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924/931/944/951/968 Forum Porsche 924, 924S, 931, 944, 944S, 944S2, 951, and 968 discussion, how-to guides, and technical help. (1976-1995)
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944 Cabs

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Old 01-09-2008, 12:09 PM
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capndar
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Default 944 Cabs

I am a former 944 owner who really needs a ragtop car - I have been through a 328 and two Miatas, but love the 944....and I am willing to trade off a little 944 performance (extra weight) for a cab - I love the 44 but REALLY love reliability......

so my question for the cab owners - how much trouble ( and $$) has the cab been? Is the 968 top any different than the 44 top in operations, etc?

Any help appreciated
Old 01-09-2008, 12:18 PM
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fpena944
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Next month will make six years that I've had mine. It just hit 140k miles last week and has been a daily driver for the past 2 years.

In terms of reliability, I cannot complain about it. I've taken cross-country trips in it and put it through its paces on some of the mountain roads here recently. Regular maintenance has been performed and the most expensive repair I've had was the replacement of the belts/rollers.

As far as the top is concerned, it still works automatically as it should. I know some others have had trouble with it but I guess I've been lucky so far.

Any other questions you have, let me know!
Old 01-09-2008, 12:52 PM
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Jfrahm
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There are a few good cabrio threads on here if you do a search. I had an S2 cab, which was great, and last summer switched it for a 968. Same top. Pretty easy to live with. A lot of people switch them to manual, I prefer the electrics if they work. Hard to put the top up without getting out of the car in manual, unless you have really long arms.

-Joel.
Old 01-09-2008, 02:12 PM
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fpena944
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Originally Posted by Jfrahm
There are a few good cabrio threads on here if you do a search. I had an S2 cab, which was great, and last summer switched it for a 968. Same top. Pretty easy to live with. A lot of people switch them to manual, I prefer the electrics if they work. Hard to put the top up without getting out of the car in manual, unless you have really long arms.

-Joel.
Does the lack of a back seat bother you? I use mine which is why I specifically went for the S2. But I love the looks of the 968. I also prefer the door panels as they look more upscale.
Old 01-09-2008, 02:51 PM
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Damian in NJ
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Under the 968 cubby are the seats; I removed mine and the kids were ok until they were 9 or so. It was a cinch for lap belts to be added too. (That's the reason 944's cabs had the rear seats; they didn't need shoulder belts and could get away with lap belts. The laws changed, and there isn't anywhere to mount the shoulder belt on the car).

Last edited by Damian in NJ; 01-09-2008 at 03:31 PM.
Old 01-09-2008, 02:52 PM
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cie_lab
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cab will be my next/replacement car. No doubt about it. Either S2 or 968. These are some of the best looking convertible cars in the world, IMHO.
Old 01-09-2008, 03:00 PM
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CarbonRevo
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Speed yellow 968 cab. Yea, enough said. Quite possibly the best looking convertible car ever. However, I don't like the cabs with their top down. I love looking at them with the top up. All convertible cars are ugly with the top down. They look sooo long.

I'd love to have a 944T cab. Mmm, top down hearin the turbo spool!
Old 01-09-2008, 03:39 PM
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Stephenwz968
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I've had 3 968 cabs and a coupe....the cabs are simply unbeatable with the top down and the wind in your hair. I haven't had any problems with the tops, exepct the rear window is less than durable.


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Old 01-09-2008, 03:49 PM
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fpena944
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It is unbelievable that on a $50k+ car Porsche didn't equip them with glass rear windows. But since the top was somewhat of an afterthought I can understand why. As long as the car is garaged the window does seem to last for a decent amount of time.

Mine as I mentioned is going on 6 years that I've owned it and I don't see any decline in the quality of the rear window since I've had it.
Old 01-09-2008, 04:00 PM
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ejsaenz
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Had my Cab for about 2 years now. Paid $9000, put in about $2500 just in case work.( no documentation on timing belt work, Cam chain tensioner, while you're in there work...)

suspension needs refresh, needs AC work, and some cosmetics. Otherwise it's been a blast. I'm still trying to figure out where to mount a sub, don't want it in the trunk.

Will these thing have any collector value? or should I just mod it to my heart's content?
Old 01-09-2008, 04:05 PM
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capndar
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Default glass window

yes, the Miatas changed to a glass window about 1999 - big improvement! As to the 968 v 944 S2 question, I will just look for a good one and go from there
Old 01-09-2008, 05:31 PM
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stolarzj
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Originally Posted by capndar
yes, the Miatas changed to a glass window about 1999 - big improvement! As to the 968 v 944 S2 question, I will just look for a good one and go from there
I saw a S2 Cab in the Atlanta Craigslist a couple of days ago.
Old 01-09-2008, 05:50 PM
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cie_lab
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didn't some of the S2 cabs have glass windows? Or perhaps that's 968s. I think 'Original Porsche' by Peter Morgan says something about that. I'll need to check.

There were a handful of 951 cabs. You want collector status, that's yer car.
Old 01-09-2008, 06:56 PM
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jsaindc
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Love my cab. I get more people asking about it than the 996 cab did. The drive really is nice and the performance over my 87 NA is much better. My only regret is that this car is really only a street vehicle. I am thinking of selling for a coupe so that I can take it on the track. Putting in a roll bar will really change the vehicle in a way I do not want to go.
Old 01-09-2008, 07:14 PM
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Luis de Prat
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Yeah, cabs are cool. I've had the S2 for 9 years and the Turbo for 7. Loved every minute.
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