"Michael G." (mgerowitz)
07/24/2015 at 12:29 • Filed to: Porsche, 944
7
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"Michael G." (mgerowitz)
07/24/2015 at 12:29 • Filed to: Porsche, 944 | 7
| 20 |
First two weeks of having a vintage 944. And I get it. I get the hype about the mythical unicorn that’s farting rainbows of Porsche. Specifically a 944. Here’s why:
1984 Series 1 944. 50/50 weight distribution and 2.5 liters of smooth revving naturally aspirated joy - 143 horses turning 137 torques, in a 2600 lb package with limited power anything. No power steering in this puppy. So stock up on your spinach.
This particular example is a southern car with zero rust. With some choice modifications from owners past: Weltmeister lowering springs, Koni adjustable shocks, some not stock front sway bar, replica 911 turbo 7.5x17 and 9x17 wheels, Momo pedals, Grant wheel, K&N filter, short-throw shifter with all metal linkage upgrade (no rubber). White lettering fuel/temp cluster and RPM gauge with the original yellow lettering speedo. And I kinda like that.
My contributions include an old high-rib racing seat, quick release hub adapter, and 235/45R17 and 255/45R17 Goodyear tires. The driver’s seat in the car before was a bit worn and didn’t offer much support. For anyone that’s got the elbow and knee bruises from a track day or autocross – you know my pain. This seat keeps you well planted and dials up the feel of the car directly into your body. The quick release moved the wheel back 4in. The past owner had the Grant wheel adapter too close to the dash and caused you to sit too forward. Not only fugly; this made the ergonomics relative to trying to find that french-fry that fell behind your passenger seat at 70 miles per hour. Now it’s just right. Legs have a slight bend, wheel comes to arm cuffs, and the shifter is right where your hand travels.
And all for the low-low price of $600 bucks. Yep, no missing zero. I’m not going to divulge my negotiating skills. But let’s just say my father and I make good cop and bad cop look more like bad cop and that other cop with a few screws missing who may or may not pick up a phone book and beat you with it if you don’t start talking.
That’s just the car. The true mythical beast that comes alive is in the feel and handling. Yes, handling. For all those “a real Porsche has its engine where it should be…in the rear”, hear me out. This car reminds you what a man’s sports car should be. It’s not how many techy items it can have crammed into it, or how numb and self-driving it is. It’s the fact that it’s missing all of that. Distilled down to the finest 31 year old scotch-like experience – full-mouth flavor with an oaky finish. Your gas pedal is directly connected to the throttle body: you have to actually push it to add more “go”. The brakes are boosted, but just enough to not wear you out. Shifter (minus all the rubber bits) is rifle notchy and goes to a transmission that has that sweet in-gear whine telling you that the gears be a-movin’. And the steering is connected to a manual rack. No assists, no items get in the way to numb the inputs of the road. It’s your arms to the pavement folks.
Caution: Effort is required to steer. And not only are your Popeye forearms your return; it’s the feeling of being one. Imagine being able to put your hand to the ground and not have it returned to you as a bloody stub. That is the type of feel you get from the steering wheel, and this is specifically what has been dialed out of all modern sports-cars. So for those 911 purists, that’s what I mean by handling. And I enjoy that you have to decide to steer. Unplug your button-mashing video game, here you have to think when and how to move this car. There is not only physical effort in a manual rack, you have to prepare for your next move. As your arms have become units of effort to react to the roads demands.
In the end, this sums up the smug grin I get whenever my wife asks me “what on Earth do you like about this car ?” So hats off to you my fellow 944 drivers and drive on.
Updated dash:
Master Cylinder
> Michael G.
07/31/2015 at 12:16 |
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Nice! I used to have an ‘84 944 that I DD’d on my then 75-mile round trip commute. I loved that car right up until it died in a flood. I replaced it with my current DD, an ‘97 944S. The power steering was kind of nice for a while but I ended up swapping in a manual rack from an early 944 for that sweet, sweet roadfeel (and to stop the PS fluid from leaking forever).
