Porsche 944 Turbo vs 911 in recent magazine

[roadiesean]

Now, I am starting to think that I am going crazy, because I have been through the back copies online of all the Porsche mags and I can't find it, but I am ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that a month or so ago, I saw an article where they tested the 944 Turbo against a 911 of the same era. Has anyone seen this article ??

If so, can you put me out of my misery and tell me which one it was so I can go and buy it !!!

Thanks

 

[roadiesean]

Thanks Scotty, but which issue ??

 

[Diver944]

It's not a recent test but maybe you caught an online version of the 1988 944T vs 911 3.2 review in Road & Track magazine.

Its the first review downloadable from Ricks website here:

http://www.cannell.co.uk/Road%20Tests.htm

 

[bmnelsc]

Hello - "Excellence - The Magazine About Porsche" has a comparison between a 944S2 and a Turbo-Look (an '84 Carrerra 3.2) in their October 2010 issue.

They have also done a 928 vs 951 (February 2009 issue) and 924 Carrera GTS vs 944 (April 2010 issue).
There is a web site - www.excellecnce-mag.com for back issues etc.

Maybe this is it....

 

[roadiesean]

I must be going completely mad, it was definitely in the last 3 months and it was definitely a 944 turbo v 911, they commented on how they were the same price new, but the 944 was a bargain in comparison etc, etc.

Thanks for the Excellence hint, but that definitely is not the one, it was a UK magazine as well.

Come on boys, its detective time !! ;-)

 

[JamesBall]

You are not going mad. A mate lent me the magasine. I'll ask him which one it was as I can't remember!

 

[JamesBall]

Total 911 Magazine, Issue 62.

Or contact Andy Mearns at Gmund cars to talk about the 2 cars he supplied!

Ta da... http://www.imagineshop.co.uk/magazines/total911/total-911-issue-62.html

 

[Suffolk944]

Ooh that looks good - have ordered a copy myself.

 

[roadiesean]

Yahoo !!!!!!!!!!!!

Not only am I not going mad, I actually have a really good memory !

Oh, and one on the way via the website ! Hurrah !!

Thanks heaps James.
Sean

 

[JamesBall]

Its not a bad article but it is exactly what you (at least I) expect: the 944T is the better car but the Carrera 3.2 is more "involving", more of an "experience" and ultimately "more rewarding".

I was surprised, however, to read that the 944T was the more expensive car new.

 

[roadiesean]

Surely for more "involving" they mean.....(whisper it).....scary and dangerous ? []

 

[Suffolk944]

ORIGINAL: James Ball


I was surprised, however, to read that the 944T was the more expensive car new.

Yes indeed, its something thats sadly lost in the perception of our cars these days as a "poor mans Porsche" Maybe if more were aware of just howexpensive they were when new their relative residuals compared with 911's of a similar age would be much closer.

IIRC over in Germany 944 prices are far higher than over here.

 

[Suffolk944]

ORIGINAL: roadiesean

Surely for more "involving" they mean.....(whisper it).....scary and dangerous ? []

Or really taking far too much effort to drive enjoyably given its various shorcomings. []

 

[appletonn]

ORIGINAL: roadiesean

Surely for more "involving" they mean.....(whisper it).....scary and dangerous ? []

Or noisier, less refined, less comfortable and less sophisticated...!

Troll, moi??!!!

Must admit my old 944t (still miss it like mad) was not as exhilarating to drive when just pottering or cruising around as the ol' Beetle (and a 964 is far more sophisticated to drive than a 3.2 imho) but it was far easier to drive fast and less intimidating to drive on or over the limit. The flipside is that the 'Beetle' gave you a buzz and so much feedback, even when you were just trundling.

Both superb cars but give you hits in very different ways.

 

[DivineE]

ORIGINAL: James Ball

The Carrera 3.2 is more "involving", more of an "experience" and ultimately "more rewarding".

I agree with the article[] As a car to 'pay for' own and drive getting a 911 in the same performance league as a modified 944 turbo would be very expensive and so the 944 is my car of choice.

However in the same way that I'd take a 997 GT3 over a Nissan GTR and a 930 over a 997 turbo, the more capable car isn't as appealing to me as the more engaging drive.

I've just realised that the above totally contradicts it self but there in lies the route of my troubles with car choices, my never satisfied addiction to power and G-force vs my absolute love of purity and an engaging lightweight car to drive.

Why are there no lightweight, engaging cars with 400hp. I want a group B spec 205 T16 to drive to work.

 

[sawood12]

I agree with you. Cars like the Nissan GT-R leave me cold, and even if I could afford one I wouldn't bother - i'd still borrow money to get the 911. Basically how fast these cars are on paper is irrelevant - it is the driver that is the weakest link in the chain and the vast majority of drivers - even keen enthusiasts, are not any where near capable enough to get anywhere near the maximum out of these cars. Ithink if my numbers ever came up i'd fill my fantasy 20 car garage with about 15 older cars and about 5 new cars.

Does the 944T/911 link on Ricks site take anyone else to the Jag XJ220 review too?

 

[Suffolk944]

Yes its always taken me to the XJ220 review over the years...

 

[DivineE]

I downloaded the 911 vs 944 magazine from Ricks site some years ago so it did once work.

 

[Hilux]

Light car, lots of power is ALWAYS more engaging.

944T seems less engaging only primarily (in my book) due to lack of induction noise wheras the beetles have a tin of ball bearings behind the seat.

 

[Neil Haughey]

The 944 is definitely more engaging when its carrying less weight, has stiffer suspension and doesn't have power steering. How much of what makes an old torsion bar 911 is down to the above factors and how much is due to its "unique" characteristics. Personally I think engine aside its all about the above factors, and the management of the cars weight, something 911 beardo's love and the detractors moan about.

In terms of performance don't underestimate the older 911's. Tony Maryon has been going very well this year in an old 2.4S that is basically a standard car with ducktail, bilstein shocks and the usual little mods done on old torsion 911s for track use. Its far less developed than the 944's he has been racing against and matching for performance.

Forget big power and get the weight down, the fastest Porsche in our CSCC race at Mallory round Gerrards was IMHO Ben Eacock in a 2.5 944 running on 15" wheels and skinny Dunlops. That car is well under 1100 Kg and the benefits shine through on track.

The 944 would IMHO been hands down a better car than the 911 if it had from day one a singing V6 with a noise like the old classic Alfa GTV (a contemporary of our cars as well). The engine has always been the let down of our cars, all variants, only the 968 manages to have an almost OK sound and nice crisp throttle response. The others have engines that would have fitted better in a German saloon than a sports car.