Jake951

Here's another in a series of 951 articles from my archives. This one is from the July 1985 issue of Road & Track, comparing the 951 and 911. It was published just before the 951 was introduced in the US.

Here are the links:

<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/86R&Tcover.JPG" target="_blank">Cover</a>
<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/86R&Tp1.JPG" target="_blank">Page 1</a>
<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/86R&Tp2.JPG" target="_blank">Page 2</a>
<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/86R&Tp3.JPG" target="_blank">Page 3</a>
<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/86R&Tp4.JPG" target="_blank">Page 4</a>
<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/86R&Tp5.JPG" target="_blank">Page 5</a>
<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/86R&Tp6.JPG" target="_blank">Page 6</a>
<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/86R&Tp7.JPG" target="_blank">Page 7</a>
<a href="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/86R&Tp8.JPG" target="_blank">Page 8</a>

gatorbait

Intersting article. Wasn't aware that I was driving a "GT Model" Audi (as opposed to a true "sports car" like the 911 Carrera) until I read it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

xtrc

Great article in behalf of the 911. But I still prefer my 944 Audi GT Turbo!!!!!!!!!!!

lart951

I have always enjoyed R&T magazine articles until now, does anybody out there wants to buy a 951 audi gt?

JustinL

Keep em coming, I always like reading about the 951 like it was new!

Justin

MildMax951

Good article, thanks for the post.
Just one small niggle with the authors, no in gear acceleration times (IMO the true measure of a road cars pace) eg 50 - 70 mph in 3rd, 4th & 5th
and so on.

EZRider

Audi? Considering they've kicked everyone's *** at LeMans I'd say that explains 944's superior engineering. GT? Certainly a much more comfortable and roomier sports car then the 911. Besides the comparison of a 4 cylinder turbo engine with 6 cylinders and bigger cubes is like comparing apples to oranges. Entertaining review but obviously biased for the 911. On the other hand, yes, the 911 was the model which made Porsche a legend. They had it easy comparing a highly refined, many years raced/tested 911 against the first year 944-Turbo. The outcome would have changed if it was the '88 turbo S.

Waterguy

I have to say that I agree with most of that article. When I was shopping for my car, I took long test drives in a stock 86 951 and stock 87 Carrera targa on the same day. My impressions were the same: the 951, with its soft springs and tamed engine was a GT car, while the loud, rough Carrera was a raw sports car. I ended up with a 951S as a good compromise between the two.

A few things surprised me: first, how quick the euro-spec Carrera was compared to its US version (the 951 was the first Porsche built to the same spec worldwide, iirc.) Second, how much better the 951 brakes were. Third, how the author was so impressed by the huge rear tires on the Carrera (185F/205R) but seemed to have missed them completely on the 951 (205F/225R).

And you've got to love the unbiased comments on body style (the 951 is "not unattractive").

M758

Don't forget about the comment from the last page..

"Will the 944 styling look timeless in 2003?"

Well whada think??

turbo944

I think it looks stellar now....too many ugly new Cadillacs and too many look-alike mobiles on the roads. I never miss finding my car in the parking lot

However, in the real world in the snow going up the mountain, the 911s superior handling, acceleration and looks didn't get it up the hill where the 944 did make it.....

I do like the nice aggressive styling of the 944 Turbo. There is something really neat to me about the 911 looks, but for the price difference between that 86 911 today and my 86 951, I can make the 951 run rings around the 911 all day long....

Again, their subjective ratings still favor the 944 Turbo, even if only by .1 points.

Cheers!

turbo944

I think it looks stellar now....too many ugly new Cadillacs and too many look-alike mobiles on the roads. I never miss finding my car in the parking lot

However, in the real world in the snow going up the mountain, the 911s superior handling, acceleration and looks didn't get it up the hill where the 944 did make it.....

I do like the nice aggressive styling of the 944 Turbo. There is something really neat to me about the 911 looks, but for the price difference between that 86 911 today and my 86 951, I can make the 951 run rings around the 911 all day long....

Again, their subjective ratings still favor the 944 Turbo, even if only by .1 points.

Cheers!

toddk911

.57 lat/g's for the 951???

Wow, that sounds real low. Like they were cornering on a wet road.

I can't imagine what .8.9 g's would feel like if our's are only making .57

And 14.8 1/4 mile??? I think my 83 944 was like mid 15's.

porschesam

I own both cars. An 89 951 and a 87 911. The 911 I've owned for 10 years and the 951 I've had about 6 months. When I was looking to buy a Porsche back then I didn't even consider a 944 turbo, even though I had driven several of them. I worked at a Porsche dealer from 1986 through 1990 so I was exposed to all the models, from a 924s with an automatic to a brand new 911 turbo, 928s, etc. The 911 was the car I lusted after when I was a kid, not a 944 turbo. The look of the 911, the racing history, rear engine-flat six, the sound, set it apart from all the Rx-7s, supras, mustangs and 944s that were available at the time. As far as comparing the 911 to the 951 as the article did. Both my cars are stock, other than a chip in the 951 and a B&B exhaust in the 911. The handling is much more neutral in the 951 as compared to the 911. I can take corners faster in the 951 and be more relaxed over the same corner than in the 911. The general feel of the car is very different. The 911 feels lighter, has lighter steering but gets twitchy in the back end when cornering hard. I've lost it a couple of times. The 951 has more of a heavy feeling, but it feels more planted to the road. Remember both my cars have stock suspensions. Both cars have low miles so wear is not a factor. One thing that I really noticed with the 951 over the 911 is the body structure. I have a small curb at the end of my driveway, when I drive the 951 over the curb I can hear the body flex slightly. Maybe this is caused by the stiffer suspension? Whereas the 911 is flex free. I've never felt a car that was so tight feeling as far as the strength of the body structure. Acceleration, I'd go with the 951 when its on boost. Sometimes the turbo lag can get frustrating, especially puttin' around town. Overall, they are both great sports cars that have completely different personalities. If your accustomed to driving modern sports cars you will feel more comfortable in the 951. The 911 has more of a vintage sports car feel to it. I'm talking about the 80s models, not the newest 993 or 996s. Any questions??

Thom

John, thanks for sharing.

The title sums it all up quite nicely :
"the best Porsche, is it the new 944 turbo or the venerable 911 ?"

Just as if they were comparable cars...
Hopeless if you ask me, and I can recall reading many period local articles in the same vein.

Ian964

While I currently drive a 911 I am biased, I like the 944 Turbo and I'm looking to buy 1 right now actualy.

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". 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?" Then I tell them that it can out handle my 911. When most normal people think porsche they think 911.