tammons

Have had 4-5 928s and 1 87 944 turbo, but only for about 6 months.

Have decided I want a NA 2 valve car, but like the smoothed out turbo body look, so I think that would be a 944s stating in 1989 ??

Not really sure, but I just want a decent driver.

Also out of all the 944-968 years were there any that were more solid or better than others ?? and that would be considering that all maintenance was equal.

Thanks

mhariush

If you like the Turbo nose you have to get either a Turbo or an S2 (89-91). But the S2 is a 16 valve engine. Those are the only ones with that nose stock. Or do a conversion on a regular NA... People seem to do that all the time.

And you probably like the later interior better I assume? So that will be any from 85.5 and up. 87 was the first year for the automatic spring loaded timing belt tensioner, so I'd say from 87 and up were the better years...

911 Crazy

Agree with 87 and up. My 87 s came with the turbo nose. Good luck.

odurandina

there's a proper n/a. it's called a 968.

catamax944

'88 for a 8v n/a is even better because it got 10.2:1 compression
and '89 8v n/a is again better with the 2.7 engine but hard to find

odonnell

I'll pitch for the '83. Not biased at all

- It's the lightest
- Suspension is cheaply repaired/replaced (VW parts)
- Cross-drilled crank (some 84's have this I think)
- No power steering, which is probably the best thing on this list
- Manual sunroof = one less system to worry about
- Headers are cast and are not prone to cracking (early cars in general)
- Usually cheap to pick up due to early interior, which some people don't like...

Depending on where you live, you can register your car as a classic or even an antique. In TX, that's 25 and 30 years old respectively. This can help out sales tax and insurance costs if that appeals to you.

But honestly, get the 944 that you want. If you want power steering and a more modern feel, a late 944 is the way to go. If you want a raw and purpose-built sports car, go '83.

tammons

Well after my mechatronix unit went out in my TDI jetta at 100k and cost me $2300 and change a dead simple 83 sounds good to me. Thanks.

There is a 968 down here with a CD title flood, rebuilt with a 944 turbo drivetrain for 6k but that is most likely a disaster and constant source of aggravation and I really dont want a turbo 944.

odonnell

I can confirm that the '83 is much simpler than the the 951 and any 16 valve!

Arominus

Get a 16v, its worth it. An S (has the NA nose) or an S2 (turbo nose) or a 968.

They all blow the 8v's away. They are no more complicated than the 8v with exception of the chain tensioner needing to be checked.

Dougs951S

my vote would also be an 83', coming from a 951 owner. You just can't touch the simple, raw german engineering behind the early N/A cars. I would probably never choose to own a late N/A car. The only reason I deal with the shenanigans associated with the later cars is because turbo torque > All of the other good things I love about the early cars.

Winter44

+1

83 is the lightest and most raw 944 available. Did they ever do the early in sunroof delete? The suspensions isn't as good as the later models, but way cheaper to maintain/replace. I feel the 944 spec series is a great way to learn without risking 250+ HP on an untrained driver.

Winter44

Btw. Love the early interior. All the controls are in one location. Not spread across the dash. Simpler and fits with the hard lines of the 944. Later dash too round and doesn't fit the 944 IMO

tammons

Well I am considering dumping my current TDI, and buying two cars.

I have always had 2 cars. Usually a normal driver and a sports car of some sort. Even had 3 at some time. Pantera, various porsches trucks mustangs etc. Had the Pantera for about 15 years/fully restored by me and as I said I owned 4 or 5 928s and I turbocharged two of them, Electromotive FI etc.

So now my real issue is I know I want a 944 or maybe a 968 but what I dont know is what the 2nd car should be.

I take 8 1000 mile trips a year so add 8k per year in mileage and and not sure if I want to stack on that many mile on a 30 year old car or any porsche actually. I know they can handle it if well maintained, but at 30 years old, unless I go through the car from top to bottom and spend a lot of $ and time I would be concerned on that many trips.

So now I dont know what to get for my 2nd car. Dont want new, want used maybe 2003-2010 solid car that will hold together that I can drive into the ground without too many problems like I am having with my TDI. Maybe a Honda accord or a Civic. Some of the accords have a timing chain which is a plus.

odonnell

I can't really recommend making huge trips in the 944. I drove mine home from New Hampshire to Houston and had problems (if you look through the threads I started you'll find it) and over 2,000 miles, I went through a DME relay, a thermostat, fan switch, and cooling fan assembly. Not fun when you have to pay an unknown shop because you're nowhere near your own garage.

For the record, the car was in great shape when I left NH- the DME relay was just bad luck and the cooling system parts failed in a domino effect type way after being grounded in stop and go traffic in NYC (starting with fans not spinning fast enough).

With that being said, the rest of the trip was a blast. My '83 is running 250lb Bilsteins all around and it was still a comfortable ride...those seats are really well thought out. I'm 6'2" and it was more comfortable than the Honda minivan I used to DD.

Check out the 93-01 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) for a rugged DD. I almost bought one, and would have if the '83 I bought didn't happen. I've done a lot of research and question-asking about those cars, drop a line if you want to hear more about them.

tammons

Thanks.

In 1990 I bought a 83 928 with 50k and drove it on those same trips, all my running around and did not have a hickup in 3 years. I had other 928s I used to drive too and on trips but that 944 turbo I was not comfortable with. I think it was mostly because I did not know the car and had never worked on one.

LOL - if I could bolt on a set of side draft DCOE Webers on a 1983 944, with a 3L stroked and bored out engine, headers, 3" exhaust, crank fire ignition a Pep boys electric fan and controller I would be a happy camper. Now that car I would feel good about taking a trip in with Webers wheezing and sucking down gas all the way

I think for a trip car I will most likely buy a Honda Civic or Accord. Want the gas mileage.