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Michael G.
> Master Cylinder
07/31/2015 at 12:28 |
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Word. Powersteering is over-rated anyway.
DogonCrook
> Michael G.
07/31/2015 at 12:34 |
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Pretty much. I guess you need assist on a larger car or it’s just a pain, but not having power steering and no assist on my brakes keeps me completely engaged at any speed. I memorize every bump on roads, and keep a keen eye on anything unfamiliar. My girlfriend thinks I’m crazy, but I’ve never enjoyed a car more now that I have one that doesn’t have a single unnecessary part on it. It’s not even fast really, but I’ve never had this much fun on public roads and I’ve done extroadinarily stupid and dangerous things. My next secondary car may very well not even have a body, something like an atom is starting to make a hell of a lot of sense.
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Michael G.
> DogonCrook
07/31/2015 at 12:41 |
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You sir, get it. We want to be engaged by our cars. Knowing (and naming) every turn we make getting to home/work.
Currently building a 1967 Sunbeam road car via racing bits. Full cage, 1800lb car with 150hp motor, power nothing, and no windshield. Slap some goggles on and go out for some fun drives.
BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
> Michael G.
07/31/2015 at 13:02 |
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Nice car, great deal, and thank you for sharing the review.
Your negotiating style reminds me of some other people.
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DogonCrook
> Michael G.
07/31/2015 at 13:17 |
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Nice. I’ve got a 914, and my original plan was an ac, and some more power make it a comfortable daily driver. That plan went swiftly out the window, selling my DD, to get a beater truck with ac for hot days and errands, and dumping the rest into the 914 to tighten everything up and add power. MOAR FEEDBACK!
I never thought I’d be selling my rx8 because I felt it was a perfectly balanced car, I knew nothing. It just doesn’t do it for me anymore, and I’ve been bribing inspection centers for years to keep it on the road, it’s hardly a street car anyways. Even that is a bloated car. I never would have considered a miata, but I see the light now, I think it’s a pretty fair compromise.
From now on if I’m looking for handling it’s minimalistic, if I want comfort I’ll go for a boat, and if I want to drag race it’ll be everything else. Tons of power just isn’t worth it when the compromise is dull everything else for 99% of the time I’m driving it. And at this point even if I won the lottery, I’d probably buy a lotus. So many carmakers have just completely lost the plot.
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Michael G.
> BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
07/31/2015 at 13:28 |
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Ha. Yeah. Sometimes like Michael Chiklis...but with hair...and a beard.
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Michael G.
> DogonCrook
07/31/2015 at 13:37 |
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That’s the current fence I am on. Sell my 2011 Mustang Track-Pack for a 912 or 80’s 911 or ???. I would do an Evora or Exige if it didn’t make you come off as a giant idiot every time you fall out of the car on exit. Esprit V8...yes please.
I’ve gotten more tool specific. Tow and Winter beater - Cayenne S. Long hauler - X5. Back road destroying ear-to-ear grin - 944.
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DogonCrook
> Michael G.
07/31/2015 at 13:56 |
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A used 70’s 911 racecar is something I seariously considered, my two issues were roll cage with no helmet. The other I’d be down to one car and I do my own wrenching so I need two cars. That said I found some really good deals on those specifically because they had been driven hard for 40+ years. It was very tempting to gamble, I’d look into it. I probably won’t sell the 914 till I can get into one. Plus it’s keeping history alive, I was swooning over the event stickers, there’s an added cool and sense of purpose with a vintage racecar. It’s hard to describe but sitting in them they felt more alive than a modern racecar, much less like a tool, more personality. They are also more challenging, and if you aren’t investing in being number one, the next best thing is a car that ups your game as a driver in my opinion.
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Michael G.
