Getting more smiles in 944 than 911

[m962b]

I know the value of my 84 944 is crap compared to the value of my 78 911, but after driving both for a good bit, it is clear that i get much more appreciation from other drivers, be it younger guys in crappy cars to older guys in E class mercedes.

My 944 is old and red, and my 78 911 is silver and old. But time after time when driving the 944, i notice people like my 944 more.

Personally, both are fun to drive to me, different cards in every way. For those of you who don't have both, it's a blessing to have the experience.

Is there anyone else out there that shares this experience with the 944 more popular than the 911?

[Alfasrule]

DION's are the most fun car ever. I have 5 and LOVE them, never driven a Porsche model, but I'm sure they are just as fun. My ALFA's have becoming more valuable over the years. It's just an atypical Porsche, unaccepted and poo pooed, as are the 116 model of the ALFA brand. LOVE it and enjoy it cause there are not many cars set up this way.

[brisboats]

I have a few 944's and a few old 911's. I hear you loud and clear the 944's are an absolute blast to drive. Blow away the 912's and will even run with most long hood 911's. The 911 has an iconic status as the ultimate Porsche experience get past that and you can certainly enjoy the same at a much lower price point. Watch 944 values climb in the coming years as others learn that a 83 944 n/a will out run any 69-73 911 T .

B

[avr924]

Hate to say it, but you're on to something. Love my 80SC, recently picked up a 951 and the car is a blast to drive. You can pick up a very nice 951 for $10-12K, a SC in the same condition will run you about three times as much. A different animal but unique and time will tell if undervalued right now. Lots of nods on both cars too

[m962b]

Personally I think i may be the wide shoulders on the 944 that appeals to people. The 911 is instantly recognizable, and the fact that I'm driving an older one may appear less valuable to others who have new ones, or know people who have newer ones.

The 944 is a short lived (compared to 911) model and people are less familiar with it. it seems to be something that people don't see on the road very often. A porsche they don't know.

[Otter74]

When I was shopping for my 911, and even before, I did briefly give some thought to a 944. I could get a really nice S for way less than my 911 budget, and even a nice 951 for less than my 911 budget. But a 911 is what I had wanted for my whole life, so a 911 is what I got. And I am thrilled with mine. But I do wonder if I would ever be tempted if I actually drove a 944.

As for the attention, I can't really answer, but my 911 gets a lot of attention (being gold helps, I suppose) and it is odd for me, as I have never driven an attention-getting car before unless I was in something like a RHD M-plate back when I was an engineer in detroit.

[dsfnctn]

In my my short run on Pelican I have built a 65 912 into a 2.7 rs hotrod, followed by a 73 RS replica,, then PCA GT "clubrace" 911, then 993 C2S , followed by Baddass 88 Clubsport with a 3.8 ,then a PCA 911 Spec, last but not least tangerene 68 911.

I will put it out there and you can make of it what you want. In my garage I have 2 *****en 87 944 turbos, 2 944 spec race cars and the cutest thing ever a 924S Special edition.

The 944 turbo is in my mind an engeneering masterpiece . Also since they are complicated you have to have the smarts to learn about the car. The parts and information is redily availible

It is the 944 that made it possible for me to reach my dream of racing wheel to wheel. I repeate not the 911
The 944 spec is in my opinon one of the best platforms to learn car control in close quarters.
There is no Porsche that does it all. For me the 944 is closest to my soul

[NoRush993/951]

My gold 86 951 gets way more positive responses than my polar silver 993 cab. I've had them both for decades and the 951 if anything is being more admired today by the normal non car collector person. I think it's the angles of the car which are absent from modern production which makes it stand out from everything else on the road. It was beautiful in the 80's and is still one of the most attractive cars ever made. The proportions are perfect. Put it next to an Aston Martin DB9 and you will see an amazing similarity of shape. Not exact, but close.

