911 OR 944?

[cococola]

Always dreamed of a 911 as an eventual replacement for the 944 and taking into account the bigger lay out of money to buy one wondered whether it is really worth taking the plunge.Has anyone got experience and comparisons of the two models in driving and owning one and is it worth doing in the future other than for just saying my Porsche is a 911?[8|]

 

[nickgardner]

well I own a 944 turbo cabriolet and a 911 - a 993 4S
different cars in a host of ways
speed actually is very similar but if you want the 944 to keep up you have to work it like billy-o - keeping it well over 4500 RPM and the turbo working -whilst the 911 has got a shed load of torque and you can drive lazily if you feel like it and its still fast - and if you start working it then it really cracks on. 944 has very neutral handling with that 50/50 weight distribution though you can get into power on oversteer if you're agressive enough. Great to drive fast. The 911 is somehow less neutral and although much better than earlier 911s you still feel if you overstep the mark it could bite you - as a result is a bit more involving to drive fast - it requires a deal of concentration to keep it moving in the optimum way - but in reality with mine being 4 wheel drive you would have to be doing something seriously dangerous on public roads to get it out of line - best to find a track to experiment on (my previous 993 was 2 wheel drive and required a bit more caution, especially in wet). 911 esp 993 is (IMHO[]) pretty - 944 is best decribed as purposeful in looks - though I like it. Value for money - a good 944 is fanntastic value - loads cheaper than a good 911 - and reasonable to run and now negligible depreciation. both great in terms of amounts of luggage/people you can fit in if you try - but if you can manage it my vote would be - try a 911 - its one of the world's iconic motor cars - no doubt there are web sites which will list "cars to buy before you die" and I'd be tolerably sure the 911 in one or more forms will be there.

 

[George Elliott]

Cococola,
this question will probably never be answered. I cannot answer it, but will give you a reply for what its worth.

An aircooled, torsion bar sprung 911 is a special car. Its has been evolved to the 997T of today, and each revision has improved the dynamics of the original short wheelbase "901".
I have a blind spot never having driven a water cooled 911. I never wanted to, (although a gt3 with pccb might one day change that if the bank manager could be convinced.) Sitting in a 996 is different, - the pedal hinging, offset, view down the wings, are all changed from the original. The bodyshell is no longer the work of craftsmen, its fabricated from clever tailored blanks to provide accurate shuts from the thinnest guage and minimal labour. Just like a Nissan-another good car. All good stuff - it contributes to Porsche profit margins[8|]. Things like dry sump engines are no longer standard fit, that matters to me. (You also get USA indicators, the handbrake on the passenger side, and other Right hand drive shortcuts on your £100k 911[:'(]).

For me, (i have only owned 911SC, 3.2 and 964 inc 964rs) there is a sweet spot in the 911 evolution which existed around 1982 to 1992. - (assumes 2 wheel drive)

I have run three 944turbo's, a 220horse and two 250's. These are a fantastic car by any measure.

The 911's unique quirk is its balance. Ironically the 944's greatest asset is - its balance. With the above 911's you experience amazing traction, also turn-in. The brake balance was marginal on the sc & 3.2, - easy to lock a wheel, the brakes were not brilliant either, the headlights were poor and the heater needed patience. Also you had to be a bit careful where you left it.
With the 944T there were none of the compromises, but it preserved 80% of the traction(with LSDiff), 80% of the turn-in. You have to admire the work of the engineers way back on the original 924.

Today i have both 911 and 944, I drive the 944 every day, but I enjoy the 911's unique feel just a little bit more than the 944T's allround competence.

It take ages to save up for 911's so for me, the 44' has an advantage there, but you can spend a fortune on a 44turbo.
Dont know whether to post this or not!!

Just my experience, others will give better answers perhaps, - to see what i mean, take one to rural wales or ireland for a week.

George


944 - balanced by the factory[]
911 - balanced by the driver[]
One other thing - Dual Carriageways are'nt roads

 

[Neil Haughey]

If you can get to hear a pre74 car like a 2.2S on full chat, wow. I remember several years ago seeing what looked like a late 60's rally special drive past when I was walking along. The sound of that engine was incredible. For me the 3 most memorable sounding cars are old 911, old Ferrari V12 and alfa gtv6. You never ever forget it and it creates a permenant itch to own one of those cars. Problem is I doubt I will ever be able to afford a pre 74 S as an occasional car.

