Watching this makes me realize all the modern auto channels on youtube have way too much pomp and fluff. I love this format. It's concise, quick, and informative while showing the car driving instead of focusing on the person driving and offering their opinions…
I can watch this no problem. It reeks of professionalism. The type of person presenting other modern videos bothers me. There’s no experience and it’s all about ego. “Heyyyy what’s up guys” yuck
@T V Easy, hoss. I didn’t even mention millennials. In the five years since I made that comment I’ve come to appreciate a few great “modern” format YT car channels. It’s just a style that I generally don’t find entertaining. Not a problem if other people do. Variety makes life worth living.
when he said 250 HP about as much as the 5.7L tpi stock I laughed my ass off. 13s quarter mile is a hoot makes me wonder how much it costs to rebuild the trans/rear end. I mean a 5.7L tpi vs older gen carbed sbc...which can make 3-400 hp. LMAO fuel ratings dumbing down flow and compression ratios. Even exhaust ports. Is what comes to mind with those era V'8s vs how hi-po that dohc 2.5L is plus turbo. Let alone the 5.0L v8 it came from. I mean just for a sec think about the 5.0L v8 DOHC 32v 5.0L V8 and then think about the 5.7L TPI vs 5.7L LT1 VS 5.7 LS1 vs 5.7L ls6. Its just more or less upsetting that the only big displacement 4 liter builds were seeing these days are k24 swaps. Or Toda heads/cams. on pre-existing engines. The TPI and LT1 powered vehicles are retaining their price as such as well. A slightly larger turbo, bigger oil/fuel and cooling system on a 944 turbo and im sure the numbers and times it would be putting down have you with an ideal streetable ride. Cant say much about the "pony cars" other than the people still running them with whoofers/loud choppy cams/straight pipes...and even at times seen with huge rims....its almost inherent with the implications of the powertrain. Look how long it took ford to implement a 32v head to their 5L...and/or how long its taking GM to release the new LT 32v engine. SInce the 90s zr1 with the lotus all aluminum 32v 5.7l. IMO porche didnt have to make the 944 as great as IMO it is to me as a car fan, which to me makes it that much more special/cool of a car/platform.
El Guapo it's still fantastic even against modern cars. Watch some videos of properly tuned 944s against modern cars on track days. This platform doesn't get the respect it deserves.
Gorilla Jones I have one and when I get in the other cars it amazes me for a car that so old ( mines an 86 non turbo) how well balanced and amazing it handles I feel like I could take some modern cars on corners
its too bad the north american market never got its hands on turbo engines in the nissan s chassis. As the 240sx was widely loved as great low price drivers car.
Bought one new in 1989. Drove it everyday till I bought my M3 in 2001. Never let me down. I ran circles around the guys at PCA events with 911s. Really p*ssed them off! Great at the track and on the highway but a dog around town. Little torque off the line. Truth was the car was not that entertaining as an everyday driver for that very reason. That said it was amazing capable. You could push it and push it with little complaint. Only bit me once - at the end of Bridgehamptons straight. Did a 720 but fortunately never left the track. My guess is that the S2 is a better bet for most people.
I saw a red 944 as a kid ... I was so nervous about being near it I asked the owner if it would be ok to take some pictures. They were very gracious and flattered. Ever since, I always liked the 944 ... the first Porsche I fell in love with. Now, I got my heart on a Cayman S :)
***** , I need to meet John Davis. I grew up on motorweek on PBS every Saturday morning. Now I'm 25 & I still watch online every week. You have helped shape the enthusiast I am today. Thank you. These are priceless to countless people. Keep it going till the wheels fall off!
Christopher Walker Yeah! If he does, the entire hoard of car enthusiasts will follow and hike up the prices! As a non-rich person, I really don't need the 944 to follow the 911 market in terms of price. Paying upwards of $30,000 for a car from the '80s is ridiculous enough. I know this is a selfish sentiment, but the 944 is really all I have left. The Ferrari 308 and Testarossa skyrocketed in value a couple years ago, never to return again. The 911 is already sky high, and there are a number of other cars from that era that have shot up in value to the point that I won't be able to afford one anymore.
Hahaha yup. You'd think with a drum machine that it'd be supplying a digital click for the other musicians to make things perfectly clear, but apparently not!
