Built like a brick out house

Guest · Dec 8, 2003

Did anyone see the News of the World news paper on Sunday yesterday? It had a section about affordable fast sports cars. And they featured the 944 Turbo. It was described as "built like a brick out house". Great review.

Guest · Dec 9, 2003

As some of you know, I recently wrote off my S2 Cab, and that is great testimony to the strength of our cars, as I got out without even a scratch having gone into a lamp post going sideways on black ice.

It is true, very hardy vehicles these 944's

John Sims · Dec 9, 2003

Phil,

Have I missed something. You haven't gone and bought yourself a rear engined car?

Robbiemeister · Dec 9, 2003

Oh yes he has!

Guest · Dec 10, 2003

I'd love to start a "pantomime chant" of "oh no he hasn't", but I am afraid it is true.

But as I mentioned in another post, I will be looking for another 944 sometime next year, cash permitting.

Regards

Phil

John Sims · Dec 10, 2003

I am afraid it is true.

Don't be afraid, I'm just waiting for the 996's to start dropping in price - Roll on the 997. I can't see the 993 dropping that much on current values due to its "pure 911 heritage" etc although the inevitable slump of 996 prices my help in that respect as well.

Belinda (my wife) claims she doesn't like 911's and almost used that as a blanket for all Porsches. She quite likes the 944 now but prefered the Lux over the Turbot. She saw a 996 Turbo in the summer. "I like that one" she said "You can have one of those!" I wish. One day perhaps.

sib8292 · Dec 10, 2003

Hmm; this is interesting stuff. I have found myself contemplating a 944S2 (?turbo) as a commuter car (15 miles each way per day) instead of something modern. Given I already have had a 911 (second car, for fun not commuting) for 12 years this seems heresy, but it sounds a practical proposition.

I'll be in the market some time in 2004. Turbo or not thats the question. I love the turbo effect but are they going wrong as the cars get older?

Advice and views will be much appreciated

Diver944 · Dec 10, 2003

Hi Sib,

The S2 has a 3 litre 211bhp normally aspirated engine and the Turbo has a 2.5 turbocharged one ('85 - '87 were 220bhp, later ones were 250bhp), externally all three look the same. In my opinion after reading lots of 944 forums they are about equal to eachother in reliability stakes. As long as they have been properly maintained there are no real worries.

The S2 has a hidden achilles heel in that there is a camchain inside the head that goes between the twin cams, and is not on any official service lists. Those in the know will get it and its tensioner replaced after approx 50k miles just in case (you don't want it to snap [

] ££££)

The Turbo has numerous little electrical sensors, vacuum pipes and a weak wastegate spring that can mean you are not getting your full power. I have only ever heard of a handful of cars that have needed a new or rebuilt turbocharger, and this is often after large amounts of miles.

The S2 has an amazingly flexible engine, the Turbo has an amazingly tweakable engine that will still be reliable around and over the 300bhp mark.

The decision is yours (my wife and I are very indecisive so we have one each [

] )

Fen · Dec 10, 2003

ORIGINAL: Diver944
The decision is yours (my wife and I are very indecisive so we have one each [] )

I have one of each too...

I'd say buy a turbo is you want to modify it and an S2 if you don't. S2's are a nicer drive and just as quick as a standard turbo, but they have very little tuning potential.

Air-con and leather were options of S2's but standard of Turbos (leather only on later cars) though, so if they mean anything to you then they're wasier to find on a turbo.

John Sims · Dec 11, 2003

I'd say buy a turbo is you want to modify it and an S2 if you don't.

I agree with Fen completely.

This view was also expressed by one of the regular American contibuters to 911&PW. He concluded that, as there was little that could be done to a S2, if he bought that it would stop him from being tempted to modify it.

Robbiemeister · Dec 11, 2003

I have found myself contemplating a 944S2 (?turbo) as a commuter car (15 miles each way per day)

On a 15mile trip I wouldn't bother, for all the same reasons you don't use your 911 for the journey.

But if you have to go for a straight NA 2.5, less likely to suffer from not being warmed up properly.

Guest · Dec 12, 2003

I refer to previous postings by myself in regards to my S2 Cab which I had to have a reconditioned bottom end, as it had been thrashed by previous owners whilst cold!! Be mindful of this, as it is a costly exercise to get this fixed.

Regards

Phil