[ficke]

I had a 944 for a few years and put quite a few miles on it, great highway car, I agree, better than an early 911 in many ways.
As a matter of fact it was better in almost every measurable way than my SWB 911's, A/C, heater, it was a real car, pretty much a normal car like so many other cars out there with a water cooled engine in the front. And that is the rub and why I do not think it will every become something special, because it is not really that different from other cars.
A 944 is a good car, but so are a lot of other cars. What sets it apart other than the badge? nothing really. Nothing really unique, like engine location, for instance.
Audi UR Quattros are way more important and unique than a Porsche 944, and the UR Quattro is barely getting some love now. Maybe the 944 will go up, but I would not look for anything stratospheric.
As for what people on the street think? In my experience they think an old SWB 911S is a poor man's Porsche and a 944 is showing money, I think because it looks newer than a 911.
The only car I liked driving almost as much as a SWB 911 is a Alfa Alffetta.

[Nick Triesch]

Will blow away a 912????? I hope so. My cat can blow away a 912!

[dsfnctn]

Around 1988 the big three german manufactures all showed up to the table with 4 valves per cylinder
Audi came out with the 20 valve turbo. One of the best all time motors ever in my opinion
BMW came out with the M 3 and M5, and 6 with twin cam
Porsche came out with the 944S and S2
So in my opinion huge gains on the 944 from the base 83 to the 89 944S2 compared to minimal 911 improvements

[Nick Triesch]

Lets see, the 83 911SC to the 89 911 3.2 with G50. I would not call that minimal.

[SilberUrS6]

I like the 944. I like the way it looks and the way it drives. It has a certain Porsche feel to it, and for long trips, I prefer it to the 911. But if I had to own two Porsches at the same time, one of them would be an aircooled 911, and the other would not be a 944. I would rather have a Boxster, for the ability to be out in the open air and still have a mid-engined Porsche, or just stick with my first watercooled choice, Cayman S.

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6

I would rather have a Boxster, for the ability to be out . . .

I knew it!!!

[timchar]

My first Porsche was a brand new 944 in 1986. I ended up with it by default because I couldn't afford my dream car 911. I have to say, it was a blast to drive. Tim

[brisboats]

The folks that get down on the 944 never spent any time in one. In 1989 Porsche down played the performance of the turbo S as there was fear it would take away too many 911 sales. Most 911 buyers however already had their heart and sites set on the 911 and wouldn't give the 944 a second look. Those that did were pleasantly surprised by the new S 2 coupe and cab and the latest and greatest of the 951. Porsche conservatively rated it's 0-60 time at 5.5 sec as the 911 c 2 was 6.2 . But with a spooled up launch sub 5 seconds was attainable in the 944.

As for the base 944 not being much different than other front engine water cooled cars, I disagree. The car has such perfect balance with the rear mounted transaxle that even a novice can build confidence early in the curves. Even with a meager 150 hp base model you can learn to finesse the car and drive faster in the twisties than most would dare in any early 911 65-70's. They are still affordable and if you search long enough a well cared for example might become available. I just picked up a decent garage kept 1989 n/a with 116k for less than I could sell a set of early 911 seats for. Prices I agree will probably never go stratospheric and that is a good thing, but I wonder how many predicted that about the lowly 914?
Sidebar..I got my Nephew off from his Honda fix and into P car ownership with a well worn 83 944 he's now hooked on the marque. Its a great entry level to the brand with a low admission fee. I am old enough to remember when this was true of the 912's as well.
B

[thamlin000]

I've got a 944 and 911. Different driving experiences; both great in their own way. It's a good variety.

The 944 series was one of the best cars to come out of the 1980s. It set the benchmark for several competitors to copy the design and increase performance of their own cars. The sharp angles and flared fenders of the 944 still look great today....even better with Fuchs 7s/8s.

If nothing else, just remember what 1983 had to offer in terms of sports cars under $20k.

[dsfnctn]

Ialmost fell to the floor at the last PCA clubrace my 944 won a $100 dollar gift certificate for the best prepaired race car.
944 getting more smiles than the 911

[NYNick]

Have at it boys...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/892817-porsche-944s-16v.html

[omnivore]

i agree with the 944 props and I have the empty wallet to prove it. Recently went long on the pristine 85.5 at CPR. 1985 Porsche 944 - CPR Classic
Time will tell and I hope we're right.