[austin944]

When you were first considering buying a 968, did you like the

styling right away, or was it something that you grew to like

over time?



I am considering a 968 purchase (currently own a 944). Maybe

I'm just getting old or my interests have changed, but the styling on

a lot of cars today (including the 968 and my 944) don't get my

heart beating faster like they used to.

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[flash]

great philisophical question



personally, and this is a very personal thing, i didn't really like the car - i looked at it when it was new - i liked the front end and most of the interior, but it was way too expensive for what it was, way too big and heavy, and slow, and had really old technology with a mish mash of parts - i was singularly underwhelmed by the performance



from a style standpoint, i never for a second considered the hatchback model, as i think the fishbowl back window reminds me of datsun B-210 - the cab model wasn't too bad, though i hated the top design and how it sits up so high when it's down - i would have liked to have seen a coupe (that means with a trunk and small more vertical back window - would likely have looked a lot like a honda del sol from the rear)



in a perfect world, i would like to see the hard lines in the body work be smoothed out, and the concave curve on the rear hips reversed to convex - those would be some great lines



all that being said, after owning the car for 2 years, i now find myself constantly walking up to my car and really appreciating the lines, and saying "wow, that's pretty"



funny how things change - i guess with age i've learned to accept things a bit more that are a little bigger or heavier or slower - and this car seems to bother me less too

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[Cloud9...68]

I've always really liked the styling of the 944/968's, though interestingly I thought the 924 was a pretty drab car when it came out. Personally, and this is just me, I prefer the styling of the coupe to the cab. I do remember when the car first came out that I thought the pop-up headlights pointing to the sky when retracted looked goofy, and I still do. My ultimate dream with the car would be to Arktech's 993 fixed headlight conversion, but last time I checked, nobody named "Rockefeller", "Gates", or "Dell" was anywhere in my lineage. Otherwise, I love the lines of the car.

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[Anchorman]

Then - and now - I think the styling of our cars is basically great. I overwhelmingly prefer the cab to the coupe, but also would prefer if the folded top was lower. The headlight look stinks - retracted is merely better than "popped".

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[968Z]

I liked the styling immediately. I saw one 13 years ago and just knew I had to have one one day. It sortof reminded me of the 1974 Jensen Healey I had in college; Almost a "one of a kind" look that no one else had. For that reason alone BMWs have never appealed to me. every third car you see seems to be one.

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[sasilverbullet]

It grew on me...I wasn't super impressed at first, but after a couple of weeks, I liked it more and more. The headlights were the last thing I started liking!

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[Greimann]

It was love at first sight, but like your first love in real life, the price was too high! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Seriously, there are some classic styling cues here:



   

   

   

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[ds968]

Loved my 944 styling when I bought it new ( never liked the 911 body, although I could live with the 993 ), but as the years went by, it started to look more and more dated.. the 968 was love at first sight primarily because of the front end

which I would still put in the top ten all time great designs. But as is the case with the 944, the hatch bothers me a bit - I would have liked to see a more coupe-like finish to the rear.. However, 12 years later it does not look anyway near as dated as the 944 looked after the same period of time.. so maybe it'll still be construed as "classic" for another 10 years.. hatch and all.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



As for the interior style, and particularly the dash shape and instrument design : Love it, love it, love it ! I hate the dash / instruments styling of most cars produced in the last decade whether Porsches, Ferraris, Lexus , Aston Martin, Jaguars, etc, etc.. They all look the same - boxy and boring. Sure there are components of those here and there which are more luxurious or stylish than ours, but from a total look perspective, IMHO, the 968's beautiful simplicity rocks !

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[rustech]

Love at first sight for me as well. First time I knew they existed was in 2000 when one (cabrio) sped by me in my 944. I didn't know what it was, but knew I had to have one. The lights don't bother me, but I do think the car (lines) looks better with the cab top up.

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[BruceWard]

I first learned about the 968 in 2001. I waited two years to buy one since we were in London and did not drive much. When we moved back to the and I needed a car it was at the top of my list along with a couple of new sport coupes. She loved the lines of the cab. I liked both. The 968 won due to looks and low depreciation. We still think it, the F456 and 993 targa are three of the best looking cars ever designed.

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[flash]

dave - the muira is one of the reasons i liked the front end of this car - great choice!

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[Etnier]

I still remember seeing my first 968, a coupé, in my home town. It was from out of state, and must have been Amazon Green, with a Cashmere interior. They were newly-introduced at the time, and I was the proud owner of an 86' 944 N/A. So I knew I'd have to wait. But I also knew, right then, that I'd own one eventually.

