951 Write-Up

[CJFusco]

By popular demand, here are my thoughts on the 951, as it compares with the 944, after a solid week or so of ownership and driving.

The first thing I noticed, upon lowering myself into the cream-colored leather bucket seat, was how good of a first impression that the 951 cabin made on me. I think a lot of it came down to the color scheme (white leather for the seats and carpets, black on the dash top, and a burgundy to match the Garnet Red for the floor mats), for many of the black interior 951s I'd seen (most of which sported very flashy Guards Red paint) didn't impress me quite as much as this.



Indeed, the layout of the interior is one of the many reasons why I ended up buying the individual car that I did; I had a particular exterior paint sheme in mind (Garnet Red), with a very particular interior color (white), a certain mechanical condition (as good as possible, as many receipts as possible, under 100K miles a plus), and Fuchs wheels if possible. I found the car in question in North Carolina, and after a little haggling, a lot of stressing out, a pile of frustrating paperwork, and the ordeal of watching an airport bag inspector throw out every single item of toiletries that you had just purchased that very morning, I was able to climb into the cockpit of my new (to me) "junior supercar," as ROAD & TRACK dubbed the 944 Turbo back in 1986.

I had test driven a ratty example in Massachusetts back in early August; I was disappointed in that car (the brakes were terrible, and I think it had either a clutch or a transmission problem), but the Garnet Red/White exterior/interior color scheme had left a permanent imprint on my mind. For some reason, that particular layout has aged magnificently well; I suppose that it wasn't too popular of a combination back in 1986 - Guards Red/Black was the one to have - but the subtle, muted tone of the paint, and the clean look of the white interior looks downright modern in 2006. Nowadays, it seems like every sports car in a dealership lot wears a deep color paint job and a light leather cabin (swing by a Jag dealer sometime if you want to see what I mean).



more to come...

[CJFusco]

Within the first few miles of highway travel in my just-purchased 951, I had come to the conclusion that the cabin of this car is a very pleasant place to be indeed. Besides the comfortable, grippy seats (which are firm without being stiff), the crack-less dash, and the decent sound system, this particular car is absolutely free of shakes and rattles, except when the car is still in its warm-up cycle at idle upon startup. Once it warms, and the revs settle just under 1K RPM, the 951 simply purrs like a kitten.

If I am to contrast the 951 with my old 944, three things really stand out:
1) smoothness
2) quietness
3) fuel economy

Whereas my 944 felt every bit like an old sports car - kind of loud, kind of jittery - the 951 feels like an accomplished Grand Tourer. If I was to make an analogy, the 944 is to a MG as the 951 is to, well, a 928. Moreover, the fuel economy is astounding for a car of this performance. Even though I have noticed that consumption is much more conspicuous with "spirited driving," for long highway trips (such as from North Carolina to Connecticut), with the gearshift in 5th and the car humming along at 80mph (just about 3K RPM), the 951 sips gasoline like a dignified English dutchess.

Over the entire 900+ mile trip, I managed to put only $80 in the 951 - 93 octane, mind you - and still had a half tank left once the trip was through. Admittedly, over the past week, just running to and from work (the scenic route, naturally), and taking friends for spirted rides, the economy has not been nearly as good... but if one had to use this car as a daily driver on the highway, it would not break the bank.




more to come...

[speedracing944]

What a stunning looking car.

Speedy

[Slam]

Truly timeless design. Porsche really got it right with the 944/951, and your car's color combination is perfect.

[CJFusco]

ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN

Considering that I had to make the drive from North Carolina to Connecticut without lincense plates, I really had to remind myself not to push the car (or my luck) on the highway too much.

I am, however, just a human being... so, yes, I have a very good idea of how this car performs.

Compared to the 944 (and just about everything else on the road), it is very, very fast.

I have a few interesting stories about the trip itself (more on that in a moment), but my favorite moment was during day two (the long haul between Raleigh, NC, and Princeton, NJ), as I drove through Baltimore. I was on route 95, which runs through and then under the city. It had been raining pretty hard from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, which hindered visability and slowed my progress considerably. It was still raining as I drove into the tunnel that runs under Baltimore... but then something miraculous happened. As I emerged from the tunnel, just a couple minutes and miles later, I surfaced to brilliant blue skies and bright, warm sunshine. The ground was still wet, but the rain had stopped. The windows were rolled down, the sunroof was popped open, the radio was turned way up, and the loud pedal was pushed all the way to the ground.

