[ribs]

Oh...also...are you interested in a turbo model? 16 valve model? 3.0L model? What is your price range for the car, and do you think you can afford to maintain the thing? A few notes about the 944's...

-started production in 1982 as a 1983 model.
-half way through 1985, a complete refresh of the model occured...this includes, but is not limited to, a new ECU with a removable chip, aluminum A-arms, brand new dash and instrument cluster, a lot of other updating in the interior, available phone dial wheels, and several other things avaiable
-The turbo was introduced as a 1986 model, is very fast(220 HP stock which can be brought to around 270 HP for $100-$400 chips, and way beyond that for suprisingly not much money), and has a much updated front end and a rear splitter, and standard 16" wheels
-In 1987, the offset changed for all 944's to 53.3MM (I think) which is very close to the 55MM (I think) offset of all of the newer porsches, so almost all of the 16" and 17" wheels from the newer 911's, 968's, and boxters will fit with no modifications. The 18" wheels maybe will fit with rolled rear fenders and 15mm spacers in the rear.
-1987 saw the return of the 924, as the 924S, which has the really old body style and interior, but the 944 engine, transmission (with a shortened 5th gear), suspension and brakes, and is lighter and faster than the 944 except for top speed
-1987 also saw the 944S, which was a 16 valve 188 HP 2.5L I4, which is basically 1/2 of the 928's 32 valve motor, while the standard 944's 8 valve 150 HP I4 is basically 1/2 of the older 16 valve 928 motor
-1988 saw the turbo S 944, which had 928 S4 brakes, front coilovers, koni yellows all around, thicker sway bars, stiffer progressive rate springs, 1" wider (9" wide)in the rear forged 16" wheels, 247 HP stock (which can be brought to close to 300 HP with a set of those chips), etc. etc.
-1989 saw the 944S2, which was had the turbo's body, the non S turbo brakes and suspension (I think), 207 HP 3.0L 16 valve I4, and an available convertable
-1989 was the last year of production for the turbo (in the US market), and they were all clad with the turbo S's upgrades, all though they were not designated S
-1989 944 n/a had a 2.7L I4 with more HP and torque (forgot how much)
-1991 944S2 was the last 944 to be made
-1992-1995 968 was basically the 3rd generation in the 924/944/968 heritage, and it had the 944S2's motor with more advanced air metering (MAF I believe), better engine management, variocam (think of it as V-TEC for porsches, all though it is better in a lot of respects and worse in a few), the 944 non-S turbo's suspension and brakes, 6 speed tranny or 4 speed manumatic slushbox, and was available with 16" and 17" wheels, and could be clad with the 944 turbo S's suspension and brakes, which were designated the M030 package, and this was also available as a cabriolet

so...I hope that sums things up for you a bit...let us know what you are interested in...IMHO, the 944 turbo is the best bang for the buck available, compared to any car out there, period.

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ribs, 86' 951