Difference between 85.5 and 88 N/A???

gt350mike · 10-18-2007, 05:58 PM

We're thinking about buying another 944 and I have narrowed our search to two N/A's (85.5 and 88). The 85.5 has less than 60k miles but it still has the original clutch. The 88 has a new clutch (less than 10k miles ago) and has about 100k miles. Both cars have un-molested and have been taken care of so our decision to buy one or the other has been difficult.

My question is what are main differences between the two model years????? Any guidance on which car we should buy???

Thanks!

p-talk · p-talk's Garage

I know the 85.5 still has the early offset style front suspension with stamped steel instead of aluminum arms in front. If you'll need to rebuild the front end the price difference is HUGE, and pretty inexpensive for the early cars.

My 0.02 . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt350mike

We're thinking about buying another 944 and I have narrowed our search to two N/A's (85.5 and 88). The 85.5 has less than 60k miles but it still has the original clutch. The 88 has a new clutch (less than 10k miles ago) and has about 100k miles. Both cars have un-molested and have been taken care of so our decision to buy one or the other has been difficult.

My question is what are main differences between the two model years????? Any guidance on which car we should buy???

Thanks!

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

Actually all cars after '85.5 came with the aluminum arms, it was still early offset though. You can retrofit, or 'backdate' to the steel control arms though. With early offset you can fit basically any OEM Porsche wheel to your car with the correct spacers.

Other than the suspension differences the '88 has slightly higher compression, i think 10.2:1 as opposed to 9.5:1. This equates to maybe 10hp max over the early cars.

Tach will have the MPG gauge

The '88 also has a different 5th gear ratio, often referred to as the 'short' 5th. The car revs a little higher in 5th gear but accelerates better in that gear. It makes 5th gear a little more 'usable' without having to downshift to 4th all the time.

p-talk · p-talk's Garage

Sorry, my bad, I didn't realize the '44s got aluminum arms before the offset switch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techno Duck

Actually all cars after '85.5 came with the aluminum arms, it was still early offset though. You can retrofit, or 'backdate' to the steel control arms though. With early offset you can fit basically any OEM Porsche wheel to your car with the correct spacers.

*snip*

toolboy62 · 10-19-2007, 06:34 AM

I'd go with the 85.5 for the reasons already given. The control arms, struts, and strut bearings are all different for 87-88 and SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive, and you can't Fuch an 87-88. The only reason to go with the '88 is if the extra compression and power are worth it to you, or if it has ABS and that is important to you.

Yes, the 87-88 front end is supposedly more durable, but you can rebuild the earlier style twice for less money than renewing an 87-88 once.

nate

John_AZ · 10-19-2007, 08:49 AM

Your son has a '83 944 and you had a '87 944-RIP. Your view of the interior and exterior might give you a better perspective. 60K miles on a '85 is not unusual but since the odometers often fail I would check to see if the odometer case has been opened. If both have been taken care of, the shocks and other easy replaceable parts should have been changed. The rubber clutch disk-'85, will fail sooner than later. If both look good-I vote for the 1988.

John_AZ
1988 924S 57K miles
1987 924S 111K miles

gt350mike · 10-19-2007, 07:35 PM

Thanks for all of the comments........We're heading out tomorrow to look at both cars. I'll keep y'all posted on the outcome.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

The '88 will also have air bags (PITA), ABS (PITA) and the spring tensioner on the timing belt (PITA).

However, it will possibly be newer and fresher.

gt350mike · 10-20-2007, 06:47 AM

Are airbags standard on all 88's? This 88 does not have it.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I thought it was standard on '87 and higher. Might have been removed. I believe the 944 had the distinction of being the first car in the world to have standard driver and passenger air bags (in 1987), but I could be incorrect.

Check under the hood for big yellow "capacitor" looking things - they're part of the air bag system. If the P.O. disabled or removed the system and left those, at least it'll give you a hint of what's been done. There may be an option code to check also - check Clark's.

Beau · Beau's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I thought it was standard on '87 and higher. Might have been removed. I believe the 944 had the distinction of being the first car in the world to have standard driver and passenger air bags (in 1987), but I could be incorrect.

I have an '87, no airbags. I've heard they were standard starting in 1988.

gt350mike · 10:43 AM

I found another 88 N/A that is about 600 miles away. It has less that 75k miles and it has been well maintained. So I think my choices are the narrowed down to:
1) 75k miles on an 88, well maintained, new belt & tires.
2) 110k miles on an 88 VERY detailed maintenace records for the past 15 years (most of them are from the local Porsche dealership. The clutch & belts have been replaced w/in the past 10k. It also has 968 wheels.
3) 60k miles on an 85.5, also well maintained.

Both of the 88's are at the same price; If I bought the 88 w/75k miles I can buy & ship it for the same as the 88 w/110 miles. The 85.5 is about $500 less. This will be our third 944 and you would think I could make up my mind but I'm having a tough time deciding on which car to go with. Any guidance/recommendations before I pull the trigger would be greatly appreciate it!

PS - Don't think I have a garage full of 944's, I left out one little tid'bit............I took my car son's 83 two week ago and I had an accident that resulted in smashing the front radiator core support. The car is totaled because it will cost about $2k to repair the damage and I don't have time to work on it myself (I've been activated with the National Guard). To say that I feel lower than a plebe is an understatement.

944 boy · 10-22-2007, 07:03 AM

My vote is the 88, but then again maybe I'm biased. For the record, in 88' airbags were an option on NA's and standard on S and Turbos. Same with ABS. Mine has neither.
It dosent look like you can go wrong with any of those choices. The 88's may handle a bit better because by then they were throwing on turbo parts when they ran out of normal pieces. Mine had turbo front sway bar but soft springs and stock rear. The motor also has some better baffling in the oil pan, it holds more oil (7qt), and has a few other tweaks like higher compression. The exhaust is a larger diameter and the muffler is twice the size (seems like it anyways).

The suspension is more expensive to replace than steel arms (you would have to backdate the 85.5), however rebuild kits now make it much more reasonable to repair the balljoint.

It dosent sound like you can loose, go with the one you feel the best about.

-Greg

Tidybuoy · 10-22-2007, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt350mike

Are airbags standard on all 88's? This 88 does not have it.

My '88 does not have air bags or abs - it was optional on the '88 n/a and standard on the turbo.

gt350mike · 10-22-2007, 07:25 PM

We bought the 88 with 110k miles. I'll see if I can post a photo of it in a few.......

gt350mike · 10-22-2007, 07:42 PM

This was taken by the seller several days ago. I love the 968 wheels!

John_AZ · 10-23-2007, 08:25 AM

Verrrry nice. Exterior very well taken care of for a 20 year old. I wish my chin looked as good as the front of your car.

John_AZ

p-talk · p-talk's Garage

Beautiful! And yeah, the 968 wheels look great, especially with the subtle grey paint color.

gt350mike · 10-24-2007, 10:09 AM

I know someone might call BS on this, but the company that sold the car to me stated that an older couple (early 70's) had the car over 15 years....he also had the couple's 89 BMW 535 with 370k miles that was traded in the same time as the 944.

The 88 is a great example of an unmolested 944!

2Tight · 10-24-2007, 07:40 PM

All the cars you mention sound like solid 944's. I do find it odd that of the first two one needed a clutch and the other was done before 100K. Unless they were used in commute traffic or hilly areas even the rubber centered discs usually lasted much longer than than. I replaced my 83 at 161K and it still had lots of friction material left; the rubber center was shattered though.