> DogonCrook
07/31/2015 at 14:20 |
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I’ve worn my helmet in the Sunbeam when it had its old motor in it. Brother is a cafe bike guy and pointed out one of the vintage cafe style helmets. More of a hard hat than helmet, but better than head to bar. I designed the Sunbeams cage to be further back and away. Both for my head and to give it more body line looks. Front bar is raked like a windshield to give the car a side profile.
Old race cars to modern - saying that is a night and day difference is the understatement of the century. You really get to respect what your heroes did back when those cars raced professionally. As they were not just men, they were mythical deities with that those cars demand from the driver. I’ve driven and raced both vintage and professional modern cars. The feeling you get from the vintage versions is much more rewarding.
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Michael G.
> Michael G.
07/31/2015 at 14:22 |
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This might also interest you:
http://mgerowitz.kinja.com/gaining-perspe…
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DogonCrook
> Michael G.
07/31/2015 at 14:51 |
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Thanks for the link. I love firing up assetto corsa and hotlapping just so I can play with motec. God I need a lot more money than I have lol.
That sunbeam is gonna be a blast, you should do some posts on its progress. I love reading more technical posts and the thought that goes into making a true drivers car/track toy/ racecar. Distilling an automobile to its basic functions teaches a lot. As I go through cars I’ve learned I get far more enjoyment and mileage out of directness and feel, than I do raw numbers, which now I find almost completely irrelevant. I’ll take a responsive throttle over 10hp, or give up 50 pounds for better balance. 10 yrs ago I’d obsessively chase each little gain. I was always disappointed with the results relative to the cost.
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Michael G.
> DogonCrook
07/31/2015 at 15:43 |
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Very welcome!
For sure. I’ll be getting back on that project this fall. Documenting how and what goes into making that type of car.
That is one major point that I coach drivers to. Focus on the major gains and not the high effort/time/dollar changes. Like those guys changing their tire psi 0.001 psi for 0.000001s gain. Rather than how to gain 5 more mph roll speed through a corner they are sucking at.
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DogonCrook
> Michael G.
07/31/2015 at 16:08 |
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Awesome! I was once in a month’s long debate about tuning, when a rally driver intervened and told us that it’s all irellevant if the car doesn’t respond quickly and as expected you can die and the point is moot, yes we could push the numbers further but it wouldn’t result in a faster car. For hobbyists like myself that sort of insight is a revelation, because we honestly can’t push it to the limits we build to, we don’t have the training or experience as drivers. If I’m honest I’ve absolutely ruined cars. They could perform but they were borderline dangerous and well above my pay grade to drive lol. Total waste of money even if I learned a lot. Some people set out to do it, and that’s cool too, but I didn’t, and I ended up there anyways. Practical build knowledge from people who know both sides is always welcome, and you write well so I’ll definitely be watching for it.
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Michael G.
> DogonCrook
07/31/2015 at 17:43 |
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Bingo! You hit another great point - the car has more in there than most can tap. But that doesn’t stop a lot of people from spending cubic thousands on power, tires, suspensions, etc. When they could spend some wiser cash on a coach, video/data logging.
Thanks man! I’ll keep you posted. I have a draft going for my next article coming along now.
JR1
> Michael G.
07/31/2015 at 18:42 |
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How in the hell did you score such an awesome car for $600? Well done sir. Well done
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Michael G.
> JR1
08/01/2015 at 09:16 |
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Ha. Thank you.
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Michael G.
> Michael G.
08/02/2015 at 14:12 |
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Little sightseeing for today.
Ufo_Miller
> Michael G.
11/13/2015 at 18:59 |
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Hey Mike nice score on the 944. I was shopping for a Turbo S myself earlier in the year. When I didn’t have success on that front, I ended up in a blue 2013 5.0 track pack. If you happen across another deal like this share with us lesser-negotiaters!
-Miller
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Michael G.
> Ufo_Miller
11/16/2015 at 08:26 |
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Ha, will do if I don’t grab it!