[flash]

many of the parts for the 968 are NLA - the list increases almost every time i call in for something - even parts that one would think would be common are now being discontinued - an example is the trunk/hatch release motor, which is the same part for the 944 - NLA from porsche - doorway threshold plates - same for 944 - NLA from porsche

the M030 stuff is model specific, and with the limited number they started with, it makes no economic sense to continue to support those cars, and if they do, the price will be very high for those parts

having been dealing with classic cars for decades now, i've watched this happen to model after model - it's a pretty universal pattern from manufacturer to manufacturer

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[968kid]

"either way, enjoy the car now - there probably won't be gas to run them by the time any of these become collectible"

Interesting you brought this up Flash. After I purchased my 968 I felt a twang of guilt that I was contributing to the waste of a diminishing resource and polluting the planet purely for the sake of pleasure. There will be a time (probably sooner than most realize) when people look back and wonder what it was like to drive a sports car with a combustion engine. Hopefully technology will allow for a suitable substitute.
Oh well, I'll turn down the heat in my house by 5 degrees for the rest of the winter and wear a sweater.

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[Langley968]

On "collectors" plates / insurance you cannot use your vehicle to go to work or school. You are allowed to use it for "unlimited" pleasure only, which is OK with my intended use of the 968. For older collector units that were built "way back when" and do not have proper lighting, there may be restrictions on night time use. That does not apply to the 968.

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[Langley968]

My last post was to answer Mike's question.

"there probably won't be gas to run them by the time any of these become collectible"
We can always import methanol from Brazil. They make it from sugar cane, which makes more sense then using up precious corn to make it. The majority of vehicles there run on it and along with a computerized system, the engines are all "flex" fuel, which adjusts the engines performance based on the type of fuel being used. For higher performance vehicles, there is a small reservoir under the hood where high octane fuel is stored (a gallon or two) and the computer will draw in that fuel when rapid acceleration is demanded.

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[Johannvb]

Yeah, I realize a lot of parts are becoming NLA, but as with older models this trend will start reversing once the classic parts program is running on full steam.

Have a look here http://www.porsche.com/international/acces...c/genuineparts/

Obviously this is no guarantee the the clock will be produced again or the trunk motor, but judging on what I could find for my 356, I am hopeful.

PS. This topic makes me miss the quote function [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/happy.gif[/img]

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[flash]

or the temperature display..........

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[Monstrous4Banger]

What parts are not available can always be fabricated/rebuilt.

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[flash]

yes, but some of them would be very expensive, like all of the ones i listed

one of the reasons the mustang became collectable was the resurgence of parts availability - there was enough of a love and following of the car to bring vendors out and start making stuff

i don't see that happening with our car - as somebody who already makes parts for it, i don't see the market desire getting to the point of making it economically feasible

i can site a perfect example of why i don't think it will ever happen, due strictly to cost:

100% of the owners of a 968 feel that it lacks power relative to most any car today - 100% of the owners wish they had more (be honest guys) - the new supercharger will provide that without losing any of the character or feature of the car - how many do you really think we are going to sell?

we have to face facts - this is a cheap car - it's an entry level porsche - once the car gets expensive, the interest from a buyer's perspective will wane, the parts sources will dry up, and the cost to have one will skyrocket - with only a few around, it will be hard for it to become collectable, and if it does, you certainly wouldn't want to drive it

this becomes increasingly significant in the case of an M030 car - it's popularity is due to its track capacity - that would disappear once it becomes rare - who would risk wrecking it? it would be like those guys in the vintage classes who run half million dollar cobras fender to fender - that's a hobby for very rich guys - anybody here fit that description?

it's just the wrong audience - maybe that will change, but i tend to doubt it - the car was just never popular enough

it would be like an opel gt becoming a highly sought after collectable - it was a great car in its day, and revolutionary in many regards - it has finally exceeded its purchase price, parts are extremely rare, and the car is expensive to operate

it took 40 years to get there - in 2035 we might be there too

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[PorscheDude]

Just drive'em and enjoy.
I've always consdered them to be an uninvestment.

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[flash]

yeah - what he said

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[Johannvb]

Yeah, I'm pretty much doing the same, my car will become my DD in the near future. I am also planning on trading it in for a Cayman S as soon as the prices comes in range of my budget.