I’ve owned 6 Porsche Cars. My 1986 951 (944turbo) was my favorite. In fact it was my favorite care I’ve ever owned. Wish I never traded it in on a Audi S4 biturbo.
just an FYI, the Porsche 944 Turbo ate the Porsche 930 Turbos lunch when tested together by automobile magazine. Google the story "A Tale of Two Turbos" and recognize the greatness of the 944 as one of Porsche best ever!
Even today these are awesome, fun cars. Maintenance items can get expensive, but if you're a DIY person, you can save alot of money. There's still a good strong aftermarket support market for them, too.
Porsche and its aftermarket parts vendor are always there for every Porsche. Classic Porsche parts are the best at providing parts for all the cars they have ever made.
Even 4 door family sedans these days does 5.7 to 60. A Camry v6 and Maxima v6 both can do that. 5 .7 to 60 today isn't impressive as it was 30 years ago.
With 103 traps? I think not. This car stock would bis gap a V6 300hp Camry from 60 on. Like busses and busses until you wouldn’t see the 951. And that’s stock. And a 4 cylinder.
1985sean Yeah but the 944 Turbo is going to feel more fun in roads with many turns, it looks fast, it’s got POP UP HEADLIGHTS, and it will still out-brake a regular family sedan. It’s a great weekend car for driving enthusiasts. My dad’s got a ‘89 944 Turbo and it’s magnificent but not comfortable like a newer Toyota Camry.
The only true parallel to motorweek is Matt Farrah. Real car people talking about real cars about the things we really want to know. Keep it up motorweek! You're still the best!
I'm 41 but when I watch these old episodes I feel like a kid again! Thanks motorweek!
4 месяца назад
Same 38..used to watch as a kid and since then ive owned many high end and supercars in my respective generation that were in this show n still do..90s kids!
$90,106 adjusted for inflation. If anything, cars are cheaper today. Today's comparable Cayman S starts around $64,000 and the Cayman GTS goes for $74,000. Not that I can afford either one...
+di foo!! True but this was the point where the Turbo became the Turbo S from the year before and came with all of the adjustable suspension bits and brake upgrades as standard along with essentially every interior option you could choose again as standard too. More of a Cayman GT4 predecessor imho. Porsche's have never been cheap!
Ian Clancy you can still argue that cars are much cheaper today when you factor in the amount of tech, comfort, and safety features we have now, as well as the greatly improved reliability and generally more features as standard now. Airbags, ABS, navigation, "car phone" or rather hands-free these days, A/C, stability, TPMS, power locks, windows, etc.
that can be applied only on certain cars,average cars are more expensive today. in the 90s a volkswagen passat cost around 40k german marks and now its 40k euros which is double that. same goes for most cars today
Disagree. A 1988 Sentra base coupe had an MSRP of $6774, which translates to $14k in today's money. The 2019 Nissan Versa base (much roomier than the '88 Sentra) has an MSRP of $12,360 and although a stripper model compared to other cars today, it does come standard with a/c which would've tacked on another $600+ to the sticker on the '88 model.
Love these videos. I can attest the Blaupubkt stereo was pretty good. My family had a red 89 Turbo S in 95 with 16k miles on it. 103 traps on 1989. The car was and is fast!
It has taken 30 years for everyone to figure out why I had bought Three 944 Porsche starting all those years ago. Balance, reliability, and performance that made you a better driver then the first time you got in one!
Having experienced a ride in one of these machines I know full well what it must have been like taking those turns around that track, feeling the side g's and feeling and hearing the turbo spool up.
It's always funny watching motorweek living in Reisterstown MD. I also do own a 944 turbo. Awesome car, great car for the small tracks at summit point in WV... And btw the antenna wasn't the best at the time. But now days I've had worst fm reception in rental cars like Kias and all. All in all one of the best cars of the 80's that you can still buy for less then a decent house!
What a great flashback! Amusing to consider the 944’s “shortcomings” compared to the Vette and the TR. Gimme the German dash and seats any time - even now 30+ years later. The Chevy certainly does not hold up nearly as well over the years. Heck even C8 interiors are weird.
If you dismiss the 944 you're a moron. These are some of the greatest cars ever built and literally saved Porsche. At Le Man the three GT cars finished in the top 15 total, not in their class but total field! Astounding. Probably the most underrated sports car ever. If you have ever owned one you know what's up. One last tidbit, Automobile magazine did a track test between this car and that years 911 Turbo. Let's just say the 944 utterly destroyed it's more legendary counterpart around the track. Respect.
