Choose One: 635CSi vs 850Ci vs 944 Turbo

[slow&rusty]

Fun topic of the day.
Which and why? Assume all are the same price and good condition.

1)

or

2)

or

3)

[Neilk]

Easy. 636CSi. Beautiful design, no crazy electronics to deal with.

[widebody911]

635 all the way

[Dantilla]

850 is only available with an automatic. That disqualifies that option for me.

[sand_man]

635...

[DanielDudley]

My CSI had a euro spec engine, transmission and rear end. Bilsteins and Eibachs. It was a great drive, with weak AC. The Turbo was WAY faster, but less engaging. It had the best AC of any car I have ever owned. I sold them both and got a 928 ''S3'' that was set up for a friend of Al Holberts. That is a truly great drive, and I never sold it.

It all depends on what you want. I think about both cars often.

[jyl]

635. No question. Gorgeous car.

[Norm K]

If you like the 850 you'll love this classic chunk of American iron. Who among us, after all, wouldn't choose the Bimmer whose inspiration was clearly the Probe?

[Por_sha911]

It depends on whether the 944 is well sorted out.
635

[HardDrive]

635. Easy choice.

[masraum]

I'd probably go with the 635csi. I thought they were super cool back in the day. I'm sure the 944T is a great car, but not remotely as cool as a 635csi

[speeder]

944 turbo, hands down. I've driven both the 951 and the 635 when they were new and while the Beemer is a classic shape, the driving experience is a big yawn compared to a newish 944 turbo.

The question was if they were all in good shape and cost the same. That would make either the 944 extremely cheap or the 635 extremely expensive. In the real world, you can buy 3 good 635s for the price of a good 951.

Maybe if it was a Euro M6 w manual trans it would be a fair question.

[fanaudical]

Tough call, but I think I'll have to choose the 635.

[nzporsche944s2]

951 all day. every day. any day.

makes the 635 look like a dinosaur from a different time period (even though the production years overlapped)

I've got a soft spot for the 850 but still not a shadow on the 951

[Bill Douglas]

The 635. Great cars - and now a modern classic. The others are... Well... I don't want to offend anyone

[Tobra]

635, easy choice

[McLovin]

635, with one condition:

It must be a Euro version, with the high compression engine.

There's huge differences in the 635 line. An 89 US version is a luxobarge, with rear seat airconditioning and beverage cooler, etc.

An '80 Euro is a completely different beast.

I like both the early Euros (which used the E12 c5 series hassis) and the later ones (83 and up) that used the E28 5 series chassis). They both have their charms.

But a Euro 635 with the dogleg close ratio 5 speed, 218 hp engine, small Euro bumpers, sports seats and BBS RS wheels . . . so nice and a very special car.

850 - Wouldn't want it if you gave it to me.

944 Turbo - Had a 944S2 for a few years, it was a nice car but . . . that's about it. a 944T is another car I wouldn't really want even if it were free.

I had a deal to buy a Euro 635 recently, but the seller backed out.

[McLovin]

Interior perfection:

[floridabmx]

635 for sure. one of the best driver cars ive ever owned.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I've owned three 951s and I'd pick the top BMW (635). I've always loved the 850 BMWs too but they're frightful from a maintenance standpoint. 951s are too. I spent many an hour fooling around under the hoods (and bodies) of mine trying to get at some clamp, hose, bolt or what-have-you. Yes, they're a blast and boy howdy they can be made awfully fast for not much extra $$$ but as the old saying goes: "fast, reliable, inexpensive - pick any two".

I LOVE the 951 as a car but they're a pain to work on and very demanding - one reason I'm getting out of that scene. The one car I'm taking with me is my "boring" AMG-converted Mercedes SLK (I'm not sure if I can take the 911 with me yet - want to but shipping / moving costs are damn expensive to Hawaii...)