Keep the BMW...or go back to my old 944S? Opinions please...

[Numbersix]

I sold my 944S to a friend of mine after the cylinder head broke due to a cam chain tensioner ramp failure (nice design, Porsche...$3 piece of plastic does $3000 in damage).

He owns a shop in CO, so he transported the car there and rebuilt it. Along the way, it's gotten:

-New cyl. head with new cams, hyd. lifters, valves, tensioner/chain, etc
-Match-ported intake/exhaust manifolds
-New oil/water heat exchanger and seals
-New timing belt, balance shaft belt, tensioners/rollers, seals, 951 water pump, radiator
-New 951 motor mounts
-New cold start valve and idle control valve
-New struts

-Full respray by a guy who normally does show cars, all glass removed, all gaskets/lenses replaced, all factory stone guards replaced, nose completely ClearBra'ed
-Hella H4's and new fog lights
-951 Rear Valance installed
-Full Alpine stereo system installed

I can't recall what else.

He's willing to sell it back to me for what he has into it--which is about $5000. This represents a VERY good deal for this car, as it's also had a bunch of other mechanical work done in the past 20k: new hoses, plug wires ($200+), clutch ($2400 @ Porsche stealer), halfshafts, brakes, new Bridgestones.

The thing is...my 325is has had a good deal of the same done to it within the last 15k miles (full strip and professional respray, new motor/clutch, suspension, brakes, lots of new accessories, etc).

The 944S, while having 190hp, is not quicker than the E30; in fact, thanks to the M3 rear diff in my 325, the 944S is probably slower 0-60. But it does have 50/50 weight distribution and far better steering feel than the 325...

I should add I'm not crazy about the color of the 944, but post-repaint it's apparently much more grey (it had faded badly).

The 325 was recently appraised at $6,130, so I know I could get $5000 for it.

Decisions, decisions.

Pics:

[Rob]

Keep the bmw. E30s are like a roomier, better laid out, and more reliable 944. If it was a turbo, I'd say go for the porsche, but since is an NA, hell with it. My roommate has 2 951s, my dad has had both NA and Turbos, so I've got a good deal of experience with both. THe 944s are great drivers, but the crap that goes wrong with them just ruins the experience for me.

[cramer]

That's a tough one Jon... I am going to say keep the E30 (since you already ruled out keeping both ;)) It's going to be cheaper to maintain and can actually be practical (you can actually sit 2 people in the back seat vs. the 944) I'd say spend some money on the suspension of the E30 and get more enjoyment out of it at the track before moving on.

[bimmerphile]

If it was a turbo, I'd say go for the porsche, but since is an NA, hell with it.

I agree with Rob. The 944 and 944S lack what they need to make the car. Stick with the E30.

[KenC]

As much as I love e30s, I'd say go with the Porsche. $5000 for an 'S' is a super great deal. I think the styling of the 944 is much better than the divingboard e30, and that 951 rear valence is kickass (add the front valence too). I really like the feel of driving a 944 too; you can really feel the road. And the 50/50 weight distribution paired with bilsteins and sport shocks makes the thing handle like it's on rails. The Porsche just seems more like a sports car to me. But if you're planning on having any more than 2 people in your car on a regular basis, stick with the e30. There is no way in hell that any one older than 9 can fit their ass in those rear buckets in the 944. The 944 is a bit more to maintain, but it sounds like major engine work has been done recently.

[Rob]

Another thing, I think the E30 interior absolutely owns the 944 series interior, the ergonomics and placement of controls are just dastardly in the 944. A sorted 325 will definately hang with a NA 944.

As for looks, I think both the NA 944 and early E30 look like poo :P

[KenC]

Another thing, I think the E30 interior absolutely owns the 944 series interior, the ergonomics and placement of controls are just dastardly in the 944. A sorted 325 will definately hang with a NA 944.

