For a long time now, we’ve been banging on about how the 924/944/968 were the best deal in classic German motoring. For sure, these models offer solid build quality, great looks, reasonable practicality and more affordable repairs. Couple these traits with one of the best-handling chassis Porsche has made and you’ve got instant success, right? Well, not so fast. In thinking about writing up this car, I remember back to the early 1990s when the Japanese upped their game and suddenly the 944/968 wasn’t the natural choice. They were, in fact, quite expensive and relatively underpowered compared to their cutting-edge rivals. How does the 968 stack up against the FD RX-7 Twin Turbo, the Z32 300ZX Twin-Turbo, the Mk. IV Supra Turbo and the C4 Chevrolet Corvette LT-1 today?
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1994 Porsche 968 on eBay
Year: 1994
Model: 968
Engine: 3.0 liter inline-4
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage: 55,531 mi
Price: $19,500 Buy It Now
1994 Porsche 968 Coupe, midnight blue, black partial leather, 6-speed manual, Torsen LSD, power driver seat, 17″ alloy wheels, JVC Radio/CD original radio is included). This is a very low mileage car that has been well maintained since new. The car is in original condition, has always been garaged, and has never been driven in bad weather. The paint is all original, with a deep gloss, and there are no major flaws. Everything works except for an inop cruise control unit. The air conditioning blows cold.
This Porsche is sold “as is”, “where is” with no warranties written or implied. I will sell only in the USA. All funds must clear my bank before the Porsche will be released. I reserve the right to cancel at anytime due to local sale.
Buyer is responsible for vehicle pickup or shipping.
A non-refundable deposit of $1000 via PayPal is required within 48 hours of auction close. Full payment is due within 7 days.
Take a look at the original window sticker for this car; in 1994, buying this 968 would set you back a staggering $45,000. Adjusted for inflation, that’s $72,000 give or take; an amount that easily gets you into a Cayman S with some nice options and 100 horsepower more today, or in a stretch nearly gets you into a 340 horsepower Cayman GTS. Sublime though it was, it’s easy to see why the 968 sold in small numbers. It was the slowest of the group mentioned above and the dated interior and lack of cutting edge technology meant it seemed like a poor value. Now, in hindsight we can look back and say that the 968 was a much more classic design in its conservative styling. The engine reliability and tractability has proven to be a fairly strong point on the car, unlike rivals like the 300ZX and RX-7 that were prone to engine problems once miles started creeping up. In terms of power output, there’s no contest; the other four produce substantially more power for less money. In today’s market, the 968 sits middle of the pack in terms of value; under appreciated as a Porsche, those looking for a performance coupe with staying power and the increase of the collectable Japanese market means that the best looking of the bunch in my mind, the FD RX-7, and the most powerful, the Supra Turbo, are the most valuable. The 968 falls above the 300ZX and Corvette in value, style and build quality. This particular 968 is quite nice; a lovely color, lower miles and some nicer options it’s compelling. But at $19,000 asking price, it’s a reminder that the 968 doesn’t really deliver on its performance potential relative to the others. It’s a lovely, nice car for sure, classic in many ways. But as a sports car, there are probably still better options in the marketplace at $20,000.
-Carter
I have no experience with 968’s but I have witnessed the trials and tribulations of RX-7’s and 300ZXTT’s, they are no picnic to keep sorted. This design has aged well, the best performance deal in sports cars, nope, but still allot of “Classic Porsche” for sub-20k, these days anyway.
The color is phenomenal — if only I could see it not in the shade.
I had a 968 as a daily driver for five years and loved it. Replaced with a newer 911, but miss the 968 to this day. The 220 ft/pds of torque made the car a joy to drive, with 3rd gear an option from 30 mph to 75. And these were hand-built in the last gasp of old school Porsche production before they retooled processes for the 986/996 models. Built like a tank. Major weak spot for these today is the rear hatch sealant. It fails due to sun and is very difficult to repair. OEM replacement hatches are made from unicorn fur. Unobtainable, and a cause for many totaled 968s.
This price is high, but pretty much on par for lower mileage cars. With only 2500 coupes imported to the US, there just are not a lot of these around.
I had a ’94 (Tiptronic unfortunately) and loved its ride and handling. The power was more than adequate, but I do remember trading cars with a buddy to drive his ’99 Boxster and being shocked at how much more power there was on tap in his car. However the ride and “feel” of the Boxster really didn’t measure up and when I moved on from the 968 it was not to the Boxster.
My father and I each had ’94 968s, his had the 17″ wheels whereas mine had the 16s. The ride was noticeably better in mine but the handling didn’t feel as sharp. He had issues with the rear hatch (common) and I sold mine before the hatch problem had a chance to rear its ugly head. Mechanically they were bulletproof and a lot of fun to drive. Great, fun car but even nostalgia wouldn’t let me pay $20K for one today. If I were in the market, I’d be looking for a nice 944 Turbo S instead.
I miss this car. I still remember walking into the Porsche dealer in 1996 and buying a ’95 midnight blue 968 after making a lot of money trading MSFT and DELL stocks. The dot.com market was at the beginning of the boom, and it didn’t take much trading to get the 968.
The rest of the dot.com market, is history.
such an under appreciated car….drove one once at the track…felt like a 944 in the handling only with a lot more grunt….rock solid….
throw a set of Turbo-Twist rims or better yet Cup wheels and enjoy…..
wish I didn’t really want a 964 more
Here is another nice 968 for sale – more miles but less $$$
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/820574-porsche-968-sale.html
I looked into this 968, and spoke with the owner, who emailed me all the service records on this one. This is a good one ,with great history and records. The owner is a mechanic, and owns three Porsche’s at the moment.He seems like a straight shooter and down to earth person. If my cash flow were better right now I would be on a plane down to inspect and test drive her. I am currently looking for an original good example 968, hoping that I will have funds ready this late fall. Good Luck to the seller and the buyer. Best Regards Longrunner
Great feedback on this particular car and the Turbo v. 968, thanks John and Pablo!