944 Turbo S questions
- Thread starter ccampbell84
- Start date
Fen,have you got something against model year 88 Turbo S cars ? seems like it when reading your posts ? I sold a late model bridge spoiler year 90 Turbo to buy one, a Black 88 year, Turbo S (silverose spec)It seems to me that the exclusivety is a little hard for you swallow /get your head around?
My other car came with a makers plaque B3 3.3 Alpina No 242 again exclusive and it feels much better than a 330i BMW it is not just stickers and spoilers as most people who know nothing about the marque think.
My other car came with a makers plaque B3 3.3 Alpina No 242 again exclusive and it feels much better than a 330i BMW it is not just stickers and spoilers as most people who know nothing about the marque think.
Not at all, I just don't see any exclusivity. Explain to me exactly what your '88 car does / has that your '90 didn't?
I looked at a black Silver Rose spec Turbo many years ago and elected to buy a '90 bridge spoiler one instead, which I have never regretted.
Ed - I didn't mean to suggest that an 8.5k car wouldn't need work doing as it would most certainly need something done (I've told people to hold on to 1,500 notes often enough, but you'd hope to get one at that price point where the work was less extensive and possible less immediate. I wouldn't buy one with rot, and I'd expect to get a rust free one for that money is the core point.
- It had a thinner screen - does it still? Even if the answer is yes do you really sleep better knowing that it does?
- I has M030 - is it still in good condition? If not it will cost a fair bit to refurbish and you could put similar money into a non-M030 car and have a better end result; M030 isn't all that by a long chalk.
- It has no sunroof - well that's good as it takes weight out just where you don't want weight - it's less stiff than the sunroof shell through lack of additional bracing however. Sunroof delete was a no-cost option on later cars, though it's rare to find.
- It's black - so were any number of other 250 cars across '89 - '91.
- It (probably) has tartan seats. They look better in black than burgundy, but to most people they aren't a plus. It's tricky to find, but they were available on later 250 cars.
- It has forged wheels. They are known to fracture now they are 20 years old. '89 cars had the same and to most people the D90 looks virtually identical. It may be heavier, but it's stronger.
I looked at a black Silver Rose spec Turbo many years ago and elected to buy a '90 bridge spoiler one instead, which I have never regretted.
Ed - I didn't mean to suggest that an 8.5k car wouldn't need work doing as it would most certainly need something done (I've told people to hold on to 1,500 notes often enough, but you'd hope to get one at that price point where the work was less extensive and possible less immediate. I wouldn't buy one with rot, and I'd expect to get a rust free one for that money is the core point.
I agree - well actually I might be happy with a manual CF panel in place of the electric fibreglass one.
I did actually pursue the possibility of buying a LHD Silver Rose that was being imported to the UK from Japan that I was offered with the intent of cutting the roof off it, but the car was too nice to break (as described - I didn't ever go to view it). The only bit of the S spec I would like is the non-sunroof option - the rest doesn't worry me at all.
Ironically the car in question seems to have had a bridge spoiler fitted...
Not at all. Why buy a scruffy car for 4.5k and have to throw another who knows how much at it to make it half decent when you can get an already half decent one for a bit more money.
I have no problem with cars being restored but there is no getting away from the fact it makes no financial sense whatsoever to resurrect a 944 in the current climate where nice examples are still available, values are depressed and parts are expensive.
The OP asked for advice and he's getting it. That car has been discussed on here 3 times now that I am aware of as well as on the TiPEC forum it would seem, yet it is still for sale at the same dealer - what does that tell you? It tells me it isn't worth buying.
I have no problem with cars being restored but there is no getting away from the fact it makes no financial sense whatsoever to resurrect a 944 in the current climate where nice examples are still available, values are depressed and parts are expensive.
The OP asked for advice and he's getting it. That car has been discussed on here 3 times now that I am aware of as well as on the TiPEC forum it would seem, yet it is still for sale at the same dealer - what does that tell you? It tells me it isn't worth buying.
edh
New member
I think the 250 turbo is a great car - you just need to go into it with your eyes open.
I'm one of the minority who actually like the pink cars - just couldn't live with the interior. Black would have been much better.
Listen to people who have owned these cars for a few years & you'll see that it costs a fair bit to keep them running (even good ones) Add in the inevitable upgrades (it'd be a shame not to ), extra wear & tear from track use (ditto) and the costs mount up. Buying one from an owner who knows the car & can tell you all the good (and bad) points must be better than buying from a dealer who knows much less about the car, and only has a stack of receipts to throw at you, most of which mean very little if they are more than a few years old.
OT a bit - Fen - can you get a manual CF sunroof panel, or are they just fixed in place like Peter's?
I'm one of the minority who actually like the pink cars - just couldn't live with the interior. Black would have been much better.
Listen to people who have owned these cars for a few years & you'll see that it costs a fair bit to keep them running (even good ones) Add in the inevitable upgrades (it'd be a shame not to ), extra wear & tear from track use (ditto) and the costs mount up. Buying one from an owner who knows the car & can tell you all the good (and bad) points must be better than buying from a dealer who knows much less about the car, and only has a stack of receipts to throw at you, most of which mean very little if they are more than a few years old.
OT a bit - Fen - can you get a manual CF sunroof panel, or are they just fixed in place like Peter's?
I personally like the idea of the Turbo S being that bit different originally built with 250 bhp but Porsche stuck with the idea and fitted them from all turbo cars from then on so buggered up the uniqeness up a bit.
In a word they were the originals for the later cars.
My own car has one of the last lightweight windsreens available fitted as a replacement and fortunately not long before buying it back(must like them if i bought it back)new front Koni adjustables ££££ new discs/ pads all round,recent belts tensioners and a cometic headgasket along with retrofit R134A aircon conversion from the old stuff.
