Differences Between 944S and S2?
01-04-2004, 01:29 PM
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Differences Between 944S and S2?
As a new owner of S2 I'm still trying to learn some stuff here. Lots of posts seem to indicate S2 is a great engine. Maybe I lucked up since I didn't know squat about what to buy.
01-04-2004, 01:51 PM
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The S2 has the most evolved engine in the 944 line, only surpassed by the 968 plant with the patented Variocam system.
It was the largest 4-cylinder engine of its day for mass-produced cars, and has the torque at low revs that is somewhat lacking in its 2.5 liter turbo counterpart.
The extra half liter of displacement allows the engine to get more out of the 16 valve head than did the 944S.
IIRC, a poll on one of the main German-based 944 sites ranked it slightly above the 951 in all round driveability.
In all, a great 944.
It was the largest 4-cylinder engine of its day for mass-produced cars, and has the torque at low revs that is somewhat lacking in its 2.5 liter turbo counterpart.
The extra half liter of displacement allows the engine to get more out of the 16 valve head than did the 944S.
IIRC, a poll on one of the main German-based 944 sites ranked it slightly above the 951 in all round driveability.
In all, a great 944.
01-04-2004, 02:51 PM
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On your original question the 944S was made in 1987 & 1988 and is the same basic car as the 85.5 thru 88 944NA with the addition of a 2.5L 16V engine. It had the same exterior save for the 16Ventiler marking on the side molding and I believe the 88 model got the 951 rear underbody spoiler. It also had the same suspension as the NA and might have had different gear ratios in the tranny.
The 944S2 is 'basically' the same car as the 87 thru 89 944 Turbo with the exception of a 3.0 Liter 16V engine. The body of the S2 and the Turbo are identical with the exception of the aforementioned 16 Ventiler badging. It had the same brakes and suspension of the turbo with the exception of 1/4" smaller diameter front springs which it shares with the 968. The tranny also has different ratios than the turbo trans.
There are a few other minor differences but that's it in a nutshell: The S is an NA with a 2.5L 16V and the S2 is a 951 with a 3L 16V.
The 944S2 is 'basically' the same car as the 87 thru 89 944 Turbo with the exception of a 3.0 Liter 16V engine. The body of the S2 and the Turbo are identical with the exception of the aforementioned 16 Ventiler badging. It had the same brakes and suspension of the turbo with the exception of 1/4" smaller diameter front springs which it shares with the 968. The tranny also has different ratios than the turbo trans.
There are a few other minor differences but that's it in a nutshell: The S is an NA with a 2.5L 16V and the S2 is a 951 with a 3L 16V.
01-04-2004, 04:29 PM
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Re: Differences Between 944S and S2?
Originally posted by bigbass37
Lots of posts seem to indicate S2 is a great engine. Maybe I lucked up since I didn't know squat about what to buy.
Lots of posts seem to indicate S2 is a great engine. Maybe I lucked up since I didn't know squat about what to buy.
No - you didn't luck out if you were only looking at convertibles; the S2 was the only 944 convertible sold in the US
Who surpassed the 3.0L as largest production 4?
01-04-2004, 06:08 PM
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A few more...
-S2 has the full Turbo body.
-I believe it has stiffer roll bars. And it certainly does if you have the M030 option.
-The S2 also has the Turbo S brakes.
-S2 had the Design90 wheels.
- S2 has the airbox located above the front bumper, underneath the nose panel. (the panel with the badge on it) Basically the most annoying 944 airfilter to change.
The S2 is a bigger engine with more power and torque. The standard S was really more of a standard 944 with more valves. Not that much better in terms of value in my opinion. An S2 is basically indentical to a Turbo S in respect to midrange. The S2 takes it down low, where the Turbo S has the advatange after about 100mph or so.
-S2 has the full Turbo body.
-I believe it has stiffer roll bars. And it certainly does if you have the M030 option.
-The S2 also has the Turbo S brakes.
-S2 had the Design90 wheels.
- S2 has the airbox located above the front bumper, underneath the nose panel. (the panel with the badge on it) Basically the most annoying 944 airfilter to change.
The S2 is a bigger engine with more power and torque. The standard S was really more of a standard 944 with more valves. Not that much better in terms of value in my opinion. An S2 is basically indentical to a Turbo S in respect to midrange. The S2 takes it down low, where the Turbo S has the advatange after about 100mph or so.
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01-04-2004, 08:57 PM
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Yeah, i believe you are correct about the brakes. What is funny though, and to quote Peter Morgan's book, "The S2 adopted the 250bhp Turbo's braking system, itself derived from that of the 928 S4." (Original Porsche 924/944/968 - page 97, last sentence before the wheels & Tyres heading)
That to me sounds like it suggesting the stock S2 has the "Big Black" brakes. That was the M030 like you just said. The 250bhp would be the Turbo S, correct?
The stock Turbo brakes are different than the S4 brakes. Is this an incorrect statement in the book? (wouldn't surprise me)
That to me sounds like it suggesting the stock S2 has the "Big Black" brakes. That was the M030 like you just said. The 250bhp would be the Turbo S, correct?
The stock Turbo brakes are different than the S4 brakes. Is this an incorrect statement in the book? (wouldn't surprise me)
01-04-2004, 10:08 PM
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S2 has the base turbos brakes. the 89 turbo was the 88 turbo S which had the better brakes. i have the brochure from 89. the S2 is the 88 turbo with a different motor, front springs, and a few other changes.
01-04-2004, 10:12 PM
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The regular S2s have the same 4 piston Brembo calipers used on the 86-88 944 turbo (the brakes on my non-M030 S2 are these)
The M030 S2 (and 968) had the bigger S4 front calipers that also came on the 88 turbo S and 89 turbo.
Great motor though...I've thought about selling the S2 and getting a 951, but I get in and drive it after driving a 951 and the S2 is still in my garage....157k miles on still looks and runs like the day it came off the showroom floor. Just do watch the timing belt intervals..the 16v head isn't cheap to fix in a failure...
The M030 S2 (and 968) had the bigger S4 front calipers that also came on the 88 turbo S and 89 turbo.
Great motor though...I've thought about selling the S2 and getting a 951, but I get in and drive it after driving a 951 and the S2 is still in my garage....157k miles on still looks and runs like the day it came off the showroom floor. Just do watch the timing belt intervals..the 16v head isn't cheap to fix in a failure...
