Driving the 911 vs 944
08-18-2007, 11:10 AM
#91
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People will come and go, but the legend of the 911 lives on and on and on forever. Case in point: I sold my car; a new Rennlister acquired it 
08-18-2007, 02:00 PM
#92
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Yeah, Murph', I saw it right after it was gone. I'm just about decided to cross border shop for my Porsche. Prob'ly would have called you today, had you still had that car.
:-/
-Brent
:-/
-Brent
08-19-2007, 12:58 AM
#93
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I know this is beat to death with 7 pages of posts but please allow me to express my feelings. I own an 86 944 turbo(guards red) and I own an 86 911(guards red) I cant decide which one I like better, I dont think anyone really can, it is a true dilemma. The 951 explodes on spool up and handles so easy.The shift throw is so short in comparison to the school bus shift throw of my 911. Off the line I am through 4 gears in the 951 in the time it takes me to shift 2 gears in the 911. People tend to think of the 944 as the "poor mans Porsche" but they arent aware of its $45,000 price tag when new, it was more expensive than the same year 911 in some markets. Maintenance wise if they are used only on weekends and not every day odds are they will be equally dependable at this stage in thier life.The turbo 944 is a much more modern design than the 3.2 carrera motor, eventhough the 3.2 was refered to the last true air cooled engine(84-89) they say it was pure Stuttgart evolution, to me it's a VW on steroids. Pick up 911&PORSCHE WORLD NUMBER 151, OCTOBER 06. magazine. It has good articles on the 3.2 carrera motor and the 944&944 turbo. Many of us Porsche owners have both the 951 and the 911 and we are torn. I cant decide which one I like more but I do feel prouder in the 911 and those rounded fenders on the 911 do look nostalgic,however,I do love the kick in the *** when my K27/8 300 hp turbo 944 spools up
08-19-2007, 08:05 PM
#94
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So, please let fly with any further comments and suggestions. I liked this car, though I didnt' fall in love. I think love will take time to develop. In particular, I think I can allow myself the freedom to fall in love, only after I'm sure I'm not looking at the Porsche equivalent of a Saturday morning STD after an evening with a Friday night bar star.
This is always important to me...dealing with an honest person is one of my requirements.
Advice I recieved long ago..."If you're new to this, look at 10 cars before buying one." I think this is good advice. This forced education will make you much more informed.
Keep posting so we can follow along and assist you,
Mike
P.S. Question...If I say "tensioner upgrade" and "pop off valve", do you know about items such as this? If not, here's a second plug to get Peter Zimmerman's buyers guide for the 911. I'm just being a PITA so you're in a good position to get a strong car at a fair price vs. a surprise money pit (in particular a car that needs engine work).
08-19-2007, 08:08 PM
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Many of us Porsche owners have both the 951 and the 911 and we are torn. I cant decide which one I like more but I do feel prouder in the 911 and those rounded fenders on the 911 do look nostalgic,however,I do love the kick in the *** when my K27/8 300 hp turbo 944 spools up
Mike
08-19-2007, 09:31 PM
#96
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I know this is beat to death with 7 pages of posts but please allow me to express my feelings. I own an 86 944 turbo(guards red) and I own an 86 911(guards red) I cant decide which one I like better, I dont think anyone really can, it is a true dilemma. The 951 explodes on spool up and handles so easy.The shift throw is so short in comparison to the school bus shift throw of my 911. Off the line I am through 4 gears in the 951 in the time it takes me to shift 2 gears in the 911. People tend to think of the 944 as the "poor mans Porsche" but they arent aware of its $45,000 price tag when new, it was more expensive than the same year 911 in some markets. Maintenance wise if they are used only on weekends and not every day odds are they will be equally dependable at this stage in thier life.The turbo 944 is a much more modern design than the 3.2 carrera motor, eventhough the 3.2 was refered to the last true air cooled engine(84-89) they say it was pure Stuttgart evolution, to me it's a VW on steroids. Pick up 911&PORSCHE WORLD NUMBER 151, OCTOBER 06. magazine. It has good articles on the 3.2 carrera motor and the 944&944 turbo. Many of us Porsche owners have both the 951 and the 911 and we are torn. I cant decide which one I like more but I do feel prouder in the 911 and those rounded fenders on the 911 do look nostalgic,however,I do love the kick in the *** when my K27/8 300 hp turbo 944 spools up
Practically, the prices of these cars are different, and I always like to compare cars of the same price point. That is why the 944 Turbo is such a solid car when compared against a 3.2 Carrera.
