944 A Real Porsche?

[hoff944]

I thought that subject would get your attention.

I've been reading a thread at alt.autos.porsches and I've been reading what some people have been saying about the 944 and how it is not a real Porsche etc. I didn't realize there was this much disdain for the 944 series. I hope this is just someone BS'ing. Most 911 owners I've met are cool and don't think that the 944 is a bad car. Have you guys ever caught any flack over this? I can't seriously bash any Porsche. I love them all.

[Obin Robinson]

ignore usenet, it's all BS. yes, the 944 is a real porsche. ignore them, they're jealous because they all drive old ford escorts and beat up toyotas.



obin

[LtUSMC]

You'll get that from time to time.

Some people must boost their own ego by trying to bash others. Some of the worst kinds of people in the world. Just don't worry about them.

[Obin Robinson]

offhand, most 911 owners i've met used to own either 924s, 944s, or 914s at one point. they never had a problem considering owning those cars. the people you get saying stuff like that have some serious personal problems to deal with.

it's like saying that Hawaii is not a real state because it's not connected to the mainland.

obin

[This message has been edited by Obin Robinson (edited 09-05-2000).]

[RealRideRacing]

944 A Real Porsche?
As opposed to what? One made of Wood?

The 944 suffers from a poor image because it was derived from the 924, an Audi/Porsche joint product. The same image goes for the 914 because of it's VW powerplant.

Go to any PCA or POC event and you'll see 924, 944, 914, 928 and 911 owners fraternizing happily. Occassionally a 911 owner will joke about the "Water Pumpers" but ultimately it's always a in friendly manner. We tend to call them "Ass Draggers" anyway!

Besides, I've also noticed that the people who don't consider a 944 a real Porsche are usually people who either don't own a Porsche or don't know anything about Porsches.

David www.RealRide.com/racing
(Visit our Message Board for racers)

[Oi-Punx]

Well Put Obin. Most people I've heard this rubbish from are still driving mommy and daddy's saturn, or they think that the only real porsche is a 911 or 914 (and have driven neither). About Hawaii, I just got back from my first visit to Maui. That's an experience i'll never forget.

[Dave951]

You can just let them know that the 951 was faster and better handling as the same year carrera. They may be cheaper, but the are every bit as Porsche. Some market analyst seem to believe that the 944/968 died out because they had become a better performing car for much less money. Remember the 968 Turbo S that was made??? It had 50/50 weight distribution, and 0-60 in ~4.0sec with a top end of almost 180mph. I don't think there are too many 911's that can match that. Also, it is easier(cheaper) to buy a 951 and make modify it than to mess with a NA 911. I love my 951 and will never get rid of it. Someday I might have a 911 Turbo, but sitting next to it in my garage will be my 951

[RealRideRacing]

Sorry,
I forgot to include the 356 and 912 owners as well. Which brings up the point, is a 356 and 912 a real Porsche? It is after all powered by a VW engine. Of course an enthusiast would agree that the 356 is indeed a real Porsche. After all, without it, there wouldn't be a 911.
Lastly, those 911 owners can't joke about "Water Pumpers" anymore. The latest derivative of the 911, the 996 is actually water cooled. Hehehe

David www.RealRide.com/racing
(Visit our Message Board for racers)

[kaffine krazed]

How about this Porsche?
http://images.chi.il.honesty.com/cgi-bin/honesty-image.cgi?image=11945988

[stray15]

As long as the Porsche crest is on the car, then its a Porsche. Well, unless you put it on yourself. If it wasn't a Porsche, they would have never put it on.



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There is no substitute,
Tim
'83 944

[Dave951]

Kaffine Krazed, I bet that's the fastest, best handling tractor ever built.

[Lawrence Coppari]

Other than some RSR's I encounter at the track, I don't see many NA 911's that can keep up with my 944T, non-Porsche in a straight line.

I read an article once that Porsche toyed with the idea of getting rid of the 911's and instead going to the front engined cars like the 944's and 928's. This horrified the rank and file 911 owners. They will always have a sour taste in their mouths over that. Don't know if that is true.

