what year 944 turbo to buy
#17
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as far as the 86's go, I personally wouldn't recommend em, for one reason, and one reason alone. it has a 1 piece cross over... it's the part that goes from the exhaust header, splits off to go to the waste gate and up to the turbo. with the 1 piece, if you have to do a clutch job, you have to remove that crossover, which adds a little more difficulty. Also, if you wish to replace the waste gate, the 1 piece severely narrows down the selection you have. it makes it more difficult to fit a Tial waste gate, and I'm sure it also makes it tough for a synchronic waste gate. a Lindsey club gate or lindsey dual port would work however, because they're based on the stock waste gate.
3 piece OPRV
Early offset spindles
and a few other things that turn me off to 86s
-Darwin
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#24
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Excellence just updated the 924-968 models. The 89 model in excellent condition shows a value close to $17K. A good condition car can made to be an excellent car with detail work and up to date service.
The S model cars are superior to the non S cars as stock. Better brakes, lighter forged wheels, much better suspension, better stereo, larger turbo, and some other things that made them better cars. If you are not going to modify (suspension, turbo, wheels, etc.) and just want the best turbo car get an S.
The S cars with chips, fpr, and downpipe are very fun cars and worth the small premium over the non S cars as stock.
Don't forget that these cars will need about $2,000 per year in service if you are not doing it yourself. Budget this into the cost of ownership. It might be $500 one year and $3500 the next. You will not keep the value of the car up if you don't keep things in perfect order.
The S model cars are superior to the non S cars as stock. Better brakes, lighter forged wheels, much better suspension, better stereo, larger turbo, and some other things that made them better cars. If you are not going to modify (suspension, turbo, wheels, etc.) and just want the best turbo car get an S.
The S cars with chips, fpr, and downpipe are very fun cars and worth the small premium over the non S cars as stock.
Don't forget that these cars will need about $2,000 per year in service if you are not doing it yourself. Budget this into the cost of ownership. It might be $500 one year and $3500 the next. You will not keep the value of the car up if you don't keep things in perfect order.
#26
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90 is IMO the best year.
They have the sober look of the later cars yet retain the "edgy" feel of S/'89 that disappeared with the '91.
For some reasons I never found out, all three '91 I tested felt slow and overweight.
They have the sober look of the later cars yet retain the "edgy" feel of S/'89 that disappeared with the '91.
For some reasons I never found out, all three '91 I tested felt slow and overweight.
#27
Jane Bond 007
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The 86's have the early offset (23.3 mm vs. 65 or so on the 87+), no ABS, no airbags, they're lighter, and have the one pice crossover (although mine also has the 2 piece so there may be some credence to the theory that late 86's have a two piece). The turbo S has the k27 turbo while the non S cars have the k26. If you're gonna buy it and drive it - go with the S. If you think the mod bug'll bite, go with the cheaper 86 as it allows you some cash to upgrade.
#28
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+1 on the 86's. I love not having ABS, Airbags, and love the early offset wheels. I too have a later 86 with a 2 piece x-over and am sure the PO did not put it on. As it is a 3 owner car including me, I guess the orgininal owner coulda, but doubt it.
I also agree on buying the nicest one you can afford. Makes the world of difference down the road.
I also agree on buying the nicest one you can afford. Makes the world of difference down the road.
#29
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One advantage I like with the 86: you can run early offset wheels or late with a spacer. With the late offset cars you cannot run early offset wheels (such as Fuchs).
#30
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Sure its good for a well documented car, I thought mine was well documented with $15k in receipts over 4 years. It looked like a good deal to me for $8,000 but little did I know I'd spend that amount on it in the first year of ownership. Of that amount only $2,000 of it was REALLY need for it to run right and a lot of the rest was mods and getting little things fixed and working properly.
BTW most 86s have two piece crossovers and late style exhaust manifolds by now. I always keep my eye on other 951s for sale and right now in Cali there just isn't much to choose from. Best of luck to you.
BTW most 86s have two piece crossovers and late style exhaust manifolds by now. I always keep my eye on other 951s for sale and right now in Cali there just isn't much to choose from. Best of luck to you.