944 Turbo Cabriolet Experiences
944 Turbo Cabriolet Experiences
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Discussion

AdvocatusDiaboli

Original Poster:

2,278 posts

259 months

Saturday 3rd September 2005
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Was hoping someone would like to share the joys of owning a 944 T Cabrio with me?

Stories of joy or sorrow are equally welcome!!!

Also, as a drivers car, how does it compare to the coupe? Does it still have 250bh of pure get up and go, or is it a little dulled without the roof?

Also, the roof itself : Noisy? Durable? Good points? Bad points? Suggestions!

rallycross

13,734 posts

265 months

Tuesday 6th September 2005
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I had one of these in 1995 and sold it to a friend who still uses it as his every day car. It was a 92-J 250 SE model. Brilliant car, and very rare.

Had previously driven a standard turbo coupe 944 model and found the cab' to be massivley faster than that, would go all the way off the clock when travelling across Europe (with the roof up).

Turbo lag quite bad but once it got going would just build up more and more accelaration towards max revs.

Getting old now so it's had its fair share of reliability woes but in the past 10 years the only major thing that's had to be replaced was the turbo.

Noise with the hood up is not brilliant but mainly due to old age and the hood is not the perfect fit it once was.

Recommended.

AdvocatusDiaboli

Original Poster:

2,278 posts

259 months

Tuesday 6th September 2005
quotequote all
What a nice account! Thank you.

I am looking at one at the moment, and am looking forward to being blown off my feet...

Lovely to hear that it feels so quick, pity about the lag though. Are we talking seconds before it kicks on or a miniscule amount of time?

What is a good one under a 100k worth in your estimation?

gemini

11,352 posts

292 months

mustard

6,992 posts

273 months

Tuesday 6th September 2005
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gemini said:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/49885.htm



but at that price would'nt you rather have....

www.pistonheads.com/sales/50067.htm

iguana

7,333 posts

288 months

Tuesday 6th September 2005
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AdvocatusDiaboli said:
Lovely to hear that it feels so quick, pity about the lag though. Are we talking seconds before it kicks on or a miniscule amount of time?

What is a good one under a 100k worth in your estimation?


Ref 944T yes they are quick, (not heck of a lot above an S2 as stock tho, just diferent power delivery= booooost!) & if properly chipped & set up (decent RR set up important- mine gained lots on RR over just mere chip) then they are genuinly rapid- at least new 997 pace easily, however they can be down on power & not very impressive if the wastegate spring is old & tired (most are with age)

Yes its a fair bit of old school lag in a 944T (250) less so in 220 as smaller Turbo (tho if its just cab you are after ignore that as pretty sure all 944T cabs were 250s tho)

Lots spoken about 944T in general on here, use the search with somat like 944Turbo as the keyword.

AdvocatusDiaboli

Original Poster:

2,278 posts

259 months

Wednesday 7th September 2005
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Yup, that's 20k. But the mileage is 20k too. Anyone know what a car with between 80kk and 100k miles on the clock but in v. good order should be?

And please, for God's sake somone suggest an insurer for someone who doesn't have any NCB's in Britain and has just arrived. My foreign record doesnt count...

gemini

11,352 posts

292 months

Wednesday 7th September 2005
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Try Pearts

I suspect theyll all be difficult

rallycross

13,734 posts

265 months

Thursday 8th September 2005
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prices for an average mileage one (ie about 100k) seems to be £10 to 12k but they are SO rare they never come up.

That low mileage one would be a great thing to keep tucked away for dry sunny days, would be a shame to start using it every day as it would soon depreciate with use.

AdvocatusDiaboli

Original Poster:

2,278 posts

259 months

Friday 30th September 2005
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Could I get more of description of what the turbo lag is like?

Is there a way to cure/improve it?

domster

8,431 posts

298 months

Friday 30th September 2005
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Don't worry about turbo boost... just keep the thing spooled up and there's no problem. The only time you may notice is when you are dawdling behind something, then pull out to overtake... answer, get in a lower gear beforehand and get the turbo primed.

A description of the off boost on boost experience is say being in fifth gear at 2k revs then planting your foot.

Nothing much happens.

Revs start to build gradually.

Revs build a bit quicker then...

BANG, boost kicks in, rev needle swings for the red.

All within the space of between one and two seconds... feels a long time during an overtake but not elsewhere.

The engine response feels quite 'elastic' for want of a better word. You feel the thing stretch without much happening then it quickly gathers up a second later.

Never a prob in my 944 Turbo... gave you loads of 5th gear torque and plenty of grunt when you needed it. Always felt barrel chested compared to my 944 S2 cab.

AdvocatusDiaboli

Original Poster:

2,278 posts

259 months

Saturday 1st October 2005
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Domster, thank you. Great description! I am off to look at my Turbo Cab! Have sourced one... It looks mint.

ek993

1,957 posts

279 months

Saturday 1st October 2005
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This garage is 30 seconds round the corner from my house - the car looks lovely, have had a quick look around it, would be worth you looking:

www.classic-chrome.co.uk/search-show-000457.html

AdvocatusDiaboli

Original Poster:

2,278 posts

259 months

Saturday 1st October 2005
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Many thanks!

I think I will take a look at that car... Perhaps today!

rallycross

13,734 posts

265 months

Wednesday 5th October 2005
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Ah, so you have bought one then? Great choice.
Which one did you go for if you don't mind me asking?

AdvocatusDiaboli

Original Poster:

2,278 posts

259 months

Thursday 6th October 2005
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I have chosen one that belongs to a friend. Goes like stink and I am picking it up this Sat. I can't wait. Might never come home, might never get out of the car, might spend the next week cooing in delight!

Its my first car, and I am delighted with my choice. Its got 84k on the clock, but feels tight, not a squeak - and I was giving it some!

Its red, 250 Bhp T cab and in almost mint condition. Couple of stone chips and a scratch on one mirror. Will get that sorted..

Any suggestion about what to do with it straight away!?

n1ckm

187 posts

256 months

Thursday 6th October 2005
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The Turbo Cab on Pistonheads is mine - anyone fancy buying it ??????

diver944

1,855 posts

304 months

Thursday 6th October 2005
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AdvocatusDiaboli said:

Any suggestion about what to do with it straight away!?


Get the roof down, the heater on and go out and have some fun before the weather changes. Get used to the power and the way it handles and then come come back here asking about power mods

There's enough out there to really flex that cabrio chassis

Thom

1,746 posts

275 months

Thursday 6th October 2005
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AdvocatusDiaboli said:
Any suggestion about what to do with it straight away!?


Mind damp surfaces. Power delivery can make for tricky situations.

AdvocatusDiaboli

Original Poster:

2,278 posts

259 months

Friday 7th October 2005
quotequote all
Good advice there... I have sworn to use the car with top down unless its raining. Anyone out there who does that? Since I am bloody minded enough to buy a 10 years cabriolet in the UK, I should be bloody minded enough to use it like it should be!

Is the heater sufficient to drive around in the cold of winter?