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[taporite6]

love the 968 also. But was looking at 911's backed up into a 968

had to have it and i did. expensive to up keep

previous owner drove the heck out of it and did not maintain it

if i knew then what i know now. Might of thought twice but as many downsides as it has dash could be better

hate the pop up lights, looks better retracted. Frt fenders too hippy.

For speakers upgrade you have to scratch your head (i have cab)

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[Beachboy]

It doesn't really grab me like some cars do (289 Cobra) (993) but like a real estate guy once told me. You are going to spend 99.9% of your time inside the house looking out.

From inside the car it's just about perfect for a performance car (that I can afford). In addition, it passes my litmus test. Must be able to carry two guys with golf clubs (or wife w/one set clubs) and luggage for four day golf trip without stuff strapped to the outside of the car.

My record: Wifey and I for weekend in Vermont with:



Both of our bikes (wheels off, seats off, two pedals off)

Luggage(not that small with helmets, golf shoes, bike shoes)

My golf clubs in full size bag

4 bottles wine and groceries

Nothing in the front seat area but us (me 6'3")

I was using the outside rearviews exclusively.



The 968 is a renaissance sports car. And it looks better every year.

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[Brian]

i saw one for sale this spring, called the owner, test drove it, and bought it one hour later. i guess that says it all

personally, i love the styling. the handling is great. it's plenty fast enough for me (with my driving record, didn't want a lightning bolt).

i don't like the headlights at all, but the wife loves them. i think it would break her heart if we ever come up with a fixed headlight that works.

other than the headlights and the switch locations, i wouldn't change a thing!

i never realized i could drive a nice porsche convertibale for less than $20k.

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[sheehanj]

A friend was a salesman for the local Porsche-Audi dealer and used the 968 cab as a 'salesman's car' summer, 1997. I drove it and was impressed (in fact, loved it), but it was above my budget at the time. The following spring, 1998, he was after me to buy a Boxster but it just didn't work. Lo, on the lot was the same 968. They were probably looking to unload it and I asked what was his BAFO and it worked. I never looked back, in fact, I often turn to look at the car as I walk away from it in a parking lot, great lines. Many people still ask if it's a new model.

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[ds968]

[quote name='sheehanj' date='Nov 8 2005, 04:05 PM']Many people still ask if it's a new model.

[right][post="12191"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Same here - happens quite often at car washes.. I tell people it's a prototype - sold via a lottery system, and I was in the right place at the right time.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Small block V 10 <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[94SilverCab]

The short answer is “Love at first sight”



My dream had always been to own a 911 and I began test-driving every car that was advertised within a 50 mile radius. My natural tendencies towards thrift (Pronounced “Cheap”) kept me away from new vehicles and lead me to excellent condition used cars. I was visiting a friend and happened upon a small inset in Auto Week about the 968 being the best bang for the buck with a tiny picture, I was hooked.



I loved the styling of the car inside and out from the first time I laid my eyes on one, and still love to stand back after a detail job and just admire the lines. I instantly liked the pop up headlights, despite votes to the contrary. With the lights down the car looks very 928ish. Popped up, more of a 911 line. The rear is unmistakably 944 and the whole look is undeniably PORSCHE.



I love the rarity of the 968. I get so many looks when driving the car that it feels like being on parade. People always want to know if it’s the “New” Boxster (thus my Plate NTABXTR, Thanks Chris). Who wants to drive a play toy that’s as common as dirt?



The interior appearance is very well designed, although some of the engineering could have been simplified (ever take a bolster cover out of a cab?). The Japanese seem to think out certain ergonomics better (i.e. separate switches for mirror select and adjustment.). But the ergonomics for driving are remarkable (gauges, visibility, etc.).



Given the design, performance, balance and pure enjoyment, I can’t imagine a better ownership experience

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[chris]

I seem to follow the common trend...I like the 944 a lot, and once I saw my first 968, I loved it.

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[Dirk]

I like(d) the 924, small, simple and clean lines.



It was only after I discovered the existence of the 924S that I became really interested, I could not live with the engine of the 924.



Probably in 93/94 I saw a green car crossing the road in front of me that I liked first sight.

It took several years more until I found out it must have been a 968...



And when the time came to trade in the 924S due to old age the 968 was the logic follow-up.



I never liked the 944 very much, too aggressive around the rear wheel arches.



My first impression of the 968 was too much overhang front and especially at the rear.

But it has grown on me <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



During the last weeks I found out (again) that the upkeep of a Porsche is pricy, still it's less than the depreciation on a new car.



But it's the driving experience that's really the kicker!

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