new person considering to buy a 944

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Diver944


.....Right - emergency planning mode switched on, we can't lose the Sim Meister []

How is everyone fixed for a day early next year?

Bookatrack have a Saturday at Castle Combe on Sat 3rd Feb for £150, GoldTrack have three weekend dates at Silverstone in January - £175 for the Naional circuit, £195 for the GP. I also know that Donington have several of their own days throughout January for £115 open pit lane (their website is down just now so I don't know the dates)

Ha, ha !

Castle Combe is a bit far for me, but I feel myself drawn towards Silverstone National. Silverstone is also reasonably safe if it should rain - apart from the start/finish bend that is.

 

[pae]

Do you think our new friend could have his thread back now? [] [] []

Phil

 

[944Turbo]

If its a really bad boost leak then you might be pushing the turbo out of its efficiency range and just blowing hot air around,
Tony

 

[944Turbo]

yes sorry, hijack mode off

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Indi9xx

I bet the Forge dump valve could well be the boost leak.....

Possibly, but it does make an excellent noise when you let off. []

The main issue with the Link IMHO, is with regard to interpolation. The cells are quite large at 500 rpm increments and you need to anticipate what the position is within the cell and the impact of adjoining cells - in effect intemperate the interpolation. If you don't, you find the same cell will produce both rich and lean readings and you chase yourself round in circles.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: pae

Do you think our new friend could have his thread back now? [] [] []

Phil

The man wants to know about 944's, it's all relative. We are managing to produce a snapshot of life on the forum. I think we are doing a damn good job.

 

[sawood12]

OK to summarise:-

944 good points:-
-Unbelieveable value for money, a very robust/bullet proof car with readily available and mostly reasonably priced spares
-Still looks good if not a little dated, but the looks can be easily refreshed with some new wheels, steering wheel and door mirrors
-Superb handling even on old and tired shock absorbers. You'd be hard pressed to find a modern car at anywere near 944 money that handles a sublimly.
-Not as quick in a straight line as modern cars (unless you've got a turbo or S2) but what you loose in a straight line you'd make up in the bends
-Progressive and safe handling due to the 50/50 weight distribution with high polar moment of inertia meaning things happen much more progressivley and gently than mid engined cars with 50/50 weight distribution and low polar moment of inertia. But lack of modern electronic stability aids still means you need to handle with care in slippery conditions!
-Are relatively cheap to run; caveat - see point 1 of bad points!!
-They are every bit a proper Porsche but not many people realise it because they are so narrow minded and snobbish about 911's, that's their loss as far as i'm concerned. Don't get me wrong, I love 911's and hanker after one but i'm nowhere near finished with my 944 yet.
-944 turbo's are addictive and will lead you down a dark path of modifying. The fact that Porsche didn't realise the full potential from the car due to it stepping on the toes of the 911 will really get under your skin. If you have an addictive personality steer clear of a turbo.
-Is robust enough to take in a full track day and get you home with no drama.

944 bad points:-
-if you buy a bad one it will be a money pit - no question about it
-S2's/turbo's bottom edge of the front wings are susceptable to rust
-There are alot of 944's out there that have lead hard lives so do your research and know what to look for in a good car.
-They are getting on for 20yrs old now (if not more) so are a little less refined than modern cars (which actually is a good point IMHO)
-can't think of anymore!!

 

[John Sims]

Obviously a man still in the honeymoon period. []

 

[sawood12]

John, I am through the honeymoon period, but obviously not as through it as you!. I have on occasions browsed Autotrader looking for something to replace it with, but unless I want to throw alot more money around i'm struggling to find something that would give me everything the 944 does. I'm not a fan of Japanese stuff (no soul or character) and i'm not a fan of BMW's so that doesn't leave much. I was very very close to buying a 993 last year but had a change of heart when I took the 944 for a blast round some country lanes I know well and I was hooked all over again. I've got a few more years to go yet before the 911 I really want depreciates into a price range i'd be willing to stretch to so the 944 will do the biz until then!

