[sasilverbullet]

I'm in Dallas for the week...had my 968 parked out front by the check-in and near the pool. I overheard two guys walking by. One was the 'arm chair' car guru talking trash about my 968. Quote, "yeah I know it's a Porsche but it just isn't fast! And besides, it's a water cooled front engine piece of ****!"



I just smiled and thought about 165mph top speed, six speed, comfort, handling, awesome lines...



There's just no accounting for taste!



(and yes, I did consider confronting him, but nah, what a waste of breath!)

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[Anchorman]

I'd say you got it right, and you did right.

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[flash]

if only these cars would do a true 165, we might get a bit more respect - the speedometer error is very misleading - check it with a GPS - you won't be very happy



the guy wasn't all that far off, though i would stop short of the last comment - in stock trim, at a top speed of 156, it's barely keeping up with your average acura - our 0-60 is pathetic by today's standards too - handling is about average - today's cars are just better performers - hence, a lot of people feel like he does - of course, they have never driven a 968 either



that being said, i still like the car - and of course, i would have educated him on the finer points of the car

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[sasilverbullet]

so if my speedo says 100mph, with 17" wheels what am I probably running?



The speedo error is also in other Porsches...



So our top speed is 155 ish realistically?

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[Anchorman]

I'd still go with the comfort, handling, lines, scarcity. Absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. So what if it's not a dragster, and personally it's got all the top speed I'll ever need. I drive it because of its characteristics, not because it's a Porsche. Others may think it's "not a Porsche" but I think it's a great car. SMILE FACTOR!!!

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[sasilverbullet]

:banghead:



Forgot about PERMAGRIN!!!! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

absolutely!



i could care less about top speed too - the plan for me is to change the gears to the powerhouse set and lower the final ratio - 150 is enough for me - where the heck am i going ot go any faster?



as for speedo error, 3% at top speed is very normal - that means at an indicated 160, you are really doing 155 - at an indicated 100, you are probably doing about 97 - generally, car manufacturers set the speedos to read accurately at 55-60mph - the error then swings up and down on each end of the spectrum from there



tire wear also affects this - the more wear, the smaller diameter, and the higher the speedo reads, relative to actual speed - different brands of tires do the same thing - the outside diameter varies from brand to brand - some are smaller than others



anyway, as jim said, it's not about top speed - it's about the fun and exclusivity



i find a lot of fun in making the redheaded step child underdog of a car do stuff that catches people completely by surprise - i just love walking somebody in their jap-crap and seeing the "what the heck was that?" expression on their faces in my rear view mirror - you just can't get that in a 911

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[S_Cal968]

Hey there's a lot of ignorant people in the world - these guys probably have no clue as to what the 968 is capable of. They probably know nothing about the exceptional balance and road handling right out of the box. In the early 90's it was one heck of a car.

I wouldn't even try to comparing a 12 year old car to it to a later model.

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[Mark]

Actually 12 years later I feel it still compares favorably in the power and handling department.

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[sasilverbullet]

Yah! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Drive it like you stole it!!!!!

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[968rz]

He obviously knows nothing of Porsche <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/huh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> , everyone I know that has said anything bad about my car (924 and 986) ate their words once they got a ride <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> . So I say ignore the uneducated comments and just enjoy the ride with the knowledge that you know what the rest don’t <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> .



Porsche-There is no substitute !

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[flwbyu]

You know the one thing that this car has going for it is that it is unique! I do wish that I had a little more horsepower which is why I will be changing the car over to a turbo or supercharger in the future.



I have had a lot of other cars but the 968 really communicates with you. Unlike other cars, this one drives hard and thus I can tell when it is ready to be serviced. This is not your talking on the cell phone and driving kind of car. It requires all of your faculties when driving. The grass will always be greener on the other side. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[rhudeboye]

[quote name='flash' date='Aug 15 2006, 08:28 AM']the guy wasn't all that far off, though i would stop short of the last comment - in stock trim, at a top speed of 156, it's barely keeping up with your average acura - our 0-60 is pathetic by today's standards too - handling is about average - today's cars are just better performers -

[right][post="25288"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



I would have to disagree with you this time Flash. I've come to find that our 68's does quite well against newer cars. Actually when I put my foot in it, and hold it there, few cars are in my mirror by the time I run through 3rd and my car is stock with a bad 4th gear!



