a4944

Yep, the 951 is pretty ugly but that's OK at the track. The turbo lag makes it hard to have fun on the road while being safe. I can't wait to get it on track. The 951 is the ugly bad boy of the Porsche family, unlike it's pretty boy 911 brother.

turbo944

Really? Try driving my Saturn....after driving the 951 it's like living in lag all the time! lol

Yes, most people think 911 first when they think of Porsche....that's part of why the 951 is such a bargain as it is. Maybe the 951 isn't swoopy like an 80s 328 and maybe it's not got that definitive look like a 911, but it looks like something crunched down on its haunches ready to strike to me. There is beauty in a beast stalking and taking down another for the kill.....at least to me....YMMV...

2+2

I think the 944 looks great except for the tail lights...

Also, no offense to anyone (as it is my opinion), but I dislike the looks of older 911s.
Whenever I see a front end of an older 911, I am reminded of a toad...hunched, rounded back tapering down to the butt, two bulging eyes with a big front closed mouth...

Don't yell at me...it is my opinion as style is largely subjective. 996s on the otherhand, look awesome.

porshhhh951

great article...i have that same mag actually!! my father has been into porsche for years and thats how i got started if i had to choose between my 88 851 and a 88 911....i think i would still choose the 951 becasue it is that much more of a gt car than the 911 even though the 911 is what people think of when they think of porsche..my first porsche was an 83 944 when i was 15 and i have never looked back since..i would like to own a 911 some day but i will never sell my 951...maybe a 993 perhaps...i love the air cooled porsche's and that is the last evolution of the air cooled..i cant stand to see some 25 year old punk in his 996 reving his engine at the ladies across the intersection...he known nothing about the marque and the real heritage of what it means to own a porsche...he bought the car for the name and the women! Besides i eat 996's for breakfast! my 2 cents

wjk_glynn

I'm sure some of you have seen this before but here it is again. A summary of performance numbers for 924/944/968 road tests:

<a href="http://www.weissach.net/924-944-968_RoadTestSummary.html" target="_blank">http://www.weissach.net/924-944-968_RoadTestSummary.html</a>

Karl.

LP

Thanks for the links John. Hell I wish I had both! In 1985 I was driving a Fiat X 1/9. <img border="0" alt="[ouch]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> Fun when it ran.

LP 86'951, just a dixie dreg...........

James86-951

In '85 I was driving a B-body Chrysler. You can't turn fast in a land yacht. I like all of the Porsches through all of the years. I think the 951 is closest to a purpose built race car for the street. (I mean that in the design of a front engine/rear transmission.) In the late 90's Chrysler stated their prowler was a leap because of that same design 20 years after Porsche had them in production.

They are under appreciated but respected by people who understand the design concept and implementation.

MichelleJD

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Ian964:
<strong>I don't really consider the 951 to be a good looking car. (This is my opinion, not fact) I will say that the looks have grown on me but it does look very "80's".</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I think putting newer wheels on the 951 gives it a much more modern appearance. I have 993 copies on mine and I think it makes it look 10 years newer. I've always thought the 951 was a beautiful car. I also love the 993. To each her own!

fluid15

I'll add my opinion to that of Porschsam. I also owned both an '89 944 Turbo ('S') and an '87 Carrera. And - I loved them both. Each of them was very entertaining to drive and look at. The Turbo was, and probably still is, hard to beat from a performance standpoint. Turbo lag sucks but when it kicks in it's a great feeling. Loved the low-end torque in the 911 (majority of my driving is in the city). 944 was more comfortable all around but the 911 was more raw from a "feeling" point of view. If we're judging a car just by speed then we'd all be driving big-engined camaros or vettes. The unmeasureable variables like feel, sound, & visceral experience all are highly tipped toward the 911. It's just unlike any other car. However I still miss my 944 (which I think is very good looking), which is why I'm reading up on this web board and checking in with other people who also appreciate theirs. Can't lose with either choice, but my vote is for the 911.

Danno

Due to the light front-end and manual-steering, the pre-964 911s can't be beat for that sporting 'feel' and response you get through the steering. Wish there was a way to get that on a 944 Turbo... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

tifosiman

I like how in the "Styling" ratings the 951 got low marks, with a comment "Will the 944's styling still look timeless in 2003?".

Hmmm. I think it does...

Tifo

Luis de Prat

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Ian964:
<strong>When i show people the 944 explaining to them that I'm looking to buy one, the reaction is normaly something like "ewww, thats a porsche?" &lt;snip&gt; When most normal people think porsche they think 911.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I've had my 944 turbo cab mistaken for a Ferrari by people several times, and I live in Europe where you would think they'd know better.

No doubt it's very much an '80s look, but I take that as a compliment.

<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/209BCNii.jpg" target="_blank">http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/209BCNii.jpg</a>

Jake951

In the Boston area, 951's (or even 944 NA's) are a relatively rare sight these days. A lot of people, particularly younger folks who don't remember the 1980's, don't even know what make or model it is. They just know it looks nice and I get compliments on mine all the time.

PorscheLars

I have always beeng dissapointed when testdriving other cars compared to my previous -83 944 lowered and adjustable Coni.
Now with my 3.0 and higher compression rate and hybrid turbo I get less lag and more everything..

It takes time to grow knowledge for any cars, and everything can be much faster doing the right things. It seems like 951 owners generally gets so interested in their cars that they learn a lot. Ind see how well build the car is. I think that is one of the reasons we defend the 944 so much..

And yes I do drive on the road 99% of the time therefore i like the ugly fast GT feeling :-)

By the way.. the last slalomcup here in Norway in the class for R tires a "original" 951 won before all the 911. switch driver and a 911 would have won...

PorscheG96

Engine 944 Turbo: 7.5
Engine 911: 9.5

"944 has power; but the 911 has torque"

<img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />