capndar

Beyond cosmetics, and other than the engine/variocam bit, what are the significant differences between the 944 cab (which I am guessing is only ab S2 here in the us) and an ealry 968 cab? Do the tops operate the same way?

Damian in NJ

The tops do work exactly the same. The 968 has a 6 speed or tip gearbox, both unavailable on the 944, and one significant difference in real life driving-the lights on the 968 are much better-really noticeable improvement.

capndar

Many thanks...very helpful....What is the reliability of these two 'new' gearboxes?

M758

S2 cab as back seats, 968 cab does not.

something to consider if you have kids. I have a friend that has taken his wife and 2 kids in Porsche club drive in a 944S2 Cab. Cant do that in a 968 cab. I believe you can retofit the seats to a 968 if needed.

95Juan

does this mean 968 cabs have more room for the driver, or more "trunk space"?

or does the convertible mechanism take up more space?

Jfrahm

Putting E-codes in the S2 make the lights very very good. The 8" lamps in my 928 are about as good.
Some 968 6-speeds had R&P problems, but hopefully most of those have failed by now.
968s have a higher initial cost and higher cost of sorting out the variocam system in the 100-130K mile range (opposed to the $25 tensioner pad on the S2.)
968s have a neat little clock and thermometer, and some nicer interior touches.
I can feel the additional power in the 968, it's nice.

Figure on at least $4K-$5K more buyin and $2K more catch-up maintenance for a 968.

-Joel.

M758

Nope, they just don't have rear seats. I think it had to do with new law for 3pt belts needed in the rear and taking the top off made that difficult. So with 968 cab they just took the seats out. The coupes had standard rear seats and 3pt belts.

Fishey

I think that 1992 968's had rear seats but I could be mistaken..

Robby

I've never seen a 968 cab w/rear seat except for those who have retrofitted them, but maybe some '92's did have seats...? I don't get the seatbelt part though- I've heard this, but didn't the S2 cab have rear seatbelts w/shoulder harnesses? Anyway, IF you want a 968 AND a rear seat, you'll have plenty of people willing to trade you for the rear storage bin thing from the 968- rear seats & seatbelts are all over the place.

968 6-sp is much shorter gearing which does help accleration. 6th in a 968 is actually shorter than 5th in a 951...

968 has dif door panels- later '94 & '95's w/M490 stereos have better speakers & are arranged slightly differently- either cab is easier to upgrade up front- no depth issues, unlike coupes...

Yes, 968 lights are much better- they went to H4 bulbs, whereas 944's had sealed beam style lenses. You can always upgrade the 944 though....

968 had optional 17" wheels- '92 & '93 had Cup 1's (also known as C2's) & '94 & '95 had Cup 2's (also known as 993's). I'm almost 100% positive, however, that the 968 cabs did NOT have optional M030... Damian? Also not sure about optional LSD...? For that matter, though, I'm not sure if the S2 Cab had optional LSD &/or M030, or not...?

Oh yeah, 968's have more unique color options... That was the experimental color era for Porsche- some of them are really cool, but others I like to admire as someone else's...

The HP dif is significant- 236/225 vs 208/207, especially combined w/the gearing... I don't think they really added any weight though...

Hey, did 968's ever have traction control? For some reason I always thought they did....? Worked off the ABS sensors...?

edit- I'm also pretty sure the tops are identical- I know of one guy on the list who actually removed the motor from an S2 cab- I think it had broken- anyway, he left it off to save weight (& expense of fixing?) & says it's very easy to operate manually... Both cabs also have that 45lb weight in right rear wheel well- if you remove that & the motor, you could save ~75lbs from what I understand...

FRporscheman

Sure, 968 headlights are better, but 944 lights can easily be upgraded to brighter bulbs. However, the 968's pop-out light design is unique, unlike the 944's pop-up lights which can be found on dozens of other models. I think the only other car that ever had this kind of light was the 928, but I may be wrong. I've never seen it anywhere else.

Later 968s came with r-134a AC systems, where the early 968s and all 944s used r-12. If you like avoiding retrofitting, then that's a bonus. Also, later 968s used 993 seats, where early ones used left-over 944 seats. I think the 968 and 944s2 both used the 951 brakes.

95Juan

i thought lambo muiras had pop out lights. if the lights dont pop out in any way, then i have no idea how you're supposed to drive at night.

Damian in NJ

Half the guys on 968.net have converted to rear seats, as I did-it's quite easy. The tiptronics can suffer from flex plate problems, and as stated some 968's had the wrong preload on the pinion bearing. I'd say the S2 is 80% of the car for 60% of the price, so a good one can be a bargain. I almost bought a 30K mile S2 cab last year, could've gotten it for around 10 grand-thought it would be fun and keep the miles off my 968. Then sanity arrived, as I started thinking of changing the mirrors and door handles, wheels, yadda yadda, so I let it go.

Damian in NJ

No traction control on any 968, no mo30 available on cabs, lsd was available on cabs, some Canadian cars had rear seats in at least 92. The lack of a three point seatbelt is what prevented US cars from having rear seats, the law was new for 92.

Robby

Damian-

1- does this mean the S2 cab did NOT have rear shoulder belts?
2- how long ago was the 30k mile S2 cab for sale? What color? That sounds like a damn good deal.... Is it still available?
3- what did you do w/the rear storage bin from your car? Would you care to weigh it for me? Also, is it black? For sale? I'm considering options for my rear seat delete & I think those are about the coolest looking seat replacement one could get for these cars- the 911CS would be second- it's much like the 968CS, only has a vertical trim piece. Either way, I'm wanting to save weight & I'm thinking the 968 cab storage bin was fairly heavy- pushing 30lbs maybe...?

Yeah, I remember the seatbelt law now- it was 1986 when it became mandatory to wear them- at least in TN - TN was the first state. Then, the law about shoulder harnesses is what caused those crappy auto-shoulder harness belts in the Corrados... Those sucked, but I think they already had them in earlier SC G60 Corrados in '89. Either way, I think Canadian market VR6 Corrados did not have that- it was very annoying. I was always a Corrado fan b/c I had always liked the 16V Sciroccos & GTi's... Unfortunately, the US lost some HP & displacement from the original 2.9L. But, this is a tangent from hell, so I'll stop there...

gregeast

Robby - I think the cabs don't have rear shoulder belts b/c some guy named Hans or maybe Franz in Neckarsulm (or Zuffenhausen for 968's) took a Sawz-All to the top and that eliminated the top mounting point for the 3 point belt.