968 clubsport or 944 turbo

968 clubsport or 944 turbo

Author
Discussion

NIgt3

Original Poster:

619 posts

181 months

Sunday 28th March 2021
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If you had to buy one of these, which one would it be and why? Have a bit of spare cash and I’m thinking of one, weekend drives and a bit of cleaning, maybe keep it for 5 years and move it on, all views welcome!

ChrisW.

6,827 posts

262 months

Monday 29th March 2021
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That is a tough one ... the 968 Clubsport is already at a premium.

A nice 944 Turbo Silver Rose probably has somewhere to go ... and may be a better car for road work.

For track ? 968CS .. but there are plenty of Sport to Clubsport "conversions" around.

ChrisW.

6,827 posts

262 months

Monday 29th March 2021
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blade7 said:
I don't get the fascination with the 968 for track work. It's heavier than an S2, and even optioned up, the suspension,LSD and brakes are only equal to a 250 bhp 944 turbo. Perhaps the power delivery is more friendly than the turbo, but an easily accessible 300 bhp will pull away on the straights.
I can see your point ... in the Porsche Club Championship the 968's did almost take over from the 944's ??

Kawasicki

13,470 posts

242 months

Monday 29th March 2021
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I test drove both and bought a 944 turbo SE with M030. They cost the same. The 944 was much faster and more focused. I also thought it looked better.

ChrisW.

6,827 posts

262 months

Monday 29th March 2021
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I certainly agree that the style of the 944 has aged better than the 968.

However, I recently bought a 944 Turbo Cup which was an Italian car that I've just registered for road use in the UK ... a bit of a coincidence on the registration number that's allocated !

Pics to follow ....









As for the pace ... I was amazed at how little turbo lag there was and how early it starts to pull like a train ...

Edited by ChrisW. on Monday 29th March 14:19

james.a.c.911

253 posts

75 months

Monday 29th March 2021
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ChrisW. said:
I certainly agree that the style of the 944 has aged better than the 968.

However, I recently bought a 944 Turbo Cup which was an Italian car that I've just registered for road use in the UK ... a bit of a coincidence on the registration number that's allocated !

Pic to follow ....

As for the pace ... I was amazed at how little turbo lag there was and how early it starts to pull like a train ...
I'm looking forward to hearing about how the cup performs, please do post !

ChrisW.

6,827 posts

262 months

Monday 29th March 2021
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I will start to pull together the story of this car and will include driving impressions ... all I've done so far is fill up the fuel tank with Super Unleaded.

First impressions:

1. Steering. Unassisted so Lotus Exige heavy to start, but rapidly becomes very fulsome.
2. Ride. Firm but rapidly becomes supple and with the current settings (whatever they are) the car is actually on the soft side of firm.
3. Gearchange. Very direct and easy ... LHD rapidly fell naturally to the right hand !
4. Clutch. A little snatchy but very manageable.
5. Engine. Very smooth, eager, no noticeable absence of torque at low revs, I should say that it really starts to pull at around 2500rpm and pulls right through to 6500 ?
6. Looks. Everybody looks ... smile
7. Why Porsche don't make more of this part of their history I have no idea. They mention the 924 Carrera GTS and GTR but barely mention the 944Cup when the 944 in its day was selling as many cars as they sold 911's. The Cup series produce from '86 through to '88 fuelled their first Clubman type road legal race car series ... lead into the 1000 Silver Rose cars and set the scene for the 964RS and 993RS and of course the non-road legal Cup versions of those cars and the endurance racer RSR's.




diver944

1,844 posts

283 months

Monday 29th March 2021
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Thanks for posting that Chris thumbup I love your car and can't wait to hear more as you drive it more

Panthro

695 posts

225 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
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My old man had a silver rose from new. Unfortunately the person he sold it to wrote it off 2 weeks into ownership. They very rarely come up for sale. Personally, I'd go for the SR.

Kawasicki

13,470 posts

242 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
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I prefer the last of the 944 Turbo SE over the Silver Rose. The SE has a much nicer rear spoiler, for example. What does the Silver Rose do better than a 944 Turbo SE with M030?

ChrisW.

6,827 posts

262 months

Thursday 1st April 2021
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What is the difference ?

I actually like the colours chosen by P for the silver rose ...

ChrisW.

6,827 posts

262 months

Friday 2nd April 2021
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It was my preference, each to their own.

So what was the difference ? I only asked because you said there were some ...

IMI A

9,675 posts

208 months

Saturday 3rd April 2021
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It was quite confusing but silver rose cars were essentially the same spec as pre cat turbo s for UK. Post 90 they were all catted cars to turbo s spec in terms of drivetrain though not sure later cars also got the additional gearbox cooling like the pre cat s and silver rose cars? there was also some one 911 UK claiming 1986 cars for one year got thicker walls for the engine block as that year 944 competed at Le Mans running 400bhp so finding one of these maybe the ultimate of you want to tinker with it. Was always underpowered at 250bhp Porsche could have developed that platform so much more but even with only 250bp a 944 turbo would slay a 911 turbo of its day as many yuppies found out on their way to the City! I'd love another one but finding a good one at sensible money next to impossible. Best Porsche chassis for me surprised AG didn't do more with it as such a practical 2 + 2. Loved them I'd go 944 turbo as you can dial the wick up a bit evil

IMI A

9,675 posts

208 months

Saturday 3rd April 2021
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Thicker walled 944 sounds intriguing.

IMI A

9,675 posts

208 months

Saturday 3rd April 2021
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There's a lovely old new 944 turbo in the classifieds. Absolutely stunning in black on skinny 16 inch tele dials. Nicest I've seen in a while if straight.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11206372

IMI A

9,675 posts

208 months

Sunday 4th April 2021
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Yes noticed a bit of patina at 22k miles but it is 30 years old and agree black a nightmare but do like her on its 16 inch tele dials. A 3.2 Carrera or similar air cooled of similar year so much better classic car experience in terms of reliability, character and over all ease of ownership hence 944 has never had same cult following.

ChrisW.

6,827 posts

262 months

Sunday 4th April 2021
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blade7 said:
Who said?
Sorry, it was Kawasaki ...

s m

23,510 posts

210 months

Sunday 4th April 2021
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NIgt3 said:
If you had to buy one of these, which one would it be and why? Have a bit of spare cash and I’m thinking of one, weekend drives and a bit of cleaning, maybe keep it for 5 years and move it on, all views welcome!
944 turbo for me personally

May as well get the faster car and better to drive from my experience

ChrisW.

6,827 posts

262 months

Sunday 4th April 2021
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I agree with you ... the 944 was a 200,000 mile machine ... but Porsche nailed their future to the 911.

The 968 shared a lot of 993 design but both were swept aside by the 996 / Boxster which saved their bacon.

Kawasicki

13,470 posts

242 months

Monday 5th April 2021
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My 944 Turbo (the 250bhp version) had an issue with momentarily continuing to deliver power if you lifted off the accelerator. No big deal in a straight line or if you are accelerating out of a corner under the limit.

Pushing it hard out of corners, where the chassis itself was freakishly brilliant, the lag on shutting down engine power caused a few extremely hairy moments in my ownership.