[wolfrpi]

Since this argument seems to come up every few months I'll try to spell out something that seems simple and logical to me and hopefully to others:

1) Value of old 944s +3-6k

2) All 944s suffer from potential cam belt failure -1-2k

3) 944S suffers from poor tensioner - head breaks -2-3k

4) All 944 NAs suffer from rubber center clutch -1-2k

5) All 944s suffer from poor oiling at high rpm (and shouldn't be run there for very long) - the S is more likely to suffer because max tq and hp is reached at high rpm -4-6k



The number of potential problems with these older cars is already pretty high - I don't see why its worth taking a risk on a very moderate performance increase.

The S shares brakes, suspension and almost everything else with the 8 valve. Unlike the turbo there are very few upgrades over the basic 8 valve.

To give everyone here an example:

I sold a used head on Ebay from my old 87 S. The head which had damage on 1 combustion chamber (from losing #2) went for $1200+.

The head had over 150k on it.

Guess who bought it? A guy who just bought an S and had the head explode on him. That's right when the chain snaps the head cracks in addition to the valves bending. On an 8 valve only your valves will crack if you lose a belt.

A used 8 valve head in decent shape is $150.

So no, it is not all personal. In fact a lot is logical.

I had a beautiful 87 S. In fact it was the first to receive the wolf bumper mod. I learned the hard way that high rpms and the 944 motor do not mix. Others learned that the chain and tensioner on the 944S head can quickly turb to junk (the head on my motor was cracked by the previous owner at less than 50k).


Do what you want but consider yourself warned.