Twisties Bits
 

Greetings All,

I've just gotten in from driving my newly purchased '84 944 through the back wandering roads of North Virginia far away from the throngs of commuters and DC Metro gridlock.

The car is out cooling off and taking a well earned breath so I figured that this was to introduce myself and offer great thanks to EARLR85944 for all his help and advice. These senior members are really a great wealth of free information (and occassional opinion).

I am 36, have owned and wrenched on many other cars prior to this one - GTIs, Z-Cars, BMW e30s, Triumphs, MGs, an Opel Manta, a tempermental 924, and many other more forgettable marques. The 944 definately outhandles any of these cars, including a very nicely tuned A1 GTI, and has a nice wide band of power to work with coming out of a turn. I love the car, it caters to the driver but is very stable and easy to drive to the limit.

The reason I chose to by a 21 year old car instead of a 90s era rice box or newer GTI or BMW?

I think partially it was the mystique of the Porsche marque, partially all the talk I've heard (and now confirmed) about the great handling of the car, and finally, the personality of the car and not seeing myself coming or going every single day.

I also liked the 944 because it is easier to learn on getting into racing. I had wanted to get a 911 but reality, and reading a bunch of posts from 911 racers saying that the 944 is a great car to learn on swayed my opinion towards the 944.

The seach feature has already helped me with a few issues including some reluctant headlights that refused to go down (must have been taking headlight Viagra), and a hatch that was reluctant to go up (---insert funny quip here---). I plan on using it before posting a question (like what size tires I can legally run on it and not go up a class in autocross).

I've definately been bitten hard by the Porsche bug, or would that be the Porsche Spyder and look forward to many a twisty back road upon which to toss the silver beast.

Live Free and Drive,

Keith

Good for you Goo, enjoy the new ride. You really haven't been baptized until you dust off someone in a newer vehicle who has bought all the incorrect stories about the 44 being slow. Enjoy the car!

Welcome. No need to tell you how much fun these cars are. What color is your car? Maybe I'll see it around when I'm in town this summer. I live off of Annandale road by the elementary school.

Annandale Rd...
 

Right now myself and the silver (oxidized) arrow are right off Columbia Pike...though we will be relocating for a few months to the beautiful (and less crowded) area of North Carolina to do some contract work and make more money to give to the silver arrow...

My girlfriend has a SAAB 9.3 HO Turbo Vert (automatic sadly) with claimed 200hp and the 944 doesn't feel all the much slower by the all important SOP gauge.

I just took a roundabout that I've taken in the SAAB and experienced body lean in the turn, the 944 took it almost totally flat (thanks in part to option code 456).

...there shall be plenty of time for dusting, plenty of more than willing victi..er...I mean other drivers.

Live Free and Drive,

Keith

Look for the Guards Red 924S while cruzing up and down Annandale road. I live near Loemans Plaza! Honk if you see me! We can stop for a german beer, and chat Porsche!

verruckt, I think I've seen your 924s when going to/from the advance auto parts over there... or maybe it was before/after a drooling session at myer emco.

edit: oops, thinking of the wrong shopping center. There must be another guards red 924s out there!

911'd
 

I'll be sure to do that, 924S, Guards Red...yours didn't happen to be sitting at the Shell Station on Columbia Pike around 2pm did it?

While driving around today, a newer 911 Carrera4 was coming up on me while I was on Little River Turnpike winding my way through traffic. It approached on the right hand side and made its way up to where we'd be side to side.

I looked over at the driver thinking, "Wow, first Porsche to Porsche meeting, gotta wave and smile, fellow Porsche enthusiast and all..."...but no, the guy just drove on.

Undaunted however, when I do see that 924S around Annandale I shall salute you Herr Verruckt. Mine is the 944 with the special two-tone oxidized silver paint.

Live Free and Drive,

Ketih

I think the two-tone oxidized paint was standard, it just took 18+ years for it to properly cure. Mine's actually advanced to a phase where there are three and four tones, depending on the lighting.

4 Tone
 

Porsche 944 paint, like fine wine, it gets better with aging...

I think I've spent $50 on all sorts of rubbing compound and other treatments to get at the oxidation, it will scrape off with my fingernail but no way in Hades am I going to do that all over the car, and there are tougher areas that resist even that facile effort. I'm going to break down and wet sand it this weekend (much to the delight I am sure of the people living in the apartment complex - the delightful curses and alcohol fueled rants at the damned paint).

If I can find a little harder scraper that the one I have now, some good wet sanding paper, and get myself a case of some good cider I think the beast might be licked...oh, and I'll do some work on my car too :D

I tried that trick where you tap on the relay to get your headlights to go down...it actually worked (my hatch is still sticking and I swear I've adjusted the pins the best I can do). I had an old TR7 that would often do a re-enactment of searchlights used during the Battle of Britain when the lights were turned on so I am used to odd and eccentric headlights the hatch thing has me a little cattywhomped.

Live Free and Drive,

Keith

Keith, glad to see you made it to 944 side. I'm in the Chantilly area but you won't often see my car as it stays out of the sunlight and the other bad cars out there most of the time. ;)

Actually bought mine in Dec not running and have been working on it since. If you ever need a garage to play around in just let me know when and I'll see if I can offer a hand.

Michael
'83 944 Moss Green (Under-the-champaigne paint, project)

Re: Twisties Bits
 

bite your tongue. Spyders aren't indigenous to Germany. however, genus Cabriolet is a different matter... ;)

Then how do you explain the 550?

good point. however, that wasn't always the official designation, but came into common usage due to "anglisizing" from non-German enthusiasts that were used to the Italian usage of the word Spyder for their open toppers. it stuck because it helped distinguish the difference between a "spyder" and a true cab

Ok, after 18 years we should call Guards Red somthing like Guards Redish going to pink/whiteish. I don't believe that my car has ever been garaged.

:eek: ...an offer of a garage to work in...OMG...yeah, I'm pretty happy with the choice to go with the 944.

My right foot is aching to get into the throttle a little bit more than would be appropriate around here what with all the traffic and people who wander out into traffic. I'm driving up home to PA to take care of paper work so I'm going to hunt down my old twisty bits and let the 944 have a bite.

Keith