Owning a Porsche 968 in 2024?

The 968 has always been my favorite front-engined Porsche, but they also always kinda scared me with all the Variocam stuff and the timing belt changes needed every couple oil changes. Seems like a lot of squeeze for not much juice.

All that said, I've been hunting around for the right 987.2 Cayman for some time and continue to come up short. A 968 has been listed for sale locally on and off for a few months, I reached out to the seller, and it sounds like he knows his stuff and is motivated to free up the space for another project: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/el-cerrito-1994-porsche-obo/7739548138.html

It's a good color, it seems well maintained, I got pics of the Variocam chain and pads and they do indeed look nice and fresh (the car has a top end rebuild in its history) and the guy is receptive to questions and easy to deal with which is a rarity these days. It is not cosmetically perfect and seems to have had a bunch of owners but that doesn't really worry me if it has been well-kept.

How much does it suck to own one of these in 2024? It would be a weekend driver for me and I would definitely be using it regularly and putting the miles on. I am in love with the look and don't think I would ever get any closer to a 993 these days, that's for sure. I know these are kind of an oddity but I think they are in a cool way. Just wondering how alarmed I would want to be going in.

I loved my 968, and the 944S2 that replaced it. (See Javelin's posts and You Tube videos on that.) Comfortable, practical and relatively modern, yet with classic grace. The timing & balance belt change interval is 45,000 miles (or IIRC, 5 years), compared with 30,000 miles on a standard 944, because of the better tensioner.  Few 968's were ever sold in the US, and it is getting noticed as a collector vehicle.  As with all Porsches, condition is everything, and a PPI would be recommended.

If you keep on top of maintenance, they can be surprisingly reliable.  My dad and I have co-owned a 944S for like 20 years now.  It was a basket-case when we got it, but we started with getting it running, and then started replacing things as time and budget would allow, preferably before they broke.  And for the past, say, 15 years, it has been shockingly reliable. 

Parts availability is not really an issue, although occasionally you will be forced into either a genuine part from the dealer, or a generic mfr of unknown quality.  Last fall I replaced a bunch of the rubber fuel hoses in the back, and had to get most of them from the dealer.  Prices were actually not crazy.  Not cheap, but not crazy.  Then a few weeks ago the high-voltage ignition module failed, and I was forced to take a gamble on a Beck Arnley part since the Bosch one seems to be hens teeth (weird since it's in like 20 different cars from the '80s - Volvos, Saabs, BMW, etc). 

I'm not a huge 968-look fan, but they really are quite rare these days.  Can't remember the last time I've seen one in the wild.

My problem with buying a rat like this thing is is that all the little broken stuff drives me bonkers, and it costs the same to fix a rat as it does a cherry example.  Couple P-Car prices with relative obscurity and its a hard pass for me.  If I wanted one I would buy one thats closer to 100%.

Also, I think they (like the 928s) are super duper DUPER ugly, but thats just personal opinion.  

93gsxturbo said:

My problem with buying a rat like this thing is is that all the little broken stuff drives me bonkers, and it costs the same to fix a rat as it does a cherry example.  Couple P-Car prices with relative obscurity and its a hard pass for me.  If I wanted one I would buy one thats closer to 100%.

If that's a rat, you should definitely never come within 100m of any of my vehicles!  

Here's one that is low mileage but unfortunately an Autotragic (or as the misogynistic boys on Audizine called a Chicktronic) so probably not what you're looking for:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1412040129462590/

In reply to rdcyclist :

Yeah, I would rather drive a manual econobox than any pre-PDK automatic Porsche.

I have a buddy getting ready to sell a nice 987.2 with a manual transmission. Car is in Denver. If you're interested, PM me and I'll connect you with him.

93gsxturbo said:

My problem with buying a rat like this thing is is that all the little broken stuff drives me bonkers, and it costs the same to fix a rat as it does a cherry example.  Couple P-Car prices with relative obscurity and its a hard pass for me.  If I wanted one I would buy one thats closer to 100%.

Also, I think they (like the 928s) are super duper DUPER ugly, but thats just personal opinion. 

I get what you're saying but we're talking about an early 90s german car. The only "cherry examples" are six digit price, four digit mileage garage queens that every rubber part on it will explode within a month of actually driving the thing. Any one in good driving condition is going to have some little issues and you're never going to solve all of them, it's just part of the character of that class of vehicle.

In reply to dyintorace :

Will send you a message, happy to learn more details at least even if it doesn't pan out.

EDIT: Seems like the 987.2 is likely off the table, so still considering this 968. Seller emailed me today to say that the Check Engine light suddenly came on during a drive today and he's taking it in for diagnosis. So, stay tuned I guess.

I like the 968, I think the front end styling looks a little goofy.  They have the same problems that all the 944's have, delaminating hatches, oil pan gaskets, torque tube rebuilds, clutches, need lots of timing belt changes.  They can be fun cars as long as you work on it yourself and you buy a well sorted one...

I REALLY like 968s.  You should get one!

To be clear, I know 968s look goofy and I am in the "love it" camp so that's not a concern of mine 

I just never got involved with any of the front-engined four cylinder Porsches and told myself I never would unless I somehow happened across a 968 and, well, here we are. So trying to catch up on all the platform knowledge to the extent that I can.

A few years ago, we realized that we had three or four 968s at a regular PCA meeting. Do the math and you realize that’s a pretty rare moment. Love that 3.0L, too. 

