In the latest issue of "Grassroots Motorsports", Dec 2002, the cover story is "Porsche Showdown - 911 and 944 Face off on track!" With another cover blurb-"Tradition vs. Technology, does the 944 Deserve the Porsche name?" It should be available at finer newsstands everywhere.

I hope someone scans in this article and posts it for you all, but if you can't wait, go out and pick it up, it's a worthy read. They compare a slightly modded $5k 84 944 NA with a $15K 1983 911SC. The NA has good suspension mods, a throttle cam (!!!) and a turbo nose. The SC wears a turbo-look ad on. (2 n/a turbo clones, head to head???) As is common for GRM, they compare slightly modded cars because that is what the typical buyer will find out there in the used car market. Without giving away the results, the 944 is at a power dissadvantage but gives a great chase none the less. They also introduce a 90 S2 to the mix, putting up some lap times for comparo.
The results talk a little about similar performance for 33% of the cost of a 911. I would have like to see a comparo between a $15K 944 (can you say Turbo S?) and that SC.

A couple of quotes:
"The 944 has depreciated to the point where it is often seen on second rate used car lots in the bad sections of town, next to pontiac grand ams and ford tempos" (OUCH..but true)
"...the 944 and it's older brother, the 924, have been considered the unloved stepchildren of the Porsche family. While it's true they did come from humble beginnings with lackluster engines, the 924 and 944 evolved into near-supercar status with the later 944 Turbo and 968 models"

Pick up the mag and read it for yourself.. You will be glad you did!
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

 

OK, OK, I did it. Here is a LINK to a site that MAY have a LINK to the article. It is only good for 24 hrs. After that it will be gone, I don't want any trouble. Someone else please save it and host it. Sorry I couldn't downsize it anymore for you dial-uppers but any smaller and I couldn't read the text.

Enjoy.

<a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~944fest/bounce.html" target="_blank">http://home.earthlink.net/~944fest/bounce.html</a>

 

I won't tell - thanks for the download! Very nicely done I might add!

 

I read this article, and was surprised how close the 944 was to the 911 in lap times. I think they did a good job, saying that for the money the 944 is a great car. however, if i had more money i would just go for a 930 or 951. that would be a good comparison by the way.

 

I believe the S2 is some ones on rennlist. I am sure they will speak up about how the article was done. bookmark...make available offline. excelllllent(Mr. Burns voice)

 

[quote]Originally posted by judd944:
<strong>I believe the S2 is some ones on rennlist. I am sure they will speak up about how the article was done. bookmark...make available offline. excelllllent(Mr. Burns voice)</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yep..it's my S2 and the 944 they tested is my brother's. There have been several posts about this article and to save writing my replies again you can search the archives if you want to read them.

 

Wonderful

 

What a GREAT article!! Funny how they call the 911 the Rolex of sports cars...My Rolex doesn't slide all over the place requiring a ton of effort to control it!

I totally think the older 911's LOOK like a million dollars...but with all the quirks, and handling flaws (dare I say flaws), I'll stick with the 944 line any day!

"Buy of the century" is right!!

 

"Imagine the ultimate type I volkswagen beetle, and you've got it about right."

Priceless.

Jared

 

Dan P.......you are a cyber-renegade!!!

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

 

this article suprised my alot.i thought for suer that the 911 would eat up the 944 by a mile.but when the results came in DAMN they were close.i agree "THE BEST BUY OF THE CENTURY!!!!!!!"

 

[quote]Originally posted by dave120:
<strong>

Yep..it's my S2 and the 944 they tested is my brother's. There have been several posts about this article and to save writing my replies again you can search the archives if you want to read them.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I tried to find the your previous comments in the archives but had no luck. Do you mind giving the link? I'd like to read what you wrote....

Daniel

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

 

I read this article a few weeks ago on the newstand. I am reminded that though I generally really like the looks of the 911 (even prefer them)...this particular one looks cheapo (IMHO).

Those dated wheels and the lame "clothes-hanger" tail look so dated. Granted the long nose-short hatch back rear of our 944's wears a date, but I think this one looks hands down better than the 911. Anyone else feel this way?

 

yeah they made us 944 guys sound pretty good

 

What really surprised me was the acceleration of that 911... for an SC, it was pretty blistering - I've always seen the numbers for those cars being higher by a half second or so.
Likewise, (and no offense to dave what-so-ever, b/c his car is great) I would've liked to have seen a 944S2 w/o the 951 transmission go head to head with that SC. I think it would've been a lot more interesting.
Pretty sweet to see that little 944 beat out the 911 around the track

Micah