Arch12

I am looking at a low mileage, 2 owner s2 cabriolet with a complete history and up to date maintenance. 2 Porsche mechanics wanted me to pass on it due to:
1) they claim that the cabs have too much body flex
2) known problems of noise, leaks and operational problems with the convertable top.

Can someone comment on whether these issues are prevelant.

ried

Did you ask the mechanics for their advice on what model of car you should buy, or whether or not this particular example is mechanically sound?

Sounds like they're giving you advice on the former, and not the latter.

PaulD_944S2

I totally agree with Reid, but more on this later.

Cabs are different from the coupes structurally, but Porsche had the bottom of the floor pan reinforced very well. Take a look, you will see some significant sheet metal. Unless you are planning to autocross or track the car, it's a moot point.

Like any cabriolet, soft tops are problematic. Read through the forums here and you will find a lot of discussion on the tops. One of the first things many owners do is disconnect the electrical motor transmission linkage that drives the top up and down. The top uses two motors and separate transmissions, and if they get out of time, then expensive parts may break. Once the linkage is disconnected, the top is very easy to manually raise and lower. The window seals are good, so drive it with the top up and see how it does. A quick spray of water over the top and sides my reveal any fluid leaks.

Go back (or go somewhere else) and demand they inspect the entire car and not just offer "opinions" on what they may have heard from others. Somehow, a lot of this "opinion" gets distorted and passed around making things seem much worse than it will ever be.

You have a good start: "with a complete history and up to date maintenance" you can't get any better.

A happy two cab owner, one of them a former occasional track car.

It is important that you enjoy and drive the car!

V2Rocket

The top will likely need replacing at some point simply due to age - the canvas and plastic window just don't last indefinitely...

It's probably true that the 944 cabs were less stiff than coupes just by nature of taking the roof off, but I don't think you'd ever notice a difference driving them back to back unless you were a pro driver on really trick suspension.

They did a killer job reinforcing the floorpan on the cabs...they really are solid cars.

Jfrahm

The cabrios are amazingly stiff compared to a lot of other hardtop cars from other marques.
I had a 944S2 coupe and cab at the same time for a while and drove them back-to-back. Flex IMO is not really noticeable on the street compared to a 944 coupe.

Besides, who cares? It's not like they break windshields or something due to body flex.

Of course the soft top is more trouble than the coupe, but having the soft top is necessary if you want to drive with the top down in a 944. If you prefer a Miata with a PRHT buy that, or a 914 Targa, buy that.

The 944/968 top system is pretty good IMO if you make it manual or listen and pay attention when you are putting it up or down and STOP if it starts going out of whack. If you want a fully automatic 1-touch roof you'll need to buy another car and you may want an extended warranty.

In the end, get the body you want or is appropriate for your use.
-Joel.

Arch12

Thanks for the feedback. I probably would agree with you that it is not a noticeable difference. I understand there is nothing wrong with the top and all the history checks out so far but a final PPI will finalize any concern. My point is that the mechanics who I spoke with to get there opinion prefer the coupe over the cab due to the body flex and problematic top. i have only had 944 coupes and never had a cab so I am looking for feedback from owners who have owned and lived with the cab.

Scott at Team Harco

You may want to add "cab" to the end of your thread title.

Other than that, I would agree with the experts here. The opinions of the mechanics should be taken, as just that, opinions. Have they lived with a 944 S2 cab as a daily?

Jon951

My 951s each have MO30 suspensions. When I bought my S2 Cab, it was in need of some care... In spite of the double floor that is standard, it had all the torsional rigidity of a flying carpet. With a strut brace and the Brey Krause brace under the engine behind the A arms, it is a joy to drive. New Koni yellow shocks and struts didn't hurt either. It's a totally different driving experience from the Turbos, both are highly enjoyable! Different is not bad.

I also like the manual top. I have to get out of the car anyway to install or remove the cover from the folded top. A top tip from AZBanks, use a kids foam swim noodle to keep the fold in the back widow from creasing.

Enjoy!

Jfrahm

Sounds like just their opinion of what they like to drive, I cannot imagine how the top would affect the mechanicals.

Soft top repairs would probably go to a body shop or specialist so it's not like they are trying to avoid getting stuck working on the top itself. If these mechanics do not want a cab and have not owned a cab I'd be indifferent to what they thought of them.

Obviously there are not 50 threads on RL about how tough it is to live with the cabrios, so IMO it comes down to weather you want to put the top down or not.

I love open-air motoring but am pretty indifferent to the removable sunroof in the 944 coupe. It's a big hole in the roof but having had T-top, targa and full convertibles it's nowhere near close to any of those.

PaulD_944S2

Here's a good place to learn cabs:

https://rennlist.com/forums/944-and-...cabriolet.html