Airflite40

Seeing this pic made me go Oh ****!!!! looks like the car just got done taking a leak all over the ground!!!!!

944J

how much lighter are they and why? why are they more nimble?

nh7cy

I've heard that too, though I wouldn't say they are that much lighter. They don't have power steering (unless you had that option), or power sunroofs, they used a different climate control system (possibly lighter).

I've ridden in 968's and later 944's and the 968's as well as the late 944's feel more 'solid' so to say, the 83' 944 may feel lighter and more nimble since the interior is so raw, but performance wise I'd guess the difference is very small.

Of course, I'm not sure how a completely stock 83' feels since mine came with 968 springs, sways, and adjustable Koni's

GloriaRedStang

Yeah, I noticed that after I started snapping away. Looks like my radiator burst. BTW, Borys, I got your gauges. I'm trying to find time to put them in. They look great. To all Listers, Borys moved mountains to get a box of 924S gauges across the pacific to me from Chi-town.

Airflite40

Awwww shucks.......

I hope you enjoy that Voltmeter. You wouldn't believe how many arms I had to twist to find one of those in the UK (where A/C was not always standard).

GloriaRedStang

Peter Morgan's book says the early US 944 was 1267 kg and the 85.2 944 was slightly heavier at 1290 kg and the S2 tipped the scales at 1310 kg (1380kg for a cab). Where you find that extra weight also makes a difference, I'm sure.

FRporscheman

What a great tribute to such a great car. Thanks for that - and for the pics!

I can't speak for others, but I find my '85.1 was more fun to drive than my 968. I'm still trying to get my '84 up to snuff so I can start enjoying that.

Keithr726

Wow what a perfect place to cruise in a '44.

I'm staying right off waikiki beach this month from the 24th-30th. If I see you I'll be sure to say "hi"

namespace

That woodgrain dash insert looks interesting.

84's rock! (not that I have experienced later models or a 968....) a very fun daily driver.

xsboost90

having owned a 924/924s/late 944 n/a and 944 turbo i would say that the 924s was the most nimble of the pack. It seemed to have less weight(less insulation), better gearing and a better turn in feel. The late n/a was a close second though and i would rather have that car over the early because of the dash and seats. I still thought the 924s was great though- did pretty well in autox as well! Looks like you have a great place to enjoy your early 944!

alordofchaos

...and so another 944 enthusiast is born

Great write up and pics, your enthusiasm really comes through! Sweet ride, too. I remember when you first posted the car, and I'm still drooling over the wheels.
The S2 nose... won't fit NA fenders, and it looks like the PO didn't replace the fenders when he put the nose on.

To match it up, you need 951/S2 fenders and headlight covers (or so I read on RennList) Someone put up a comparison of NA and 951 headlight covers (technoduck?) a while back, and someone else put up a write up of how you need to replace or reshape the fenders to make the 951/S2 nose match up.

I'm thinking now that maybe that little "dent" in front of the driver side wheel might not have been an accident, but the PO "rolling" in the metal to make the nose fit.

Potomac-Greg

Power is a funny thing. Until recently, 0-60 in 9 seconds was considered pretty quick (remember the first Mustang GT 5.0?). I think we've all become drunk on horsepower, and we don't seem to mind paying for it at the pump.

My daily driver has 350 HP (C32 AMG) and the thrust can be fun and useful. But it takes more skill to mix it up (in traffic or on track) with 150 HP. I kind of wish the HP wars would subside, and car makers would start making cars lighter and more efficient.

crooster

My approach to increase the performance of my '86 has been to shed weight where possible. Manual steering, A/C delete, lighter seats, ditch the heavy ghetto stereo of the PO, etc. I'm not going to strip the interior however since I still want a comfortable car for crusing as well.

GloriaRedStang

I think you're partly right. The nose doesn't align, but I don't think the fenders are stock. A PO (not the guy who sold it to me) had to ghetto engineer an alternative radio antenna because the right fender did not have an aperture for one. Also, there is evidence of rolling the wheel well lips to accomodate the wider wheels. Finally, the PPI did not reveal evidence of frame damage when we put it up on a lift.

The mess in the front is only minor flaw to me, something Japanese collectors of anything call "wabi sabi".

alex

My first was an 84 alpine white 944. Even with the biege/brown interior, that car will always be special if only due to the memories of being 16 and have that awesome car.