Discuss.

I'm not trying to throw tomatoes, just looking to gather some info. I know the S has its fans.

 

Having autocrossed and parted out (the same) 944S, I can provide a little insight:

-They aren't much faster than an NA by any acceleration or top speed measurement.
-With that in mind, the factory never upgraded the brakes or suspension.
-They're weaker off the line than the 8 valve cars, judging by the seat of my pants.
-They tend to come with more luxury equipment (the S I'm familiar with had dual 8-way power seats). That's good or bad, depending on what you want.
-The price premium they can command doesn't always match the increased performance. (meaning a 951 or S2 is a better performance buy, dollar for dollar)
-Chain tensioner. Not a big deal if you replace it and get it over with, but an expense.

The good:
-They're relatively rare.
-The engine has the highest redline of any stock 944.
-They sound great and perform well at high RPM.
-The transmission is upgraded, you don't have to fear a R&P shredding for no reason.
-PCA was kind enough to class them with 8V 944s if you want to club race one.

 

What's the redline on an S motor?

And wouldnt the 38 extra HP give the 944S quite an advantage over regular 2.5s in PCA racing?

 

Not speaking from experience here, never even seen an S in person, but i believe the S is heavier??? Not sure about this so feel free to show me the evidence to the contrary, but this would counteract the raise in horses

 

the factory redline is around 6800 or so IIRC. I love my S above 4k it really comes alive. According to Clark's Garage there were only 8688 imported to the US. One downside that I have found is that because of the 10.9:1 compression ratio it makes it more imperative to run premium gas. Other than that I love it. If the S is heavier then its not by much. Sure the extra cam and parts required to turn the extra cam would make a difference but not that much

 

Theres a lot of analogys in that post

 

the S needs the N/A gears to really shine, don't know why they didn't come that way from the factory

 

I don't know that the S transmisison is all that much stronger in the R&P. Tifo are you out there? if you are do you remember how S transmissions faired in your transmission poll back in the day?

 

I absolutely love my S. I chipped mine and it now redlines at 7200 rpm. Used preferably on the autocross when you cant upshift, but straightline wise it does best when you redline it at 7000 the torque band does much better there. Whoever said theyre not faster than an 8v NA has never driven a chipped one. They do 0-60 in 6.5 as compared to 7 something, they run the quarter in the 14s instead of the 15s. They are an upgrade, but definetly not a TURBO upgrade. Theyre just a little peppier, and quicker. They get the same gas mileage, and can do probably 145. NAs can do 135 or so.

 

my 944S was A LOT faster than any of the 8v 944's I have driven. The torque that they lack at the low end is made up for with the high horsepower towards the redline. I loved my S and would deff pay more for one over a regular 8 valve!

 

The 944S is only good for donating its 16v head to ambitious 951 builders.

OK that's a bit harsh. From what I hear it's a fantastic car but not enough of an upgrade from the base model. It did have a nice short-gear tranny.

 

In my opinon, ALL 944 variants were a starting block that Porsche was going to develop into INCREDIBLE 4-cylinder machines.

Some things are obvious to me in the way that for example, the block was changed for the 2.7-3.0 liter engines.
I also believe that they had planned to use the 16 valve S head on the turbo, had the market dictated.

We are aware of a 10,000 RPM NA 300 HP 8 valve in the midwest.
When he switches to the 16 valve, he will gain about 100 HP at that RPM.

I can also tell you that certain things seem to "click into place" as I change my own engine.
Dry-sumping sees some particular factory pieces work in VERY INTERESTING, almost pre-concieved ways.........

 

Details? more info?

Not that I have the ambition/money/skills, but I like to dream

 

+ 944

 

What makes you say that? The S was geared for better acceleration in exchange for top end. I think it makes for a better AX car.