Bought a 944 Turbo Today

[Andrew1234]

I bought a 944 Turbo today. Will not be picking it up for a couple of weeks but here is a pic from the vendors website. Not concours but seemed okay and if it turns out to be a pup it was not that much money. Its had a blow over in the past so it is closer to red than the pic suggests. I am getting some 16 inch wheels as well as those 18inch wheels which look okay but feel too extreme for the car.

Does anyone know what the precise spec of an 89/90 944 Turbo should be (First registered June 1990 per DVLA) or where I can find it. I have a couple of books on Porsche and obviously the internet but there seems to be lots of conflicting guidance. In any event though I like it. Its fast enough, feels very solid and is very comfortable and roomy for a sportscar.

 

[TTM]

Congrats!
Though Guards Red isn't my cup of tea on a 944 it does look great on the picture.

The bridge spoiler and the first registration date suggest it's a 1990 model, meaning it should feature as standard :
- the "bigger" front brakes
- ABS (M593)
- A/C (M573)
- LSD (M220)

The picture shows the optional, removable roof panel, coded M650.

If it's got the M030 option it should feature Koni yellows all round with rebound adjustment and height adjustment through adjustable spring perches at the front.

Regardless of it being either an '89 or a '90 the engine should be the 250bhp version.

If you type in the VIN on the following page it should return all equipments :
http://www.autoatlanta.com/life/vin/vin.php

Enjoy! []

 

[George Elliott]

Good luck with it Andrew, it looks a fine specimen.
they are special cars and worth spending a few bob on when they need it.
My understanding of them is as follows:
86 model yr, 220 bhp, std fit sunroof, air con, elec windows, mirrors, full size spare, engine number with 51 in it.
87 as above
88 as above plus introduction of Silver Rose edition - spec:
Special Colour, special cloth upholstry, forged rims(wider), 928 brakes, LSD, 8 way adjustable non-sports seats, 250 bhp with 52 engine number, harder synchros in 1st&2nd, air con, sunroof deleted, (as per turbo cup shell of the era). Limited run of this edition approx 1630 units, and colour variations towards end of run. Often known as turbo S.
89 continuation of Rose spec with sunroof reintroduced and special colour / trim discontinued. Often referred to as turbo SE cars.
90 spec reduced from SE level, LSD, forged rims, sports seats, air con became options.
91 as per 90
It is generally recognised that the early cars had some fruiter internals such as a special down pipe and forged rods.
The ceramic valve seats, turbo / intercooler layout, and depth of engineering in the cars were a result of Porsches earlier plan to base their future models around the watercooled transaxle platform as opposed to the 3.2 beetle. The 924 turbo had been a bit fragile and the 951 was engineered to address the 924t layout issues.
I am reliably informed the crank in your 944 turbo weighs 29kg, an indication of the totally bulletproof engineering standards Porsche once offered on mainstream models.
There is a wealth of enthusiastic expertise in Europe and USA for these brilliant cars.
Apologies in advance for any gaps in my description above. (space saver came in 88/89). Cabrio - they made a few all 250 horse.
George
944 turbo





George
944T

 

[Andrew1234]

TTM, George

Thanks for your replies. They are most helpful.

I managed to walk away without writing down the VIN number so I cannot check the spec although its a very useful site I will use.

The vendor, a local Porsche specialist, indicated the car did not have that M030 suspension and he thought not when I asked about LSD; is my understanding of your post correct that LSD was optional (no doubt at eyewatering cost from the factory) on the 1990 Turbo?'

He did go on to say he had a Turbo S gearbox he could fit for more money and my understanding is that comes with the LSD in.

However, my 944 will not be tracked by me as I hillclimb my Alfas that are stripped, tuned and caged already. This 944 is to be used for reliable days out for me and my 3 year old daughter to give my wife some time alone with our imminent second child. I would be grateful if you could tell me if you know how much impact and LSD would make in a porsche 944 Turbo that will not be driven very very hard. The reason I ask is if it makes little difference there is no point getting it.

It really is well bolted together. The only noise on the test drive other than the engine was a roar from those huge wheels. Hope they have not damaged the suspension too much. I love Alfa Romeos but they do rattle a lot.

Thanks

 

[George Elliott]

Andrew,
I had an 86 non lsd car in 1992, it was still a great car. Given the choice I would prefer the limited slip, but for your intended use and with your co-pilot, - she wont notice, and you will have a great drive.
I predict you will be advised it would be shot now anyway[]
Dont let the diff put you off.
George
944T

 

[TTM]

All '90 Turbos have LSD fitted from new, so if yours hasn't maybe the gearbox was replaced at some point.