[hoff944]

Thats not a real Troy Built Tractor!!!

[lm6y]

Hey Hoff, you tryin' to start a war!?! I've read many places that the 944 series are the easiest of ALL Porsches to drive fast. With a near perfect weight distribution, and an almost perfect suspension from the factory, the ONLY thing that can be said in the negative is that they were too underpowered to be a real supercar(951 Excluded). Besides, ask a tail dragger what happens when you lift in a corner in a 911! My 944 gets a little loose, but it doesn't swap ends! Any way, I love 'em all, even that *****in' tractor.

[944Driver]

Despite some teething problems in the early 944's (ventilation, belts, cooling system, etc.) generally, these cars are very well built with high quality parts. In their heyday, back in the early-mid 80's, they were very strong cars, and could out-perform most of their sports car competition. I doubt if many people back then considered it to be anything but a true Porsche. Nowadays, car manufacturers are making family cars with 200+ hp which are capable of very serious performance. Today's sports cars push the envelope even more. All I'm saying is, the competition's caught up with the 944, to a large degree. Even so, it still holds its own, almost 20 years later. The 951 can still run with the best of them, from ANY age, bar none. I've never driven a 911, 912, 930 etc., or any of the other so called 'real' Porsches, but then again, I don't really want to. I don't want to drive a fast car which requires me to take a course in physics to determine at what speed I'm going to swap ends in a corner.
Oh yeah, some food for thought; I once met a mechanic who said a person who owned a Porsche must have rocks in his head. Just call me Rocky there buddy!

[hoff944]

I'm not trying to start a war, but was just wandering if other 944 owners get flack about their Porsche's not being real Porsches.

The 944 can still hold its on in its market in my book. 0-60 in the upper 7's isn't too shabby. I have a 1984 Porsche Factory Brochure (Printed in German) on the 944 and it says that it pulls .90 G's on a skidpad. With tire technology that has increased I'd say you could squeeze out a little more now. The 944 is the most fun car that I've ever driven. Theres nothing likle pushing it through corners. Its Porsche all the way. My friend who has a 89' MR2, and my brother who has a 97' Camaro (It was thrust upon him. He couldn't help it.) all love the way my door sounds when you close it. Its still tight and firm sounding after 16 years. Even inside the car at idle and driving over speed bumps there are no squeeks. To me thats a testament of Porsche's build quality.

[1.2gees]

Just thought I'd share, I will put "powered by Volkswagen" seat belt crap on my little harnesses, cause they cut into my skin, over the clothing while I auto-x...

Did I mention I beat every single VW, or 911, save for an RSR, Boxter S, and a 993 Twin Turbo at the last auto-x? Oh, btw, my car is a STOCK 944 NA...

The tow truck guy was telling me it was a vw, I said "yeap, it does have vw fuses, and front control arms..."
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

[hoff944]

If Volkswagen made a car that had a few Porsche parts, would it be considered a Porsche?

The 996 has its metal pressed by BMW, and the transmission on the Boxster (and possibly the 996, I'll have to check) is tied with Volkswagen. Is Jaguar a Ford? Mercedes a Chrysler? Rolls Royce a Volksagen? Lamborghinni a Audi? Its the same logic!

[1.2gees]

I just love doing this...

Umm, the base boxter is the ONLY car that shares anything with a vw in Porsche's current model range. The boxter has a normal passat transaxle, as sad as that sounds it's true!

The SUV will not share a single part, just some engineering/planning was done together.

However, to further support your point, Corvette's rear susp. design was aided by Opel in europe... So is the vette an american car? Well, kindof... This makes me think, is the NSX a honda? I say no, was the supra a toyota? I say no again, was the Viper a Dodge? Nope, not when they're produced in a specialist factory in small numbers...

Say or think what you will, but I will not trade my car for even a "real" Porsche of the time, an 84 911, actually, I'll say HELL NO to that...
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

[stray15]

Wait 1.2, are you saying that you think that the 944 is not a real Porsche?