240 vs. 944

[elbles]

Gotta question for all of you . . . back way before I got my 240, I was looking at Porsche 944's for my first car (hey, it happened in one of those 80's teen flicks, hehe). Well, comparing the two cars, I see a lot of similarities:

Both hatchbacks/fastbacks (whatever you want to call them)Both had 2.4 liter engines in the US (well, the 944 had a 2,479 CC engine, close enough ;-))Similar HP (155 HP with the KA24DE, 160 HP in the 944)RWD, 5 speedsIndependent rear suspensionsDisc brakes all around

Besides the 944 being a more expensive car to own, maintain, and insure, what are the thoughts of people here? Has anyone driven a 944? How does it compare to the 240? It's almost as though Nissan took the 944 formula, and made it their own, much like what many would say they have done with the G35 by taking the 3-series BMW and making it better and cheaper. Just a thought before I "retire" for the night, or rather, what's left of it. :-)

Oh, and BTW, the reasons the 944 was ruled out? Maintaince, and insurance upwards of $2,000 a year. The 240? $600 some a year, full coverage, 17 year old driver. :-)

[Nismo1182]

My friends dad had a 944. Its an awsome little car. The turbo ones are even better. Now my friends dad has a 924 which is almost the same except no wide body and a few other little things. That car beat my car, and my car has minor mods. I got it off the line thanks to the LSD but once we got rolling, those autobahn gearing beat me bad. He even took out a 01 Mustang GT on the highway.

[Dano]

MY friend has a 944 (his second one) and his dad has a '97 993 4S....they also have two 944 N/A race cars (caged and all) that will beat the 44 turbos...theyre pretty sweet cars, my friend and his dad have been into porsche's as long as i can remember!

-Dan

[skydragoness]

*gasp* 993's are sweet! i talked to the owner of one this past sunday at the autocross event i went to.

from what i hear, 944's are extremely extremely well handling cars. IMO, very good looking indeed. and i often see the resemblence of the s13's front end (non-pig nose) to one of a 944. wishful thinking, yes. if i had money to blow i'd own a 944 along with my other dreamcars. hehehe

[ZERO]

the 944 was not designed with top speed in mind. of course it is a Porsche so it will be fast no matter what. They are excellent cars, but as it was posted above they are expensive to maintain.

They weigh about thae same as a 240 I think 2700-2800lbs., but be careful with the turbo models. Those cars were killers. they have a stock quarter time of 13.7. This is in a 2.5L I-4 with about 250hp.

I also thought of a 944 before a 240 and for my first car I almost got my hands on a 924. The problem with the 924 is that the car will be a total loss of money. They are cheap, but parts are expensive as hell.

[ZERO]

the 944 was not designed with top speed in mind.

My bad, I forgot to finish this sentence... These cars were designe to have unrivaled handling.

[Bubba1]

Elbles, I 've been in 944's both on track and street. I've alsobeen on the track with 944's while in my 240. 240's handle great they are literally "rolling chicanes" for 944's. A 240sx would match up better with a 924 than a 944. A Z would match up better with a 944.

[Eswift]

exactly. the 300zx z32tt and 944 turbo are cars on the same level.

and both the Z car and the 944 can be expensive cars to maintain.

[Shefx]

My father owns a 944, i drive it every now and then, and yes the handling is amazing, havent driven a 240 yet, but i love the 944 and i am looking for a car, the 944 is too expensive to maintain, and there are 2 cars that are fairly similar to it, the VW Corrado VR6, and the 240sx, the corrado is also high to maintain, so now im looking for a 240sx, hopefully i find one soon.

[ZERO]

How is the Corrado Like the 944? I dont know much about those VWs so please help me out.

[elbles]

Good to know everybody. I'm surprised at how fast the 944 is known to be, especially considering that the N/A model doesn't have that much more power than a 240, but then again, it's Porsche Power. ;-)

[ZERO]

yeah every Porsche horse counts for 1 and a 1/2 of a 240...just kidding....

[Shefx]

The Corrado was the poor mans 944, those who couldnt afford the maintanance on a they have the option of another 2+2 hatchback from the vw/audi/porsche family, the corrado, but now things have changed and the corrado isnt too much cheaper then the 944 at all.

[sixxdeuce]

isnt the corrado front wheel drive?

[Shefx]

it is, but still a very good handling car.

[Bubba1]

elbes. Have you actually driven a 944? Until you've driven one (especially on a track), you won't understand their difference from a 240sx. But if you want to think they're in the same league, go ahead.

[jmillheiser]

i would rather own a 240. more reliable. 924s/944s are trouble prone. especially since unlike most 911s they are typically abused.

at least with a 911 most owners take good care of em.

but even an early 80's 911 will still cost around 15-20k and older or newer ones than taht will cost more.

an NA 944 should be pretty close to a KA 240 in straight line power but will kill a 240 in the turns. turbo 944s are VERY fast. almost as fast as a 911 of the era.

BTW porsches are not "autobhan geared" unlike most german cars they are geared for acceleration. which is why a 911 turbo will kill the italian excotics in the 1/4 but has a lower top speed. not even the mighty GT2 will break 200 in stock form. and even most porsche tuner cars wont break or will only go slightly over 200

[GotBoost4Yall]

Peformance wise a Porsche 944 will take on any 240SX ,curves and straight line,also with 50/50 weight distribution along with top line suspension. The first (924s) were audi powered,later came the turbo versions limited production 924T, same Audi motor with 150hp,ran 15.5s. Later on came a very limited production 924 Carrera GT racing version which had wide flares and later on became the 83-89 944 body style but with a different motor a 2.5l 4cyl,very big 4cyl. 150hp. over 250lb ft trq,some came with LSD. Between 86-88 the 924"S" came out which is a 924 body with a 944 package but with the 2.5l making 160hp and with out the wide flares it was much more aerodynamic than a 944.Later came different packages for the 944,"S","S2" These had a 2.7l. And can't forget the 944T,it was faster than the 911T in its same production year. The regular 944s can be found for a good price,but there good for SCCA and Autocross,for the strip maybe a 944 Turbo but thats pushing it,944s after 85.5 are the best to get,"most" bugs worked out.

87 924S "RIP" Threw a Rod "it wasn't me"88 924S Still good,yeah me and dad work on these cars.84 Bmw 325e sold to some Gremlin after it was wrecked.89 Bmw 325i, don't know why I sold it91 Talon Awd "RIP" ran 22lbs, timing jumped & bent valves.:icesangel

[Shefx]

jmill: The 944 doesnt shine in speed until you pass about 80 kmph, i drive my father's 944 in the summer quite a bit, and in the start acceleration is quite slow, after about 5 seconds you get a pretty good change up in speeds, its quite a rush, and your going pretty fast. So i wouldnt say this one is acceleration based, and for a 141hp (1982) 2.5L engine, i think 140mph is plenty.