As for looks, I think both the NA 944 and early E30 look like poo :P

Porsche engineers must have been a different breed of Germans. The interior of any BMW is much more organized and friendly than that of a Porsche, especially the early 911s (what the hell were they thinking, everything is just scattered). The 944 isn't that bad at all, and I like the feel of sitting in it a lot better; you're much lower to the ground... kinda feels like a cockpit. And the 944S has the updated dash too, which is SOOO much better than the pre-85.5 dash.

If you slapped a 951 front airdam on there it would look awesome! You're right, Rob, the 944 front bumper is nasty.... almost as nasty as a diving board.

[Jon325i]

I think if I were to decide on an E30 or a 944S, I would probably take the E30. More practical and reliable....and definately more affordable in the maintenance department. Anyone price a 944 H2O pump lately? :shock:

If there was one NA 944 I would really want, it would be the 944S2. The 3.0L 16-valver is an amazing engine. Update it with the factory Variocam and you'll be in the solid 230+HP range and no turbo lag.

944 Turbos are rockets. Simply explosive performance potential.....but at an even greater cost than a NA 944.

Jon

[Rob]

ah, but the beauty of the 951 body is the stuff you can't see....the underbody panels that make that car stable and insane speeds...

[KenC]

ah, but the beauty of the 951 body is the stuff you can't see....the underbody panels that make that car stable and insane speeds...

Very true. The 951 is a completely different car than the 944, as is the 930 than the 911.

A friend of mine had his '86 944 up to 122mph in 4th gear once. I don't believe that he ever topped it out in 5th though. He bought it with 160k miles on it, and it's still running strong with no problems.

[Rob]

haha, my roommate and I were doing some highway dyno pulls in his 951, me driving, him playing on the laptop, 3rd gear from 50mph to redline...I think it hit close to 120, but holy hell did it get there fast (he puts 300 down on a mustang dyno)

[randomtask37]

that is one very pretty 944, although, since that isnt a turbo... then i would also stick with the 325.

[Brian 89 325i]

944S2. The 3.0L 16-valver is an amazing engine

I had a friend who HAD one. He flew it off a cliff, like 2 years after he killed his 914.(ALSO SCHWEET CAR) Id say stick with the BMW its just more of a daily driver type with what you need to get you around a track in a nice fashion.

Brian

[Numbersix]

Thanks for your comments and input. I'm leaning fairly strongly towards keeping the BMW, but...I have to say, it's tempting. The 944 is *just* that much nicer in some respects, especially now.

Another thing, I think the E30 interior absolutely owns the 944 series interior, the ergonomics and placement of controls are just dastardly in the 944.

While I agree that the early 944's are horrible, the post-85.5 944/S2/68 dash is one of the best laid out, most logical working environments around. (Apparently Porsche did, too, as they kept it around nearly unchanged til the end of the 968 model run.) Full gauges, easy to use/reach minor controls, and extremely attractive design. The E30's dashboard design is much more blocky, cut up, and not altogether easy to use in some respects. I do prefer the gauge lighting and control stalks on the E30, though.

Also...anyone who hasn't driven a 944S...it's a great drive, especially in comparison to an 8v 2.5L 944. (the late '89 2.7L 8v, when chipped, will give an S a run for its money.) The 16v motor is fairly high strung, and you have to give it the spurs to extract its full potential--power peak is at 6000rpm, IIRC. Max speeds in gears (@ the 6800rpm redline) are 30, 60, 90, 120, and 144mph...and it pulls quite strongly to redline in 3rd and 4th. It's a much more sporting engine, and capable of quite a bit more.

Given my choices, I'd sell both and buy a 944S2 as suggested above, with factory sport seats and the M030 package. :)

[Numbersix]

Typical of most N/A market cars, we got horrid bumpers. This is a euro 944:




The whole nose makes a lot more sense with that bumper.
Rear bumper does, too...shame they are so damn hard to source (and I'm not sure they will even fit a N/A market car)


While I agree the 951/944S2 nose is more attractive, I would never retrofit it to this car.