944CS

I've gone back and forth with this over the years. The biggest disadvantage of the early cars is the HVAC system is not as good. For a daily driver or even a weekend fun car this could be the deciding factor.

The later cars are a little heavier but it's hard to notice. I like the steering wheel position better in the later cars as well as the later cars' sport seats. You can always do a seat swap though.

Having an '83 with the manual rack is one of the best 944's to own in my opinion. My 2nd choice for normally aspirated cars would be a 944S with the non S transmission swapped in from an '88 or '89 (with the short 5th gear).

What I'm doing with my '84 now actually is updating some of it to late standards - late electric seats, aluminum control arms, Turbo Sway bars, later spec wiring/alternator. It should be a really nice early example once complete.

Dougs951

85.5+ all the way, IMO.

Butters944

Don't forget late parking brake handle!!

Question: why are you using late control arms?

J Berk

We all tend to recommend what we own....and I am no different.

Before you buy...you should try.

Go drive an S2, a 968 and a 951.

See what the differences are and then decide based on that in addition to all the great advice here.

I think you will see different personalities in each vehicle.

968 and S2 are very similar cars. Great low end grunt...plus a second wind above 3000 Rpm. Tractable, comfortable and smooth. Not all that easy to wring more Hp out of.

951...shoves you into the seat when the turbo kicks in....makes you want to yell YAHOO !!!!!....down in the lower rpms it feels like an NA.....can easily crank up the Hp into the mid 300's....more if you want.

I think you're doing yourself a dis-service if you don't check out everything possible in your price-point.

That said....get the best maintained, newest model you can afford.

MAGK944

Herein lies the problem for someone with early na money to spend on a 944. Boost is more addictive than crack, try it once and you will sell your house and all your possessions to try it again.

J Berk

Or you won't.

I have driven turbo charged cars and while the boost is loads of fun...I have no desire to own a turbocharged car.

I much prefer the feel of an S2 or 968 to the boost...but that's just me.

He may fall prey to the boost monster...or he may not.....but at least he'll know before he spends any money.

catamax944

I like to mix them up , get the better of the two.
Mine is '86 with early control arms ,manual everything ,stiffer shocks and springs,turbo sways...

87 944 C

i didnt like the early dash, i had never liked it in my 924. my 87 i liked, had 928 wheels on it, and i liked the flush windshield as well as lack of power antena. the windshield does bring issues when it has to be replaced, 2x more than an early car usually.

the early are lighter because most of them had manual steering. also usually no a/c, the a/c has better flow in mk2.

it's really a car because of how many varients are, there are many choices, 2.5n/a, 2.7l n/a, 3.0l n/a, 2.5l turbo, with power going from 155hp to 250hp...its a good span. i prefer the turbo or s2 because of the body and added power over the 8v.

FrenchToast

Not all '87 plus cars have airbags and ABS.

On the NA, airbags were optional (I think - but I've never seen and NA with them), ABS was also optional, and is seen occasionally, perhaps 50/50.

For the S, I think ABS and airbags were both optional. ABS more common I would imagine, however aribags in the S are VERY rare. They're out there, but very few have them.

On the other hand, the '87 plus Turbo came standard with airbags. ABS was optional on the '87's and maybe also on the non-S '88's, but don't know.

The '88 Turbo S, and '89 Turbo came standard with ABS and airbags, as were S2's and 968's. Even the '87+ Turbo Cup cars had ABS (but no airbags.)

Airbags on RoW 944's are very rare. ABS I don't know.

As mentioned, the biggest creature comfort difference is the steering wheel height. The column is raised on the later car.

Take care!

J1NX3D

would someone please advise where the offset difference is made up in the rear of a late offset car? in the front its shorter A Arms with different hubs. how is it different in the back with late offset?

9xx

To me the biggest difference between early vs. late car is the driving position. My old 944 S was a really comfortable and civilized car to drive around but also a bit boring. Driving position was the best.

past cars:

944 '84 US model 143hp (far away from US): Nice car but slightly sluggish
944 S 16V '87 ROW model 190hp: Comfortable, perhaps too comfortable

present cars:

944 '84 ROW model 163hp: The way the basic model should be. I don't think it is actually any slower than the S model
924 Turbo '82 ROW model 177hp: Sports car for my taste. Fastest of the lot.

Handling wise they all are very similar. Of course suspension settings will make things different. Stabilizer bar thicknesses, wheels etc.

Cochezz

Now that someone mentioned it I do find the steering wheel a bit low, how much did they move it up on the newer cars? Does anyone have the factory spacer option installed and does it help to have the steering wheel a bit closer? I'm 6'2" BTW. and find the car great beside the steering wheel location. I had a Chyrsler crossfire before this and it was a struggle to fit into.

Regarding horsepower of early vs late and Turbo cars. I honestly never felt the car was lacking in power. Although I do aspire to bring it up to the ROW 163hp some day mostly because I like to tinker with engines.

Butters944

I don't know if it's the factory spacer option but I have the

"M018 -SPORTS STEERING WHEEL WITH ELIVATED 30 MM HUB" whatever that is...

racer

iirc, with the revised dash came a realignment of the steering column, making it "higher".

They are all nice cars. I prefer the newer dash (and fewer blatantly VW looking pieces). Nicer switchgear. The little things that don't impact performance at all.

87 944 C

my 87 had no ABS or LSD, i had a sunroof and sport seats. i considered it an Sport luxury 944, as opposed to a sport with the m030 and lsd with the adjustable struts/springs, or luxury that had the heated seats and other luxury items

the whole boost=crack thing, no, you will sell all your possesions thought, mainly because of how much crap costs when it breaks. i prefer the turbo in terms that power modification is easier than with a n/a...and cheaper. 2g into a turbo willget you a good 50hp+ inan n/a it'll get you maybe 20...maybe