Bored with my 944

In reply to Cotton:

Thanks. Once I get a chance to work on it, I'll keep you in mind.

When I tried to start it, with a fully charged battery, the starter sounded like it was trying to move the engine but the engine didn't turn. I guess my 1st step will be pulling the oil pan to see if I can find obvious broke stuff. I'll keep the board advised

How does a 944S differ from a regular 944?

The 944S had more luxury stuff, leather seats and what not. It had a slightly more powerful engine, but had the taller turbo gears, thus making it slower than an 8v 944. Most of what I've seen says stay away from the 944S.

944 prices seem pretty stable right now. I've been trying to find another one since I sold my first one. I think these are great cars. Only problem is the maintenance. Even nice ones can break the bank in a heartbeat!

Please GRM don't publish the article. Then everyone will know that all the rumors about these cars are just stories concocted by owners of these great machines in attempt to keep the masses away, keeping parts cheep and supply of used cars plentiful and the resale value down.

The last thing we need is the 951 becoming like the supra in fast and furious. So again please dont write up anything.

Ok if you must publish something as an owner of one of these cars I figured I would contribute the following "facts" so as to assist you with you article and dispel any truth to the rumor that these really are a car that you should considder purchasing.

So here goes.

The timing belt will brake if you look at it wrong.

Before you purchase one you have to get a 9021 tool (new preferably)

When a timing belt brakes hell freezes over, cats chase dogs the world stops turning.

Additionally it is obligatory to change every part and gasket on the front of the motor when doing a belt service.

They are really hard to get parts for and there is absolutely no support out there.

They are unreliable and will leave you and your date stranded in the rain, . . . Walking up hill both ways. . . . barefoot.. .

The speed and reference sensors are supper expensive that requires you relinquish body parts and children to obtain.

DME's are the bain of your existence. (think Lucas) (insert warm german beer joke here)

R&P's on NA cars pop faster then corn in hot oil

The extensive use galvanized steel makes then very poor in salt and corrosive environments

If your timing belts dont brake you will spin the #2 bearing as a rite of passage of ownership. Said rod bearing must be change with every oil change.

Clutch replacement costs as much as a used Miata.. .. . As does a front end service.

And most of all they are absolutely not fun to drive

So now I am going to force my self to take my 924s for a coupe laps. . . Error run out to get some dust bunny traps. . .. Ya that is is. .. . And you can only get them at the "other store" that is at the end of the newly paved twisty road on the other side of town.

Have a great day gentleman!!!! and if anyone want to get dust bunny traps with me and torcher them self by having to drive there watter cooled front engined Porsche let me know. Suffering as a group is much better than going it alone!!!

Funny stuff Dean! I am now conflicted, do i go back and delete all of my "helpfull" 924-944 postings to repair the shroud of secrecy, or do I continue to spread the 924 gospel and hope the article drives up the value of my mechanical wonders?

944 vs 944s- 944s has a revised head for higher compression (10.9:1 @ 188hp vs 9.5:1 @ 150hp, with different valves and dme programing if i recall correctly, along with some other tweaks. in comparison, the 78-82 924 was rated at 115 hp, and my 82 924 turbo was rated at at 156 hp, and lighter than the 944s in stock form (though the accuracy of the weights have been debated for years.)

The model spec sheet 924-944 faq has been considered the standard for many years.

GI_Drewsifer wrote: The 944S had more luxury stuff, leather seats and what not. It had a slightly more powerful engine, but had the taller turbo gears, thus making it slower than an 8v 944. Most of what I've seen says stay away from the 944S.

944S - at least in Europe - has a 16V head. It's noticeably more powerful but like the 951, the power is at the top end. The 16Vs all have an interesting arrangement whereby the cambelt drives one cam and a short chain links the two cams. Either the chain or the guides wear (can't remember which) and if they let go, you're in for a lot of wallet hurt or an LSx swap.

My favourite 944 is the S2 (3l 16V) that finally has enough low-down torque to make it nice to drive even if you're just pottering down the highway.

In case anyone cares my toy>>>> http://clarks-garage.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2937

I've lusted after these cars for my whole life.... It looks like my time is about to come!

dean1484 wrote: They are really hard to get parts for and there is absolutely no support out there. DME's are the bain of your existence. (think Lucas) (insert warm german beer joke here) R&P's on NA cars pop faster then corn in hot oil If your timing belts dont brake you will spin the #2 bearing as a rite of passage of ownership. Said rod bearing must be change with every oil change. Clutch replacement costs as much as a used Miata.. .. . As does a front end service.