As a 944 owner with a similar use case (maybe more track time thrown in), I would buy that 968 in that condition for that price with no regrets. 

Ultimately the only thing that really seems to scare me on these cars I guess is the prospect of a torque tube rebuild. I need to see if there is a good front engined Porsche specialist here in the Bay Area and give them a call to ask about that in case it's something on the table, and also just to have a known decent shop I could go to when my DIY abilities don't feel up to the task.

I'm still in touch with the seller and am planning to sync up with him next week. I have $14k in cash ready to go from another aborted purchase. If I could snag it for that price, even if it is a little scruffy...

I have a friend that's had 944s off and on for a long time and I briefly owned a turbo. Maybe we just got lucky but across the five or so cars we had between us over the last decade or so since I've known him, we never did a torque tube rebuild and this is the first I've heard of it supposedly being a common problem. We did have to replace one (with a different used one) because of a cracked rear bell housing from rallycross abuse, but that's...not exactly a normal use case. In any case if that's your only hangup I wouldn't worry about it.

$14k for a 6MT 968 is a steal.  Most of them are selling in the $20k's or more.

In reply to pointofdeparture :

I've rebuilt the TT for my 944 in my garage with just basic tools and the guidance of some forum write ups. Like most things 944, it wasn't particularly difficult, there were just a extra steps to get to where you wanted to be. 

There was a 968 in my neighborhood growing up, and I always thought it was cool. And it was rare then. They look even cooler to me now. I have never driven one, sadly.
 

I support this drug.

The failing clear coat on the paint is what would concern me a bit. No inexpensive way to fix that. 

CyberEric said:

I have never driven one, sadly.

Same here, but they're fundamentally a 944. Try driving a good S2 or turbo. Many were unloved. The front LCA bushings and strut mounts are commonly Not Good. Struts and shocks as well. 

When well maintained they're all terrific cars to drive. I put a bunch of street and track miles on a turbo S but would recommend the S2 and 968 for having less plumbing.

Well, I bought a 968, but not the one I was originally looking at.

Just grabbed this red 1992 with factory sport seats, LSD, and an absurd list of documented maintenance and valuable modifications. It popped up on FB Marketplace earlier today, the guy very clearly was the right kind of owner, and I drove straight there to take it home.

How did I do?

1992 Porsche 968 Coupe 2D

$19,500

Driven 179,270 miles

Early edition 1992 968 (recessed Porsche badge on hood gives it away). The 968 coupe is a fantastic GT car.

It has sport oriented suspension and tires including: Ground Control caster-camber lowering plates with threaded spring adjusters and Koni dampers in the front. Adjustable coil overs with Koni dampers in the rear delete the torsion bars. Porsche Sport Seats secure the driver and passenger firmly in place. It is equipped with a six speed manual transmission and the optional limited slip differential (option code 220). It has M030 sway bars. It has been upgraded to the 993 big brake configuration. It has the Lindsey Racing three piece crossmember modification. Falken Azenis tires are mounted to Porsche Cup replica wheels.

The coupe has an amazing luggage capacity. This will hold golf gear and luggage for two. I've owned this since June of 2021. I've completed a roster of deferred maintenance (listed below). This is an honest driver that has miles of smiles remaining. I'm selling to make room for my next project.

The work listed has been done during my ownership unless stated otherwise.

• Replaced timing belt
• Replaced balance shaft belt
• Replaced balance shaft rollers
• Replaced balance shaft seals
• Replaced crankshaft seal
• Replaced water pump
• Replaced fuel pump
• Replaced fuel hoses to injector manifold
• Replaced fuel tank strainer
• Replaced O2 Sensor
• Replaced valve cover seals
• Tires – Falken Azenis – new in 2022
• Wheels refinished in silver
• Replaced Transmission output shaft bearings
• Replaced climate control unit
• Replaced front wheel bearings
• Replaced rear hub carrier bearings
• Replaced CV joint boots and repacked CV joints
• Replaced deck lid seal
• Replaced sunroof seal
• Replaced left and right door seals
• Replaced midrange speakers
• Replaced drive shaft torque tube
• Replaced facia seals and bumper trim
• Replaced AC compressor
• Converted to R134A
• Replaced distributor cap and rotor
• Replaced spark plugs
• Replace coolant hoses
• Replaced air and oil filter
• Replaced alternator and power steering belts
• Replaced power steering belt adjuster
• Replaced power steering rack hose
• Replaced water temp sending unit
• Replaced oil pressure sending unit
• Replaced trip meter/ odometer gears
• Replaced parking brake shoes
• Replaced brake pad sensors
• Installed new luggage cover
• Installed MOMO shifter knob and new leather boot
• Replaced cruise control module
• Acquired new owner’s manual
• Clutch and dual mass flywheel replaced in 2019 by previous owner

Inspect that Lindsey 3 piece cross member very, very carefully.  They crack, a lot!  Excellent find, that car has all the fun options.  Check the bolts that are for the variocam, I don't see that on the list of maintenance.

I do have confirmation that the Variocam chain and pads were inspected when the timing and balance shaft belts were done (about 2500 miles ago). The crossmember is something I will have to check.

The PO welcomed me back anytime to throw the car up on his lift or use his Durametric if anything went wrong so I know I bought the right car from the right guy.