 

[9212PT]

Happy days, another 44 turbo owner !!!

You've been to Tom's !!!

Are you a local lad, where abouts you live ?

Are you close to myself ?

Hope to see you down Tipec meet tonight in Stainton ?!!

Cheers Paul

 

[Andrew1234]

Hi Paul

I have indeed been there.

I am local and not local. We are living away at the moment but in the process of buying a place in Hexham where we used to live as we have not found anywhere to live we like more and I will just have to work away during the week.

I don't pick the car up for a couple of weeks. I will be glad of support of other local enthusiasts when I do.

I remember seeing what I think was a black S2 in Hexham but not a blue Turbo. Are you in Hexham?

Best

Andrew

 

[9212PT]

I'm in Stocksfield only collected my 44 on the 01/05/11.

After serching high & low since March 10 i finally found the one for me.

Travelled to London for mind like.

So fairly new to it all myself but learning things about the car very quickly through here, Tipec forum & trial & error []

Need any advice just ask, your in the right place for it []

Cheers Paul

 

[Lowtimer]

90 spec reduced from SE level, LSD, forged rims, sports seats, air con became options.
91 as per 90

Not quite as I understand it: correct that the mainstream late Turbos (i.e. 250 hp post Silver Rose) have D90s, not forged CS wheels, but the LSD is standard.Not sure about the seats and air con but I thought air con was standard too on a late Turbo.

 

[scam75]

Forged CS wheels came up to MY89 on the turbo then D90's for MY90. I ended up with them on my MY90 which was the first one in the UK, the rest all seem to have D90's and indeed the MY90 brochure shows the bridge spoilered turbo with both CS wheels and then D90's in other pictures. Aircon was standard on turbo's as was LSD I think but sport seats were always an option.

Stuart

 

[DavidL]

My 90MY came with comfort seats and D90s sadly.
So I had to go and buy CS alloys and sports seats. Ah well.

 

[944Turbo]

90 cars also have bridge spoilers and until now I thought they all came with leather sports seats. They usually have the 10 speaker stereo as well but not sure if this was optional. AC was standard. They dropped the MO30 but had stiffer struts / springs / ARBs & TB's?? than the 220's and smaller diameter front springs as per the 968. LSD and failry big blacks were also standard. They lost the brake ducts through the wheel arch liners.
The D90's were same dimensions as the forged wheels.
Tony

 

[scam75]

10 speaker was optional. D90's are the same dimensions but are much heavier.

M030 was an option but not exactly sure what you got extra other than Koni's?

I've got M030 on my car but there was no sign of Koni's when I took ownership, some knackered red things (Sachs I think) and no sign of any adjustment on them.

What would a late model turbo have been fitted with then if M030 was specified? Just Koni's?


Stuart

 

[TTM]

AccoRding to PET, front control arms and rear trailing arms USE a different rubber (probably stiffer).
Same for front strut mounts and caster blocks.

I have been looking through this at the moment as I believe my car could do with new bushings all round, but at almost €1k for a single M030 upper strut mount and €370 for a standard mount I may well do with used parts... [8|]

 

[Lowtimer]

ORIGINAL: 944Turbo

90 cars also have bridge spoilers and until now I thought they all came with leather sports seats.
...
The D90's were same dimensions as the forged wheels.

My 1990 build, '91 registration has a pinstripe velour sports interior, so not all leather.
Aren't the forged CS wheels 7" wide at the front? That's what they always seem to be quoted at on the Silver Rose cars, whereas late turbo D90s are 7.5" at the front. 9" rears in both cases.

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: Lowtimer

Aren't the forged CS wheels 7" wide at the front?

Yup, and despite what internet forums say I don't believe they are appreciably lighter. I had a set of each at one point and they weighed virtually the same on bathroom scales (albeit with different tyre brands on)

 

[Fat Albert]

ORIGINAL: Diver944

I had a set of each at one point and they weighed virtually the same on bathroom scales (albeit with different tyre brands on)

I bet your wife is still getting at you about your spare tyre....

 

[DavidL]

I'd beg to differ Paul.
I swopped my cs alloys off to put the d90s back on when the tyres were just about slick and the subjective difference in weight just hefting them about was noticeable. On the road I doubt you'd really benefit and I don't properly understand the sprung/unsprung weight issues, but maybe on the track?

 

[Lowtimer]

Tell you what - even a D90 is MASSIVELY lighter than an equivalent size BMW alloy wheel. I have a set of each hung on my garage wall, and it's a breeze getting the D90s up and down, whereas the BMW wheels take a fair old effort.