944 Turbos

It’s great to see 944s getting restored. I was in high school when the 944 replaced the 924, and they were my favorite non-Ferrari. Never drove a Turbo but I remember seemingly every tire test in Road & Track used 944s as the best handling car on the market. Now I never see them. The base 944 was something like 9 sec 0-60, but the Turbo was actually fast for its day.


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I've had three and my dad actually bought one new in Reno for my brother in 1986. But my brother did something and my dad didn't give him the car. My dads DD at the time was a 928S. The turbo was close in performance. I was 14 and sat in the turbo in the garage. Wanted it for myself. I almost bought a 1986 cup car in 1998, but didn't want to spend $30k, when low kilometer regular turbo sold for $15k here at the time. Drove the cup car a few times. Would like one and could probably build one into cup specs.

 

My brother loves 928's, he's had a few. My dad had three, 85, 87, 90. I like 944's more and 911's. But wouldn't mind an 1986.5 928S 5spd. I like the looks over the S4 and you get some upgrades in the S that year. More HP and bigger brakes. Its an S4 in a S body. The GTS have become too pricey here or Id consider one as well.

 

I do love my 928. I was at a local track the other day, and rented a 944 that they have there with a cage and a race seat (but otherwise stock). It was a lot of fun! I was a bit surprised by the power oversteer that it had, but at least didn't spin like one of my friends.

 

Wow Mitch, that is a great car. You must know Elliot that lives in Blairsville Ga. He seems to be the king of all things 944. He has about 24 of them. Great place to get parts. You should come to the Porsche meet in Helen Ga this friday at the Jumping Goat. Seems to be a massive VW based meet up from Wed. to Sunday. I may try to hit the Friday meet up and then go see the show on Saturday. I have not seen you in a while Mitch. Swing by Hiawassee. John

 

I have to admit, I do kind of want a 924S-- 924 body with 944 mechanicals. However, I don't have the garage space at the moment, and I like all of my current fleet too much to sell anything.

 

It's hard not to like a good 944. I'm a fan of the S2s as drivers (the 3.0L torque helps), but Turbos can be properly quick. The hardest thing these days is to find a good, unmolested 944. Turbos, especially, tend to have seen lots of mods

 

I’ve had three 944 Turbo’s, all 1986 models. One of my favorite cars of all time. My parents had an 86 non turbo in 86. Slow then and slow today, but such an awesome car.

My last 944 was graphite metallic, heated sport seats without the sunroof and only 39,000 miles. Should have kept it.


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That was ‘87, IIRC. Vastly better than the initial version.


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I had great fun with the 944 Turbos. Spent 2 weeks in Zuffenhausen and Weissach learning all about them, prior to doing the US intro. I had 2 different ones as my 'company car', neither lasted 2 weeks before a dealer got dibs. Delivered 2 to our ad agency guys in LA. Put plenty of fun miles on various PR cars between Reno/LAX/SFO.

Best story: after serious warnings from my boss on the flight over, about the dangers of black ice on autobahns, next day as he is driving us to the Delivery Center in Zuff' he loses it on ice on the exit and trashes the wheels and spoiler on our fresh 944 turbo courtesy car.....he could hardly speak to me for days....... At least that ensured that I got plenty of lap time at Weissach, "to keep me safe".

 

My dad had a 1987 944 (base model). Learned to drive stick on it. I loved that car. Always wanted a Turbo or S2. Some day...

 

When I lived in Toronto. I liked 944's for winter beaters. The heaters in them warmed up fast even in the dead of Toronto's cold winters. Second choice for winter beater was VW Corrado's VR6's. Front wheel drive, so it was great in snow. Few years ago, maybe seven I did have an 87 944S for a few months. Had my dads Mercedes 500S and traded it for the 944. Black on black. Fun car, but only drove it a few times before selling it.

 

What car are those in? If you permanently mounted them, that would be the coolest back seat ever!