ilko

Just got my new issue in the mail and I saw the shootout on the cover. Haven't read it yet but should be interesting. I'm reserving the space now for discussion

TR6

I can save you a bunch of time.... the 964 is better.

ilko

I was a little diappointed by the article. Maybe I expected too much. They basically compare the cars in price, power and handling and give them very similar grades. The 964 is a little better in the ***** department (power), the 968 is a little better in the guts department (handling). At the end they don't come up with a real winner, the conclusion is that they're both fine cars, but made for different types of people.

I was expecting more real world accel/decel tests, cornering, etc. The article reminds me too much of what C&D and R&T do when they compare two cars - they rarely come up with a clear cut winner.

My ¢2.

ltc

The 964 is different.
Rather than try and figure it out, just own both.

cobalt

Too be honest the 968 is a very nice car. Although the 964 has more ***** (low end torque especially). You really can't go wrong with either but a 968 is still not a 911. Replace the flywheel on a 964 with a light weight one and spring pressure plate a chip and upgraded suspension and the only way a 968 will keep up is with a supercharger and the 911 is always more fun IMO.

BTW, what issue is the mag #155? Is the article on the 944's in this issue. I have been waiting for them to include it for over 9 months now, was told it would be this issue.

BTWW, I am still waiting for a response from Howard on The CCC. I will be seeing him tonight so I hopefully will have an answer tomorrow.

jimq

i guess i am just not up on water boilers. Is a 968 a variant of the 944?

McJohn

I had a 968, and it was a fantastic car. Sensible weight distribution gave it great handling, a joy to drive, but lacked the flat 6 charisma, though still quick. I could really trust it at 10/10th on the road. I sold it.

Then I bought a 964. It oozed charisma, and I also loved it. Fantastic engine, wonderful iconic shape, but I guess I never really did get to grips with the weight distribution, and I never trusted it fully on the road. I sold it.

I now have a Cayman 2.7. It too has the flat 6 appeal (if a mite too quiet so far) and is every bit as fast as my 964 was. It has the ultimate weight distribution, and unsurprisingly has the best handling of anything I have ever driven, and I can trust it the way I did the 968. No plans to sell it ... ever!

Moral of the tale ... All Porsches are great, but for me, their best cars do not have the engine in the back.

McJohn

cobalt

I agree they are all great, although IMO it has little to do with trusting the car, it is all about trusting your skills as a driver that makes one buy a 911 over other cars. I love the balance and feel of the 944S2 I just sold or my 914 that handled like a go cart and the Caymen S is a great car but it is the air cooled 911 that gives me the thrill and fun I crave.

The air cooled 911 is still the most challenging and exhilarating car I know. Other cars are capable, but not very exciting and we know the Caymen S is incredibly capable but I walked away not very thrilled. For me I especially love the feel of the 965 with all that HP and torque, nothing like 450 ft pounds of torque coming on like no tomorrow. The challenge of doing it right is what makes it so interesting and exciting. I don't drive my cars daily so to me they might mean something different to someone who does.

So "best" is a word that we all perceive differently. I have my choice of any Porsche made and I will always opt for an air cooled 911 for when I am in the mood to just drive. Although the others are not bad for the days I am feeling a bit less aggressive.

951M471 CarreraM491

What a load of crap! Since I have had both does that mean that I have a split personality? Seriously they are both great cars, and compete in the used market with the same crowd in a similiar price range. Excellence simply did not want to offend 964 owners by saying how out of date the interior was, and they did not want to offend 968 owners by saying how much faster and more fun to drive the 964 was.

Wachuko

+1 Always loved the balance/handling of the 944/968... and the looks of the 968, just beautiful. Almost got a used 968 when I was searching for a dd but ended up with the VW R32.

Really like both cars. Also liked the article.

Wachuko

The ultimate evolution of the 924-944 cars... there were even a few 968 Turbo S and RS cars... sick cars...

S
http://vista.pca.org/stl/968t.htm

RS
http://vista.pca.org/stl/968rs.htm

ilko

Thank you Anthony, I actually got in touch with him yesterday. He still doesn't have the new issue and said he'll mail me a copy of the reg form. I'll be firdt on the waiting list (since I'm not a NNJR member), but with "an excellent chance" toget in. Thanks again for your help!

ilko

Anthony yes, this was #155. The only front engined cars in this issue were the 968 and a 944 GTR race car. I don't think your car was in it.

jimq

I thought that was a 951. Guess I am really out of the loop. i think i will stick with 911 variants. At least I can say its a 911 and most prople wont know the difference but know its a Porsche

ltc

Harm Lagaay was quoted as saying the 968 was the most beautiful Porsche he ever designed. They're another Porsche 'cast off'; very few 'new' Porsche owners even recognize them. I had my wife's at the dealer for service (39K miles) and none of the 9x6/9x7 buyers even had a clue what it was.

The 911 is simply an iconic shape; you can look at 40 years of 911's and immediately recognize any of them as 911's. Not too many other cars can say that.