what the main diference between 924 & 944?

[v8kilr]

i think im gonna pick up a porsche next spring,
and would like either a 944 or a 924

its mainly for my girlfriend and a daily driver,
she really loves my rx7's but wants one of her own,
since i dont feel like playing rotary mechanic with 4 rx7's i will get her the next best thing,
since it does look alot like my second gen

can you guys help me out?
thanks in advance

[Rollins]

The next best thing? haha! a 944 is quite a few levels up from an rx-7. The 944 is a better car, but a little more to maintain. The 924s has a slightly different body and sports the parts from the early model 944. It was designed as a real cheap man's porsche, while the 944 just developed into that.

[gforces944]

Porsche 924 = bad
Porsche 944 = good

10 reasons why the 944 is better than the 924:

10. The 924 preceded the 944. So if you want newer/better, get the 944.

9. The 944 seems to have better quality in the body department...Have you seen any 924s without rust/oxidation or that doesn't just simply look like it's been through a meat grinder?

8. The 944s have flared fenders for that racy look as well as accormodating larger wheels/tires/brakes/wider track.

7. The 924 has an Audi engine, where are the 944's was developed solely by Porsche.

6. The 944 could whoop your 2nd get RX7 on/off the track--unless you've got the turbo, then the 944 turbo (951) could whoop your 2nd get RX7 turbo on/off the track.

5. Can you say "mo powah"?

4. It's a Porsche, not an Audi with the Porsche badge.

3. better interior

2. better handling

1. better everything


*note There was also a 924S that had everything the 944 had, sans the flared fenders and some other minor things. There was also the 924 turbo, whose racing version, the 944GTP, took sixth overall in its first LeMans 24 hours.

[v8kilr]

figured everyone would have something to say about the rx7,

but i was ready



this can be found on the window of all 1st gen rx7's,
if you buy an 85 then 84 will be included as well,
this is on the window of my 84's

mazda took this badge from porsche specifically,
the also won in years 86-89 i believe,

they did so well the dubbed the non-turbo race verison of the rx7 the "gtu"

also the mazda rotary engine is the only import manufacturer to every win the lemans 24 hr

but im not here to flame and plan to make many friends as i will need them when i get my porsche,
thanks for clearing up the debate against the 944 and the 924,
i just was unsure since im looking at diferent 1987 924' and 944's and there almost identical

i think the 924 had a nicer interior though,
but it could have been modded

[stray15]

Originally posted by v8kilr

since it does look alot like my second gen

Actually, its your mazda that looks alot like the 924...

Maybe you don't remember, but Porsche took Mazda to court for that very reason and won.

Either way, welcome!

Just buy the best you can afford.

[v8kilr]

Originally posted by gforces944
3. better interior

i seen some with a descent interior but i wish they had one more like the second gen

here are some interior shots of my 1987 2nd gen rex,
the 1988 and up are way nicer,and have a very nice front fascia,turbo vented mirrors and the awsome rear tail lights

[v8kilr]

as you can see from the body line its real close to a 944









personally i like my 1st gens better,
there faster,
and handle way better

[v8kilr]

why are my pics not showing up as pictures now?

[gforces944]

I was comparing the interiors of the 924/944, but your Mazda's is nice too--definitely the japanese version of the early 944's. In the middle of 1985, the 944 received a new interior that was much nicer, along with a windshield antenna as opposed to the fender mounted one, and some other mechanical enhancements.

I like the look of that hood scoop on that 1st gen, but I always thought wings were an ugly necessity on race cars--an aerodynamic band-aid.

[v8kilr]

Originally posted by gforces944
I was comparing the interiors of the 924/944, but your Mazda's is nice too--definitely the japanese version of the early 944's. In the middle of 1985, the 944 received a new interior that was much nicer, along with a windshield antenna as opposed to the fender mounted one, and some other mechanical enhancements.

I like the look of that hood scoop on that 1st gen, but I always thought wings were an ugly necessity on race cars--an aerodynamic band-aid.

yeah that was my old rx7,
just tore it down a couple weeks ago because it had bad frame rust,
i was trying to keep up with it for years but it just got out of hand,

so i bought this one,

[v8kilr]

this winter i will pick up my gsl-se and rip it down then rebuild it with a turbocharger,

now back to the porsche,

i think im gonna end up with a 1986,but want an 87,

can soemone tell me the diferences in the 944 between the years of 1986-1988 ?

if any,

thanks

[gforces944]

off the top of my head, nothing significant between 86-88 other than small incremental raises in horsepower, and different wheel offsets and such.

