I,m new and looking for help
 

Hi everone, I,m new to pelican parts and i,m looking to buy a 944S. What is the best year and how much am I looking to spend. Any and all help is greatly appreciated and thank you in advance.

Arch is always helping work on my 951 with his tools and garage. He is one of my bestriends and got hooked to this car by driving and riding in mine. He is looking to buy one very soon( An S or 951).

Welcome Arch,
You've picked an interesting choice for your second car (?) and at 17 it could be a challenge. Real basic stuff is initial cost and double that for first year maintenance. We will tell you to get many things changed on the 20+- year old car that we have come to cherish with a passion. Upgrades, tires, shocks will consume your time and bank account.
The members of the board are here to give you all of our learned experience and we really do welcome you questions-we've been there.

Here is a current post about your choice.
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=402245

Again, Welcome and good luck with the purchase.

John_AZ
1988 924S + 1987 924S

Welcome abord arch. I think they made the 'S' for only 2 years '87 and '88 IIRC and I don't think there would be much difference between years as much as the difference between options. The 'S' came with the 188 HP 16V N/A motor.

I have a '87 'S' which I have never driven but it is currently undergoing surgury to cram a Vette LT1 in there.

Welcome aboard and best of luck.

Speedy:)

thanks you guys it is not hard to see that i'm in good company here and thanks alot for such a warm welcome.

I would expect on $4500-5500 for a good condition S. I wouldnt narrow the search to just an S model. They are not all to common and honestly having driven one, not really worth limiting your search for. The 2.5L 16v is similar in low end power to the regular 8v, but it breathes a little better at the top end..it really shines at 4k plus. But i honestly dont think its worth turning down a clean 8v car if you came across one.

You need to have a good amount of money set aside after buying, maybe $1500 at the least as a casualty fund.

Make sure to get a PPI on whatever you find. There are some high $$$ repairs which can lurk under all that pretty Guards Red paint. To have a shop do a clutch will set you back $2000. If you do it yourself plan on about $500 for parts and about 20 hours of your labor (unless the speed and reference sensors are stuck :) )

Change your timing/ balance shaft belts asap. Maybe you can find a fellow Pelican in your area to give you a hand with this.

Speedy:)

PM Sent

I paid more for mine and it needs a clutch and timing belt. You may be able to find them cheaper, or you may not. Mine is clean, had 82K miles, and after looking for about six months for a lower mileage, clean car and not seeing one, I decided the price was right. I'm not saying the extra money for a 16V over an 8V is commensurate with whatever marginal performance increase you may get, but due to the lower 16V production numbers and old age of these cars, the price does inflate a bit for a clean one when you find them.

The S2 will clearly give you a better marginal return on power/performance compared to the extra cost over an 8V. Obviously the 951s are cool too. I like the 16V: it's the "S" model, only around for 2 years, a tiny bit extra kick compared to the 8V, etc. Like just about any Porsche, it's not an entirely rational / economic decision. Each of them has their good and bad points and you like them for what they are, not for what they aren't. You just gotta decide what you want and go find it.

We are not worrying about t-belt and others as such because no matter what we would change them right away even if the prev had "said" he/she changed them. Whatever repairs Arch will have to do will be me helping him, so hes not that worried. I also wouldn't let him buy a lemon 944 that will just be a money pit. Arch wants to get an S because he can't (yet) afford a 951 but still wants a little more kick. However if we come across a good 951 for a decent price I will steer him towards it.

true...there is no doubt that all 944s are beautiful cars any way you gey them but i am drawn to the s and turbo 951 models. Nothing against NA 944 models but i am always attracted to those higher up on the food chain:p.....i understand what your saying techno and i will take any clean and good 944 available for the best price but i'm really looking for a turbo or an S

Welcome. I would consider a 944S2.

Arch,
Here is a 951 nearby:http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=403962
John_AZ

I love my S. Factory 188 hp (@ 30 more than an 8 V) and I have added a K & N air element and a hi-flow cat....soon to add 2.5" cat back stainless exhaust and a Russell Berry 944S MAX chip. Should be running @ 200+ hp then...or roughly the same as an S2.

The S2 has the 951 spoilers which are really nice, but they command a much bigger price as well do the 951s....especially well cared for cars.

A good choice IMO. Just be sure to change the t-and-b belts and the hydraulic tensioner pads/tensioner if it looks faulty.

PLUS...I get 35 mpg!

Welcome and good hunting.

PS...depending on budget, there's a MINT 944S on this board for sale.

Arch, I haven't had the pleasure of driving a turbo yet so I don't know about that side of the equation. But I do have experience with driving all 3 different N/As. The S is a blast-AFTER you get going. 3500 and up and its TONS of fun. However, a hyundai will beat you off the line! I also appreciate the rawness of that crazy torque curve.

The S2 is almost boring. I mean, the power is so smooth and even you don't even realize it. I love it but it is MUCH more civilized than the S-and a LOT quicker! From what I have read, the turbo is altogether different still. As has been mentioned, get out and drive as many different ones as you can.

On that note, I recently met another local guy with an S. We switched cars just for fun. Both '87 16 valves with similar mileage. However, the ride was totally different! He loved my car because the power was smooth. I hadn't driven another so I was pretty shocked at how sluggish his was. I attribute this to a total rebuild of my fuel system, injectors, dampener, regulator, filter and lines. I am telling you this because it wasn't until then that I realized EACH individual CAR feels and rides differently. Get out there and enjoy!

Arch, Arch, wake up my man!

Not even a comment about the girl? The school girl is a very nice touch;).

Well, here is a chart later added from my first post and it has all the 924/944/968 statistics:
It answers the "what is the best year question" you had.

http://www.weissach.net/924-944-968_RoadTestSummary.html

Again, good luck.

John_AZ

The S is a blast. If you don't want to drive it like an S (often >3700 rpm), it will probably be a lot like an 8V. If you can afford an S2 get that. Or a 968. Or a 951 if you're up for it.

Whatever you choose the purchase price is just the down payment - you'll drop some dough on it just catching up on maintence.

I agree with Luis...shoot for an S2. I have never driven the S but I got my car for $5k, overall good shape but in need of several mechanical 'to-do's...2 years and $6k later I have a car that's basically trouble free (doing new ground cables and starter leads and I should be golden!).

And it's soooo different than my old early NA....the NA was sort of raw...and felt lighter. The S2 is tremendous fun, lots of power and torque and nice enough to take the wife to dinner.

School girl was a nice touch John....He didn't mention the cat picture either. :)

john thanks alot for the stats i've printed them up and have been studying them i really appreciate i..btw the girl was a very nice touch lol