yellowline

I did mean a track inspection- safe, fresh suspension, no leaks, no danger of a gas fire or rubber center clutch failure...stuff that relatively few daily driven 944s can claim. Mine couldn't until I put a four figure sum into parts for it this year.

I'm not overly soured on my car- the three breakdowns in 4.5 years/50k miles were two 20 year old heater core hoses back in 04/05, and a separated tie rod end- can't blame the car for forgetting a cotter pin. Still, all of these cars require an extraordinary amount of maintenance for what you get in return.

Turbos will net you more fun and frozen exhaust hardware given enough time, and the 16 valve tensioners will actually snap the mount point on the head if you don't replace them...one in my family just did that at 75k.

I understand where you're coming from too, but I'm of the opinion that if it works, why fix it? The OHV has the advantages of better low-end torque, lower weight, and better packaging. You can get more power from the OHV engine; you can't change the downsides of the DOHC.

It's hard to argue that it's plenty fast, even if it can only rev to 6500 or some other relatively low number.

83 has manual steering and a few other manual things that are power (weight) in later cars. Mine also has AC delete, and a few upgraded street-friendly suspension parts. I also think the 914 is the real Porsche go-kart.

nemo9xx

I have both one, the Mazda is a 2006 Mazda 3 sport (2.3) and the Porsche is a 1987 944 S. The Mazda is very impressive, a lot of power and the handling was awesome for a stock 5 door 'affordable' car, I really LOVE it and much more than my last VW golf. BUT no comparison with the 944 who is really a sport car with a much more amazing handling, each time a drive the Porsche I was subjugated of this performance and the feeling I have with it, I can't find this with the Mazda and some other recent 'affordable' sport car. It is a 20 years old car and still better in my opinion than some 2006 sport car, WOW!

In conclusion both one are very nice but for the sporty aspect the Porsche is much much more better. PORSCHE there is no substitute ......... (sorry for my english who is not perfect at all)

Brewer944

I feel qualified to complete the comparison.

The mazda3 can't compare. Lots of understeer in comparison, no top end power, can't cruise at 180+ with the effortlessness of the 944, can't be thrown around the bends as hard. Yet it's still a fantastic car, for what it is; all the more tribute to the Porsche. The 944 is the better poised handler by far, especially at high speeds on windy curves.

I will say though, that the shifting and 0-60 time of the NA make it less nippy and less comfortable in rush-hour city traffic where the 3 excels.


Ich liebe mein auto!


(I did replace the timing belt.... and the clutch hydraulics... and the clutch... and goodness knows what else that my traumatised mind has chosen to erase from memory...)

67King

I've never seen a 944 that could cruise at 180. Even the 951S' top speed is WELL south of that. Unless, of course, you mean KPH. But I've never heard of 0-60KPH acceleration numbers, either.

kombatrok

It would take an outrageous 944 to hit 180...

As far as sports cars go, there really is no better bang for your buck than the Corvette. The things they have done with that car is amazing... just look at all the cars the zr1 outperforms.

Also the reason that chevy is still using that outdated engine design is simply that there was no need to develop a new engine... they were able to get every bit of what they needed out of what they had. How many factory v8 engines do you know of that make that power ohc or not?

Also i know a guy who drives a speed3 that puts down over 300 horse and he hates it... it is unrelaible and torquesteers like crazy

sendarius

I suspect that's 180+ kph NOT mph.

ritzblitz

zr1 is not that fast... it's very difficult to drive apparently.

kombatrok

You know it will throw down a 10 second 1/4 and lap the nurburgring in 7.26 right? 0-60 in barely over 3 seconds...

Look at the list of cars that have gone faster... its short. And all of them cost more.

I wouldn't want one, but there is no denying, its a beast.

Potomac-Greg

And it's ugly and expensive. And made in Haiti.

It's stupid fast, and yes it requires a good driver to be driven at the limit, probably because it lacks the electronic nannies in most supercars.

harrisonrick

180 KMPH is what he means.

roman944

I don't think ht was doubting how fast the car itself is

I think he was more referring to as how hard the car is to drive/get used to etc

ritzblitz

And its still an american made corvette with a crappy interior and poor build quality.

I'll pass.

elzergone

My wife's car is a 2007 Mazda3 S 4door.

I hate driving it so much. The steering feels vague and numb, the way it handles makes me feel nervous. It inspires absolutely no confidence on windy roads.

Uhg.

I'm not under the illusion that my 944 is some ultimate pure sports car, but its so much more fun to drive, feels WORLDS more stable, and just all around feels nicer.

JustinL

Pushrods can do variable valve timing.

odurandina

i am still amazed that GM never answers it's critics concerning the vette.


the car has a lot of strengths. and most of them are inside DVC's car.