I'm looking to buy my first Porsche and these are the top of my list. My budget is around 20K. Things I already know are a 944 can be modified to get more power and a 968 can't. I'm curious as to how they compare to each other stock. Are different years faster or are they all the same. I'm leaning a little toward the 968 since they are newer and not Turbo. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

I love my 968! Thats the route I would go. Looks more modern (dont flame me for this), no turbo lag, great power in all gears.

 

It depends on what you want from the car. If the car will remain mostly stock, and you want a well ballanced, smooth driving (no lag) vehicle, a 968 is your best bet. If you are likely to modify the car, and are looking for maximum performance, the turbo is for you. The 968 makes a little more power than the turbo does stock, (btw, the Turbo S makes even more) but as you wrote, the turbo is much easier to modify.

 

I own a 1987 951. But my recommendation is to buy the 968. Newer car and the looks can't be matched. Excellent car for a daily driver. With 20k you will find a very nice example, take your time to look around.

Have fun shopping and let us know what you buy.

BTW, you can modify the 968 to extract more power, it is just very costly $$$.

 

I had the same choice after selling my '88 944na. I went looking for a 944 S2, Turbo, or a 968. I found the 968 first, and have no regrets at all.

The only "problem" is that it's the "anonymous Porsche"... _nobody_ knows what it is. Last year, one older guy driving a fancy SUV in a wealthy neighborhood stopped me to ask if it was the 2001 model.... .

The flip side of this coin is that the rice kiddies & 'stangs pretty much leave you alone.. they're not sure just what it is, or how bad it'll make them look....

Jim, "Hammer down!"

 

Having owned a 944 NA and my current 951, I would trade either one for a nice low-miles 968 in a heartbeat.

The turbocharged rush of a modified 951 is hard to beat, but the better handling (stock vs stock) and low-RPM torque improvements of the 968 make it a better daily driver and a little more fun in the twisties. Not to mention you can buy a 968 that's 5-7 years newer than a comparable 951 -- the newness can't be overlooked.

Greg

 

How is a 968 "better handling"? Same chassis, suspension, and brakes as the 951...

This is not the first time I've heard the better handling myth...

 

I have to agree w/Greg on the newness issue...

Otherwise, there are way too many variables to say hands down, which car would be better to own...

If it were a nice, standard 968 vs a nice Turbo S, then the Turbo S would not only out-run it, but it would also out-handle it and definately out-brake it...

If comparing the Turbo S to a 968 w/the sport packege (MO30 suspension, bigger rotors and the 17" rims) then the 968 would be my choice- ESPECIALLY if it were a convertible- I love convertibles...

The Turbo S can be found in a convertible in the US OCASSIONALLY, but there are only handful of them here- LITERALLY!

The 968 had an optional LSD- try to get the Torsen- the '92's had both Torsen and ZF, but the later 968's had only Torsen- all 951's that had LSD had ZF- nothing wrong w/ZF, but the Torsen should be a little better...

About the only thing wrong w/a 968 is the fact that I don't own one- the MO30 was a slightly different MO30 than the MO30 in the 951's (interestingly enough) and the gearing was ridiculous IMO- that's probably my biggest gripe about the 968- why they went to a 6-speed and did the gearing w/such silly spacing is beyond me!!! I like tall gearing personally- I'd really like gearing a tiny bit taller than the 951 (in most areas) w/an extra 6th gear on top, giving a nice cruising gear. The 951 needed a close ratio 6-speed more than the 968 ever did, but the 5th in the Turbo is a little short as is, and the 968 6th gear is even shorter than 5th is in the 951!!! A 6-speed done correclty would have been very well recieved... Anyway, the 968 is a much more responsive car for everyday driving, and I like the low end TQ- many people say it's not as fast, but it really is comparable to a Turbo S- it just doesn't FEEL as fast...

You really just have to see what's available and go from there. Oh, also, the 3.0L of the 968 is a GREAT starting place for perforamance- if you have the $$$ for forced induction- a turbo or super charged 968 convertible w/a Torsen, 17" C2's (968 rims), bigger rotors (maybe even calipers),and either the MO30 OR slightly stiffer suspension would be SOOOO COOOOOOL!!!

 

Keith,

I believe you're right about the suspension on the normal 968's vs the normal 951's, but the 968 MO30 was slightly stiffer than the 951 S MO30. the 968 MO30's t-bars were about 1mm thicker w/thicker roll-bars, etc. Also, the extra meat on the tires and the lower profile (on the sport versions w/17" rims) helped a little. There really were a lot of different options over the life span of these cars that affected them. The LSD has something to do w/the handling too. The ZF LSD is better than the Torsen in some types of driving (from what I've been told), but VERY few, so even if the 951 in question had LSD, then when being compared to a '93 or up 968 w/LSD (or '92 w/Torsen), then this can have a slight affect too. All in all, there are just too many variables, which is why you really need to take each proposed car that's for sale as an individual case, and go from there...

 

Whatever you get, research the options well. The sport suspension is very desirable as are sport seats and limited slip differential. Not all Turbo’s or 968’s have these options.

I bought my car without the full awareness of these options and I am now slowly trying to upgrade my car to this level. I would have been better off financially and spiritually had I held out for these options.

 

You can't really go wrong either way. They both look great, handle well, go well, stop well, and have identical interiors. I personally prefer my 951, because it's so easy to get more hp from it. Some guy in a 968 pulled up next to me on the highway a few weeks back, gave me a nod, then accelerated away. I dropped down a gear, held on for dear life, and smoked by him like he was going backwards. Felt pretty good actually!

 

I had a great NA944, and went next to a 968. If you have to have OVER 240 hp, and don't mind the 80's looks, go for a 951 that you can mod for more power. Don't forget the fact that the 968's were the first 4cyl waterpumpers to be built at Stuttgart-they seem to be screwed together better than the earlier cars, and look much more modern. I'll echo other comments above--I get asked all the time if mine is a new model. Rarity must count-I think they made close to 200,000 924S, 944, S, S2, and 951 total as opposed to <13,000 968's. My 2 cents, of course, as a 968 owner!

 

Why compare with just the Turbo S? The 89 951 is pretty much exactly the same car and is much less likely to come with metallic pink paint and a pink/purple plaid interior. (that doesnt mean I wouldnt ****** one up if I found one ..drool...)

 

Ian, I'm always on the look out for your car. Sounds ridiculously (in a good way) fast. I'm due for an alignment @ weissach next week. I'll ask Stuart if he remembers your car .

 

Matt,

If you're still coming to the Seattle dyno day, I'll take you out for a ride in it. Stuart will know who you're talking about if you mention me. Get your car corner balanced too, it's worth it.