lisa

Hi everyone, if you could order european parts for your car what would you order to improve power, and to increase longevity? For example, does the thermostat (on water cooled p-cars), in a european car open earlier than a ROW car? Is the MAF different???

DaveK

I think you (or maybe I) are a bit confused about what ROW means. It's the USA cars which are different - hence it doesn't make sense to ask whether something is different between a european car and a ROW car - european cars are ROW. There are differences between USA cars and ROW, and ROW includes european cars.

I thought the main difference was in the suspension. When we need engine parts, I'm not aware that we have to specify USA or non-USA.

AVoyvoda

Differences between 964s for the US market and ROW, where ROW=Rest of the world ex Switzerland, are (to tbe best of my knowledge):

No bumperettes on front bumper or rear bumper for ROW
Rear centre section of rear Bumper
Rear bumper bar
Lighter bumperbar supports front and rear (ROW doesn’t have 5 mph collision requirement)
Collision bars in doors mandatory in US cars
Headlights and headlight surrounds
No front sidelights on US cars
Sometimes different cigarette lighters
Tail lights
In-dash headlight height adjuster missing in US version
Foglights, standard on ROW
No third brake light on ROW
Smaller fuel tanks for US cars
Different springs and shocks (due to increased height for US cars)
Different gearbox gearing
Different knee pads depending on model (i.e. US with 2 airbags, ROW single or no airbag)
Different radios
More powerful engines on some ROW models
ROW only some models:
No rear seats or seat backs
No rear belts

The US models are somewhat heavier. Nobody knows the exact difference, estimated at 25 kgs.

DaveK

I didn't know about the gearing - what's the difference?

KirkF

I've asked this question before:

Does USA really mean North America? ie: Are the canadian cars USA or ROW?

Looking above I have none of the ROW options, so I am guessing it does mean North America. I don't know if we have any mexican Rennlisters who can verify what their models look like.

Kirk

wsybert

I believe there are also no catalytic converters on ROW cars. True?
I think this is where some of the HP difference is.

SimonExtreme

ROW have cats, but I cannot tell you if they are the same.

wsybert

Do the european cars have cats?

AVoyvoda

The surest way to tell, bearing in mind that many cars have been modified extensively post purchase, are:
(a) Side lights
(b) In-dash headlight height adjuster (by ignition key)
If you DON'T have (a) and (b) then you are surely looking at a US model.

AVoyvoda

"Do the European cars have cats?"
Yes they do. However, in the UK, cars built prior to 1995 are exempt from any emissions legislation. As a result, all 964s with cats removed remain perfectly legal.

warmfuzzies

Err, incorrect ....

No car specifically has to have a cat in the UK, however you may have difficulty passing the annual MOT test without one. The date is pre 93 registered.

Kevin.

AVoyvoda

Are you absolutely sure about that?
Because, when I imported my US 964 into the UK this January ('06), I was told specifically that pre '95 cars are not subject to any emission requirements in the UK. As a result, I registered it in the UK with a simple MOT. Had the car been '95 or older, it would have needed a much more complicated proceedure. In so far as the MOT test itself is concerned, the cars are checked for road-worthiness etc but not for emissions.

DaveK

Whatever the date - even pre-cat cars are checked for emissions I believe. It's just that the limits are a lot more generous than for later cars.

AVoyvoda

Interesting. But if all pre '95 cars are "lumped together" in terms of emission limits (more generous etc), then it surely means that 964s fall under the same limits as '80s - and earlier - cars which had no cats whatoever and seriously dirty engines. For all intents and purposes therefore, there shouldn't be any problem with a non cat 964, as long as it's in reasonable condition.

DaveK

True. I don't have a cat, and I have no problem.

However - I think Kevin is correct about the date. Post 92 cars are tested against car-with-cat limits.