e-Newsletter – October 2014

When looking at the modern day car it is amazing how we can change the personality of our vehicle with just the push of a button. One button talks to my exhaust system and changes the amount of backpressure and related noise that I experience. Too loud?, just hit the button. Another button can talk to my suspension and adjust the shocks for the handling experience that I want. Am I going into some great turns?, just hit that button. Another button can adjust the ride height on my car. Is there snow out there? Just hit that button and up goes my vehicle’s ride height for better clearance. Amazing. But it wasn’t that long ago that the new car buyer didn’t have these great “personality adjusting” options to choose from.  The buyer had to make hard choices about which vehicle personality they wanted and typically, they could only choose one.  However, some period buyers refused to conform. An example of that thinking was created in the run of Porsche 968s when 1995 coupe SS820272 rolled off the assembly line.

First a little background on two of the automotive personalities found in the 968 series back in the nineties:

First personality up, the “I want to be a track star” 968: The M030 Sport chassis optioned 968 coupes are some of the most coveted examples of the line with only 99 produced for the North American market. The 968 was already a true sports car when delivered in any form but the M030 option took the car to another level of performance. The M030 option consisted of upgraded suspension and brake system components which included struts, sway bars, and larger brakes lifted directly from the 928 S4. Available only on the coupe, the M030 equipped 968 provided the driver with incredible handling characteristics that showed it was ready for any racetrack. Unfortunately, those same characteristics were present with the vehicle during non-track time and provided the same driver with a punishing ride. Period articles from the day both praised and lamented the M030 968. 911 & Porsche world stated that “Even on relatively smooth, suburban roads, this stiffer car proved to be far too stiff for sensible road use” but then they went on to say “it would certainly be in its element on the track.” When production ceased, just 2% (99) of the North American 968 production run was outfitted with M030 sport chassis option.

Next personality is the other vehicular extreme, the “I would just like a nice sporting cruiser” Tiptronic 968. The Tiptronic automatic transmission was all new for the 1992 model year and was heralded by Porsche as “revolutionary” with a design based on the Porsche double clutch “PDK” racing tranny from the 962C. As the offering for those who didn’t want the hassle of shifting a clutch, the Tiptronic was the precursor for the many “sport” automatics that we have today with the ability to push the shifter into a manual shift mode and run through the 4 forward gears, sans clutch. This early nineties technical marvel added $3500 to the 968’s sticker and delivered on its promised operation but it also took a significant toll on the 968’s performance. Period articles criticized the Tiptronic for, not only the high cost of entry but more for the significant impact it made on the car’s performance. A 6 speed manual 968 would do 0-60 in 6.1 seconds. The same car, outfitted with the Tiptronic, would do the same 0-60 in 8 seconds flat. Car and Driver reported that it was a confusing piece of equipment and when a 968 was outfitted with the Tip it could be “smoked” in a stoplight drag race by a V6 Ford Tempo!  Still, if driving a clutch-less 968 was the buyer’s intention then the Tiptronic delivered on that experience and provided him or her with that “cruiser” personality that they desired.  23% (984) of the North American 968 production run was outfitted with a Tiptronic trans.

And that brings us to the 1995 968 coupe SS820272. Born black in exterior color with a marble grey/black two-tone interior, it was a sharp looking 968. But what made this car so unusual were two of the factory options that it was outfitted with. They include the rare and coveted M030 Sport chassis which transformed the car into a track beast AS WELL AS, the cruiser Tiptronic transmission, which significantly hindered the car’s performance!!! Of the 2,234 North American coupes, SS820272 is the sole example configured in this way. One must wonder, what was the original owner thinking when he or she ordered such a vehicle? They had truly fashioned “dichotomy in a Porsche” by pairing these two “performance-extremes” options in the same vehicle. Were they pleased with the resulting driving experience from this most unusual of Porsche 968s?

Today’s sports car purchaser can only be thankful that the hard choices necessary 20 years ago are no longer needed. Current technology has allowed the driver to adjust the vehicle dynamics at the push of a button so they can have the vehicle they desire without any compromise and resulting in no dichotomy. Nice!

(SS820272 is NOT pictured below, last I heard, it was somewhere in WI)