I honestly never thought I would upgrade to a car with less low-end torque than my old 944... but the 951 is downright gutless until that K26 turbo begins to spin. Once the turbo spools up, however, hold on for dear life. I forget what movie it was, but I remember seeing a trailer for a middle-ages battle kind of movie last year where a field general says to his men, "at my signal, unleash hell". That's what I am reminded of when the tach shoots past 3,000 RPM.

The power delivery takes a little getting used to. The car is quick enough if most of the pedal travel is used, but to really get it going you must floor it; the final 5% or so of pedal travel seems to kick the throttle position sensor into "bat***** crazy" mode. If you keep on the boost, however, the 951 is definitely as fast as advertised. It's keeping on the boost that's the part that takes getting used to . My old 944 used to pull pretty strong from low revs, even if I start from a stop in 2nd gear - especially after I fitted the FRWilk PowerProm chip. Starting from a standstill in 2nd in a 951 is not a tactic I would recommend, however. It is a good thing that first gear is a bit longer in the 951 than it was in the 944.

Ideally, I would like a bit more low-end torque. It would simply be useful for driving around town. One solution I am looking into is the Lindsey Racing Boost Enhancer, which allows the turbo to start spooling earlier.



More to come...

[powelbs]

I WANT YOUR CAR!

[CJFusco]

I would never tell this to a police officer, but the 951 is actually a pretty hard car to drive slowly. I think this has to do with the gearing and the quirks of "turbo lag".

For example, my drive to work has a section of interstate route where the speed limit is 45; pretty much everyone drives this stretch 55-60mph. In a 951, 60mph is about, what, 3200rpm in 3rd gear? So, if you want to stay on the boost and get any kind of throttle response, you must go 60-80mph... either that or put it into 2nd and rev the hell out of it. Due to this and the fact that the 951 seems to be completely stable and smooth at any speed, I have to actively tell myself to keep the car at a reasonable speed.

If I had to nitpick, my complaint would be - as it is in all 944-series cars - with the gearshift. Every front-engined Porsche I have ever driven has failed to inspire confidence in shifting. They all seem to feel flimsy and uncertain. This is, however, really nitpicking, because the car shifts fine and drives great.

RIDE AND HANDLING

My old 944 was upgraded with many suspension items that came standard on the 951; yet roads that made my teeth rattle in the 944 are as smooth as silk in the 951. Add some mohogany on the dash, and the 951 really could (and probably did) double as a luxury GT, a legitimate Aston V8 rival.

This soft and smooth feeling doesn't detract from the car's handlingone iota, however.

I had taken a bit of weight off the old 944 - seats, stuff like that - and the 951 - heavier to begin with, and with a lot of optional equipment - probably weighs a good 200-300 pounds more than my 944. For some reason, the 951 feels a great deal more nimble, and absolutely does not feel like it is carrying any more weight on its shapely hips. I chalk it up to three factors:

1) power steering
2) 16" forged wheels (vs 15" cast wheels)
3) lower-profile tires

I am sure all of these factors contribute to the remarkably accomplished cornering ability of the Porsche 951. It feels tighter and somehow lighter than its lighter little brother.



more to come...

[Dtchy]

Nice story!!! Even nicer car.

Seriously, it's an absolute beauty. I assume you still miss your old 944 though...

[CJFusco]

The only real "problem" I encountered over the entire drive occurred in Maryland. As I stopped at a toll booth, I realized that the toll was $5, and I only had $3.45 in cash in the car.

ME: What happens if I don't have the money on me for the toll?

TOLL LADY: Oh, no problem, happens all the time. I'll just push this button here, and a camera will take a picture of your license plate and we will send you a bill for $5 through the mail.

(My car had no license plates at this point)

ME: Okay, sounds great! Bye!

(I put the car in gear and drive away very quickly)

ME: I've got to get the hell out of Maryland!

I stayed the night Friday with my cousin, who was also my next door neighbor for a few years, in Raleigh. He is getting married at the end of October, and this would probably be the last time we could both go out together as bachelors. Well, he was bound and determined to show me a good time, but I had an opportunity to show him a good time the only way I knew how, by taking him for a spirited drive in the 951.

Let's just say that he is now attempting to talk his fiancee into buying a Porsche.

Saturday afternoon was the big drive; around dinnertime on Saturday I arrived near Princeton, NJ, where I would be staying with two close friends from college, who had been dating one another for about 5 years now. Even though I was a little hung-over, Tom and Charisse were also bound and determined to also show me a good time in Princeton. I also gave Tom a ride in the new car; he has always been a car enthusiast (he has an awesome poster of a 917 in his computer room)... I think he REALLY wants a Porsche now.

