The 944 I mean. It makes me laugh sometimes. Ever heard what people will say? Good, bad- most of it is usually wrong in some way, if not completely WAY off base!

I was just looking for some sales figures for the 944 in the 80's and found a discussion on an Audi forum. People comparing the 944 against some different Audi cars. One guy said the base model made 200 horsepower and other people were agreeing or saying that they would be too slow with an 8+ second 0-60 run. I'm just taken aback sometimes at the information people think they know of these cars.

I was in a conversation with some guy a while back and was telling him about my car. Kept referring to it as a 944 turbo. I noticed he was looking a little confused and then he cut me off. "I thought all 944's were turbo's..."

Needless to say, I chuckled a little bit. After explaining the model differences, he then noticed why some 944's seemed a bit slow in a straight line. Here, I thought that people knew about the 944 as it is one of the 80's iconic sports cars, next to Ferrari's, the 911, the Corvette and Lambo's.

It just humors me when people ask if the engine is in the back, and other people tell me that my car has a V6. Makes me feel like the foreign exchange kid at a new middle school sometimes!

Is it really this bad everywhere, or am I just in a socially inept region of the redneck belt?

 

I have to admit I knew next to nothing about the 944 until I started researching into buying one, just spotted one at an autocross event and thought it was a cool looking car. I would assume the engine was in the back if I knew only the basics about Porsches.

 

When I first got my car, some friends wanted to check out the engine. They, of course, walked around to the back of the car waiting for me to open the "hood" lol.

 

I think most folks walk around in a fog of ignorance and misconception, except for a small body of knowledge that they actually do know. The smaller that body of true knowledge, the bigger the cloud of ignorance. Mostly on my 944, folks say "that has a V8, right?" One guy said he had heard these were overweight and handled like pigs (I will refrain from suggesting he was thinking of the 928, as I wouldn't want to offend...).

But, I get even more ignorant misinfomation shoveled at me regarding my GMC Typhoon. And it was built right here in 'merica. By good ol' rednecks.

 

Most of what I hear is bad

 

the level of misinformation spewing around even THIS FORUM is ridiculous, so its ten billion times worse anywhere else

 

I love when people trash talk 944's and dont know anything about them. That mean I wont have to worry about them getting one!

All I ever hear from my buddies is that they give me a hard time for having a "poor mans Porsche" Dosnt bother me though.

 

Funny.. The "Poor Man's Porsche" can walk circles around most other cars on a track, including hoards of other PORSCHES lol. That and it's more expensive to maintain than a "Rich Man's Honda". Haha

Love it.

 

let me tell you, as bad as you guys might think you have it dealing with people and your 944's, its sooooo much worse if your a Fiat X1/9 owner. When I had my X i got some real strange one's I still get it from time to time in the 924S, but i just chuckle or dont pay any mind. 2 stand out comments since ive had the car are 1.(2 young 10-11yro boys) one looks at the other as i cruise by at 5mph and says " wow look at that old Ferrari!!!" the second comment was from a guy id assume knows cars,seeing as he runs a salvage yard "hey thats the car they based the Fiero off of " Just for the record that would be the a fore mentioned X1/9

 

I've mostly heard funny comments more then inaccurate car FAQs.

I was at the local subway sandwiche shop in hackensack, NJ and I can see the parking lot from the line. These two guys come in and start talking about the mid 80s Ferrari and how bad *** they were and how you don't see too many of them on the road nd how the one outside doesn't look to bad. I go look outside thinking I'm going to see a shiny red Ferrari, but to no avail, the only red car outside is my 944. Lol.

 

I wonder why car makers bother with all the informative advertisements when so many people do not know anything nor care to learn anything about what they drive. I knew plenty about 944/968s before I had any interest in them. The main thing I remember is that they had big-*** 4 cylinder engines. 2.5 is pretty big, and it reached 3.0 in the 944S2/968. I can't say I really wanted one, but once I started shopping for a track beater, the choice was pretty clear.

 

My car(s) are often mistaken as a Mazda Rx-7, specifically the FC body. I've also heard folks comment about it being an old Ferrari, as well as a young kid complimenting my "mustang" as he thought it was while riding by on his bike... !

But sometimes driving a car around that make people stop and wonder what it is, is fun.

 

even car nuts on the local forum don't all know that not all 944's were turbo's or years when they started making 944T's

 

I get people at Porsche events question what I am driving (944 Cab) as it does not have a model designation on the rear like the coupes. Once in a while people will question me if they really made a 944 cab.

When I had my 87 coupe a neighbor often thought that it was newer and more powerfull than my 996...as if pop off headlights didn't give it away.

 

yeah i have heard them all - went out to breakfast one day and someone commented on how much money i must make to be sporting around in a brand new PORSH - i said its 20+ years old!!!

Then you get the "its got a v8 right?" or the "engine is in the back?" comments, but most think that every one - including my previous n/a - must have at least 400+ hp and were surprised when i say 124rwhp or something.