Also, Later model 911 wheels and 951 brakes will fit 87-later 944's without spacers or modification.

Those Rx-7s are great cars. I drove my buddy's 81 model and it was torquey as hell, but I found the lack of power steering scary, should the rear get squirrelly. Maybe his PS was jacked or something, but it was a workout to crank that sucker. You'll find the 944's steering is much more precise and quicker. Women repond better to the sight of the Porsche 944, too.

[v8kilr]

Originally posted by gforces944
off the top of my head, nothing significant between 86-88 other than small incremental raises in horsepower, and different wheel offsets and such.

Also, Later model 911 wheels and 951 brakes will fit 87-later 944's without spacers or modification.

Those Rx-7s are great cars. I drove my buddy's 81 model and it was torquey as hell, but I found the lack of power steering scary, should the rear get squirrelly. Maybe his PS was jacked or something, but it was a workout to crank that sucker. You'll find the 944's steering is much more precise and quicker. Women repond better to the sight of the Porsche 944, too.

ok so definetly an 87 or up then,

what are the diferent wheel offsets?

power steering didnt come into play until 1984 on the 1st gens,
it was an option which was very rare on the 12a or 1.1 liter as you may know it,
but was almost standard on the 13 or 1.3 liter.

my brown car pictured above is a 1984 with the very rare option of power steering on a 12a,

the non power steering models had a ****y steering gear to make it easier to turn,
if you drive one with power steerin you will find it is like butter and turns on a dime,
very very touchy,
at higher speeds it mellows out so you can feel the road better,
because the power steering was speed controlled

power steering is however standard on the larger 2nd gens,

i myself dont really care because im used to not having it but if i dont have it i still want the power steering box running dry so i get the closer gear ratio,

also they had a 15" wheel standard "school bus"
so just changing down to a 13" really helps out steering response as well.

btw thanks for the info

[stray15]

Originally posted by v8kilr

WOW! That is such a rip off of the early 944 interior.

[thamlin000]

If you are on a tight budget, go with a 924 or early 944. These cars generally have cheaper parts and less gizmos to replace when they go bad.

I'd say the 83 944 is the most economical. Problems with power steering tends to be common and expensive. Since the 83 model does not have p/s, that's one less thing to go wrong. No power tilt roof (another common problem), no cruise control, no pwr seats and no pwr locks. The 83 is the most simple and basic of the 944 series. Many parts for early 944s (83-85/1) are cheaper than later 944s.

Later 944s (85.5+) have aluminum suspension components and an updated interior w/ better a/c. There are many other little improvements on later 944s. All 944s (84+) have power steering, which many people (but not me ) value.

944 Turbos are fast. A lot of bang for the buck.

All 944s are galvanived, so rust shouldn't be much of a problem, if there is rust, don't buy it. There are many rust-free cars out there.

Checklist time:
-Buy a car with maintainance records.
-A recent clutch replacement is a plus
-recent t-belt/water replacement is good
-have a Porsche shop look over the car before purchase

Pay a little more for a good car, project cars get expensive, really fast

BTW, I really like early RX-7s.

[gforces944]

To add to that:

early 944s (83 - 85 1/2) are recommended to have the water pump upgraded to the newer model. THere is a kit for this and doesn't add much to the cost of water pump replacement. You only have to do this once. After that, you just use late model pumps. Water pump has to be replaced every 60k, but the real interval is anywhere from 30-60k.

Try to synchronize belt replacement with water pump replacement--this will reduce your labor costs (unless you do it yourself, I don't).

[v8kilr]

Originally posted by gforces944
To add to that:

early 944s (83 - 85 1/2) are recommended to have the water pump upgraded to the newer model. THere is a kit for this and doesn't add much to the cost of water pump replacement. You only have to do this once. After that, you just use late model pumps. Water pump has to be replaced every 60k, but the real interval is anywhere from 30-60k.

Try to synchronize belt replacement with water pump replacement--this will reduce your labor costs (unless you do it yourself, I don't).

every 30 - 60k miles?
is that with every porsche?
if so why is it like that?

i dont mind every 60k but 30k ouch
i hate changing things that can leak

[gforces944]

oops. I got that wrong--water pump is every 60k, and so is belts. But I've heard guys here recommend belts every 30-45k. My last belt job was done at the 60k interval along with the water pump.

[lambic2000]

Here are some pictures of what the rx-7 never was and never will be. To compare the rx-7 with the 944 is silly. Let these pictures also serve as "eye relief" after viewing the other "mazz-da" pictures.





Stephen

[lambic2000]

One more for good measure...



Stephen