Who would trade a 944 for a 911?

[Paul Glasson]

Seriously, if you could afford it would you buy a 911 similar year and condition rather than another 944?
I always liked the look of the 911 but not the rear engine bit. 968 would probably be my choice though.

[packet]

911 no doubt. I love my 944, but my next Porsche is going to be a 911.

[mscromer]

A 968 will be my next car, but there will be a 911 in my future somewhere. Oh and a 928.

[Tervuren]

Right at the moment, if I could turn my 944 into a 911, I'd do it. But I can't say that will always be the case, the 944 has a LOT more carrying capicity, but right now, I'm not using it. IN the future, I hope to be again soon though.

[CJFusco]

I would trade A 944 in for a 911, but I'm not sure if I would trade MY 944 in for a 911... i've put too much work on it and personalized it too much.

Maybe for a Carrera RS or a 964 RS America or a nice 993....

[nynor]

before i bought my 951, i test drove a 70's 911. i WANTED to like it. alas, i didn't like it. i didn't like the layout of the cockpit, i didn't like the way the pedals felt, i didn't like the way it felt while driving, i didn't like the way it handled. i much prefer the solid and sure feel that the 944's have while cornering and braking. i also like the controls and layout better. i think my next porsche will be a 951 S.

[scottmandue]

No,
Like nynor said I sat in one and didn't like the feel of it, especially the layout of the gas/brake/clutch. Beside I like a car that goes fast in and fast out not slow in fast out.

But then I bought a 944 because I wanted a 944 not because it's a Porsche.

I like 911's, particularly the air cooled models for their simplicity of design. I would consider getting a pre 1975 (no smog) as a daily driver but for a fun to drive car I'm much more tempted to move to a 968 or a Boxster.

[Razorback1980]

I bought my 944 because I liked the look. I like a 911 too but not as much. One of my friends and my boss have them and I drove both of them and don't like it as much either. I also think the engine generates a lot of heat in hot Houston weather in stop and go traffic...the a/c couldn't keep it cool. I guess I could live with a 996 if I didn't have to give up my 944. I recently sold mine, but I'll be buying a replacement and I'm not even considering a 911.

[Kevin0323]

I've never been in a 911 but I like the immediate recognition of it and the fact that they cost more.
I would trade my 944 for a 911 any day as long as the 911 was in good shape.

Bonus:I live in an apartment complex and I'm not allowed to work on my car here. If I had a 911 the management would just think that I am fishing through my trunk.

[Slam]

Maybe a 993, but not in place of the 944. Never did like the 911 much, and the 944 handles so much better.

Besides, I'd feel strange spending so much time under the ass of a car working on the motor...

[Rot 911]

Everyone knows a 944 is not a REAL Porsche!

[Z-man]

In keeping with the water-cooled theme, I'd opt for a nice 996 GT3.

Actually, with the prices of the 996's dropping quite a bit, a used 996 C2 would be a nice upgrade in a couple of years...
-Z.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

In a heartbeat. If anyone's willing, please PM me.

[Brando]

That's a tough one...

Actually, it's not. I wouldn't trade either of my beaters for a 911.

They're ass heavy, too expensive, and don't handle right. The cost to "play" on a track in modifications is exponential compared to a 944 or 914.

I rather like my off-models.

And most people don't recognize them. That's my favorite part.

[VINMAN]

I'd trade it for a mid 80's 930. thats about it....

[nynor]

ok, i'd trade mine for a 911... then i'd sell it and get two 951's!!!

[Tervuren]

Originally posted by Brando


And most people don't recognize them. That's my favorite part.

Heheh, I've been asked what kind of Ferrari I drove before.

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by nynor
ok, i'd trade mine for a 911... then i'd sell it and get two 951's!!!

I was thinking the same thing... except maybe a 951 and a 944S2

[jluetjen]

I did trade my 944 for a 911 (relatively speeking since I sold the 944 as a result of buying the 911)-- and I've had no regrets. My '69 911E hasn't really been much more expensive to operate then my 944 was. And I actually like the 911 cockit better then the 944's since it is roomier. As far as the dash panel is concerned, the 944 dash looks pretty much like any modern plastic dash (think Toyota, Nissan, etc). But when you look at a 911 dash, you know immediately that you are sitting in a 911. The pedals are not an issue -- what's everyone complaining about? If you've ever driven a FF or S2, you'll appreciate that floor mounted pedals are hardly a problem.

I loved my '86 944 with it's "get in and turn the key" simplicity. The car just looks cool and like "Road and Track" once described, it was like slipping on a pair of broken-in jeans or loafers. The handling always did what I asked of it (street driving only). My biggest complaint was the engine sound. It sounded great -- nice and muscular at idle. But once you started to get on it, the sound was a big let-down, it sounded like a lamb with it's tail being twisted: Bahahahahaheheheheheh...
That and the fact that the engine is pretty HP restricted by the head design, so what you got is what you got unless you turbo it. In the global scheme of things, neither of these made the car bad in any way -- I loved my 944. They just made it a little less then perfect.

My 911 has been a different experience all together. Even with it's "little" 2.0 engine, it would spank my NA 944 hands down for engine performance: 140 MFI'd HP in the 911 versus 150 lazy EFI'd HP in the 944. Keep in mind that the 911 weighs in at 2400 lbs with me in it versus the an empty 2600 lbs with the 944. When it comes to handling, the 944 is almost boring to drive compared to the 911. It always just goes around the corner with a hint of understeer (yawn). The 911 never ceases to amaze me with how it rewards the driver. The 944 always does the same thing no matter what you do, while the 911 will change from understeer to oversteer with minute adjustments of the throttle. Drifting wide? Back off the throttle and you tuck in. Back-end drifting out? Give it more gas to anchor the back end and you'll rocket out of the corner. While the 944 handles nicely no matter what you do (rewarding the novice driver), the 911 will always do what I want it to do. (Note that while I've driven neither on the track, I've raced competitively enough in the past to appreciate the difference in each car's reactions).

And then the engine. The 944 engine certainly has had a fine racing history. The 911 engine on the other hand... It sounds like a "bag of bolts" at idle, but then it comes on-cam at 4000 RPM and the MFI starts to roar and the engine just pulls and pulls and pulls right around to 7000 RPM like a race car. And the sound...! Keep in mind this is just the "luxury" E model no less! Technologically, the 911 engine is from the same family as the 906, 908 and 917, not to mention the turbo'd 934, 935, 936, 956, 962 and through to today's GT3 engine! When it comes to racing history, well no one has ever made a movie about racing a 944. But Steve McQueen does drive a 911 on the street in Le Mans, it was used as a camera car for "The Speed Merchants" and the 935 was featured in "Moby and the Warhorse Gang".

The 944 is a wonderful car and I'd chose it over any other manufacturer's competing sports car from that era. The 911 on the other hand is a timeless classic in looks, performance and history.

[Dave L]

Nice write up.

I do like the 911's and agree that it is the classic. I think the thing that keeps me in the 944 camp is the low entry price and I think it is a tremendous value.

I think my upgrade path will be 944 - 944s - Cayman (maybe Boxter inbetween, but I dont like soft tops).

Hopefully the Cayman is a huge disapointment and will be largely discarded as not a "real Porsche" and will take on hideous depreciation.