Below I have a list of everyday cars (common in my area and driven by many of my friends) along with their 0-60 times followed by their 1/4 mile times. I hope that the results restore the smiles on your faces. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



1992 Porsche 968 5.9 14.4



2003 Acura 3.2CL Type-S 6.5 14.9

2000 Audi TT Quattro Roadster 6.2 14.7

2004 Cadillac XLR 5.9 14.4

2004 Ford Mustang GT 6.3 14.8

2004 Ford Mustang Cobra SVT 4.5 12.9

2003 Honda S2000 6.3 14.9

2004 Honda S2000 5.8 14.2

2003 Infiniti G35 6.2 14.7

2004 Lexus GS 430 5.8 14.3

2001 Lexus IS 300 7.6 15.3

2003 Nissan 350z 5.4 14.1

2004 Saab 9-3 Aero 6.9 15.1

1997 Toyota Supra Turbo 5.1 13.6

2004 Volkswagon Golf R32 6.4 14.5

2004 Mazda RX-8 5.8 14.49



As for real driving, I had a Mustang GT run up on my bumper the other night on an empty 4-mile road. I’ve only had my car a month and was curious as to what it could do so I down shifted and the dance began. By mid 5th I could hear his engine roaring but he was unable to close on me and had fallen about 4 car lengths back. Now in most situations that’s fighting out of your weight class as he has a V6 or V8,



So even by today’s standards our Porsches (4 cylinders of the early 90s) shouldn’t be taken lightly by any common car. Unless your talking Vette status.

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[sasilverbullet]

And vettes don't always rule with us either! I was leading a group of Porsches/vettes on a tour through the hill country. They could keep up okay but when I hit the real "twisties" where I kinda go a little wild <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> the ONLY vette that could even sorta keep up was a brand new Z06!!



<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> I'm VERY happy with this car! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

well that was taken a bit out of context, but i noticed that a number of the cars there beat the 968, which was my point - 2 tenths of a second is a lot - by the way, they do it for less money too, relatively speaking



the comparison i made to the acura was top speed at 156 - many cars now go well over 160



the 0-60 is even stomped by a number of trucks these days



i still like the car, but not for its numbers - i'll be keeping it

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[TheMirror]

[quote name='flash' date='Aug 16 2006, 07:45 AM']2 tenths of a second is a lot -

[right][post="25332"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



I'll quibble with that a little, 2 tenths can easily be given or taken away by different ambient temps, better shifting by the driver, an extra shift before the measurement yardstick, etc.



Nitpick, nitpick.... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

agreed - almost nobody gets the kinds of times that we saw in that article - go run the car, i'm guessing you'll get just a touch over 6 flat



so, we have to take the test numbers at face value, and assume that any errors you mention could also apply to the other car, thereby making it moot



even by the standards of the cars of its day, the 968 was just mediocre on acceleration and 1/4 mile times - slalom and cornering figures were decent, but not the best, and certainly the car had stiff competition for less money



today, almost every sport sedan has more power, corners better, out slaloms it, and every time i look at a car, it has a low 5 0-60, and a top speed of over 160 - drives me nuts



as fun as our cars are to drive, i find myself spending a lot of time and money just trying to beat a suburu's numbers



but, then there's that whole exclusivity thing - and the lines - and the comfort - the list does go on - what the heck - i bought it as a project anyway

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[RPM]

had my 968 parked out front by the check-in and near the pool. I overheard two guys walking by. One was the 'arm chair' car guru talking trash about my 968. Quote, "yeah I know it's a Porsche but it just isn't fast! And besides, it's a water cooled front engine piece of ****!"

Not a Porsche owner so who frikkin' cares what he thinks? I just don't care what other people think about my car.



BTW - General sense in my PCA Region seems to be swinging towards admiring the cars because they are so rare and tend to pass Boxsters on the track ( <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ).

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[rhudeboye]

[quote name='flash' date='Aug 16 2006, 08:45 AM']well that was taken a bit out of context, [right][post="25332"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



My apologies. I respect your modesty toward this car. You love it but can openly express its weaknesses. That’s the way this board should be.





There are a lot of claims to speeds above 160 out there, but a number of them wont get there in any decent time. Take the Charger w/ a Hemi for example; the strength of the pull will die off around 135. It may hit 150 or 160 but its a slow climb for that extra 15 or 25.



Obviously the 968 isn't the fastest car built, I myself have driven faster cars, but its still fast. Hope I'm not coming of arrogant here, I guess I got a case of owner’s pride. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

ralph - i too noticed that quite a bit at parade - a number of guys would say "i wish they still made this car" - very encouraging



rhudeboy - no worries - don't get me wrong - i'm not slagging the car, but i do see where itfalls short - that's ok - i actually like that fact that the car is a bit of a red-headed step child - i also like that it has shortcomings - the challenge for me, as a tuner, is to take something and develop it and find what it can do - the rabbit/beetle suspension has proven to be quite a bit of fun to play with, and it's always fun for me to find places to lighten a car and get more power - that's why i bought this car in the first place - i was looking for a platform, and i said to myself "yeah - that's a car i can tear apart"



i even enjoyed blowing the clutch up on the track last week - it gives me another opportunity to improve another weak spot



we all love the car for different reasons - i'm having a blast with it

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