08-20-2007, 12:02 AM
#97
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Mike, Naples, Murph', and others.
If I'm not taking up too much space on this forum--being a newb', I wouldn't know...--but I'll keep updating to this thread. I'm sobered by the good advice to sleep with...to drive...to examine many cars before making offers. Thanks, Mike, for re-emphasizing this point with such an explicit guideline.
Pete Z's book should be here this week. I am familiar with the chain tensioner issue, but not the pop off valve. One thing I can tell you is that that nice fellow selling his somewhat pricey $21k 1980 sc is that I don't think he knew that much about his own car. Didn't have great records preceding his purchase (at the same price) 18 months ago. Didn't know what had been done to it.
I don' t mind the realities of providing proper care and feeding of my eventual 911. Those are the costs of a dream, but I see that the costs of a bad buy can be an utter nightmare, and that's to be avoided. So, I'll wait, I'll look, I'll read, I'll drive to build knowledge and a feel for what's good and what's not.
I suppose that lack of extensive records isn't necessarily a bad thing, but that with so many 911's in North America, it's worth being fussy about one that has all that available.
As it turns out, I didn't see that other 911 today. Mebe I'll call the guy tomorrow.
My continued gratitude to you gentlemen.
And Murph' -- sorry you had to sell your baby, but rumour has it, it's gone to a good home!
Brent
If I'm not taking up too much space on this forum--being a newb', I wouldn't know...--but I'll keep updating to this thread. I'm sobered by the good advice to sleep with...to drive...to examine many cars before making offers. Thanks, Mike, for re-emphasizing this point with such an explicit guideline.
Pete Z's book should be here this week. I am familiar with the chain tensioner issue, but not the pop off valve. One thing I can tell you is that that nice fellow selling his somewhat pricey $21k 1980 sc is that I don't think he knew that much about his own car. Didn't have great records preceding his purchase (at the same price) 18 months ago. Didn't know what had been done to it.
I don' t mind the realities of providing proper care and feeding of my eventual 911. Those are the costs of a dream, but I see that the costs of a bad buy can be an utter nightmare, and that's to be avoided. So, I'll wait, I'll look, I'll read, I'll drive to build knowledge and a feel for what's good and what's not.
I suppose that lack of extensive records isn't necessarily a bad thing, but that with so many 911's in North America, it's worth being fussy about one that has all that available.
As it turns out, I didn't see that other 911 today. Mebe I'll call the guy tomorrow.
My continued gratitude to you gentlemen.
And Murph' -- sorry you had to sell your baby, but rumour has it, it's gone to a good home!
Brent
09-17-2007, 02:21 PM
#98
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Update:
I want to update you fellows that were helpful to me in my search. I bought an 82 91sc over the weekend, with 168k KMs on the clock. I added 50 KMs of my own since Friday night.
"I'm not in love" to quote the old song, though I think a deep, meaningful, and lasting relationship can develop here. I was confident in the care provided by the previous owner. It was his 12th or 13 porsche in what looks like about a 30 year pattern of serial porsche monogamy. He was pretty knowledgeable about these cars, a factor in his selection when he bought it 3 or so years ago. Documentation seems pretty extensive, and important things have been done (e.g., tensioners, air box, transmission work).
The car looks and runs great.
I'll try and get some pictures up for you.
Again, my thanks for all the good advice I received here.
-Brent
I want to update you fellows that were helpful to me in my search. I bought an 82 91sc over the weekend, with 168k KMs on the clock. I added 50 KMs of my own since Friday night.
"I'm not in love" to quote the old song, though I think a deep, meaningful, and lasting relationship can develop here. I was confident in the care provided by the previous owner. It was his 12th or 13 porsche in what looks like about a 30 year pattern of serial porsche monogamy. He was pretty knowledgeable about these cars, a factor in his selection when he bought it 3 or so years ago. Documentation seems pretty extensive, and important things have been done (e.g., tensioners, air box, transmission work).
The car looks and runs great.
I'll try and get some pictures up for you.
Again, my thanks for all the good advice I received here.
-Brent
? 
09-17-2007, 04:12 PM
#104
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LOL!
Vill be fallin in lovin, yah. Ees goot. Unt my fraulein ist becomen ein porschen fan alzoh.
Darisc, you're hillarious.
