[JSart]

Hello Everyone,
Yes, I am new to the Forum. As I am looking for a 968/944 I thought I would look at forums to get an idea if this car is for me. I've owned a 356, a 914 and always liked the look of a 968 but could not afford a new one. Now maybe.
Thanks for having this Forum and welcoming me into it.
Joel

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[T-Bone]

Welcome! Poke around a little bit and you'll find almost everything you need. I'm always amazed and the collective knowledge of the people on this board. I did the same thing as you. I joined the board, poked around for awhile to make sure I wanted to make the jump from my Boxster S. I pulled the trigger and haven't looked back...

Good luck!

T-Bone

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[Scott Collins]

Hello Joel,

Welcome! You found the right place for info about the 968.

My 968 is my daily driver, but my "commute" is nothing - just about 12 miles per day. I have never thought of my car as a toy or an investment. I think the car is amazing and like most everyone here, I enjoy the upgrades, big and small that make a great car even better I push the car pretty good, but how hard a person drives is relative. (I know one thing: I don't have enough tickets to be in the same league as some other excellent contributors to this group. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] )

Since you have owned other Porsches you know something about the costs. If you have some wrenching skills you can do many things on your own.

The newest 68's are 15 years old, so take that into consideration. Your going to spend $$$. Take your time and take a look at what is available. If it were me looking, I would be most concerned with seeing regular maintainance records, especially:

1. Belts and water pump service, done yesterday.
2. Front engine oil seals - cam, crank, balance shafts - done at the same time as #1.
3. Motor mounts - these little suckers make a huge difference in the way the car idles, comes off the line, etc. Recent replacements.
4. Oil changes - every 5k min.

This little list is what I think applies to the 968 specifically. To have all of it done at once is probably $2,500, give or take, or the cost of parts if DIY. Parts will probably be $550-$750, depending on how much OEM stuff you buy. Now just add all of the other things when searching for any used car.

(Anyone reading this, feel free to chime in if my estimates are off...)

You should find someone in your area who knows about this car and get him/her to help you out. Drive one in tip-top shape and just be a sponge - soak up everything you can about the car. Then you have something to compare the potential new ride with. You don't want to buy someone else's problems...

Feel free to send me a PM - happy to advise you further.

Best of luck,

Scott

PS- for more expert opinions, contact RS Barn, in Newtown, PA. Pete Fitzpatrick, owner. They are a sponsor on this site. From personal experience, I endorse them bigtime. Best mechanics and most knowledgeable people I have met. Integrity is beyond reproach.

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[xrad]

Scott: Can I cut and paste you post for all new members? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

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[Scott Collins]

<!--quoteo(post=74937:date=Jul 3 2009, 01:19 PM:name=xrad)-->QUOTE (xrad @ Jul 3 2009, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Scott: Can I cut and paste you post for all new members? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

X-

Sure! And if anyone is having trouble sleeping, my post should do the trick. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

Oh, I forgot to mention what really happens when you buy a 968 (or other car of your dreams.)


Stage 1. You see the ad for the car and say, "Let's just take a look. We're not going to buy it, nah. But it will be fun to see what it's like." Meanwhile, you've been socking it away for months and have a stash of cash ready to go. You have made up your mind that you are buying this car even before you see it. It's simple.

Stage 2. You and your spouse drive to see the car, which has some issues. You conceal your schoolboy excitement. But it is so amazing, and she doesn't know that the belts and water pump are original and that the car has 56K on the clock. But you know, and you also know that you're going to need more money, soon. You say to yourself, "It will be fun to do all of the work on my own. I just need a few more of the special Porsche tools and I will be OK." You also know that back in Stage 1, you already decided to buy it, so now it's just about getting your supplies in order.

Stage 3. You explain to your spouse that the price is amazing and that even though you were not impressed at first, after a lot of comparison checking, "It would be really crazy to let it get away." You think that this car is the only one available, forever, and that you have to have it. This is true, of course.

The rest of the story is history, but when you buy your second Porsche, guess what? I happens all over again!

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[wmuldowney]

Right on Scott.

Admittedly I had it easy. When the car I ultimately bought, from a friend no less, was offered for the second time around, I was all in. I sheepishly my wife if it was OK and her reply, God bless her, was "you'd be an idiot if you dont!". If she only knew. LOL

I still get misty eyed when I think about that.

You advice to the newbie was spot on, having had a 944 in the past and a Porsche mechanic in the family, I had a pretty good idea of what was to come.

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