 

[Steven944]

I can only agree with the chaps above, as I also own both. Both the 911 and 944 are truly great cars, just different. The 911 without doubt is a more 'special' drive, but the 944 is definitely more liveable with as an everyday car. I suppose it depends on how you plan to use the car. With that in mind, there is nothing to beat opening the garage door and seeing a 911, your 911, staring back at you.

 

[Steven944]

I should maybe also qualify what I've said that by '911', I mean 'air cooled 911'.

 

[paul kelley]

Hi All

I have had my 911 supersport 3.2 Cab (1988) since 1990. Have driven all the later models up to the 996, but keep coming back to my own car. by modern standards it could be described as a bit agricultural , but I love it to bits.( and I still go into the garage and stare! how sad is that?)

Have fun

Paul Kelley
( I am also lucky enough to own a 1965 356 SC cabriolet)

 

[DivineE]

I'm really enjoying these comparisons. Much better than biased magazine reviews from writers that have never driven the cars in anger!

I will never forget the experience I had in a tinkered 993 driven by a competent driver on a twisty B road! Going through the 30 limit leading out onto the road felt like the pit lane out onto the circuit with the jolting of the rough gears and engine just begging to be opened up. The shear perfection of the noise from the de-restricted vario-ram engine as we launched out into the national limit was unforgettable! Never have I felt the sort on ridiculous G-force that completely lifted the weight of my body out of the seats until all of my weight was pushing hard against the shell of the car and the foot well under acceleration, braking and cornering! This experience alone has ensured that one day I will own a 993 it is just a matter of time (and tuning).

Most of my memories of the 911 are from my youth so are very glossy images but the memories are the reasons I bought a 944 in the first place. It's not quite as dedicated or as brutal as a proper 911 but having now owned a few I can say honestly say for the driving experience it doesn't disappoint and I've fallen in love with the 944 as a car. Whatever happens now I will always try to keep one.

Regards,

Ben

 

[dixhuit]

Having just bought another 944 to add to the fleet heres a non-technical totally emotional opinion. I owned 944's from new in the 80's. Everyday drivers commuting in London. Great cars (their bullet proof reputation has since evolved)
my boss wouldnt by me a 911 as it was too expensive. But a true Porsche if at that time you didnt subscribe to the snobbish view a Porsche had to be air cooled ! I have owned a water cooled 996 and 997. The 997 was/is a great car but they are mass produced and IMO have lost their character. Merc/BMW's et al do the same job with only a little less cachet. So I went back to an 89 3.2 911 and love it. Yes now you do need to concentrate if you want the best out of the car but it is so rewarding. I love the sound and quirkieness. I can never find the switches where I want them but who cares ! However I choose to make no comparisons as the 944 and 911 are very different motors. They require different driving styles. You can have a relaxed drive in the 944 and then drive it hard with little effort. The 911 is different. Relaxing no , but rewarding by the bucketful, but takes more skill to push it to the limit. Conclusion : Own both ![]

 

[Fred Hindle]

Alan,
As you will see from my signature I have both a 944 and a 964. The 944 I have had for 13 years, the 964 for six. If someone told me I could only keep one then the 964 would go. OK, the two are totally different, in fact I don't know of any car that is readily comparable to a 911 unless its another 911 but for all round driving pleasure and comfort then for me the 944 is way out in front. For fun on the road without grabbing the attention of the Corsa Kiddies then the 924S has the edge.
Now then, where is my crash helmet, time for some two wheel fun.

Cheers,

 

[Neil Haughey]

You guys hit the nail on the head of why the recent 911 derivatives hold little interest to me. A torsion bar 911 has the sound, the feel, the joy of driving and is small and perfectly formed. If all I was interested in was mega speed / performance I would probably just get a 3 year old M3, perhaps a CSL. Ppl that go on about how much the 996 depreciates want to have a look at BMW M! When I get a garage big enough I can get what I have wanted for years, the best torsion bar 911 I can find for reasonable money, prefereably a pre 74 car but these are becoming very sought after.

BTW I know its passing on secondhand info but my specialist has said that out of all the Porsche models down the years he would be perfectly happy with a late 3.2 carrera ala CS.

