Looking at a 944 .. Got a question

i3urtonair · 09-26-2002, 03:12 PM

Hey guys whats up, Im looking to buy a 1984 944.. It has 70K miles on it and looks immaculate. My only question is exactly how BAD is the winter driving on porsches? I live in NH and we get snow here occasionally enough to close the schools.

I obviously dont plan on driving in blizzards or anything like that but I just wanted to get some feedback as to how winter driving conditions are. Thanks!

951carter · 09-26-2002, 03:50 PM

The 944s are GREAT in the snow, especially if equipped with an LSD.

They get great traction with the transaxle sitting on top of the drive wheels and the engine on top of the directional(front) wheels. The 50/50 weight distribution also gives real predictable slides if you do take a corner too hot.

They are only limited by ground clearance, i have literally plowed through snow in my turbo with LSD.

i3urtonair · 09-26-2002, 03:56 PM

How high off the ground is a stock 944?

951carter · 09-26-2002, 04:02 PM

Not too sure. A turbo is 4.6" stock so i would guess about an inch higher than that.

seb928s · 09-26-2002, 04:48 PM

Ground clearance is 4.72 in.

dogslovetrucks · 09-26-2002, 10:15 PM

Actually, it will depend on the tires. LSD or not- if you have summer tires on it, you'd be screwed in the snow. If you have the $$ you can have a set of summer and winter tires and just swap them.

i3urtonair · 09-27-2002, 03:31 AM

any clue on the cost for winter tires? I dont yet have the car so I dont even know what kind of tires it takes.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

I have a set of barely used winter tires off my 944S2 (came with the car - they have lots of tread) I believe they are 225/50 16's. If you want them, they're yours, you just have to pick 'em up...

-Zoltan.

i3urtonair · 09-27-2002, 10:18 AM

My sister lives in NJ

Maybe I will pick them up,.... or if not would you be kind enough to ship them (assuming I payed for shipping of course).

This is all assuming I get the car, I still need to get an insurance quote today, and then go and give the guy who is selling it a down payment so he holds onto the car for me for another week or 2

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

I must clarify: I only have 2 tires! Opps. Sorry for misleading anyone...

If anyone is STILL interested in 2 winter tires for FREE, lemme know...
-Z.

todd951 · 09-27-2002, 02:22 PM

If you want to check on prices of winter tires, go to http://www.tirerack.com and do a search by vehicle for winter tires. Just enter 1984 Porsche 944 and it will show you what they have available. If I was going to buy winter tires for a Porsche, I would probably go with Michelin Pilot Alpins, but they are a bit on the expensive side.

i3urtonair · 09-27-2002, 03:28 PM

just tried that, says I gatta call them :-/ Oh well... I missed the insurance rep by a 1/2 hour today too so I guess i have to wait till monday to get a quote for that.

I hope insurance doesnt screw me over

ae1969 · 09-27-2002, 03:47 PM

They handle great in the snow...... well balanced...

I run M+S kumho's 17" 245 rears and 225 fronts all year round.....

In the middle of winter is the only time that I am gratefull that my car has absolutely no torque....... so driving on ice/snow is a snap compared to uhmmmmm my wifes GT (death trap in the winter)

todd951 · 09-27-2002, 03:53 PM

Hmm. Well, the stock tire size is 215/60-15, so you can browse winter tires by size. Looks like all they have available in that size are Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 for $83 each, Dunlop Graspic DS-1 for $63 each, and Michelin Arctic-Alpin for $77 each. If I had to pick one of those I'd go with the Michelins. The other two only have the winter rubber compound in the first half of tread depth -- once they're worn down halfway, it's all-season compound. The Michelins are winter compound through the entire tread depth.