zoltan944

im all but a month or 2 away from heavily seeking a 85-88(as that is my price range) or course if something falls in my lap sooner it may happen.
So, i have some questions and looking for opinions.
Not which is the best, but what is the better value or buy?
For the less money can a 85 be say chiped, exhausted etc... to match the S4?
I know the 86.5 seems popular as it has the bigger brakes etc... of the S4, but for possibly little more money is that the better buy than the S4?
SC and Turbos seem to be getting pretty popular and easier to come by. What is the driveline capabilities of these, should i get boost? do all the manuals neeed upgraded clutches, can the autos hadnle the power ok?
thanks for a little imput i think ill be able to make a good decision from here on the potential of the cars!

jeff jackson

85-86.5 cars either auto or stick, are great values right now. They can be sorted pretty easily, and when "right"...they can and will out perform the stock S4. I suspect the extra 250# of girth the S4 lugs around has something to do with this. But, They (85-86.5, and the S4 cars all have the 2:20 rear axle ratio)...so the extra weight of the S4 makes it "feel" more sluggish than the 85-86.5 cars if in a similar state of tune. The S4 is a great car...don't get me wrong. But...it comes with extra baggage which is costly to fix if and when it needs to be fixed. Things like the "Brain controlled" dual variable speed electric cooling fans ...Flappyvalve, and thermostatically adjusted air intake "louvers", to name a few...my money is on the 32V 85-86.5. PLUS...you get the "classic" looks of the OB with the power and refinement of a 32V engine with LH engine management, and if you are lucky, you can find a car thats loaded up with all the more desireable options. Can't go wrong here in my book..

zoltan944

can't say i havn't heard a COUPLE comments about the extra machanical features that could get broken! your post makes it obvious why the 86.5 is popular then. Having the some of the nice goodies of the S4 on the S

blkjdmba

Buy an S4.

heinrich

Buy what you like. Most of us look at the car and say "I love the new look" or "I love the retro look". The S4 is in my humble opinion the better choice, prices being equal. If I were you I'd go find a 944S2 Cab and trade it for that nice black S4.

Jim bailey - 928 International

I get LOTS of phone calls from people who ask "how do I update my 79-86 to make it look like an S-4 ?" I never get calls from S-4 owners who wish to backdate to the the early look . I seriously question that the S-4 is much heavier than the late S when comparably equipped and the ignition with knock sensors better timing control is a big PLUS for the S-4 .

zoltan944

i agree, i wish i had what he was looking for to get his car.
Im just trying to pick some brains here. I have an incredible memory and absorb things quickly, so when i start shopping i will have all of this in the back of my mind when comparing cars. They are a little limited out here, and i can't go too big of a distance to get one, so i just have to take condition, and price into comparison based on years.
I do love the newer looks, but i also really like the look of my 82 as well

whitefox

The general rule of thumb is purchase the latest, best conditiion car you can afford.

heinrich

Agreed. I have always questioned that so-called fact.

JEC_31

Drive them both, then choose.

jeff jackson

Jim...I don't care what you get "requests for"...you sell car parts, and I don't. BUT...my owners manual lists the curb weight for my 86 at 3350# with the automatic trans...and 100# less with the stick...Whats a loaded S4 weigh ??? I've never put the car on scales, so I have NO IDEA how accurate these numbers are...just that they are "Published Porsche Numbers" and included as accurate in the owners manual.... Plus, the Old body style is more angular and may not suit all the modern smooth rounded aerodynamicseekers of "todays market"...But I for one...find them a whole lot prettier in design, than the later model "Aero" enhanced models..

heinrich

Been doing that for years. I can't get away from the 85/6 cars!! But I prefer S4.

zoltan944

thats the difficult part.
i will have to go at least 300 miles to find one, but prolly further.

Jerome Craig

Screw it! Get both. It was a gas owning an 86.5 and an 87 for a while. They are different but I would agree, horsepower increases come more reasonably priced with the 86.5. I'll probably buy another 86.5 in the future.

Jerome

zoltan944

see here is another important step for me as well, 86.5 hp increases are more reasonably priced. But is enough to overcome the starting hp # of the S4?
i have a n 82, so there really sin't anything to buy to up hp