Anyone ever tangled with a Porsche 944 on the track or street?
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Why would you want a 4-banger Porsche? Try considering the 968 CS (that's Club-Sport which is the baby brother of the 968 Turbo RS) which is one of the best (and quickest) Porkers ever made. A 968 CS will kill basically any car on a track or challenging road. Don't forget that the 968 is a development of the 944.
And let's not forget the 968 Turbo S: 3.0L 4-cylinder pumping out 305BHP and 500NM and 0-100kmh in 4.8 seconds. But why would you get a 4-cylinder Porsche? Because they are unbelievably good and they're terrifically rare.
The 944 Turbo is another fantastic 4-cylinder Porsche. 220 brake from 2.5L is good whichever way you look at it and this is merely complimentary to the stunning handling capabilities of this car.
4-cylinders offer the purest driving thrills due to their low mass over the front wheels, high revving nature, and low internal inertia. And the Porsche 4-cylinders are some of the best we've ever seen.
And let's not forget the 968 Turbo S: 3.0L 4-cylinder pumping out 305BHP and 500NM and 0-100kmh in 4.8 seconds. But why would you get a 4-cylinder Porsche? Because they are unbelievably good and they're terrifically rare.
The 944 Turbo is another fantastic 4-cylinder Porsche. 220 brake from 2.5L is good whichever way you look at it and this is merely complimentary to the stunning handling capabilities of this car.
4-cylinders offer the purest driving thrills due to their low mass over the front wheels, high revving nature, and low internal inertia. And the Porsche 4-cylinders are some of the best we've ever seen.
Actually, the earlier 911's (964's, 930's in particular) were extremely difficult to control on the limit. Precisely because the engine is mounted over the rear axle means that during oversteer situations it acts as a pendulum and creates a slide that is extremely snatchy and typically full-blooded. 911's don't take kindly to lifting off the throttle mid-corner either as they're notoriously viscious to inexperienced drivers.
So, the 944, and 968 are better handling cars than the earlier 911's and the main reason for this (apart from better weight distribution) is because Porsche actually tried to kill off the 911 as they believed that the inherent flaws of having an engine over the rear wheels was too dangerous and too difficult to engineer. Thus, the 944, 968, and, in particular, the 928 were all designed along traditional front engine/rear drive platforms so that Porsche could phase out production of the 911. But the 911's ongoing popularity meant that Porsche didn't get rid of it and the 993 and 996 are relatively benign compared to their brutal predecessors. These two models are undoubtedly ridiculously well engineered.
So, the 944, and 968 are better handling cars than the earlier 911's and the main reason for this (apart from better weight distribution) is because Porsche actually tried to kill off the 911 as they believed that the inherent flaws of having an engine over the rear wheels was too dangerous and too difficult to engineer. Thus, the 944, 968, and, in particular, the 928 were all designed along traditional front engine/rear drive platforms so that Porsche could phase out production of the 911. But the 911's ongoing popularity meant that Porsche didn't get rid of it and the 993 and 996 are relatively benign compared to their brutal predecessors. These two models are undoubtedly ridiculously well engineered.
Chesty Bonds, seems like you know your stuff on the P-cars. Do you happen to have one? If so you should check out Rennlist.com this is the best site on the net for anything Porsche related. They also have a section for BMW. As far as the 944 compared to early 911 I did know that mainly from rennlist. As far as owning a 4 cylinder on a track which is where I would be mainly driving the 944 is capable of killing many cars with twice as many cylinders. For all the reasons you listed. I really like the Bimmer but I may have to pick up a older 944 also.
f1racer77 actually for that model of Porsche parts can be found alot cheaper than the Bimmer. One really good example is a set of Plug wires. I about died when I got the car and started gathering parts for a tune up. Most parts were within reason but 600.00 for a set of wires come on. I know they have the coil built in but you can get a nice set of wires and MSD6al system for the P-car and have money left over. Anyway, I would sure like to here some first hand accounts against one of the 944's or if it would be more fair a 951 which is the 944 turbo. Also a 944s2 will do it was a 4 cylinder with 210hp.
f1racer77 actually for that model of Porsche parts can be found alot cheaper than the Bimmer. One really good example is a set of Plug wires. I about died when I got the car and started gathering parts for a tune up. Most parts were within reason but 600.00 for a set of wires come on. I know they have the coil built in but you can get a nice set of wires and MSD6al system for the P-car and have money left over. Anyway, I would sure like to here some first hand accounts against one of the 944's or if it would be more fair a 951 which is the 944 turbo. Also a 944s2 will do it was a 4 cylinder with 210hp.
