I've been doing a lot of research on these models and would like to get some real world experience from Porsche owners on what they feel would be the best one to own.

From what I have gathered, they all seem to be pretty good on fuel economy, and I'm assuming they all handle very well. I do question somewhat the purchase of a turbo when the 968 has almost as much HP. Are there any substantial differences in reliability or maintenance costs between them? I was planning on spending around $15,000 for one and would probably put on around 5 to 10 thousand miles annually. I've also considered a Nissan 300zx that could probably be found somewhat cheaper but these cars have more bells & whistles on them if you know what I mean.

I'm currently leaning towards a 968 because of the refinement of the series but open to all suggestions.

I know this is a pretty subjective question but would appreciate any info or knowledge you could share.

 

The turbo...better lines, cheaper price, and easily upgradable. and did i say BOOOOOOOOOOST!!!

 

For everyday driving, the 968 is probably going to be your best choice.

For decent tooling around town with the occasional hair raising backroad hooligan slalom, definitely the 951. There is no substitute for turbo boost.

 

944 S2.......... There is no need to explain since we all know its the best!

 

for my money, 968. the 968 has better lines, better engine, the best refinement and development of the series. the 968 will also hold its value much better.

 

968. Newer- more refined.. same porsche upkeep.. (Except the 951.. it's like lighting c-notes on fire..)

 

The 968 also has a much easier clutch replacement but it is a little more difficult to find parts since a lot less were made.

 

It all depends on what you want & are willing to spend. The lower on the scale, the more 'spartan' the car (lighter, less hp, less refinement, cheaper), the higher on the scale the more refined (heavier, more hp, very refined, more expensive). From the questions you're asking (as well as the budget you mention), I'm thinking a 968 would be your best bet.

924 ~$2-4k, slow, old-school interior
944 (83-85.5) / 924S: ~$3-4k, low-hp, lightweight, classic
944 (85.5-89) / 944S: ~$4-5k, more modern features (interior), low to mid hp
944 S2: ~$6-8k, More modern development, good hp, heavier, more refined
944 Turbo: ~$8-10k, Fast, very 'upgradeable', refined, yet still a wanna-be race car
968: ~$10-15k, modern, very refined

 

Stay away from an S. An S2 however is a good choice if you like the pre 968 body style. An S2 is as fast as a 951 until the boost comes on because of the 3l with more low end torque.

 

Nothing wrong with the "S", but I'd go with the 968...! Not as cranky as the "S" to deal with, larger engine, and, IMHO, much nicer lines. Go For It!!

Jim 1987 944S

 

IMHO, the 951's are much more complex cars to work with -- there's so much more stuff under the hood. As an example, a clutch job on a 968 might be 8 hours of labor, a 944s2 might be 12 hours of labor and on a 951 can be 24 hours of labor (I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but call up your local Porsche mechanic to find out). At the going rate of ~$100/hr, the maintenance cost on a 951 can easily skyrocket. Some of that won't be as bad if you to your own wrenching -- but it's still alot more work on a 951.

But then, the benefit of the complexity is that you have alot more upgradability.

It also depends on your intended use. As a daily driver, I'd recommend the S2 or the 968 for their low-end torque.

 

968.

Personally I think labour estimates on these cars shouldn't be measured in "hours" but in "vile curse words yelled at the top of one's lungs". Usually in reference to Porsche engineers. In order to count, the screamed obscenity should be spontaneous and clearly driven by rage - usually something that would make a sailor blush and for which you'll feel guilty afterwards 'cause the neighbor's kid heard you. A good example might be:

Oil change on an n/a car - 2 or 3
Replacing the heater valve - 8 or 9
Clutch job (n/a) - 50
Clutch job (turbo) - 75
Turbo replacement - 45
Speed/ref. sensor replacement - 20
Fix busted heater clip - 10

See how well this works?!?! I'm suprised nobody thought of this sooner.

 

I happen to be a sailor...and dont really curse much working on my 944. I do however find myself saying "Who the hell designed this damn thing?" many many times over. Case in point, the oil filter. Why the hell did they need to put it there....and why so when you unscrew it you dump oil everywhere?

As for which car to purchase, i think its a good idea to drive all 4 varieties before making your decision. There are pro's and cons of every model really. One thing you really need to know is what is the total amount of money you are willing to spend on this car. Also what are your goals with the car, everyday driver, track car, autocross car, freeway dragster. Each car is better suited to different tasks.

Case in point, the 944 Turbo is not the best autocross car, you would want any of the n/a cars for that. They are however top pick in the free way bomber category and make great track cars. If you have a thing for power, the 944 Turbo is the way to go really.

 

A. 911 oilfilters are worse (Sideways and no way to get anything under them)...

B. Turbo clutch with a 2 peice crossover is IMHO just as easy as a regular N/A. The S2 is easier then both to do clutch job on.

 

And also: how quickly would you like that money to disappear? A good rule of thumb is: double the horsepower, double the rate at which your wallet burn.