you're right, though it was hardware as well as the tuning. the ROW cars had higher compression (different pistons) than the US cars until 1988. that is why higher octane is required.

My S2 gets 91 because it states so in the gas door flap. I always either use Shell or Sunoco. The only thing I don't like about the gasoline I buy is that it contains 10% ethanol (one of the many downside of living in CT.)

I use Shell Vpower 93 almost exclusively. I used to use it just for the extra cleaning powers advertised for Vpower, but now running the 944MAX chip requires at least 91. 93 averages around $4.30 around here.

But just fyi, the 8v NA cars do not have knock sensors, and will not lose power on low grade gas and typically don't have any problems, but you can cause damage if they do knock. The 16V motors as well as the turbos have two knock sensors and will retard ignition timing, reducing power. Most cars made in the last 10-15 years work that way, which allows lower grade fuel at the cost of performance and mileage.

I hate how the US couldn't get the high compression pistons the rest of the world gets. The car would be noticably quicker, as 9.5:1 is pretty relaxed in my book. Stupid EPA! :p

when it dropped! :(

it dropped ROW? to my knowledge, the US spec was raised to meet what ROW was already getting. did the ROW specs change during the production run?

in the US, the 944 power was progressively uprated. there were cam changes in '85.5, the compression increased in 1988, and the displacement increased in 1989 (transition to 944S2 year).

no, in 1988 the individual market engines were gone. for the 'world' engine the compression dropped from what the ROW engine had but was more than what the US engine had. It wasn't a significant decrease for ROW cars, it was just a decrease. Hp dropped from 163 hp for the 1982 - 1987 cars to 160 hp with the 'world' engine. just bragging rights really.

all markets got the base model '89 increase to 2.7 afaik.

87

87 is what it wants...thats what it gets