[WJH]

I too feel that way when I look at the cars that I've got to service. I've got 5 kids and I'm the chief mechanic at the house. My garage is well equipped but it still gets old trying to keep these old cars on the road. At my house we have an 04 Envoy, 96 Avalon, 93 Chevy Pickup, 94 Olds Ciera (drives like a boat), 93 968, 88 951, and 85 944. Yes, I am crazy. We need to get some newer cars.



With seven cars (3 of them old water cooled Porsches) I have to prioritize. I keep good tires and brakes and keep the engines running well. I don't have time to worry about the little things.



The 968 gets the best care. On this car, I do try and take care of the little things. It's just so pretty!



I've found I'm more motivated (for small things) if I just pick out something that needs to be fixed and go for it. If I did have a lot of money I'd probably just pay someone else like Jay Leno does! Jay has a good thing going.

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[rxter]

That is quite a stable...

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[Scott Collins]

For a few short, fleeting moments, everything worked on both of my Porsches. Fleeting.....



Fleeting....

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[Cloud9...68]

I don't think there has ever been a moment where everything worked on all five of our cars. Having a new car would sure be nice...

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[968Syncro]

[quote name='rxter' timestamp='1369768835' post='143206']

Roland I would be happy to help with the music angle. I've become reasonably adept at pulling the head unit, speakers, wiring, etc. Sometimes a helping hand can also change your head space.

[/quote]

Joe, that is a really nice offer, I do miss your enthusiasm. Let me see what I can do with the priorities in this list of stuff. Hey it's still late spring, it can still count as getting her ready for the summer (although the fever always used to hit around Mar. 1).



Roland

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[craigawoodman]

Just a suggestion, perhaps in addition to the Paso Roblos run, there could be a man cave/male bonding session and have a garage weekend working bee. Bring your car and the bits and see what you can get fixed.



Just for incentive, if you finish by a certain time, you can partake in "refreshments" earlier than everyone else, or even help others while partaking in "refreshments" up to a nominated tools down time and compulsory "refreshment" enjoyment by everyone.



Should see some 968's end up with a clean bill of health, and lots more in an improved state of health.



The enjoyment factor and knowledge transfer mug make it every bit as rewarding as going for a drive.

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[tamathumper]

Knock on wood, everything works on my car, and if something stops I have to fix it. Otherwise I feel like I'm driving a beater Porsche. That's why the third brake light drives me batty. The little bulbs fail to light on a regular basis and only require cleaning and re-insertion, but you can't tell unless you put a box on the deck lid and press the brakes. Or, you can tell when an F-250 with a chrome grill is up against your rear bumper. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/glare.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Inkedupfatboy]

I just bought the car - spent 4K on getting it running - have to rebuild the transaxle - can't get the speakers to work - Can't drive it - can't drink it - can't you know what it - I am depressed. I was supposed to get my knee scoped this next week, but I have a bad feeling about it so I am canceling it. I think I am depressed. Bored too.

I just want to drive the freaking car. Then I might feel better. At least I took it around the block once today.

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[craigawoodman]

Ah, 968 ownership. Once you get the car fixed and get to drive it again, just think of it as "make-up sex". It will all be worth it in the end.

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[flash]

i have said this 100 times if i have said it once.



it takes at least $20k to get a good running cabriolet, and a couple grand less for a hardtop. it doesn't matter which way you go about it, whether you buy on the cheap and fix it, or buy one already done. that's what you will spend. the only real difference is the pain you endure along the way. there are no shortcuts.



on top of that, a 968 will cost you. it is a 20 year old car. every original rubber part on it is WAAAAAY past its life expectancy. wiring is suspect, particularly for an east coast car. things just wear out and fail. it's a car, and an old one at that.



these are great cars, when completely gone through, but they will make you nuts though if you try to run them without going through them. they will nickel and dime you to death, often a grand at a shot.



10 years ago, things were different. now, they are no different than any other old car. be prepared for that, and you won't get frustrated. expect it to behave like a new car, and you are in for a world of disappointment.

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[ds968]

Depends on each car. I bought the car over ten years ago with 58 k miles on the odo, and by then only the clutch and brakes and distributor cap were replaced by the <acronym title='previous owner'><acronym title='previous owner'><acronym title='previous owner'>PO</acronym></acronym></acronym>. Since then and now at 115 k miles, other than the clutch hose, and the starter, I have not spent more than a few hundred dollars on preventivebmaintenance / replacement of parts and the car still runs like a Swiss watch, doing perfectly fine, thank you .. All rubber hoses ( rubber anything for that matter..) are still tne original ones, as are any and all other parts. No, I'm not counting the timing belt as that was entirely my fault, so it does not count. Nor am I counting the $ 000,s I spent for MODS, because that's irrelevant . So my point is this : yes, as flash pointed out you can end up with a 968 where you spend $ 20 k to bring it up to perfect running condition, but IMO you can also end up with one where you'll spend essentialy nothing..and it'll be as perfect as the one you spent $ 20 k on to bring it up to snuff. As they say.. " YMMV " :-)

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[flash]

lol - yeah - not counting the $5k for the new top end. but we won't go there.



just because your rubber parts haven't fallen out of the car, it does not mean they are not worn. you live in the best case scenario climate. this helps a lot. a car on the east coast would not last half as long.



by the way, many of your mods replaced very old and tired components (like your suspension). there is a couple grand there in parts alone.



it all adds up. in the 9 years of watching this stuff, and seeing what goes on with these cars, my numbers are very accurate. there are cars on both ends of that bell curve, but statistically speaking, $20k is the magic number.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

As frustrated as I am with the process, I bought the car right. A 44K car for only $5,000.00

Yes I may have close to 9K in it when it is done, I had anticipated 10K when I bought it. I am just torqued 'cause I can 't drive it yet.

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[tamathumper]

If you manage to get that car in great shape for $10,000, you will be far ahead of the game. $20,000 really is the magic number.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

It is already in great shape. the only issues left are the transaxle and stereo. - It just needs washed.

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[ds968]

I still can't think of another car ( used or new ) that has the combination of all of the attributes the 968 possesses that you can find for under $ 50 k .

So if you spend anything below that in total, you should be content, and in no " 968 funk" . IMHO :-)

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[Inkedupfatboy]

I do have to say for the first time the wife referred to the car as "that money pit Porsche" today - lol

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[ron1688]

I go to the same funk at least once a year..to sell or not to sell..The car is realatively not that expensive to keep... In fact, I'm going through it again as I write this...to keep or not to keep... Spend another 10k for SC upgrade and not have to go through the pain of removing and re-installing the RS barn header system every two years or is there somebody out there to take me out my misery and buy my car for 17k.... Oh well...maybe a drive for the weekend will ease my decision once again.......

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[craigawoodman]

Ron,



The SC should not cost you $10k, and my advice is do it. There is not much out there dollar for dollar that will perform like a 968 with power. Even naturally aspirated, my 968 could cut lap times equal to an Audi R8 on twisty circuits (actually better than the V8). Rather than thinking of selling, try to think of what you would replace it with and what that would cost. Also factor in if what you would replace it with would depreciate and how much would that cost.



The 968 is the performance car bargain of the century.

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[ron1688]

Approximately $7,600.00 for parts and another $800 - 1k for labor..close enough...

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