RE: Porsche celebrates 'Transaxle Day'

RE: Porsche celebrates 'Transaxle Day'

Thursday 28th April 2016

Porsche celebrates 'Transaxle Day'

Porsche Museum marks 40th anniversary of the 924's introduction with a special exhibition



While the writers of press releases often seem to have swallowed a thesaurus sideways, those released by Porsche tend towards a Germano-English frankness that we've always found refreshing. The one announcing a new exhibition at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart pretty much told the whole story in its first sentence: "On one hand, they are ideal sports cars, and on the other an aberration in Porsche history: the transaxle models."

It's 40 years since the 924 made its debut and Porsche has decided to celebrate with a special display in Stuttgart of 23 of the most significant variations on the front-engined, rear-mounted gearbox theme. There's even going to be a special 'Transaxle Day' on May 22, with free admission the museum and a series of guided tours and talks on the subject of the 924, 928, 944 and 968, plus an invitation to owners to bring their cars along.

Although very much in the "other Porsches" category, especially when it comes to values versus most contemporary 911s, the company is rightly proud of the contribution that building nearly 400,000 transaxle cars made to keeping the company afloat. And able to carry on making the glorified Beetles the purists preferred. Exhibits include a 924 Turbo Targa prototype, 928 S4 Cabrio, 944 Cabrio concept and the proposed 968 Roadster that was apparently canned in favour of creating the first Boxster. There's also a 944 that covered 384,000km in just 258 days back in 1987.

The Porsche museum is well worth a visit, even if you have to pay to get in. The exhibition will run from April 27 to October 16. A taste of what's on display in our gallery below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author
Discussion

fivetenben

Original Poster:

589 posts

169 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
This is definitely something to celebrate - they're all utterly awesome, underrated cars. Still miss my 944...


nsa

1,682 posts

227 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
I bought your book about driving that car to Cape Town and enjoyed it a lot.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Survival-Quickest-Across-...

I don't know Ben but am happy to recommend his book.

Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
nsa said:
I bought your book about driving that car to Cape Town and enjoyed it a lot.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Survival-Quickest-Across-...

I don't know Ben but am happy to recommend his book.
What he said!

Even my wife who isn't a massive car fan likes the 944s and suggested replacing her Fiat 500 with one.

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

167 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
God bless 'em all. I'm very pleased Porsche did this: these were the cars which kept the company going through the 80s and early 90s, and there are some very fine machines in there.

Richair

1,021 posts

196 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
Hope to make it across on a little pilgrimage in my 951 for it's 30th birthday at some point this year, although being as it's currently away being 'ruined' (I'm converting it for club racing and its presently having a cage welded in) it's not going to be a very comfortable trip!!.. Might have to leave Mrs Richair at home for that one.

Glad the transaxle cars seem to be finally earning the respect they deserve.

Ephraim

299 posts

188 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
I adored my 944 and still miss it. Brilliant car!

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
Some lovely cars there...

... but as far as I know every Porsche since the 60s has had a transaxle. smile

Dale487

1,334 posts

122 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
Craikeybaby said:
nsa said:
I bought your book about driving that car to Cape Town and enjoyed it a lot.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Survival-Quickest-Across-...

I don't know Ben but am happy to recommend his book.
What he said!

Even my wife who isn't a massive car fan likes the 944s and suggested replacing her Fiat 500 with one.
How have you managed to get your wife round to that way of thinking?

PhillipM

6,515 posts

188 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
article said:
Although very much in the "other Porsches" category, especially when it comes to values versus most contemporary 911s, the company is rightly proud of the contribution that building nearly 400,000 transaxle cars made to keeping the company afloat.
The 911 also has a transaxle.
I think there's either a lot being lost in translation here, or Porsche marketing just don't give a st and needed some publicity.

Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
Dale487 said:
Craikeybaby said:
nsa said:
I bought your book about driving that car to Cape Town and enjoyed it a lot.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Survival-Quickest-Across-...

I don't know Ben but am happy to recommend his book.
What he said!

Even my wife who isn't a massive car fan likes the 944s and suggested replacing her Fiat 500 with one.
How have you managed to get your wife round to that way of thinking?
No idea! But it was quite surreal talking my wife out of getting an old Porsche.

Fishy Dave

1,024 posts

244 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
nsa said:
I bought your book about driving that car to Cape Town and enjoyed it a lot.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Survival-Quickest-Across-...

I don't know Ben but am happy to recommend his book.
Yup, I bought it too, brilliant read, my wife enjoyed the read too. When's the V8nam one coming out Ben?

dunc_sx

1,607 posts

196 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
Craikeybaby said:
No idea! But it was quite surreal talking my wife out of getting an old Porsche.
biglaughwobble

pincher

8,497 posts

216 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
Could somebody please reassure me that I wasn't the only one to read the thread title as 'Porsche celebrates Transsexual Day'? paperbag

Impasse

15,099 posts

240 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
PhillipM said:
I think there's either a lot being lost in translation here, or Porsche marketing just don't give a st and needed some publicity.
All they needed was some daft website upon which to foist their ridiculous tales. We've had a dull story about tyres already this week (to go with the plethora of other Porsche articles) so one based on gearbox position is almost interesting.

I'm waiting for the "Oil tight Engine" celebration day. That would be worth a few editorial lines.

Richair

1,021 posts

196 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
On the transaxle thing not being quite the correct term to separate that period of front runners: the term 'transaxle' has become motoring slang to signify the front engine with the gearbox out back, which of course also houses the differential and hence the name has stuck. Stop splitting hairs you lot, they're not exactly going to call it '40 years of not being a real Porsche' are they tongue out

fastgerman

1,911 posts

194 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
The Boss -

My favourite -

My old 968, sold for £9.5k in 2008, seems to be worth over £20k now -

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
Richair said:
On the transaxle thing not being quite the correct term to separate that period of front runners: the term 'transaxle' has become motoring slang to signify the front engine with the gearbox out back, which of course also houses the differential and hence the name has stuck. Stop splitting hairs you lot, they're not exactly going to call it '40 years of not being a real Porsche' are they tongue out
What's wrong with "40 years of front-engined Porsches"? tongue out

If that's the new generally accepted definition of "transaxle", what's the correct name for the combined gearbox/differential assembly in a Boxster or 911 or indeed a VW Golf. Or isn't there one?

Edited by kambites on Thursday 28th April 14:38

Wizardskills

243 posts

166 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
These really are unappreciated cars. There aren't too many sports cars that I can think of that give the same thrills and can carry a bicycle in the boot. I use my 944 every week for commuting as well as the weekend fun drives.






TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
kambites said:
What's wrong with "40 years of front-engined Porsches"? tongue out
Because they aren't including the Cayenne, Macan and Panawka in it. Just the "front engine with rear-mounted transaxle" cars. Or, if you prefer, the "924 family and 928". But they aren't particularly snappy headlines...

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Thursday 28th April 2016
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
Because they aren't including the Cayenne, Macan and Panawka in it. Just the "front engine with rear-mounted transaxle" cars. Or, if you prefer, the "924 family and 928". But they aren't particularly snappy headlines...
Ah, I hadn't appreciated that the Panamera had a front-mounted gearbox. I thought that was a transaxle too.

It still leaves the slightly awkward question of what you call the thing in front of the engine in the 911. smile