 

[skendrick]

I totally agree Scott,
I'm looking for a 964 but in no hurry, my mate has a scooby and it is no where near as solid or refined as the 944. Also because you sit in the car so low it feels more planted on the road than modern cars that use electrics to keep theirs on the black stuff.

This is my first porsche and it has made me realise that I couldn't go back to a standard modern car.

Jon,
Costs are no more expensive than modern cars, I buy most of my parts from Porsche and if like me you like to do the small repairs yourself (i.e. rubber seals, vacume pipes, etc..) then your only cost will be the normal servicing, MOT, TAX, AA cover (important), etc.. But the biggest saving is depriciation, a good sound car will loose little value.

Good luck in finding the right one.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: sawood12

............ I have on occasions browsed Autotrader looking for something to replace it with, but unless I want to throw alot more money around i'm struggling to find something that would give me everything the 944 does. I'm not a fan of Japanese stuff (no soul or character) and i'm not a fan of BMW's so that doesn't leave much. ........

So true. What else is there? A friend has a 350Z and is very underwhelmed with it, I'd like a type R Jag but it wouldn't be anywhere near as good as Beaky on the track, so would have to be "as well as" not a replacement. Unless you buy from the land of the rising sun you aren't going to get the same power as you do from a 951 for the same money. You could consider a second hand yank tank but who wants a car that doesn't go around corners?

I don't deny that a 944 is a really great car. Many people who have had one and sold it have regretted their actions. I'm not about to join them at the moment.

However......If you want to blend into the background, and still go fast, there are some executive pocket rockets which, due to depreciation, are pretty good all round cars. ST220 Mondeos, and 850Ts for a start........Oh the man's already got an 850T.......I'll get me coat. []

 

[DivineE]

Don't get on the executive rocket ship power slope to depression!!! I may be young but have much experience with such things. My M3 thingy, the Audi A4 2.8 Quattro, My friends M5... all of them offer great combinations of comfort, luxury, subtle styling and impressive pace but Oh you will not believe how fast the shiny gloss of these attributes wears off.. Revealing the dull lifeless car beneath!

They may be fast REALLY fast but all too soon you will find yourself thinking that driving is not as fun as you remember, you will stop going out driving just for the sake of it, you will start to consider newer, quieter and more boring ways of getting from A to B, worrying about fuel economy. Then you suddenly realise that you have joined the masses and become one of them! Driving around in a zombified state of boredom and gloom simply winding down into your impending death!

You do not realise how delicate the balance of life is your Porsche! Porsche driving is chink of light, the fun and the rebellion against following the beaten track. You only realise it most once you've lost it and the magic of driving has gone!

P.S. For non Porsche drivers please search on Google / Youtube and watch the Porsche RUF R Kompressor promotion video to understand fun of a Porsche driving experience.

 

[DivineE]

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=3514074663658443055&q=RUF+R

see above link

 

[DivineE]

Sorry wrong link! I meant this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UnnAEkbqpM

 

[RC18B 911 turbo]

yeah thats what driving's all about it a nice car makes me want to get a porsche more now and I know what you mean by the executive power rocket to deppression it like with the volvo it fast but all the toys in it dulls the experiance of driving really.

 

[RC18B 911 turbo]

Might be going to look at a few 944s next week seen a some on the auto trader web site and in 911 and porsche world so if I have time next week i will be going to have a look

 

[Fen]

I just realised you're from Exeter. I'm in Kingsteignton if you want any help or to meet up some time. In fact I know of a minter Baltic blue 944 2.7 coming on the market locally.

 

[RC18B 911 turbo]

Yeah that would be really nice. do you know much about the car like price and so on please

 

[Indi9xx]

Whats your budget?

Do you want a turbo or a Lux?

Do you want an early car or late car?

 

[Guest]

Scott's comments are dead right...
even though I have my S2 up for sale I'm not sure I really want to part with it, and when like the last week I have used it a lot you realise (again) what brilliant cars they are. Fast, refined, fantastic handling, still gets looks even though 15 years old now, and today it passed the MoT with nothing needing doing!
What more could you want really.