[Chris Vais]

I owned a 944 before I bought my 968. I looked for a year before I found one for sale in 1996. I loved the look of the car from the day I first saw it. It reminds me of one of my all time favorite cars, the Cobra Daytona Coupe, a car that is as good looking today as it was 42 years ago when I first saw one on a race course.



I am well aware that there are any number of "rice rockets" out there that are "better performers" on paper. My personal observation is that by the time I hit 4000 rpm in third most of them are hard pressed to keep up.



I live in the East Bay where I often have kids in their tricked out Honda VTECs or Acuras that pull up along side and want to race. I had a kid pull up along side last fall with some hot Honda. I took him off the line with no problem but then he just comes past me going like he was shot out of a gun, passes me and pull in front

of me, makes a rude gesture and then blows his engine up. I got showered with oil, coolant and engine parts, one of which left several deep scratches on nose piece and a scratch on the right front wheel as I was trying to avoid most of the shrapnel. The kid and his car came to a sliding halt after jumping the curb. I stopped to make sure no one got hurt. Turns out he had installed a nitrous oxide system and defeated the rev limiter. Also turns out that his insurance had been cancelled for reckless driving.



I am frequently asked if I am interested in selling the car. It is always attracting attention. I had it parked out in front of a winery tasting room during one of my frequent "agricultural inspection tours" and a guy with a new Boxster is extolling the virtues of my car to his girl friend. I ended up trading him a drive to the next winery in my 968 while I drove his Boxter S. I also managed to trade a ride in the 968 for a ride in a 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO.



Where else can you find a rare and beautiful car, comfortable to drive, that will let you carry a load of camping and fishing gear for a two week fly fishing trip to Montana and Wyoming and still enable you to drive from Wendover, Utah to SLC in a little over an hour. Drive it, enjoy it, maybe you can trade rides in someone elses exotic.

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[whakiewes]

When I bought my car, I was expecting a little more out of it. Actually my first ride/drive was slightly dissapointing. But when we pulled back in, and I stepped out and saw it from the front 3/4 angle, it was so different that I had to go back out again. The second time around I drove and although the clutch fork had an issue, I really enjoyed the car. It was raw, but more tame than a 951. Not as tame as an M3, but more enjoyable. I figured that I would have to stick to tracking it to get 'racing' satisfaction, but the car turns out to be rather surprising. Its not very torquey by most standards, although much torquier than the S2, but right about 5500 it really just gives me that feeling I love. Then doing the basic chip/intake/exhaust really helped the feeling. I am confident that my 1000-4000rpm power is reduced, but I can easily keep in above that if I am in the mood. I have never taken my car to the drag strip, but I keep up with low to mid 13 second cars, and occasionally pull on them.



I would also note that I have been out with several 911 owners, from 930's to 964's, and 996's. No 993's, but sitting amongst $100k C4S's and mint RS America's, my car easily gets as much or more attention even with my chipped up front, crappy seals, and other issues. Most of what I receive though are the wow, what is that kind of thing. One day I was filling up with gas and recieved three comments in the time of spending a mere $60 on gas. That made my day. On the other hand, a guy in an AE86 Corolla accused me of putting a 911 front end on my 944. He was amazed by the body work, but when I showed him the owners manual he was a bit dumbfounded. I have never recieved the 'updated 928' remark yet.

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[pbc1548]

Refer them to the back pages of EVO (GT's/Coupes) - where the car is simply referred to as "one of the all time greats" - ya gotta love those Brits - they appreciate & understand the "whole package concept" as opposed to just the numbers game - comes from a lot of time spent in the "twistie bits" Oh ya, EVO also adivses "lots have been driven hard - be sure to buy a good one"

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[porsche]

Here in southern california, it is CROWDED!



Lots of cars, people and traffic.



As such, I've never been much of a 0-60 driver (let alone attempt to verify top speed).



Not that I'm complaining. I much prefer the beach with all its perks that come with the crowds.



However, with the crowds, you're lucky to hit the speed limit for any distance. So, when it comes to your car, S. Cal drivers are best off with something really fun at 30 mph with a lot of style.



So with my 968 I end up driving slow and enjoying the scenery. Scenery littered with bikini girls that seem to love my 968.



Hmm. Great car that's fun to drive (slow and fast), and that's gotten me more phone numbers from bikini girls than any other car I've owned.



In fact, on one occasion, I had a bikini date in the passenger seat when a roller skating blonde in ultra-short shorts and a bikini top had the nerve to give me her number while we were checking the surf.



Yes, I love my 968 for all the right reasons.



Who cares if a pair of dorks don't get it, the girls of S. Cali love 968s!

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[ds968]

barely related to this thread, but close enough <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> :



just saw a 968 exiting the freeway and regretfully I was driving my MBZ or I would have followed him and stop to chat but noticed his l.p. which read :



aBETR911



( the A was a smaller size than the rest - did not know DMV can do those things <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/huh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> )





It was not a California plate, and I did not have the time to see which state, but

I LOVE that L.P. - what a great statement about our car !



maybe I'll do that plate at renewal, unless it's already taken, or some of you guys in CA beat me to it ! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[rustech]

[quote name='Chris Vais' date='Aug 16 2006, 10:49 AM']Drive it, enjoy it, maybe you can trade rides in someone elses exotic.

[right][post="25348"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



I tried it when I was at our LA alignment shop out here. I couldn't convince him to switch rides with me to go around the block. Maybe it's because he pulled up in a CGT? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[ether_joe]

well I think the 968 keeps up pretty well considering it's what, 16 years old now?



cars today are faster than they ever were. . . I mean what the new *base* 3series has like 255 hp?



and cars today are UGLIER than they ever were. . .



I'll keep my 968 forever and put d a V8 conversion in a few years to even the numbers back up. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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