a Porsche! Found a cab for private sale. It was the first 968 I'd ever laid eyes on much less driven. It had it's share of warts and dings but Cinderella probably had some too. Forget about scarce parts, high maintenance, etc., the 968 is a joy to own and drive and it looks damn good folks , even 23 years later. If car guys ever catch on to the 968's virtues and the prices sky-rocket, great. Til then we'll drive it and love it!

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[968Syncro]

There is one thing we can't loose sight of...... the 968 is a great value. What can be had in a car for typically $10-$15K is an excellent deal on an excellent car. At least that was the case 10 years ago when they were only about 10 years old, and most didn't need typical or major repairs.



Different story now as they are all 20 years old, therefore all need a much larger set of fairly costly repairs. A 10 year old Porsche can be sold as "close to new", still in the lifespan of an "newish-original" car. But a 20 year old Porsche cannot. So even if we think they are great, they are actually getting more expensive. The calculation needs to be $15K + $5K repairs; so in a way the cost is now $20K, but the price is only $15k. I think the majority of potential Porsche owners would opt for a Boxster or 996 which are in the same price range, therefore putting much weaker demand on the 968. If the 968 gets to $25-30K cost, I would probably not buy in again, since there are then many more very good choices, except perhaps as collector or specialty car status which I think is a long way off.



The metric we will have to watch is the 944 Turbo; 968s will only go up in value after the 944 Turbo does, and then perhaps only with a 5-10 year lag.

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[nibn968]

At some point you make a choice of what u really like regardless of performance or resale. If u have choice between the 968, Boxter or 996, u go with what moves you.

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[ds968]

Daily pondering : in spite of the lack of recognition by so-called Porschephiles, and in spite of the dwindling availability of replacement parts ( but I can't imagine you can easily find parts for a Ferrari Dino or a GTO either.. ) , had the 968 come from the factory with a 400 hp power plant, would it sell today for upwards of $ 100 K and maybe even $ 250 k for pristine condition, low mileage ones ? I'd argue, since based on looks alone the 968 is in the same class as the top 10 most beautiful cars ever made, if it was capable of a sub 4 sec 0-60 and a top end nearing 200 the demand for it would definitely bring in that kind of money. I know some of you are thinking that 968s with Powerhaus turbos have that much power and are not even a fraction of the aforementioned market value, but that's an apples to oranges comparison; those are wrought with problems, need continuos maintenance and repair, and a PITA in every sense. A factory engineered and produced 400 hp car is a different animal. So just wondering ...

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[Rap]

While I agree with you on the beauty aspect Flash has hit upon the issue. Today's newer vehicles have so many technological advancements which narrows an already small marketplace for a 968. Add on the poor man Porsche moniker, limited parts and limited number of pristine cars and the choice gets easier. When we came out to Paso Robles and rented a new Boxster I was incredibly impressed with the vehicle overall. It didn't make me go out and buy one but in many ways it is a superior car. I've not driven a 911 or cayman so I can only surmise that to some degree the feeling would be the same.


Don't get me wrong, the 968 provides a driving experience that the newer cars can't because of the technology but it is still a 23 year old car. On the track it's the driver driving the car and not the technology and that has great value for those that appreciate it. Although a higher hp 968 would have been great, it would still be an old car.


Just having a rare car has great value to me.

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[ds968]

But comparing it to newer cars or even other Porsches is irrelevant in my view; as an example take the Ferrari Dino : underpowered, it was an entry level (poor man's ) Ferrari , and let's not even compare it to newer cars technological advances . So how does that differ from the 968 . Hell, it did not even have a Ferrari badge on it . So I suppose it's just the cult following that the Dino, or the DB5 , or some of the American muscle cars ( also complete crap when compared to any modern vehicles ) managed to built that differentiate them from the 968. I was just saying that had the 968 been hell on wheels it would likely fare just as well as any of those .

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[Waylander]

Prices are climbing in the UK, a Silver Rose with 50k miles but immaculate sold for 18k GBP last week, a 27K miles red Sport 968 sold for 21K at the end of last year.

 

we still have the low priced crappers that are rotten and rusty from 1k GBP to about 4K GBP but they are definitely on the up.

 

you cannot buy a nice 968 over here now for less than 8-10K GBP with decent history.

 

even my old banger has gone up about 1.5-2K in the last 18 months.

 

but they are rarer here than in the US with only 400 cars left registered and only about half of those on the road

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[Rap]

The American muscle cars being sold on the auctions are being purchased by overweight boomers either trying to relive their youtor just geeky middle aged kids who are looking for a cool factor that didn't exist for them earlier. God bless them as anyone has a right to buy and own whatever their hearts content is!

You own a rare car that was high powered at its time. Now it's just a middle of the road hp ed car. Not yours or mine with the sc but you get my drift. In a sense with some of the absurd run up in prices for older 911's we are lucky the prices are we they are. Who among us buys these cars as an investment or with the idea of price appreciation?

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[968Syncro]

Who among us buys these cars as an investment or with the idea of price appreciation?

I bought the 968, and other Porsches, with the expectation that it would not depreciate if kept in good or same condition was when purchased.  I think that has held true over the last 8 years.

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[Langley968]

I bought the 968, and other Porsches, with the expectation that it would not depreciate if kept in good or same condition was when purchased.  I think that has held true over the last 8 years.

I agree!

