Damian in NJ

Hatch delamination.

pmcrespo

Strengths: Balance, track worthiness, easy to drive at 10/10ths

Weakness: Difficult & expen$ive to extract incremental HP, forums drama

Damian in NJ

The forums drama is a little like a Mafia war, you need them every once in a while to thin the herd!

rgs944

I personally think the 968 has just about the perfect combination of styling for its greatest strength. It is not so gotti that it blinds anyone but yet it does get attention as something a little unique and unknown. As far as the bad it would definetly have to be the fear of having bent valves on a rare engine due to a simple broken belt.

FRporscheman

I'm in a pragmatic mood today...

Top 3 strengths over the S2:
larger trunk
easier clutch job
chain and belt tensioners are pretty much failure-proof

Top 3 weaknesses compared to the S2
can't use the spoiler as a table
exposed headlights gives a larger LIDAR profile
much higher premium and cost of ownership for basically the same car

Top 3 mechanical issues
pinion bearing
firewall cracks
timing and/or balance shaft belt related issues

bbain

The exterior door handles on the 968 are made of pot metal where the latch mechanism attaches. There are two lobes (one factory drilled) that the latch can attach to, but the pot metal eventually breaks and you will have to replace the handle. $90 for the handle and then it will need to be painted.

John Etnier

Really?

odurandina

cassette holder delete kit is only 80 dollars.

i kidd, i kidd. no pms required.

FRporscheman

Yeah, the 968's larger rear end gives the spare tire more room to move back, so the bulge in the carpet protrudes much less. In the 968, that bulge is hardly noticeable, where in the 944 it's about the size of a large shoebox.

It's not much space in and of itself, but it makes the trunk area into a solid rectangle so you can fit things in there better.

PorscheDude1

This is true!
I think they just angled the spare a little more to lower that hump.

sergiomartins

Steering rack is not adjustable, thats a con for me

Jacks911

For me the pluses are...
1) Styling - from the front a Modern Porsche Family look - and in the back it's the smooth integrated bumper - and wide stance.
2) Torque - It may not be all that much faster car than the S2 but the low-end & broad Torque band is notable around town and any time you need to pass.
3) Lots of little touches - interior door panels & cap - Trunk (as mentioned) - Engine compartment detailing - Lighting (not the dim dash :-( ) - 17 inch wheel option - Tiptronic option (not for everyone I know) -
As for the not so plus issues...
Why dwell on those ... just drive and enjoy :- ))

Damian in NJ

Do you mean the CS coin tray that is in place rather than the hinged cover?

FRporscheman

I drove an S2 and a 968 back to back, both with similar miles (200k+), and the 968 was in better shape... and the S2 had way more low-end torque. Then I drove a rebuilt 968, and it felt just like the worn out S2. Just food for thought.

That's a great point - the tiptronic option is a huge step forward compared to the traditional automatic.

rop3

Weakness

Lack of power compared with a 951S same goes for the S2, newer car less power could never understand that. Cost a lot more to up the HP. In my early track days at Pocono on the front straight, my instructor always said, don't worry about that car in the mirror it's a 968!