it's not a VW stupe, the origin of the 924 is, but aside from door handles and a few other moronic things from a rabbitt ( abgreat car) it's a friggin PORSCHE.. the 911 stole the body fvrom the beetle, the 944 borrowed the door handles.. wtf is this BS I keep hearing from 911 owners about how un-uber the 944 is. they suck.

Mechanical cluelessness isn't what I'm talking about though. I while 944/924 owners may know a bit more mechanically about their cars, it has been my experience that one is far more likely to see a riced out 944/924 than a riced 911. Again, that's a minority of 924/944 owners, but it is more than 911 in my limited experience. Seems to me that a 924/944 owner is more likely to be defensive about his car than a 911 owner. I don't have enough experience though to make a good judgement.

Aaron

Uh, no. The 944 is an evolution of the 924. The 924 was conceived for VW and used many VW/Audi parts. Heck, the 924 engine was Audi, the transmission was Audi, IIRC the front suspension was adapted from VW too. The 944 was basically an updated 924 with a Porsche engine and an updated transaxle, along with some other improvements.

Besides, constant, incremental improvements have been the hallmark of Porsche all the way back to the 356. Yearly changes were hardly new ground with the 944. The 911 has undergone constant improvements throughout its lifespan.

Aaron

Should I give my local PCA another chance?

944 came from 924 Carrera Gt... correct, which is a modification by Porsche, not VW or Audi. The company agreed that the car looked and handled better with a wider track. Also, buyers preferred the look of the 944 over the 924. which is why the 924 was phased out. I don't care if you want to tag it as a vw or an audi. the car is not either. The 914 was also a VW in it's inception, who cares. They're all great cars in their own respect, everyone is so quick to jump on anyone about a 944 saying, it's a fraud. Live and let live stop arguing and find a hobby like Widdling toothpicks pr something.
Good points AaronM. There was 1 particular guy that redesigned the 924 into the 944, I have a book at home that discusses his quest. As faras the 911 go, yeah I likem, I also like the 356.. all of them are nice. THere are a few very cool VW also, The corrado comes to mind and the late 60's VW fast back.. but they had crappy motors.. hehe.. but what great body style!!..
see-ya..
Frank B

Yes.

PCA enables you to enjoy a whole other aspect of Porsche ownership. You may get the typical "the 924/944 isn't a real Porsche" from time to time, but you'll also benefit from Porsche enthusiasts who know their stuff.

I can only speak for my region (NNJR), but we have a HUGE program: Driver's Ed, Autocross, Rally, Concours, tech programs, and lots of social events.

By the way, here's a breakdown of what the Board of Gov's for NNJR owns and drives, to the best of my memory:
President: 944S2, 944S
Vice President: 911 Cup, 911's (multiple) 914's (multiple), considering a 968
Treasurer: 996
Secretary: 911 RS America
Newsletter editor: 911
Autocross: Early 911
Charity co-chairs: one has a 911, the other, a 944 Turbo
Concours co-chairs: one has a Boxster, the other a 911, 356, 914..etc.
Historian: 911 (IIRC)
New Member Liasons: 911, 911 Cup, and a MONSTER (500hp) 944 TurboS
PCA Club racing chair: 993 race car
Program: 924S, 944 n/a, 944 Turbo
Club store chair: 996
Publicity: 911
Rally: 914
Safety: 911
Social: 993 C4
Tech Co chairs: one has a 993, the other a Boxster
Track tech co-chairs: one has a 944 Turbo, the other a 944S2 (That's me with the S2!)
Web site coordinator: 911 cup, 968

Yes, the majority of the cars are 911, but IMHO, all other Porsche models are well represented. Perhaps that's why there's not that much of a rift between 911 owners and other Porsche model owners.

-Z.

You're right that the 944 is all Porsche (aside from certain parts of the bodywork that it shares with the 924). I had thought, however, that the Carrera GT still used the Audi motor, albeit heavily modified by Porsche?

The thing about the improvements in the 911 is that the 911 became so venerable that Porsche couldn't make drastic changes to the visual aspects of the car without reducing the appeal. So the 911 was more limited to transparent improvements than were the 924/944/968 and the 928.

I agree with you about liking the car on its own merits. I've got both "NARP"s and I love them both. Heck, I'd love them if they said "Yugo" on the back. :)

Aaron

Just reading Micael Cotton Porsche 924,944.968 page 9 first paragraphit states "Until 1973, the Porsche company hld the contract to develop Volkswagon's products. Professor Ferdinand Porsche himself had designed the ordginal Volkswagon, later known as the beetle."

Now is Porsche a VW or is VW a porsche?



Now I am stirring the pot :)

I believe that the designer of the 924 was Harm Lagaay

While I was lost under my car the other day, I saw that the bushing carriers for the front sway bar say VW on them...

I would think YES... It is hard to say because you are in a different part of the world. However I live at the center of the automobile snobery universe (Los Angeles, CA.) I have got wave backs from new Porsche owners and even Ferrari's. At the recent Ventura German autofest I was shocked when they directed me to park my 1984 944 beater on the fairgrounds lawn!

IMHO - Anyone can be a snot, even if you drive a Chevy station wagon.

AND the whole VW/AUDI/Porsche thing is a large load of silly BS!
Lincoln/Ford, Cadilac/Chevy, Ferrari/Fiat, Jaguar/MG, all shared parts to name a few....:p