mdfmatos

I recently found about two lovely transaxle Porsches that are available for sale and I can't decide myself. This might be a silly question, but here it goes. Ignoring pricing and potential increase in value, would you rather own a 924 Turbo (mk2) or a 968 (coupe) with Tiptronic transmission and why?

odonnell

968, and then swap in a S2 transaxle after coming to my senses.

924srr27l

Easy, do you want a Manual or an Auto ?


A whoosh bang forced induction erratic power delivery agricultural 2.0 Turbo car or a easy to drive effortless refined 2 pedal 3.0 torquey motor?


R

V2Rocket

968.

MAGK944

You will like the power of the 968 but the auto trans will eventually bore you. You'll get a feel for boost from the 924 and also how much better a manual is in these cars, the lack of power in today's traffic will infuriate you. Boost is like crack, once you try it there's no going back. If you are "ignoring pricing" buy both of them both, drive both of them, then sell both of them and buy yourself a 951. You know that is what you really want anyway!

mdfmatos

Thank you all for the answers. I do love the boosted feel and would prefer a manual transmission, however the 968's 3.0l obviously feels more consistent and "torquey". Regarding maintenance, would the 968 be more reliable? Maybe the best decision would be picking the one that is more fun to drive? Unfortunately I can't keep both...

odonnell

The 968 has a dramatically different setup. Way more electronic where the 931 is practically all mechanical except the ignition. It really comes down to preference and experience in that area.

Dougs951S

931 has a bunch of expensive NLA parts like the ignition module and cylinder head. Get the 968 and do the timing belt/chain/tensioner and it will most definitely be the more reliable and faster car, not to mention it will hold its value much better. Look into swapping for either an S2 gearbox or a 968 6 speed.

fasteddie313

Well the 968 is the more valuable car, it is going to be more expensive to buy and more expensive to fix/maintain..

The turbo will be cheaper to buy and cheaper to fix/maintain, but you might be fixing it more often..
The turbo can easily be made faster than that 968..
The turbos are a drivers car, don't even have power steering..

The 968 will be extremely more refined, has power steering and such luxuries..
968 will have a much better interior unless you prefer the retro interior..

If you want to know more about if it's a good turbo or not, post up some info on it..
79-80 come with a better turbo, the G31 trans possibly LSD, but possibly the disadvantage of 4 lug.
81-82 will have a more boring but more reliable audi trans and no lsd, smaller turbo, better intake, more sketchy but "better" ignition.

Not that the 968 isn't an amazing car, but an auto 968 doesn't tickle my fancy, I don't find myself looking for 968s much less auto 968s..

I have a 924 turbo and love it and would buy another..
If I had the money I'd buy a 951 and if I really had the money I'd just buy a 911 turbo..

I don't even think I'd look at the auto 968 unless it was a silly good deal, or if my taste preferred the 968 style and was prepared to build it..

If I was looking for another less than 911 money Porsche, I've been eyeing early CIS 928's but not for a performance build..

I'm not really sure I'd ever want to get into building a 951 engine, I would like a 951 body for a chevy V8..

Like the other guy says, if you really want a 951 and can you should just buy a 951..
Buy whatever you really want, not just the one you saw..
I'd go across the country for the right car..

fasteddie313

You can build a head from a core for like $1k but I'd think you could find a used serviceable head for $300-$600..

The dreded NLA ignition part is only for the later 931s 81-82, and it is the crank position sensor, and can be had for like $200-$300.. Or convert to the earlier bulletproof 931 ignition..

You may have to have your exhaust welded for like $100, buy a welded one for like $200 $250, or a rare not yet cracked one for foolish money imo, like $350..

Timing belt jobs cost $25 and take 20 minutes..
Bottom ends are bulletproof and a dime a dozen..
Fresh turbo $600 unless your craftier.. 300 core + 300 rebuild

The 79-80 G31 transmission is legendary in it's power handling capabilities among the transaxles but also for it's weak synchronizes.. You have to shift them different, if you don't you ruin them..
Fixing can cost from $75 to $1500
But it is the real Porsche transmission used in racing, not an audi trans..

Turbo nose panels and front valances are rare and easily damaged so a bit pricey.. $300 each maybe..

Wastegates are the same as the 930 and excelent units, they cost $200 to rebuild, $700 to buy a good one prolly..

But then a lot of things on the car are rediculous cheap like the sparkplug wires, cap, rotor, timing belt, water pump, cost almost nothing..

Jay Wellwood

968 hands down.

jeff968

968. It is the final evolution of the series and reflects the improvements in every way. I've owned 944s but I've owned 968s for the last 20 years. Porsche worked out most all the bugs so they are very reliable. I've never had a breakdown in all that time. Combine that solid engineering with the timeless design that looks as good today as it did when new and the 968 is the clear winner. IMHO.

learn more about the 968s at 968register.org

Good luck

mdfmatos

Thank you all for the replies. The 968 is in much better shape than the Turbo so I think I'll go with the 3.0l. Later on maybe I'll be able to keep two cars and if so, I'll then add a manual car to the garage.

Arominus

968, but change the cam pads/chain right away. its the one thing that got me on my 968 engine.

morghen

The 931 is a rare car with 11k total production moderate maintenance costs. It has some 911 turbo parts in it that are more expensive like the wastegate and clutch...and exhaust manifold seals that are more expensive.
It also has some NLA parts if you're looking at an S2 931 like the crank position sensor and cyl head parts that you cant buy from Porsche but you can buy from third party companies.

That being said the driving experience is fantastic, the feeling is connected, visceral and compared to the 968, raw, pure and unfiltered.
Now, I have never driven a 968, only driven 944S2s and I guess the 968 cant be that far away.

968 is a much more refined, comfortable and smooth car. I expect that the maintenance is more expensive and more complicated than the 931 and the driving experience still very good but less involving compared to the 931.
The 968 is also a rare car with 12k total production but by all means it belongs to the modern cars rather than classic cars.

Depending on what you're looking for you can pick between the two.
I cant consider one better than the other as it depends on what you want from your sports car.
If you want an oldschool sportscar the 931 is pretty much the perfect definition.
But if you're looking for more confort, less noise level, less vibrations, ABS, airbags, cupholders and such, then the 968 is your car...especially that automatic one.