Hey mate. Unfortunately, i don't have a Porsche but one of these days i will have one that compliments my future E34 M5! ![[hihi]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hihi.gif "Hi Hi [hihi]")
The reason that i know about this is because i do a LOT of reading about cars but especially about BMWs and Porsches and, at one stage, my dad had a 944 Turbo. Oh my God was that thing a beast! Unbelieveable roadholding ability.
Thanks for the heads-up on the site. I will definitely be checking that out.![[thumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumb.gif "Thumbs Up [thumb]")
And i have to disagree with f1racer77 when he said that any 325 would beat a 944... That just wouldn't happen.
The reason that i know about this is because i do a LOT of reading about cars but especially about BMWs and Porsches and, at one stage, my dad had a 944 Turbo. Oh my God was that thing a beast! Unbelieveable roadholding ability.Thanks for the heads-up on the site. I will definitely be checking that out.
And i have to disagree with f1racer77 when he said that any 325 would beat a 944... That just wouldn't happen.
I beat a 944s on the track (Autocross) Sunday in my 325i. His best time was 79.749 seconds, my best was 76.450 seconds. There was also a 911 at the event. His best official time was 74.367. His raw time was actually 72.367, but he shorted a corner, took out a cone and got a 2 sec penalty.
My time was good enough for 2nd place in my D Stock class. The stock Bimmer did pretty good against the Porsches, and both of them were in non-stock classes, that is. they had performance mods.
According to SCCA's handicapping system, the Porsches should have an edge on the 325, but driver skill obviously is a factor.
My time was good enough for 2nd place in my D Stock class. The stock Bimmer did pretty good against the Porsches, and both of them were in non-stock classes, that is. they had performance mods.
According to SCCA's handicapping system, the Porsches should have an edge on the 325, but driver skill obviously is a factor.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/944_buyers_guide/944_buyers_guide.htm
I had thought about getting a used 944 at one time. Ultimately I decided that the service labor and some of the parts costs was probably not worth it to me for a 944 (For those costs I'll hold out for a 911!). One of the big issues is the timing belt. It has to be tensioned with a tool that costs $300 - $500, a bit expensive for a home tool, but you'll pay $200 - $300 to have a mechanic do the service. I still have the link above that provides a ton of info on used 944 issues.
I had thought about getting a used 944 at one time. Ultimately I decided that the service labor and some of the parts costs was probably not worth it to me for a 944 (For those costs I'll hold out for a 911!). One of the big issues is the timing belt. It has to be tensioned with a tool that costs $300 - $500, a bit expensive for a home tool, but you'll pay $200 - $300 to have a mechanic do the service. I still have the link above that provides a ton of info on used 944 issues.
Stock class allows just about no mods. Other than being freshly tuned, I have new Pirelli P Zero Neros on the car. Everything else is stock. I appears that a few more mods could get me into serious first place competition. I can still put stickier tires on it (R compound) and better shocks like Konis. After that, I'll be bumped into another class.
I don't know exactly how good the two Porsche drivers were, but I know they have more experience than I do, so I thought they should have had better times than me. The 911 was an early to mid 80s, I think it was a 911SC similar to this:
I don't know exactly how good the two Porsche drivers were, but I know they have more experience than I do, so I thought they should have had better times than me. The 911 was an early to mid 80s, I think it was a 911SC similar to this:
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Kirby, it sounds like you would stand a good chance in an advanced class. If you still have more you could do to your car legally and you are beating those two cars with more experienced drivers you must be one hell of a driver. If you were to mod your car up and get really into this you could be a force to be reckoned with. Oh! one other car I forgot about. Were there any Mazda Miata's there? Those little suckers are deadly on a track.