*Michael.*

Well I have been on this board for a few years now. I have learned tons about working on cars. Before getting the 944 the most complicated thing I had done on a car was change the oil. Now I have done a few clutches, torsion bars a few times, pulled an engine, parted out an entire car, and now the 944 is up for sale. It went up for sale today. My wife and I picked up our new Mini Cooper S last Tuesday. It is a great car. Lots 'o fun!! Of course we still have the Turbo Miata also.

A lot of the old regulars aren't around anymore but I just want to say thanks to everyone here as I depart the Porsche world. Of course the Turbo Miata will still by laying the smack down at the PCA-GR races this summer so I am not completely away from P-cars

for now, maybe I will get another Porsche one day....

Here is THE MINI PAGE

And a sample...

porschefig

is it in the classified here?
i just like to look

*Michael.*

It is actually in Germany, I am stationed here with the Air Force.

Dlefko

<------ jealous

944Fest (aka Dan P)

Nice Coop, Michael! Welcome to the club!

Rich Sandor

Nice. I'd love to have a Cooper S as a daily driver to replace my Crapalier. (aka Cavalier)

Your 944NA seemed really nice.. shame to see it go! Next time buy a 951!!!!



BTW, what do you do in the AF? pilot?

slinky

Can't believe you're getting rid of that beautiful car!

(btw, I have your 944 pic as my desktop picture)

MM951

Cant believe your leaving!!! You sure as hell are an old timer Michael....

good luck and I hope you return....hope you stick around

ckkrause

Did a High Performance Driving School with SCCA @ Thunderhill with my 911 and while I could outgun them on the straights, the "S's" were on my *** in the twisties...all of them!! I'll think you love that rollerskate....

-CKKrause

Russian Rocket

1 Q if you don't mind HOw does CS feel and handling compare to Mx-5?
Vlad.

*Michael.*

I am still trying to figure out which one is more capable in the turns. The Miata has been lowered and has pretty stiff, springs, sways and shocks. Also the T1-S's are pretty sticky. The car is really responsive, it also is very predictible at the limits. It doesn't "snap" oversteer.... On Monday I went to a section of road that has some really nice "S" turn and drove through it several times seeing what kind of speed I could carry though it. I am going to go back with the Mini and do the same thing. It is hard to tell which one is faster because the Mini is a new car, it is fairly quite and is much smoother riding then the Miata. Compared to the Miata I feel sometimes that I am going slower then I actually am because it has all of those new car qualities.

The Mini has more body roll then the Miata (which isn't really bad, just more then the super stiff Miata) The steering feels heavier then the Miata which I really like because with p/s in the Miata the steering feels too light. In really tight corners (like and Auto-X track) the Mini would understeer on corners that the Miata could tear right though. The brakes in the Mini are very impressive, also the DSC is an amazing traction control system. I went out onto the runway at Sembach AB (it is inactive now) and drove the Mini one day when it was raining. I swerved all around, turned hard and braked at the same time. Not one time did the car go in a direction other then the one I was steering it in. The insurance companies should give a discount for the new stability control systems!

The car has about 500 miles on it now and I am still getting used to it. At this point I would say that the Mini has about 90% of the handling capability of the Miata with 200% of the Miata's comfort. Even though the Mini is stiff, both suspension and chassis, it is a really nice ride. It is very quite cruising at 90mph on the autobahn. Also I have been averaging about 28mpg in the Mini. I am sure that may change some once I am past my break-in of 1000 miles.

Russian Rocket

Thanks for detailed reply!!! My 92 Mx-5 also has very light steering.... i'm thinking of buying a manual rack or upgrading to 94+ which were stiffer.
I'm swapping winter wheels with Azenis on friday... can't wait
Good luck on the sale and MCS ownership
Vlad.

*Michael.*

Well that was quick, the 944 is sold. It went for $4200 without any of my spare parts. I was asking $5000 with a spare engine, transmission, p/s rack and a bunch of other odds and ends. I guess I will sell the engine and stuff on my own.

I would like to get another Porsche one day. I will be getting out of the Air Force in about a year. Maybe a 968 or Boxster S is on the horizon?

Danno

How about putting that 944 engine in the back of the Cooper and making it twin-engine 4WD??? How much you want for the engine?

*Michael.*

The engine is here with me in Germany so I can't really sell it to anyone in the US.