Fred, I'm already up to this, for no sooner did I get 150 kms into my trip than I noted the oil level needle down in the red. My co pilot read what a bad bad thing this is in the manual, but a quick call to the former owner informed me that the needle isn't really too accurate, and that the thing to do is check the dip stick ... when motor is warmed up, and still running. It's down to the bottom line on the dipstick...
Unt zo... I have to add oil. He told me Mobil 1, synthetic, 15w50. So... ahhh, before I add any, do you have a recommendation Fred?
I do have to say, I really, really, really like the car. My son was thrilled when I picked him up from work, Friday night. My friends and girl friend all affirm the purchase.
And your positive comments...all of this helps drown out the internalized voice of some parental representation that, "whoever" it is, sure speaks clearly. As I went off the sleep Friday night, I thought I heard someone say "What the h3ll do you need a car like that for? You don't need 2 cars! What a frivolous waste of money!" [it was $18 k, by the way, canadian]
Of course, neither my external, real world mother, nor the internal representation that persecutes me, understand what you all understand. What I already understand.
Saturday morning, I awoke not with cold feet, or regretful second thoughts, but with a broad grin on my face. I could literally feel myself grinning from ear to ear as I awoke with thoughts of Porsche on my mind.
"Porsche on my mind"...hmmm; lyrics from a Ray Charles song, I think.
I'm just delighted to have joined the fine ranks of you passionate p-car hobbyists.
Vill be fallin in lovin, yah. Ees goot. Unt my fraulein ist becomen ein porschen fan alzoh.
Darisc, you're hillarious.
Fred, I'm already up to this, for no sooner did I get 150 kms into my trip than I noted the oil level needle down in the red. My co pilot read what a bad bad thing this is in the manual, but a quick call to the former owner informed me that the needle isn't really too accurate, and that the thing to do is check the dip stick ... when motor is warmed up, and still running. It's down to the bottom line on the dipstick...
Unt zo... I have to add oil. He told me Mobil 1, synthetic, 15w50. So... ahhh, before I add any, do you have a recommendation Fred?
I do have to say, I really, really, really like the car. My son was thrilled when I picked him up from work, Friday night. My friends and girl friend all affirm the purchase.
And your positive comments...all of this helps drown out the internalized voice of some parental representation that, "whoever" it is, sure speaks clearly. As I went off the sleep Friday night, I thought I heard someone say "What the h3ll do you need a car like that for? You don't need 2 cars! What a frivolous waste of money!" [it was $18 k, by the way, canadian]
Of course, neither my external, real world mother, nor the internal representation that persecutes me, understand what you all understand. What I already understand.
Saturday morning, I awoke not with cold feet, or regretful second thoughts, but with a broad grin on my face. I could literally feel myself grinning from ear to ear as I awoke with thoughts of Porsche on my mind.
"Porsche on my mind"...hmmm; lyrics from a Ray Charles song, I think.
I'm just delighted to have joined the fine ranks of you passionate p-car hobbyists.
09-17-2007, 04:35 PM
#105
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the thing to do is check the dip stick ... when motor is warmed up, and still running. It's down to the bottom line on the dipstick...
Check when FULLY warmed up, on level surface with engine idling, after letting engine idle for 60 seconds or 1 minute (whichever comes first). The dipstick measures only the top 2 qts. in the oil tank. If the level is between the two marks on the stick you're ok. Do NOT drop the dip stick down the filler tube. Like I did.
I check my oil level gauge with unerring frequency and ALWAYS (I can't emphasize this strongly enough) wonder why I do, because it never reads the same.
Unt zo... I have to add oil. He told me Mobil 1, synthetic, 15w50. So... ahhh, before I add any, do you have a recommendation Fred?
I wouldn't mix synthetic w/dino - also be aware that if you switch to synthetic you may have new leaks appear (no problem; fix the leaks or switch back to dino).
Check when FULLY warmed up, on level surface with engine idling, after letting engine idle for 60 seconds or 1 minute (whichever comes first). The dipstick measures only the top 2 qts. in the oil tank. If the level is between the two marks on the stick you're ok. Do NOT drop the dip stick down the filler tube. Like I did.
I check my oil level gauge with unerring frequency and ALWAYS (I can't emphasize this strongly enough) wonder why I do, because it never reads the same.
Unt zo... I have to add oil. He told me Mobil 1, synthetic, 15w50. So... ahhh, before I add any, do you have a recommendation Fred?
I wouldn't mix synthetic w/dino - also be aware that if you switch to synthetic you may have new leaks appear (no problem; fix the leaks or switch back to dino).