One of my favorite cars. Had two. The handling was phenomenal with it's 50-50 weight distribution. Not sure if it was due to the Weissach axle. I know the 928s had it.
5.7 secs for 0-60 was a very impressive time for 1989 as quick as the Testarossa which was the super car of the day. Even today it would still be considered quick compared to the average car
@Ernest Keller yes, its amazing how many people get this wrong Im about to buy a MY89 turbo and the current owner thinks its a turbo S but its clearly a MY1989 lol - I'm not going to bother to correct him :-)
I owned a preowned 1987 turbo 220 hp in an awesome platinum metallic paint with burgundy leather interior and a Blaupunkt radio-audio system. Not as exciting as my former Carrera 3200 but in actuality nearly as fast and far more forgiving.I clocked it at 242 kmh several times with nearly 131.000 km on the clock and a correct history service by official Porsche assistance shops. The rear axle worked great,it was a sporty yet comfortable and discreet day driver and the mantainance cost was acceptable in all respects. Great piece of machinery...so I can understand what a hell of a car the S upgrade was.
i always loved the body on the 944. i'd buy one if i wasn't addicted to bikes but seriously, who uses the adjusts wee buttons on the sound system with their driving gloves on?
Really you can tell more by watching this car move around the track and then any narrative can say. Extremely impressive to this day. I bought the RX7 turbo because I couldn't afford the Porsche. Wish I could have. That color I believe is a Granite Rose if so it's absolutely stunning in person.
$47,600 in 1989 is equivalent to $99,461 when adjusted for inflation. That’s comparable to what a nearly loaded Cayman S or a lightly optioned Cayman GTS costs.
Man, luv the look of the 944 coupe. The chassis has killer balance to boot. Fast forward a decade or so with small block Chevy V8 transplants not unusual. Year 2015 hatches the Audi RS3 5 cyl turbo as the engine of choice for enhancing the 944 S2/Turbo or 968 model cars. The MY15 RS3 2.5l 5cyl turbo with transaxle .....
mention heating controls being not well marked and crude and yet I just watched your retro review of the 90 Carrera2 and you praise it for getting the great heater controls from the 944? I know crap happens and over a couple year span who can remember little details and I agree. I point it out as I think it shows the controls aged well and were better than we thought at first. Love the retro reviews, keep em coming.
It's nice to watch these shows and see how far we've come. Over 47 thousand dollars in 1989? Wow. When my current car was new back in 2016, it was about the same price. Similar horsepower, acceleration, and it's the smallest, cheapest BMW.
I had one years ago. Modified with bigger brakes, turbo, exhaust, cam, software, adjustable cam, (-4 degrees to +4 degrees). Was running at 420 HP. Great power weight ratio. At -4 degrees boost did not hit until 4,000 RPM. Removed the device that bleed boost in and it hit hard. Back wheels would let loose into 3rd gear. Top speed was in the low 180's. Loved that car...
One of the cars that made me fall in love with Porsche. My father had an Audi 4000 in the 80's... The speedometer in this Porsche you can tell comes from the same parts bin... I can remember you could find various stamps on the car that had the logos of VW/Audi/Porsche. Even though they officially joined together a few years ago - Porsche has always had a link with VW and Audi.
I have an '86 951 and love the car but they are expensive to maintain...and very easy to modify if you have the coin to throw at them with impressive results. For racing, they hold up really well (mine is for DE's only) and are still a force to be reckoned with at the track.
No auto manufacturer said that passenger side airbags couldn't be done it's just that most claimed it couldn't be done while maintaining a glovebox in the same general area and Porcshe proved "them" wrong on that one four years before passenger side airbags became mandatory on all cars sold in the U.S.
If you don't get a well sorted one it can be a nightmare. Actually a well sorted one as a daily driver still will be a nightmare. I would love to have another one, but memories of dealing with the one I had in college makes me gun shy. I think I'd rather own an Acura NSX if I ever decided to go down the classic performance car route, however seeing this 944 turbo gives me temporary amnesia over how horribly expensive mine was to maintain.
Bilal Ahmed I have a 968 and I love it! But I can see why my dad is keeping the 944 Turbo...much faster and it does have a more aggressive look. Both are rare cars nowadays.