Porsche-O-Phile

Just felt like I had to say that. I took my '85 out for the first time in at least three months today - drove it to work and on the way home got to pound out a few curvy roads I know. Something about that car. . . I just love it. Was grinning ear-to-ear the whole time.

I think I'm the only wacky-doodle on here to love a "lowly" early '85 n/a more than a 951, but I have to admit, she's my favorite of all my fleet. Something about the "raw-ness" of it. The 951 is a great car (and I get out of it with my heart pounding going "damn!" regularly), but it's much more refined - maybe TOO refined. The 944 n/a is just seat-of-the-pants simplicity and raw driving pleasure.

Just had to say it. . . I'll never ever ever ever EVER sell that car - silly though it may be. It simply suits me too well.

Mighty Shilling

Dude, I hear ya. I still hop in the 924S and take that for a spin, and it's a hoot! so solid, so "tossable" without having the sh*t scared outa you when the boost comes on in a corner...

love the lines, love the way it feels, it's great!

Darwantae951

I've been thinking about getting an early 944 myself. Which would you recomend? 83-85.5 or 85.5 on up?

yellowline

83 by a mile. Manual steering is easy to find on 83s. 84+ are all power assist from the factory. Manual sunroof, manual hatch, no cruise. Basically, none of the troublesome 944 accessories.

After an exam today, it felt SO good to get on a bridge-type onramp, downshift to 2nd and hear the echo of 5000 rpm.

Mighty Shilling

924S!!!! Darwin, get a 924S!!!

Guns951

Then upgrade to the later dash. I love the early cars but can't stand the dash layout. My late 85.5 was AMAZING, gave it away when I got the 951 to one of my dad's coworkers...now he too knows the love.

Darwantae951

Haha, what exactly is the 924S? A 924 with the 2.5L engine, right? I've seen several nice examples, and they arent that expensive. Plus I like the 924 body style...not as much as the 944 of course, but its still quite nice.

Guns951

The CGTR is another animal all together! I'd def fork over cash for one of those!

http://www.356-911.com/post1974/mode...4cgtrpage2.htm

PeteL

Me too! That's why it's my daily driver!

tifosiman

Get an 85.5 or an 86 so that you have the early offset (to run Fuchs) and the niceties of the late interior and other upgrades. Then ditch a lot of the unecessary crap to lighten the car up and convert it to manual steering.

Porsche-O-Phile

Have to disagree and say go for an '83 if available or other early model ('84 or early '85). The early dash layout is fine and doesn't suffer from the "unable to read at night" syndrome of the later gauge clusters (although it's fixable on the later cars). They're lighter too - just flat-out like 'em. The manual steering on the '83s is a plus, although you can always pick up a manual rack and transplant it onto anything like I'm doing - just one more consideration. The 924s really ain't bad either. They're all "good", just I personally happen to love the look/feel of the early cars better. More raw/simple/unpretentious I guess.

The later ones have more attractive features (you can upgrade the suspensions easier, the engines made a little more power, etc.) but it's all a matter of personal preference.

StoogeMoe

I have an 83 and an 86. I can tell you they are different animals. Quite different. The 86 is so cushy and refined compared to the 83. And it's not just the difference with the manual steering. The 86 is more of a quiet sit back and relax GT cruiser, where the 83 is a restless little cheetah waiting to pounce on its prey. Guess which one I drive every day.

____________________________________
1986 944 NA - Guards Red - 91k miles - minty
1983 944 NA - Platinum metallic - 6000 mi beginning a new life
1985.1 944 NA - Guards Red - donor car
1984 911 Carrera Coupe - Guards Red (gone, but not forgotten)
"If you're not living on the edge, you're not living"

xsboost90

i like the late cars better myself- our 924s has been known to do quite well on the track though.

Jakerx

+1

tifosiman

My car really isn't much of a sit back and relax GT cruiser, but like I said I have modified it quite a bit. I could understand that comparison between two bone stock cars though. But I doubt anyone would drive my car and attempt to tell me that their 83 944 feels more "raw".