[968Oz]

I'm considering buying a 1990 944 Turbo (300 hp). It doesn't look as cool as my 968 but I love that turbo boost. I'll hold onto my 968 as well. I'm interested in hearing about comparisons between the 951 and the 968 from any of you who have owned both.
Ian

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[stewhatch]

You're a lucky guy Ian. When I was shopping for a Porsche, I was actually looking for a 951. My wife (!) found a 968 on Autotrader and suggested I check it out, which I did. After driving both cars, the 968 just felt better to drive IMO. But you get to enjoy the exhilaration of the turbo which is huge. Was '90 the last year for the N. Americam turbo and are all 951's (after '88) an "S" model?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Fox944]

Stew, The last year for the u.s. 944 Turbo is 1989. In '88 both the 220HP Turbo & 250HP Turbo S was offered. All 89 Turbos are "88 Turbo S" spec.

The driving dynamics between a Turbo & 968 arnt going to be much diff. Same chassis & suspension geometry. The 944's are a little lighter and they feel it imo. When comparing two cars, which will handle/feel better is all going to depend on several factors......stock or modified suspension/are the suspension and bushings in poor condition (worn) or in great condition/if the suspension is in order...which options does that specific car have. MO30 package or no, etc etc. 944 Turbos came with several diff sway bar sizes for example. Even the 88 & 89 Turbo S had diff sizes.

My old '87 944 8V was equip from the factory with MO30 suspension & Cup sway bars. That car was really fun to drive.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

a lot of the difference is in the power band - peak torque occurs in the turbo at 4k but is way down at 3k on the 968 - that makes for the 968 being an easier car to drive quickly - the turbo takes an extra bit of attention to keep it in its peak band

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968Oz]

<!--quoteo(post=69142:date=Mar 22 2009, 11:13 AM:name=stewhatch)-->QUOTE (stewhatch @ Mar 22 2009, 11:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You're a lucky guy Ian. When I was shopping for a Porsche, I was actually looking for a 951. My wife (!) found a 968 on Autotrader and suggested I check it out, which I did. After driving both cars, the 968 just felt better to drive IMO. But you get to enjoy the exhilaration of the turbo which is huge. Was '90 the last year for the N. Americam turbo and are all 951's (after '88) an "S" model?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah, I think anyone who has one of these cars is lucky. When I discussed the 944T with my partner I raised the possibility of selling the 968 but she was adamant that was not an option. She loves the car too and wants to "inherit" it once the kids are old enough to fit in the back!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968Oz]

<!--quoteo(post=69147:date=Mar 22 2009, 12:42 PM:name=flash)-->QUOTE (flash @ Mar 22 2009, 12:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->a lot of the difference is in the power band - peak torque occurs in the turbo at 4k but is way down at 3k on the 968 - that makes for the 968 being an easier car to drive quickly - the turbo takes an extra bit of attention to keep it in its peak band<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yep, most people say that the 968 is also a more satisfying day-to-day drive because of that superior low-down torque.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

i like both cars for different reasons - if they had brought the cab into this country, this would have all turned out very differently

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Fox944]

Here is an '88 951 me and my buddy picked up not to long ago. Awesome color. We just arnt sure at this point whether or not we want to turn this car into a daily driver, a track car, or a weekend car. So it has been sitting in the garage for a couple months now. The pictures do not do this color justice. Its a shade of burgundy with a bronze overtone. Looks really really good when waxed and in sunlight. The 2nd picture is a random 951 i found through a google search (same color), gives you an idea of what the color really looks like.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[stewhatch]

That is a terrific color. I did drive a few 951's when I was looking to buy one, but all it took was a single test drive in my '93 968 to hook me. Hard to explain but it just felt better: like Flash stated earlier, it just seemed easier to drive and looked unique. But that's just my opinion. I'd love to own both cars!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[RPM]

Latest issue of <i>911 and Porsche World</i> (March) has a nice comparison article of the S2, 951, and 968.

I have owned both an S2 and 968, and driven several turbos - one at an autocross. I find the turbo a rush - but that is all. The 3.0 liter motor is so much more tractable and usable that the advantage gained with the 951 is rarely usable. For daily driving there is no question as to which is better. For a dedicated track car or weekend sprint the 951 is superior. But then of course, the newest 951 is approaching 20 years old - and the biggest production year is 1986 - those pups are 23 years old! It is getting hard to find a low-mileage car, or one in good condition that has not been abused or significantly modded.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[biotechee]

That's a beautiful 951!