I wanted to have a fun car that I could use without fear of depreciation and hoped that it would "hold it's own" as time went by. I believe that to have happened...

I bought my 968 a little over 5 years ago and I know that it is in better shape now at 105,000 miles than when I bought it with 80,000 miles. I bought it in the US when the CDN $ was at par, and I can easily get my money back again (maybe even a bit more here in Canada). The cost of yearly ownership has been a super bargain when taking into account the "fun factor" that the 968 gives me. I estimate that I have spent on average about $2500 a year on maintenance, insurance, fuel and some upgrades. I have clocked ~25,000 miles over the 5 years of ownership. That means that each mile has cost me about $0.50 and I consider that a bargain!

 

In contrast, the person that I bought my 968 from did not fare that well. He owned the car for only 1.5 years, spent about $2000 during that period, and sold it for $6000 (!) less than he had paid. That adds up to a cost of $25 per mile driven!!! Yikes! He got hammered by the economic downturn. Bought "high" at the wrong time (2007) and sold "low" at the wrong time (2009).

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[Rap]

Now there is an astute buy!

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[ds968]

I buy cars for life. Just a philosophy I've always had ; will keep the car in as nice of a cosmetic condition as I possibly can but always drive them until they get to a point where the level of maintenance / repairs they require to keep running well is no longer feasible . If they are still in acceptable shape mechanically I donate them, otherwise they get towed to dismantlers :-). So I do not care at all about their depreciation rate, resale value, etc. Other than a few muscle cars and the Maserati I bought in my late teens and early twenties everything else I have ever bought was new, with the sole exceptions of both 968s which I bought used. The last 944 I owned had over 200k miles on it before I gave it away. I'm shooting for 500 k miles on tne 968 :-) :-) ..if I can still find parts by then, lol.

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[Rap]

How many miles do you have on your 2-968's?


How many miles do you have on your 2-968's?

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[ds968]

115, 000     113,000

115, 000     113,000

:lol:

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[type968]

The best part of 968 collectibility is that as the supply dwindles, people are beginning to recognize the characteristics of this car that make it great, and they are winning attention on the track as well as being an oddity at Porsche events, cars and coffee and shows. One day (I hope) the guys that shuffle by with their kids and say "cool car" will become serious buyers, and there will be so few left that they will be fought over (financially speaking).


JMO,


Jay

 

You touched on it for a second here, I can't say what the age group is here, but I think some of a cars popularity has to do with a persons age, time and cars they lusted after as a teenager.  They may be making a lot more money now, and have a desire to purchase those cars and are driving up the price.

 

If you look at the 993 and 964(last gen before right?) and and if someone was 20s then in the early 90s, they would be 40s to 50s, your prime earning years.  You want the toys from your youth and now you can afford them.

 

You see the same things with video game consoles, or starwars toys. 

 

I never even heard of a 924 944 let alone an 968 until the mid 90s, when I first saw a decrepit 924 in a autoshop back lot one day and wondered what that was, seeing it was a porsche and searching the internet with altavista  

 

As Porsche becomes more of a consumer car and leaves the niche market, I think there are a few with Cayennes and Panemera's that find they want a 2nd porsche and something to throw around the track and the 924/944/968 are being a little re-discovered.

 

I think in another 10 years these cars may draw interest, It is out there, as people are paying 6 figures for the really rare 968s.  

 

Also how many other cars do you think people throw 10s of thousands into a worthless platform that is only worth 10k typically.  That must say something about the love of the platform, if it is only a few oh well.

 

I just wish there was more aftermarket support.

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[Cloud9...68]

A lot of people look at the company that manufactured the 968 as the key to its future collectability/value.  While there may be something to that, I tend to look at the cars it competed with when it was new, a group within which it was only average at best.  If somebody in their peak earning years today is looking for an interesting car from their youth which they couldn't afford at the time, why would they choose a 968 over a C4 Corvette, an RX7, 300ZX, E36 M3, or a Supra twin Turbo?  Because it's a Porsche?  To me, these cars are all pretty similar, and logic dictates that their resale value should move pretty much in unison, and so far, from the little perusal I've done, that seems to pretty much be holding true, with the possible exception of the Supra.  But since when did logic ever have anything to do with the collector car market, lol?

 

Another factor is the general excellence of newer cars.  Grassroots Motorsports made an interesting comparison between the E36 M3 and a new M235.  The two cars are priced identically, in actual, non-inflation-adjusted dollars, and the M235 makes the E36 M3 look like a tin can - a pretty slow one, at that.  I love my 968, which has turned out to be a great track car, but if I was in the market for something "interesting", I would be looking in new car showrooms, not on Autotrader.

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[968Syncro]

why would they choose a 968 over a C4 Corvette,

 

Please help me, I've been trying to answer that question since my 968 is still kaput and I've been looking at C5 Corvettes.    Just about the same thing as a 968 -- but different.

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[Cloud9...68]

Yeah, I often wonder why anyone looking for a high performance sports/GT car would buy anything but a Corvette.  On paper, at least, they're incredible cars - amazing power:weight ratio, excellent handling and brakes, and, in the newer models at least, state-of-the-art technology, and even decent gas mileage.  It comes down to intangibles - they are a little wide, and therefore not the most maneuverable cars, and, well, there's just a particular image issue with Corvettes that's tough to put a finger on.  Even though I think they're great cars, I've never owned one, and can't see myself ever owning one, for reasons I can't quite explain.

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