audi49

I'm shopping for a 944. Have driven a 2.5, 2.5S, 2.7 and a 2.5 turbo. The turbo is a turbo, so it definitely felt different. However the 2.7 I drove felt significantly better (peppier) than the 2.5 N/A and felt better also than the 2.5S (1987).

Is the 2.7 significantly better than the 2.5(S) for power & response? Have others noticed that? How is the 2.7 engine in regards to reliability & maintainability.

Thank you.

Dimi 944

Have you considered the 3.0L too?

audi49

I would... just haven't been any for sale anywhere near by my area.

Dimi 944

The 2.7L is an 8 valve engine and pretty much the same as the 2.5L in terms of reliability and maintenance. The head is the rare and desirable part on that engine. This engine was made only one year in '89.

The 944S is a 2.5L with twin cam 16V head and should feel more powerful than the 2.7L.
It has a chain tensioner pad that needs to be replaced every 5 years or 60,000 miles just like the on the 3.0L. Besides the 16V head the block is the same as the 2.5L 8V engine.

Both 944S and '89 944 have slightly different transmissions than the 2.5L 8V models with shorter 5th gear and slightly longer 1-4 gears.

phlfly

if you are close where I live I can let you to test drive my 2.7 L. And it's always for sale for good price. I'm in Leesburg VA.
2.7 L has more torque so it feel better on gas pedal, even better than 944S, but it's to me. Since I had test drove all line up 944/968. Most impassive car is 968 even if compare to 944 turbo. Than turbo, but maintenance........ Than 944 S2, actually I liked so much, that I almost bought, but the maintenance history was little shady, that only stopped me. But 2.7L was very close to S2, at least what I tested. I didn't like so much 944S, it feels no torque, so it was slow from dead stop.

V2Rocket

the 2.7 has about 10-20 more HP depending on the year of 2.5 compared to, and about 30+ more torque.
a much nicer DD engine for sure.

Arominus

The only place the 2.7 has an advantage over the S is low end torque. The 2.5S will own it otherwise, as it keeps breathing all the way to redline (6850) where the 8v's start to fall off around 5k. Get the S, it rewards being wound up. None of the 8v's can touch it in that mode, like not even close. The 2.5S motor is all about being over 4k and if you keep it there in the twisties it puts a big smile on your face and will WALK on the 2.5/2.7 8v's. Compared to my 2.5 924S it was much quicker driving in my favorite spots.

The S is a "sneaky" fast car because its so smooth and linear. Trust me on this, i owned one for a few years. Get the 16v awesomeness. S/S2/968, they really are the best of the series. You just have to check the cam tensioner pads, otherwise its really no more work than an 8v car. The S2 and 968 are significantly better than the S if you can swing the extra money they command.

a few videos for you.

V2Rocket

to the OP, Arominus is right that the S is a faster car.
it would depend on what you intend to use the car as.
is it a daily driver/around town car, or is it a twisty road sunday driver toy?

daily driver i would pick 8v over 16v every day, and the 2.7 by a wide margin over the 2.5 if one were available.

toy? any of them, but the 16v will be quickest/sports-car-iest

Arominus

I actually thought my 2.5S had more torque than the 924S, its just that the gearing is different in 2.5S vs the 924S/944. 1-4 are a little taller IIRC. I daily drove the 944S for years and while the torque could be better, i never found myself missing the 8v motor. I drove my old motor after it was transplanted in Hicks 944 with an FRwilks chip and an MSDS header and found it lacking in every way. Slower to rev, slower over all, dead up top, the mid range punch is gone... I can't see myself with an 8v car ever again except maybe a 2.7 or a turbo.

The 968 swapped S2 i have now ruins them all, The noise, the pull... Its addictive.

Voith

Its interesting how just throttle cam totally transform feel of 8V 944 or 924S.

HICKS

Thanks dick, lol.

Alabama Sam

I'm on my second 1989 2.7L NA. Sold the first one. Regretted it. Just bought a second one. Happiness reachieved. Have driven a 2.5L - I think it was an '86. Didn't feel at all like my 89s. There's just something about them. Its the perfect car for me. The torque is great. Be careful on parts. Some parts are unexpectedly unique to the 2.7. The water pump, for example (at least I think I have been told the water pump is different) and I think the DME (chip) is different. Get acquainted with the more knowledgeable suppliers, like Ian and the guys at 944 online. There are others. When in ANY kind of doubt, use genuine Porsche parts on stuff that matters, like the water pump and timing belt.

JMHO. I'm probably a 2.7L snob.

bill3

If you can find an S2 or 968, that is what you want. I've owned a 944S, S2 and now 968. The 944S is as described above: 4000 and above it runs like a banshee but not much torque below that. Still a decent DD (I drove mine for many years daily and on track) but the torque pull on the S2 is in another league, including vs. the 2.7.

I would be patient and find an S2 in decent shape; mileage isn't that important if the car has been well maintained; I know S2's that have gone over 300K miles still running great

Arominus

The 2.7 uses the 3.0L pump instead of the early one as its based on the 3.0 block with the 2.5 crank. The block isn't machined quite the same internally, but it does use the 3.0 stuff externally. Thats why the 2.7 head is so popular for 3.0L turbo builds, bolts to the 3.0 block but lets you use the 8v turbo manifolds and such.

333pg333

'Then' or 'Than'????