phil0618

Hi all,

I'm a 968 coupe owner and a friend is thinking of buying a 968 cabriolet. I've had great service from my 968, but are there any known issues that are specific to the cab that he should look out for? Roof mechanism? Rear window issues? leakage?

Regards,

Phil

MichelleJD

You'd probably have better luck posting this in the 968 specific forum.

Royal Tiger

Try 968.net and 968forums.com, but you have to be a member for the second one. I'm on both sites. From what I recall, the condition of the top is very important, rips, tears, fraying, etc...

nickg

the top seals are VERY expensive. the b pillars tend to break very easily and if they do it is a $2500 parts bill to repair it (less labor). it is not at all uncommon for the power top to not work and it is VERY expensive to get it fixed...it is easier to use if it is manual anyway because of the safety interlocks Porsche used to put the top down. the boot is often missing. the top is normally pretty tight with no leaks...but drining rain may see some on the a pillar..they do not generally leak around the glass except there(and again only in driving rain)

Jfrahm

They are pretty good. Yes the top seals are expensive and you can lose them overboard if they are not on properly. If the power top gets out of alignment it can break a bow, which is really expensive (probably a new used top assembly.) In manual mode it's dead easy to put the top down but putting it up is very difficult without getting out of the car. My car is garaged so it's top is down 90% of the time anyway. Leakage is no problem except when washing the car carelessly.

The plastic parts (rear 1/4 tops, 3rd brakelight) can fade a bit, or at a different rate than the painted metal. This is more evident on red cars.

A windstop would be nice, I hear they exist but cost a pile of money. I have thought about fab-ing one or trying to adapt one from another car vis:

http://www.gomiata.com/ormiwi.html

One big problem with the cars is that they get you a lot of attention. If you are talking to yourself or picking your nose at a stoplight, expect giggles.

-Joel.

josephsc

The b-pillar part can be had from Sunset for around $150. Factory windstop exists -- just really hard to find.

In addition to making sure the cab boot is there, make sure that TWO removeable latches for the convertible top is there.

Aside from that, usual convertible top stuff (clean top, clear plastic rear window) plus the usual 968 stuff (pinion bearing, etc, etc).

Luis de Prat

I think with cabs you're just as good asking here as you would on the 968 forum since you already own a 968. It's the cab-specific stuff you're curious about that the 968 cab shares with its 944 and 951 convertible predecessors.

I'll second all that has been said plus the infamous fading plastic window. If the window is opaque you're looking at having the top replaced, and that's not cheap. Has a lot to do with how much the car has sat outdoors in the sunlight.

Enjoy the search!

SpeedBump

I have two 968 cabs and has been mentioned it's the usual 968 stuff plus the top seals, motors and main bows. Fortunately both of mine are in good shape wih the tops....running now to find a really big piece of wood to knock on.

phil0618

Thanks for all the help.

Phil

Royal Tiger

Oh, and nice wheels on your car Phil.

nickg

you can replace the window for about 250-450 ...you do not have to replace the top for that

nickg

the pillar is not $150. it is a multiple superceded part. in order to yuse the part you say costs 150, you need to buy the main bow and the other side ..hence $2500 in parts...then you must recover the top as you will have to take the covers off to do the bow...I have been down this raod just recently and whoever gave you your info is wrong...they did not read the parts diagram correctly, when you get the part for 150 and it works without any problem, I will buy 5. I have had to buy 7 tops to get one good one (i have about 4000 in tops) that I could just swap on the car.

josephsc

Yikes! We're probably talking about different issues then. I probably got lucky -- all I had to do was replace the cab top seal mounting rail (941.561.552.10 for the passenger side) and I was ready to go. But then I only kept it in power-mode for a week and went to manual-mode on the top because I didn't want to repeat the incident.

At any rate, you can consider the top a 'red flag' zone.

nickg

the part I am talking about is the actual cast metal part the seal and rail screw into. they changed the part and superceded it to a new style....if that is the same part, you have the luck...play the lotto! "supposedly" only late 95's had that part.

Clint's 944

Nick, I'm curious, have you ever considered taking the part to a machinist/ fabricator to have it duplicated?