The car originally came with black pinstripe seats but i fitted black Recaro CS seats (mega comfy) along with black split rears ,genuine Cup 1,s which are my favourite wheel.
Basically the car is mecahnically bang on and needed a wheel refurb which has been done and some cosmetic paintwork again done but was not the best job in the world and will be re-done next year.
I have been down the route of buying a 944 that needed a "bit of work" and ended up spending a fortune, my advice is buy the best you can.
Each to their own but given the choice between my car and a late model immaculate bridge spoiler car i would take mine every time as previously stated in another post i sold a late model bridge spoiler car to buy the S they are obviously special to me,i would love a Silverose Coloured car but without the trim plese [
]
In a word they were the originals for the later cars.
My own car has one of the last lightweight windsreens available fitted as a replacement and fortunately not long before buying it back(must like them if i bought it back)new front Koni adjustables ££££ new discs/ pads all round,recent belts tensioners and a cometic headgasket along with retrofit R134A aircon conversion from the old stuff.
The car originally came with black pinstripe seats but i fitted black Recaro CS seats (mega comfy) along with black split rears ,genuine Cup 1,s which are my favourite wheel.
Basically the car is mecahnically bang on and needed a wheel refurb which has been done and some cosmetic paintwork again done but was not the best job in the world and will be re-done next year.
I have been down the route of buying a 944 that needed a "bit of work" and ended up spending a fortune, my advice is buy the best you can.
Each to their own but given the choice between my car and a late model immaculate bridge spoiler car i would take mine every time as previously stated in another post i sold a late model bridge spoiler car to buy the S they are obviously special to me,i would love a Silverose Coloured car but without the trim plese [
]
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
The CF panel I have is just that, it has no structure to it, but then it is ludicrously light. It should be possible to remove the structure of an old sunroof and bond this panel into it (giving you a working sunroof again). I can't imagine it would be that difficult to do.
Other options are to just get rid of the electric motor and fit the manual clasps to the original sunroof, I used this before and it worked pretty well and saved a couple of kg.
I'm also under the impression that earlier cars had very light fibreglass panels as standard, so tracking one of these down may be an option, although I've never seen one.
Other options are to just get rid of the electric motor and fit the manual clasps to the original sunroof, I used this before and it worked pretty well and saved a couple of kg.
I'm also under the impression that earlier cars had very light fibreglass panels as standard, so tracking one of these down may be an option, although I've never seen one.
random hero
New member
I looked into this as well but as i also prefer the look of the non sunroof cars ive decided to have non sunroof skin fitted instead !!
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
I thought about this too, but I listened to a lot of recommendations telling me not to do it as it could reduce the strength in a roll over. I was advised it was only sensible if you had a whole cage fitted (which then causes more problems if you drive without a crash helmet). Having seen the way these cars are built in a bit more detail now I'm not completely convinced this is the problem I was led to believe if its done properly, but don't regret the solution we've ended up with for one second.
edh
New member
I know we've taken this off topic, but I think the original topic has about died a death
GT racing say you can fit their panel with clips - I'm trying to get a bit more info from them.
If I was to do this, I'd want to get a reasonable weight saving, so don't want to re-use inner bits from a normal roof. I still want to be able to open it at the back for ventilation (black interior, no a/c). Peter - do you still have your manual roof bits & pieces? I've never seen how a 944 manual roof works.
GT racing say you can fit their panel with clips - I'm trying to get a bit more info from them.
If I was to do this, I'd want to get a reasonable weight saving, so don't want to re-use inner bits from a normal roof. I still want to be able to open it at the back for ventilation (black interior, no a/c). Peter - do you still have your manual roof bits & pieces? I've never seen how a 944 manual roof works.
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
Hi Ed,
There's no provision on my panel at all, it literally is just a thin outer shell, so not quite sure how they suggest you do this. You must have to bond something to it as there's nothing of any substance there. I suspect the frame is the light bit on the original roof and it's the skin that's heavy, but don't know for definite. I could be tempted to hack my old panel around when I get it back I suppose.
The manual latches should still be with the car, so I should get them back when it's all sorted through. They're a very simple design, there's some pics on this Rennlist thread. You can often buy them for about $20 on ebay as they were common on the early US spec 944's.
There's no provision on my panel at all, it literally is just a thin outer shell, so not quite sure how they suggest you do this. You must have to bond something to it as there's nothing of any substance there. I suspect the frame is the light bit on the original roof and it's the skin that's heavy, but don't know for definite. I could be tempted to hack my old panel around when I get it back I suppose.
The manual latches should still be with the car, so I should get them back when it's all sorted through. They're a very simple design, there's some pics on this Rennlist thread. You can often buy them for about $20 on ebay as they were common on the early US spec 944's.
edh
New member
Thanks Peter - saved me some rennlist searching there.... I'll see what GT racing have to say - maybe their f/g panel has some fittings?
I'm not really planning any bodywork mods until next year some time, so no rush to get this sorted. I am building up a collection of lightweight panels "just in case" []
....Driving my Integra makes me appreciate a lightweight car
I'm not really planning any bodywork mods until next year some time, so no rush to get this sorted. I am building up a collection of lightweight panels "just in case" [
]....Driving my Integra makes me appreciate a lightweight car
Peter Empson
PCGB Member
Glad to hear the Integra must be going well now [].
I'll be interested to hear what GT racing say about the roof, I didn't order the piece myself so maybe there was an option at the point of order.
]. I'll be interested to hear what GT racing say about the roof, I didn't order the piece myself so maybe there was an option at the point of order.
random hero
New member
So does this mean a factory non sunroof car is not as strong as the sunroof car ??. I'm getting the complete roof and am going to use the skin plus whatever metal beams are underneath so i cant see it not being strong enough .
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