For me, the 944 is more outdated in looks when compared to the 968. I think the 968 still looks modern and, if I may, pretty timeless. From my perspective, I decided to go to the 968 after 2 944's because I didn't want to worry about the additional complexity of the turbo. Clutch jobs on those bad boys are not fun. But I guess we get our own demons with the variocam system. Either way, I'm glad I went with the 968. I'd never trade the 968 to get a 951, but I wouldn't mind complementing my baby with a cherry 951S... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

If you have the means and can wrench yourself or have a trustworthy mechanic nearby, either would be a winner!!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968Oz]

<!--quoteo(post=69187:date=Mar 23 2009, 10:43 AM:name=RPM)-->QUOTE (RPM @ Mar 23 2009, 10:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Latest issue of <i>911 and Porsche World</i> (March) has a nice comparison article of the S2, 951, and 968.

I have owned both an S2 and 968, and driven several turbos - one at an autocross. I find the turbo a rush - but that is all. The 3.0 liter motor is so much more tractable and usable that the advantage gained with the 951 is rarely usable. For daily driving there is no question as to which is better. For a dedicated track car or weekend sprint the 951 is superior. But then of course, the newest 951 is approaching 20 years old - and the biggest production year is 1986 - those pups are 23 years old! It is getting hard to find a low-mileage car, or one in good condition that has not been abused or significantly modded.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Thanks for the heads up about the mag, I usually pick up 911 & PW. I agree with your comments, in my limited driving of an early 220 hp 951 around town the turbo rarely got angry. But I am thinking of this car as a weekend toy with aspirations for track days.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[RPM]

Bought it at lunch and just read the article (sitting in sun on my back deck with my Labrador puppy and a beer - life is grand!). The author does a very good background/overview/review of the three... and then surprisingly picks the S2. Perhaps the 968 was down on power or had an older suspension?

He opines that the six speed is wasted on the 968 - and I sort of agree on that one. I know this is no economy car, but couldn't Porsche have at least kicked the 6th gear ratio out a little bit? I know we can keep the car in the broad torque band to our hearts content, but 3,000 rpm at 70 mph is a bit unnecessary.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Fox944]

<!--quoteo(post=69209:date=Mar 23 2009, 05:25 PM:name=RPM)-->QUOTE (RPM @ Mar 23 2009, 05:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Bought it at lunch and just read the article (sitting in sun on my back deck with my Labrador puppy and a beer - life is grand!). The author does a very good background/overview/review of the three... and then surprisingly picks the S2. Perhaps the 968 was down on power or had an older suspension?

He opines that the six speed is wasted on the 968 - and I sort of agree on that one. I know this is no economy car, but couldn't Porsche have at least kicked the 6th gear ratio out a little bit? I know we can keep the car in the broad torque band to our hearts content, but 3,000 rpm at 70 mph is a bit unnecessary.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Faster top gear acceleration is a good thing imo. Keep in mind, this is a GT Car with the autobahn in mind. I have to agree to disagree. I would hate it if the gears were any longer then they are and sometimes wish they were even shorter. 3KRPM @ 65MPH in 6th would be ideal imo.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[RPM]

I disagree, and spent seven years within spitting distance of the autobahn. Power is wonderful, but so is flexibility. For a long drive (say that Bremen to Kaiserslautern run down through thru Ruhr Valley on a Sunday morning - 350 miles in 3 hours with two stops for fuel in an '87 Mustang GT - a personal best) you don't just need acceleration, you need long legs. Best autobahn car I ever had was an Audi 200 Turbo Quattro. That big thing would not hit 3000 rpm in 5th gear until well over 160 kmph. But grab 4th and the thing screamed.

With power at the flick of a gear lever and Variocam on tap, 3000 rpm at 125 kmph makes no sense.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

in my perfect world, 3rd, 4th and 5th would be closer together, and 6th would be taller

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[MichelleJD]

I have a 951 and I'm now looking at 968. I will NOT let my 951 go [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[biotechee]

<!--quoteo(post=69287:date=Mar 24 2009, 03:40 PM:name=MichelleJD)-->QUOTE (MichelleJD @ Mar 24 2009, 03:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I have a 951 and I'm now looking at 968. I will NOT let my 951 go [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

That's the way to do it!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968Oz]

<!--quoteo(post=69287:date=Mar 24 2009, 12:40 PM:name=MichelleJD)-->QUOTE (MichelleJD @ Mar 24 2009, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I have a 951 and I'm now looking at 968. I will NOT let my 951 go [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

That's the way I feel about my 968!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[MichelleJD]

I have a funny feeling that once I add the 968 I won't be able to let EITHER of them go! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.