SKooT1027

Do 83 944's come with power steering (is it an option)? I think I read somewhere that power steering was not an option until 84 but im not sure if thats true or not.

Tom R.

not and option, and there was a guy in franklin square with a black/brown 83 that he says needs nothing with relatively low miles advertising a few months back. car needs belts since they are old, even though they have no miles. i was going to look at the car, but decided i didnt want cloth.

SKooT1027

Ahh okay.. power steering is something i really want.. always had it, and when i drove cars w/o it I just didnt really enjoy it as much.. so i guess ill look at 84-> instead of 83's too.

Luis de Prat

Although you really want power steering, it may interest you to know that in some respects, the 83 is a better car than the 84. The 83 engine has forged rods, the 84 does not. The 83 has more "manual stuff" e.g. sunroof, no cruise, etc., making it a lighter car overall.

Have fun car hunting!

83na944

Lack of power steering was not really a problem. The steering was easy enough. And several people here are converting or have converted their PS cars to manual. And like Luis said, not so much fancy stuff to break. And lighter is better.

slowazzporsche

driving em real slow w/o power steering is just kind of tough, not much weight up front though

the only real options on the older cars were umm.. lsd and rear sway bars.. among a few other things.. i'd check for those two options as you'll want them later on.. i know i want em now!

the 911's didn't have power steering in the early models but it was VERY easy with a manual rack

KuHL 951

My 83 has power steering as well as a few others on this list. It is car #610 and it came that way from the factory. It's not on the option code tag either. All my code shows are F/R sways, cassette holder, Blaupunkt, and leather seats. Never mentioned A/C or P/W. I have a hunch there was some kind of California convenience package that included these options as a group.

RobbyK

My 83 had power steering. All cars made after june 83 had power steering, and all autos even before that date had power steering so it is possible to find 83's with P/S and they are better cars in some aspects than the 84/ early 85.

KuHL 951

Rob,
Any idea what car number corresponds with June 83? Just curious.

RobbyK

No Idea, I just know reading that in the peter morgan book and looking at my cars sticker sayin it was made in 7/83 and knowing I saw a 6/83 with out P/S when I was looking. It was an option on early cars I know too so if yours is before that it might be one of the few that made it out with that option.

CurlyDE

Does anybody know if sport seats were an option in '83? I just bought an '83 that needs a good bit of work (valve damage and interior is pretty thrashed). I have not picked it up yet (doing so this weekend), so I have not had a chance to compare the seat bolsters directly to my 951's seats ... but the bolsters seem to look larger in the '83.

I am still not sure what I am going to do with the car ... considered parting it, but my dad is acting like he may want it to toy with (odd considering he is a domestic guy and has bitched about my 951 non-stop for the past few years).

83 TX 944

The manual rack is not very difficult, and it has better road feed back/ feel than the 944's with p/s. If I can drive mine with a blown out right shoulder (I have to shift with the left hand) and manage to get it in and out of the tiny parking garage here at work, so can you. Drive both, you'll see.

Luis de Prat

Yes, they were. My car is a July 1983 build date and came with them.

97xray

The chasis numbers don't progress in a linear fashion.
For example, although I have chasis #720, it was actually about the 4000s built, November 1982. Porsche reserved blocks of numbers for special order purchases. Since my car fell in that bracket (Suadi market) I was alloted an earlier number than I "deserve".
Just my $0.02