 

[sawood12]

I have a 911 itch to scratch as well but having had my 944 for over three years now I have come to love the car more than I though I would and now I cannot see myself parting with it so as Dixhuit suggested i'm aiming to have both - the 944 as the hobby/track car that will be an ongoing project with various mods as time goes on, and a 964 or 993 that i'll keep near-standard. I see the cars as different cars therefore don't consider one to be better than the other - it's like saying a Land Rover Discovery is better than a Ford Focus - how can you compare them? My ideal car would be a 997C2S with PCCB, X51 and Aerokit with the zero cost option lowered passive suspension with LSD, WITHOUT Sat Nav - 90% of a GT3 whilst retaining 100% of the practicality, (though i'd have a GT3RS in the garage for track days), but i'll have to wait ten yrs or so for one to depreciate into my price range!

 

[cococola]

Thank you for some great and interesting comments, I love owning the 944 and I do dream one day of owning a 911...........but then my heart says[8|] do I spend on a decent later 944 model at less money but still upgrading on my 1986 model or go for it and get that 911[&:]

 

[magicrat]

Just to share my experience of owning both 911 and 944 - unfortunately not at the same time. I had a 3.2 911 with Targa roof for 8 years and made the biggest mistake of my life by selling it two years ago - don't laugh but I replaced it with a Subaru Impreza. I bought the 911 when I was single and sold when I was married, one child and a mortgage - unless I win the lottery I doubt if I'll ever be in a financial position to buy another 911. The 911 was a summer car and the daily car needed replacing so I thought the Scooby Doo would be a combination of both - fast and practical. I've since replaced it with a Shogun and a 944 mainly used for track days.

The reason for the big regret over the 911 is that it made every single journey an unforgetable experience, every time over 8 years that car created a special feeling. I don't understand people obsessing about concours but even to wash the 911 and to look at gave me real satisfaction. I've often read in magazines the likes of Clarkson going on about Ferraris having soul and Japanese cars being soulless. I didn't understand this until I sold the 911 and bought the Scooby Doo. The Scooby was quick but extremely dull to drive, the 911 had soul, it had character and was completely involving to drive. I miss the sound of it, the smell of it, I just miss it.

The 944 is certainly easier to drive - the 911 scared the wotsit out of me for about the first six months - and I have great fun with at trackdays and on B roads, but I won't have the same sort of attachment to it as I did to the 911. The 911 is a legend, the 944 is a good car, given the choice I'd take the legend every time.

 

[dlknight]

Hey all,

I'm surprised Fen hasn't chipped in as he has had a few 911's as I recall, recently becoming the owner of a beautiful 964 as well.

I also aspire to owning a 911, maybe in a year or so, there are so many different models to choose from also each with their own plus and minus points (going by what I have read in the other 9xx forums here). So the question is pre-SC, SC, Carrera 3.2, 964 or even 993?

It seems that 964 prices have come down quite a bit recently with them now going for the same money that Carrera 3.2s were going for several years ago. Oh and you get that groovy automatic spoiler thingy on the 964 (I think not too sure).

Well good luck with whatever you decide

Dave K.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I'm surprised Fen hasn't chipped in as he has had a few 911's as I recall, recently becoming the owner of a beautiful 964 as well.

Fen's not on here anymore.

 

[rajagger]

What about a Boxster?

 

[pauljmcnulty]

What about a Boxster?

There must be a technical term for when the answer to a question is exactly the same as the question itself.....[8|]

Only joking if any Boxster owners have strayed into this forum by mistake! []

 

[dixhuit]

ORIGINAL: rajagger

What about a Boxster?

Thought swearing wasnt allowed on the forum.

 

[944Turbo]

A 911 is a vehicle way behind its time but engineered to be Ok.
A 944 is a vehicle engineered way ahead of its time, Maserati (and ferrari?) have recently adopted the engine at the front, torque tube, tranaxle arrangement.
BMW aim for the 50:50 weight balance achieved by the 944 and claim the 'ultimate driving machine' - dont think so.

A 944 is ideal for trackdays for trackweels and tyres fit in the boot.
A 944 has a nicely laid out interior - excluding the lack of lights on the centre console.
A 944 is very cheap for the performance it provides

A 911 is overpriced for its performance but has 'status'

A 911 sounds like a beetle with a bit more.

Fen left quietly - I think I know partly why, can we have him back please? who else is going to educate the subaru owners in such a forthright fashion?

Tony