race911

Funny thing over the weekend. So I've got the 968 now for a few days, and I've actually driven the 4S a couple of times in the past week.

As much as I rag on the 4S kinda being a POS @ 143K miles, it is so far off the planet in better shape than the similar mileage (though 2 year older) 968. And the 968 is probably in better shape than 80% of them out there.

(RSA @ 140K was close to the 4S in quality of aging, too. so my feeling is that it's not purely a calendar thing. Even if the 968 was finally built in the Porsche factory.)

vaujot

Who knows if the odometer reading on the 968 is accurate? And weather the miles were accumulated in stop-and-go traffic? I know a few 968 owners and all of them are quite fond of their cars.

race911

Have every receipt from Day One for the car.

I've had my hands on probably over 700 Porsches when I had my shops going. I've seen how they all age.

I'm not ragging on the 968, merely pointing out where it stands in the pecking order. As I see it.

Want to see me rag, let's talk 996. I've had a couple to look over last year (hey, it IS 2012!) for guys who would have been new to Porsche ownership. 10 years and 120K+ miles do NOT show well on those things.

mooty

totally agree and i have had a lot of 996s, even with immaculate care, if you put some big mileage on it, they dont do well. i do know a few with 220,000 miles on them, but that's the exception.

CarmG993

968 / 993. I enjoyed driving my 993, but found my self driving my 968 instead. Both almost equal in mileage. Sold the 993 and enjoy the 968 when I drive it. I'm sure I'll have another 993 in the garage.
I do miss having it.

Ed Burdell

Glad that 968 is working out, Carmen.

CarmG993

Ed - Happy New Year ! 968 is pretty much sorted out. The shop I had it at commented on it was the nicest 968 they have seen. I even spoke with the previous owner that had brought it to concours back in the day. I still have my eye out for that 993 white TT. If you see one

race911

Meant mainly on the cosmetics.

Harry L

I agree with Ken and Mooty's general point about how pre-996 911s age.

My 993 has 117,000 miles (it is also my DD), and most people - even discerning Porsche addicts like ourselves - seem to think it looks and feels remarkably "like new" (although I could (and do) quickly point out several age-related flaws and issues that most people don't notice).

Relative to other Porsches, I sometimes wonder if part of the reason they don't seem to age as well as the older hand-built cars is that 914, 924, 944, 968, 928, Boxster, 996 (and perhaps 997) owners were/are not the traditional Porsche enthusiasts who historically and predominantly bought/buy 911s - i.e., people who love these cars and take very good care of them and/or restore them to their former glory.

For example, I just bought a new shift **** for my car - not because it needed one, or because I wanted a change of pace, but because the existing one is worn beyond what I consider to be acceptable patina.

I'm not sure that most 968, Boxster or 996 owners would do that.

I know that I just made a sweeping generalization.

Also, I definitely believe that air-cooled 911s were built to a much higher standard.

But I still think that the owner profiles of the various models have something to do with it.

Where is my flame suit....

Ed Burdell

It may simply be that the accumulated familiarity and expertise with the classic 911 over a 34 year run, both in parts design and assembly, made for a tighter, better wearing car.

Quadcammer

Am I the only one who gets annoyed when people say their car is like new?

unless you've done a "unibody up" restoration, your car is not like new. It doesn't drive like new, look like new, feel like new, or smell like new.

deekay911

I sold my '95 968 with 110k miles about a year ago, and picked up my '96 993 with 105k miles at the same time. The 968 showed its age considerably more than the 993 - in every way. I don't think the 968 was bad for its age, its just that the 993 is incredibly good...

Flying Finn

Pretty much.

Harry L

1. Happy New Year, Quadcammer!

2. Here is an excerpt of what I said, and additional text that I just added (in red): "seem to think it looks and feels remarkably "like new" (although I could (and do) quickly point out several age-related flaws and issues that most people don't notice)

3. My comment about my "like new" car is a statement of fact: Other people have said that about it. However, I would never say that about my car - especially if I were to sell it, which I am never going to do because I LOVE it SO much, warts and all. Also, I plan to have a mausoleum built in the shape of the Porsche Museum, in which someday will be placed a huge sarcophagus that has been carved into the shape of my 993, which sarcophagus will hold my actual 993 and me (wearing a 993 shirt).

4. Since we're being pedantic, even a "unibody up" restoration will fail to precisely replicate the exact car that rolled out of the factory - I believe. Although, I guess we would need to ask someone with an advanced degree in metallurgy (if such a thing exists) about that.

5. I just blew one of my 2012 resolutions: Don't feed trolls.

Bottom Line: Other Porsches were engineered (and/or assembled) to a different standard (and/or price point) than air-cooled 911s.

Harry

Quadcammer

oh...ok
Harry, I wasn't referring to you (although I could see why you feel that way) because you did in fact mention that other people told you this.