968 944S2 944 Turbo shootout

[peanut]

anyone seen this drive comparison ? The S2 comes out the favourite ho ho []

http://www.jzmachtech.com/images/news/0000276_P_World_08_Feb.pdf

but then we knew that didn't we Oli ![]

 

[Chrishazle]

One thing they got right - the 944S was a lemon. I swopped a 2.5 lux for an S to get the electric seats - wife likes to have the seat up high - what a mistake!! Got rid of it quickly for the 968 - and 11 1/2 years on she's still in my garage. That's the longest I've ever pwned one car, all the rest have been traded in after max 6 years.
Thanks for the link, enjoyed reading the article (and saving a copy to my PC!).

 

[zcacogp]

Interesting article, thanks.

Possibly a little unfair, or certainly lacking in detail. The gearshift in the S2 was better than in the turbo; which can only have been down to differences in treatment of the two over the last 18 years. The mechanisms are (I believe) identical and any superiority of one over the other would be conincidental. Ditto for the handling and suspension; what ARB's do the two cars have on them? My guess would be that the later S2 had the thicker ones, and the earlier turbo had the thinner ones. The differences may be 'minor' (as it says in the article), but are meant to be substantial on the road.

Still, a good read, thanks for posting it.


Oli.

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: Chrishazle

One thing they got right - the 944S was a lemon. I swopped a 2.5 lux for an S to get the electric seats - wife likes to have the seat up high - what a mistake!! Got rid of it quickly for the 968 - and 11 1/2 years on she's still in my garage. That's the longest I've ever pwned one car, all the rest have been traded in after max 6 years.
Thanks for the link, enjoyed reading the article (and saving a copy to my PC!).

wow thats an impressive ownership record Chris. I envy you that. I would still have my 86 Lux that I bought in 1997 if it wasn't for it being written off at 25mph on a roundabout due to spilt diesel.[&o]
Still,looking on the bright side hopefully my S2 will stay with me a while.[]

Oli I agree they should have at least compared a contempoary Turbo model with the S2 but they are so unalike I don't think you can really compare the two cars

 

[Suffolk944]

Really interesting article, pity they didn't pitch a late Turbo against the late S2. That said even most of us Turbo fans would concede that the S2 is a better drive in the real world than a unmodified 951. Also interesting that after the 944 S2 v 968 forum thread the article states that the 968 is clearly the faster of the two. []

Regardless of any of that its great that our cars have been subject to such a positive review ! []

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: Suffolk944

Also interesting that after the 944 S2 v 968 forum thread the article states that the 968 is clearly the faster of the two. []

No no ...no no no that can't be right ? ...must be a typo surely []

 

[Gordon Attar]

They could at least have used a later model turbo for a proper comparison, but the S2 may have won. But with a rechip and dual port wastegate there is no comparison.

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: Gordon Attar

the S2 may have won. But with a rechip and dual port wastegate there is no comparison.

unless the S2 was rechipped maybe [] ............................................just kiddin[]

seriously though his decision was based more on drivability and comfort than outright speed.
In those terms I don't see how you can really compare the two models

 

[TTM]

ORIGINAL: Gordon Attar
But with a rechip and dual port wastegate there is no comparison.

Not sure about that, the S2 still feels like it's got a better off-the-line ability a turbo will never have because of the lower compression ratio.
I am sure my turbo is massively faster in any condition than my S2, but I still find the S2 a more satisfying drive - it really is one of these few cars that has turned out through the years, perhaps by accident, to be better than the sum of its parts!

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: TTM

ORIGINAL: Gordon Attar
But with a rechip and dual port wastegate there is no comparison.

Not sure about that, the S2 still feels like it's got a better off-the-line ability a turbo will never have because of the lower compression ratio.
I am sure my turbo is massively faster in any condition than my S2, but I still find the S2 a more satisfying drive - it really is one of these few cars that has turned out through the years, perhaps by accident, to be better than the sum of its parts!

thats an interesting appraisal. At least you own and use both cars . I confess I have never driven a turbo 944 although i've driven other turbos.

My current S2 came already promax chipped. It does seem a lot faster than my previous S2 . Its all the speed I'll ever need. It seems to pull strongly from 1000rpm right up to 5500 + (which is the highest I've ever taken it. ) There isn't any peaking or flat spots or hesitation. Its an incredible engine.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: peanut
It seems to pull strongly from 1000rpm right up to 5500 + (which is the highest I've ever taken it. )

Really?

I've lost count of the number of times I've bounced my S2 off the rev limiter. Although it has happened a lot less frequently with the chip than it did before.


Oli.

 

[MRGT]

One thing I will say in defence of the 'S' (which always seems to get a bit of a slating here) is that it certainly responds when you rev it hard, just keep it above 4000 rpm []

 

[DivineE]

I've never driven them back to back but having spent plenty of time in both I think the writer is rather imagining differences that aren't there. Although his comment of bouncing over bumps suggests perhaps the dampers on the turbo were past their best.

p.s. Nikasil bores isn't correct they're Alusil - just to be extra nerdy

 

[DivineE]

ORIGINAL: MRGT


One thing I will say in defence of the 'S' (which always seems to get a bit of a slating here) is that it certainly responds when you rev it hard, just keep it above 4000 rpm []

I hated the S when I first drove it but when I was really going for it trying to chase down Mad Marcus (ex 944 turbo owner) on his 600cc fireblade I found myself having a whale of a time[] it was surprisingly fast actually. He never managed to overtake anything without me following. Though I was perhaps being a bit silly at times to ensure that point.

 

[Chrishazle]

ORIGINAL: MRGT


One thing I will say in defence of the 'S' (which always seems to get a bit of a slating here) is that it certainly responds when you rev it hard, just keep it above 4000 rpm []

And below 4000RPM I used to describe it as driving a Rover 100. Yes, above 4k it sings beautifully and is a lot of fun, but who wants that on normal driving. The top of the engine is lovely, but it has absolutely no bottom end even compared to (my first Porsche) a 2.5 lux. I'd love to try an S2, but I'm more than happy with my 968 whether pottering in town or having a bit of a loon round the lanes. Herself loves to drive it too - on the odd (very) occasion that I let her!!

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

ORIGINAL: peanut
It seems to pull strongly from 1000rpm right up to 5500 + (which is the highest I've ever taken it. )

Really?

I've lost count of the number of times I've bounced my S2 off the rev limiter. Although it has happened a lot less frequently with the chip than it did before.


Oli.

I needed my car for work and couldn't afford a new engine.[]

besides there is such a lot of power in my chipped S2 its not necessary to rev the nuts off it . I just change up[]