How fast are you going...

[Capndar]

Recently bought a 1984 944 - I question the accuracy of the speedo - so before I ge ta ticket... how fast are you traveling at 2900 rpm in 5th? Tried to have son pace me in the Explorer - he's not so good at that yet....so I turn to you all....

Thanks

[bryanthompson]

For me 3000 in 5th is about 80 mph.

[TCMdocs944]

When I first got my 83 I noticed that It felt like I was going smooth and slow but the speedo said 70mph.

Came to find out the speedo is right on. These cars are really made for cruising at speed. The fun comes when you go to pass someone...3000-5000rpms is soooooo sweet.

Hope that is the case with your speedo...good luck.

[ds475]

70mph at 3k in 5th

[lousailor]

Of course in an early 944 (before late '85) the speedo is driven by the front left hub, so it's only accuarate if you have the stock size tires (215/60/15s?).

[Brando]

Hence, you need larger tires all around...

[CJFusco]

this is only by memory, but if i remember correctly in 4th gear

2K rpm = 40ish
3K rpm = 60-65ish
4K = 85ish

correct me if i'm wrong; my speedo cable snapped awhile ago, so I have been going by these tach estimates for about 2 years

[rob83944]

Tire size does matter. I just recently switched from 225/60 15s to 225/50 15s and I can tell the difference. The tire size of the 225/50 are 1 inch shorted in diameter than the 225/60s and there is about a 7 inch difference (smaller) overall circumference in the tire.

So at 3K rpm in 5th with the 225/60s I was doing about 76 MPH.

With the 225/50s the speed is about 72MPH.

I have taken into account the difference in the front tire on my 83 for these speed comparisons.

The benefit is that the car is quicker off the line and handles a bit better with the car lower the ½ inch

The downside is that the rpms are running higher that I would want and I use some extra gas. I now need to run up on 2X4s to get my jack under the car.

I'm thinking about getting 225/60s for the back and keeping the 225/50 for the front for distance driving.

My 2 cents.

[bryanthompson]

CJF, Have you been pulled over much without a speedo? We drove down to Texas in a blazer without a speedo, but I doubt that thing would've gone much over 65, so I think we were okay

edit: my speedo is off 5 mph at 60... so when it says 60 I'm really going 65. I've been pulled over and given warnings five times now.

[UconnTim97]

You're fortunate to just get the warnings.

[Brando]

Most of the time they'll say "you drive a porsche, im sure you can afford the ticket".

[TCMdocs944]

Rob 83

You told us how fast you were running but which tires gave the correct speed.

I am thinking of 225/60's rear and 225/50's front.

[Zlatko]

I cant tell

My speedo says im going 184 kmph (115)...but i kept it to the FLOOR..and the car wasnt accelerating at ALL

I wont rest till i hit 300.

[singpilot]

Borrow a friends GPS unit. Everyone has one. Do the comparison yourself. Will need to be on the dashboard to get a sky view.

[Manute]

184 kmh and no accelerating (flat road I assume) is not good....car must go to 200 at least

but check the manuals,gear and speed ratios are there.

[CJFusco]

"CJF, Have you been pulled over much without a speedo?"

Nope. Got pulled over once in the Porsche - Christmas eve 2000. Doing 70-ish in a 40. $400 ticket, misdemeanor speeding. It got thrown out, and I only had to pay a $100 fine.

I have probably been pulled over about 10 times between getting my license in 1996 and that ticket in 2000, but haven't been since.
I still drive fast, but seem to know when to take it slow; I drive smarter, not harder.

[bulachip]

Rob 83944-
I am thinking of putting 225 60 15's all around. Did you like your car with this set up? Do you have any pictures you could post?
thanks
or just send em to me seidelha@grinnell.edu

[Capndar]

Used brother's GPS to solve the mystery of the inflating speedometer.....Mystery solved 2900 rpm=80 indictaed= 77 actual, stock tire size on 1984 944

[profssr2017]

An easy way to check your speedometer is to get on a road with mile markers (like and interstate and some primary roads) and drive with your speedometer showing 60 MPH. It should take you exactly one minute to go one mile.

You can also check the accuracy at other speeds, you'll ust need to to the math.

[CJFusco]

"I am thinking of putting 225 60 15's all around."

I thought about this too, but I think I will do 215/60/15 in the front to keep the speedo accurate (if I ever replace the wire) and the steering from getting heavy (no power steering here), and then 225/60/15s in the back.

Has anyone run this setup?