Exotic 944

[83_Porsche_NA]

Has any body ever done a total renovation of a 944? I mean by updating the interior, exterior, engine, EVERYTHING. Modernize the computer, drop a more updated engine but one that can actually fit in a 944. Renovate the entire interior, different cluster, different dash, different seats. What would you do to make the almighty 944 sexy to todays standards?

[nightheart]

Originally Posted by 83_Porsche_NA

What would you do to make the almighty 944 sexy to todays standards?

buy a 968?

[billy mild]

Get a 944 turbo or 944 S2. After that I would put a 968 rear end on it along with 968 mirros and handles. The car would be really sexy then.

[83_Porsche_NA]

ok after its becomes a 944 turbo or 968 but beyond door handles and mirrors

[nightheart]

I'll never understand a lot of this. If you're not satisfied with a 944, buy something newer, more modern. It's a slow, under-powered, high maint. cost car. For the price and the first year of maint. you could buy a newer ricer, mustang, camero, etc. Till you invest all that time and money, you'll have 10k in a 5k car. It's your car and money, do what makes you happy. For me, if I ever have unlimited funds, I'd be more likely to replace/rebuild everything on the car and get it resprayed. I'd love for my 83 to look and run like it did out of the showroom. my 2 cents and all that..........

[FrenchToast]

Originally Posted by 83_Porsche_NA

Has any body ever done a total renovation of a 944? I mean by updating the interior, exterior, engine, EVERYTHING. Modernize the computer, drop a more updated engine but one that can actually fit in a 944. Renovate the entire interior, different cluster, different dash, different seats. What would you do to make the almighty 944 sexy to todays standards?

I was going to. Still have a whole build sheet typed up. As you note, everything would be updated, and with jaw-dropping attention to detail to boot.

BTW - you can't really 'update' the computer. That's dictated by the engine unless you do heavy fueling work. The 944 uses OBD-I, and OBD-II was introduced in 1996. Probably a major reason the 928 and 968 were dropped in 1995. Porsche probably couldn't afford to redo both those engines for the required OBD-II compatibility.

It's one of those things that it is a substantial amount of work for an end result, which, as noted, could be easily compared to something you could find at a dealer today, i.e. the Scion FRS. Not to mention would cost twice as much as the Scion. (If you include labor - probably twenty times as much as the Scion.)



Take care!

[Jrboulder]

If you want a modern porsche get an early boxster. They're great cars that are only cheap because a buch of idiots can't accept the fact newer Porsches are just better in every quantitative way.

[kmakovac]

In the begining I have a dream.I want a 924 with sunnroof.I find one,restored it and drive it 2 years with satisfaction.
I change my dream and keep my 924 appart.

I want a 944 series 2 with sunnroof,i find one and restored it.Drive it for 2 years.I dream about a 944 turbo bumper,skirts and rear valance.Find all conponents and put it on.Drive it for a year.

I have a new dream again,I want a better 944,a Turbo or S2.I find a salvage one and now in a few steps i put everything on my 944.Now i'm near to have a 944 turbo 88' in all it's parts.

The 924 that i keep i dream it a lot too and find a 924 carrera GT body and a 924 turbo engine.Now is 90% ready and restored to a full carrera GT replica.

So this are my dreams and in my life i will change it more and more times.
What someone wants from this cars is individual.

After 30 years of this great cars the people watch it with interest and are easy to recognize it on the road.My dream is to have a Porsche,not a hibrid so the better thing is to update it eventualy with a newer or better Porsche model to have a good balance of quality and kitch.

Porsche is a diamant than maybe need a few better cuts but notthig else that will compromise this beauty of forms.

So my response on this topic is that i see many 944 with everything on this car but nothing else than a grotesque or cheep look will be made.

[kfanazini]

Originally Posted by nightheart

buy a 968?

+1

The 968 is the 944s younger hotter sister.

[Cannonball996]

I really would not mess with the interior, maybe upgrade to sport seats. upgrade the gear box, go with an LSD, better brakes, and konis.

[Gawernator]

I disagree, the 944 has more aggressive and sexier styling than the 968

[Jrboulder]

I'm with gawer on this

[Gawernator]

The 968 still looks good.. but..

[Gawernator]

[alan6272]

I would never change it from original, I have spent the last 2 years bringing mine BACK to an 83 944. Why ? because I love it. From the upside down tack to the cookies period. Other wise I would have bought something else.

[jcommin]

I had the seats, wheel and dash redone by Classic 9 Leather.
951 sway bars front and rear
968 mirrors and door handles
951 rear valence
Smoked out tail and running lights

Very happy with the way mine looks. I would go the LS1 route if/when I come to a rebuild engine crossroads.

[speedracing944]

Originally Posted by kfanazini

+1

The 968 is the 944s younger hotter sister.

More like a younger overweight sister that can't match the simplistic beauty of the original.

Speedy

[ckelly78z]

I think the ultimate 944/968 would start with a BMW M3 inline 6 motor at 333 HP with a 6 speed transmission. Add on a front spoiler splitter and a rear retractable spoiler and some functional side vents and twin triangle hood vents.
Throw in a heads up display for the interior with Corbeau seats and a Momo wheel and you have a *****in car.

[ernie9944]

I'm so touch by all the negative comments about the 968 that I'm thinking of selling mine,why because I must had made the wrong choice when buying such and ugly & inefficent car.Yet not only it's a Porsche but one of the best they ever built,oh! wait it does have bugs eyes -the rear end is rounded which peoples migth not like when they are trying to catch up to you & the motor has only 246 HP so a 951 will leave it behind & the beat goes on & on & on.

[ditch68]

I like my Porsche 944 turbo because it is a Porsche 944 turbo. It is a classic car at this point in history.

I think you can look at why people buy/own 944 cars as being at points along a spectrum. On one end, are the purists who love them 100% stock as they left the factory, and love them for what they were. Nostalgia, iconoc design, performance in the upper tier for thier time.

On the other end, people who see a cheap but readily modifiable, drop in an LS1 or who knows what blank canvas of a car to do what the original poster is speaking of.

I myself am just a bit past the "nostalgia" end of that spectrum. I want my 951 modded to ne better than production cars performance wise, but stay true to Porsche's vision of it. In essece a period club race feel.

If I wanted a modern car I would buy one. I'm with French Toast. You are descibing an FRS ( or Subaru BRZ). Come to think of it, I hardly recall reading a post by you (Mr. Toast) that I didnt resoundingly agree with or benefit from!

Jeff