You where supposed to pick things that weren't true

I would love a 951, love it so hard, but I've heard waaaay to many horror stories on Rennlist. An LS1 swap seems much more fun . Now I just need a garage, tools, talent, parts, a car, and the engine. I'm practically there already!

I think the best way to describe 944's is a love hate relashionship.
I love to drive it when I don't have to be anywhere.
I hate driving it when I actually have to get some where.

Or

You will love to drive one on the track. Once you drive it one the track you will hate to drive it on the street.

I think you should just track the 944. You say it is too nice for that, but take the nice interior bits and sell them to someone who wants them.

Then track the snot out of the car. I have had more fun in the last 10 years with my 944 race car than with my 944 Turbo S Street car. My Turbo S has more hp, but on a track the 944 NA is 100 times more fun to drive. The turbo S on street is nice, but frankly if I tried to use all the HP the car had I would be put in jail. So I putz in the Turbo on street and wail on the 150 hp NA on the track. It has been alot of fun and I never regreted one moment of it.

No one may have mentioned this, but have you considered a V8 swap?

:)

David, The 944S is in interesting car. The 16valve head was intalled to give the car a power boost. It did by 30 hp, but all that power came up high. So when they also made the garing slightly taller the car did not feel much faster (unless you reved out 5k).

The major downside to the S is that it has the same chain cam tensioner issues as with the S2, but you are still running around on a 944 8valve chassis with a little bit more top end.

The S2 is nice combo since it has the 944 Turbo chassis, good low end and enough top end too. An S2 can be as fast a stock turbo on the street and many ways faster since you don't need to spool the turbo and it has shorter gears.

The Turbo has so much power upside that is just very different.

As for 924S vs 944... have grown to really like 924S. The are fast (in racing terms) with the latest driveline upgrades and because they don't have the look of 944 tend to be cheaper. This makes them good track/racing candidates or parts cars. My 84 944 racer is more of a 924S with 944 body work than an 84 944 anymore due to the two 924S parts cars I have.

Another vote for a GTV-6, find one to drive, you will not regret it.

924 vs 944?

I'm weird, but there's something in me that draws me to the "narrow body" versions. Slick, clean, and not-on-every-third-grader's-wall.

I'm talking 924S, 911s before 1978 (even though I love the wide ones, too), the 289 Cobra, etc.

I'm actually shocked that no one has insisted that he buy a miata or 3.

Andrew

I've owned both a 951 and the last of the line '89 NA with the 2.7 motor. I would far and away recommend the 2.7 over the S in NA form. The 16v head doesn't really do a lot for it and just costs more in the long term. That said, the turbo car is a no-contest winner here.

It was like crack, more-so than any car I've owned, and I've had a bunch. It was awesome when it ran, and you wanted to beat it with a hammer when it didn't. Selling your plasma to buy parts was always a trip to the Red Cross away. It is probably the only car I've ever sold that I still have that tinge of excitement when I think about what it was like to drive. 911 guys will kill me, but I've always preferred a good 944 turbo over equivalent year 911's.

By contrast, the NA 944 was just another sports car...nothing bad, but nothing all that good either. There is no comparison between the two.

If I had to go NA, it would need to be an S2, or preferably a 968.

turboswede wrote: However, it sounds like you should give it a good detailing, take some pictures and send it on down the road. Buy yourself something you do like.

I think Turboswede got the answer right. If you are not in love with it let it go. You seem ready for a change and no amount of fixing the car up will keep your attention long. If you spend money on it you will get into Boxter territory fast.

I second V8 swap. The L33 engine is all-aluminum, cost like $800, and has 310bhp. It is combo born in heaven.

maybe I was wrong in my above post. Why not upgrade...

All great suggestions, and I still am not sure what I am going to do. My wife is pushing me to get a 3-series convertible (sub $10K). That is probably what I will do. I'd rather have a Z3, but she likes a back seat. Anyway, trying to compromise with the wife could be a thread in its own.

Otto_Maddox wrote: ... but she likes a back seat.

Sounds like you got a good one.

...that or kids ;)

Snipes - that 968 is teh hotnez

nderwater wrote: Snipes - that 968 is teh hotnez

Agreed. That is the most drool-inducing 968 I've ever seen. I've already started looking at prices.

@ that 968 - it has the widest tires and seats that i have ever seen on that body style. Reminds me of the evil racing 928 that was posted on here a few months ago.
Strange, I hate pop up headlights on a NA Miata, I like the 928 lights, but I much prefer the 944 lights to the 968 (and really don't care for the lights on the car above).