In summation, the Porsche 951 really is a tremendous car. It is absolutely wonderful - a true "junior supercar". Obviously many new sports cars clock faster times than my 20 year-old Porsche, but it should be noted that, according to road tests of the era, the 951's numbers are staggeringly similar on paper to a brand-new Nissan 350Z - and it accellerates a bit faster than the base Boxster. This makes me believe that with a little selective tuning (boost enhancer, boost controller, and some chips), the 951 is a car that would outpace most new sports cars.

I am incredibly happy with my purchase, and look forward to many years of blissful driving.

If any of you ever see me driving on New England's back roads, feel free to flag me down and chat... if you can catch me.

[Schumi]

As far as the 'hard to drive slowly' thoughts....

I drove a 2004 Carrera 4S that was the same way. The way the gearing was... it was just impossible to keep it under 50 without some serious watch of where your foot was. 2nd gear at idle speeds seemed like it wanted to accelerate outright and 1st gear would be at about 6K I guess in first... I remember driving through south st. louis trying my best to keep my insticts down. The most comfortable speed in one of those things seemed to be around, oh, 110 I guess.

I love your car. It looks just phenomenal. Think about some 968 mirrors for it, and 968 door handles. Fiberwerks rear bumper (or lack of one, as it is flush sitting) plus those two mods and you have a car that, by any ordinary person, would be mistaken for a year 2000 or later model car. Thats what I love about the 944.. it's style has aged so well. Since you are thinking about doing some engine mods I figured some non-concours suggestions wouldn't be hurtful. Then again it is just fine the way it is, I would trade anything to have it!

The cream interior with the dark exterior really is great. Looks very very modern and luxurious...

[Dtchy]

That's so funny how everybody has a different taste. I would keep it original. I really like the flag-style mirrors on the 944 and because yours is cosmetically so nice, I wouldn't touch it.

[Ford-o-phobic]

That is one of the most beutifal 944's i have ever seen! I am serious, the color combos are amazing, and the fuchs finish it off perfectly.

[Schumi]

Originally posted by Dtchy
That's so funny how everybody has a different taste. I would keep it original. I really like the flag-style mirrors on the 944 and because yours is cosmetically so nice, I wouldn't touch it.

The only reason why I would dare to suggest it is becuase I know that if CJ did it it would be done right and look the business, like it was meant to be that way.

[CJFusco]

In all honesty, the mirrors are probably the area of the car that has taken the most abuse from rock stones, etc. Down the line, I would consider upgrading to 968 items... that is, if the paint could be matched perfectly. For now, the stock mirrors will do.

The door handles are the ones with the "Porsche" script on them. I think they're cool. They will stay.

As far as engine mods, I probably won't go too extreme, simply because I love this car's driveability as it is. I am going to order the Lindsey Boost enhancer - apparently in stock form the 951's wastegate is always a little open, even off-boost... the boost enhancer closes the wastegate off-boost so the pressure builds faster, and the turbo begins to spool up faster at lower revs. I'm not sure how much of a difference we are talking here, but many, many people have purchased the Lindsey boost enhancer and seem happy with the improvement.

My other mods will probably be a chip set (but which one?!?), and a manual boost controller. With the boost controller, I would probably dial up an extra 4-5 lbs of pressure, nothing too overkill without getting larger injectors.

I have a 3" diameter cat-delete exhaust left over from my aborted project; I am not so sure this will make it onto the car in any permanent fashion. A large part of the car's useability is its quietness and smoothness. Eventually, I would consider fitting a Lindsey MAF, but that is an expensive mod because you must figure in the hidden cost of MAF software.

[hughett]

Beautiful car! Congratulations! There are few better to choose from. 951s are legendary.

Harvey

[CJFusco]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. A lot of credit goes to Bryan for keeping the car in as excellent condition as it's in.

Harvey, do you have any pics of your stable?

[The Chris]

LOL @ the tool booth story!

Nice writeup on the differences...very interesting read

[ronin]

Originally posted by CJFusco
By popular demand,...

now there's a stretch

[chitown944]

I share most of the same thoughts you have just going through this same experience just last month. I love your interior as well. Congrats on the find how much was yours.

[ronin]

Originally posted by Dtchy
That's so funny how everybody has a different taste. I would keep it original. I really like the flag-style mirrors on the 944 and because yours is cosmetically so nice, I wouldn't touch it.

agreed. the 968 "update" has been done

... to death