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[flash]

this is exactly why the car is likely destined for oblivion - most people still look at it as a step toward something else - nothing wrong with that either - that is how i feel about the M3

i am likely in the very small minority that feel that i can turn this car into exactly what i want, and NOT get something else to replace it - i've always been that way though - i've always taken something and developed it into something else (usually better, but i have had a few that did not come out the way that i had hoped)

if porsche made another 2 seat ragtop front engine, rear drive, manual transmission car, that could carry 2 full sets of golf clubs, 2 cases of wine, and my wife, i might consider it - but those are all immutable points for me - of all the cars in the world, i chose this one over any other of any brand for those very specific reasons - it had nothing to do with it being a porsche (i hate porsches, and frankly the fact that it was one was a negative at the time) - it had nothing to do with price - it had nothing to do with collectability - the car was a good platform for what i wanted to do

that being said, now i find myself quite hooked and contemplating collecting them - not for value, but rather because i like the car, and want a few of them, each set up for different uses

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[Johannvb]

I have owned many new "sports" cars in times when I needed to rack up the miles and didn't want to worry about breakdowns etc. Among these cars were an Audi S3 and Honda Civic V-tec. I really liked them but never loved them. My Porsches on the other hand has always had a special place in my hart. There really is no substitute.

My thing with Porsche borders on obsessive though, I have a deep need to own as many different Porsches in my life as I can. I don't see my 968 as a stepping stone. Far from it, it is a car that I really liked when it came out and always wanted to own one. I have now owned it for nearly two years and I have done everything I wanted to do to it. For the next year I am going to drive it and enjoy it, but then its time for something new.

I might go back to driving a 911 just because I would get bored if nothing needed fixing. I also miss the sound of my 964, and for me, it was a more fulfilling dive than the 968. I know Flash, Pete and many of you won't agree. But for me the 968 lacks character. Maybe it's too good, I just need a bit more of a scary ride.

Another reason I bought the 968 is because I decided to start tinkering on my cars again, and the 968 looked like a good Porsche for me to start learning about cars again especially all the electronics.

I really hope that Porsche will continue to support this car and that the NLA parts will again become available under the classic program. Even though my hart doesn't want to believe Flash's prediction my head tells me you are right these cars will eventually go the same route as the 924 and 944. This saddens me because they really are way more special.

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[flash]

lol - i didn't mean to burst anyone's bubble, and for me, it really is inconsequential, as it was never a consideration anyway

as for being a "stepping stone", unless you keep it and just add the next car, it is a stepping stone - it's something you have on your way to the next one - that is not a bad thing, just a method

i plan to keep this one, just as i did my last toy (about 20 years)- i merely added more cars as i went along - i only let go the ones that i outgrew - at one point i had 12 cars and 6 motorcycles - i only sold them when i moved to L.A because of storage impracticality

on the subject of character, i get that - this car is extremely civilized - perhaps the lack of "edge" is what drives many of my modifications - i am likely seeking some of that adrenaline rush of a car at its limits - with the mgb it was not so hard to find those limits - with this car it is much harder - it is likely the same with the more primitive 911 models, and why people tend to think of them fondly - even though they likely drive the 968 better and faster, they like the feel of being on the edge of out of control and "feel" like they are driving faster

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[Monstrous4Banger]

IMO greatest street cars porsche ever made in order: 959, carrera gt, 968 turbo s. Thats my top 3, and honestly cant afford the first two so......
Id have to say Im definitely in the small minority.

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[Cloud9...68]

"IMO greatest street cars porsche ever made in order: 959, carrera gt, 968 turbo s. Thats my top 3, and honestly cant afford the first two so......
Id have to say Im definitely in the small minority. "

I'm not so sure you're in such a small minority. Those are three amazing machines, although I don't care for the looks of the Carrera GT.

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[rxter]

"even though they likely drive the 968 better and faster, they like the feel of being on the edge of out of control and "feel" like they are driving faster "

I did that for 3 years with a Toyota Tercel. 70 mph on the freeway, and 25 on the ramp was on the ragged edge. I love the 968 because you can approach the limit, spin the ass around, stay alive, and still enjoy the tunes.

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