944 Running Costs...Fuel Economy, etc. Questions!!

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

Hi all,

My Turbo Cab is making me grin from ear to ear, and I am still learning about it as the days pass.

What i want to ask is this:

(1) I think I am getting about 5 miles to the litre... which is pretty dismal. Then again my figures might be wrong... Could someone let me know what a 250bhp turbo should give out in terms of mileage. Mine does go through the tank! What should a full tank of gas give you, with a combination of town driving and arsing about? No motorways though!

(2) Any suggestions on how to improve on the interior?

(3) Where can i get the rear plastic screen (not the whole roof!)

(4) Any suggestions whatsoever to improve the quality of experience.

Thanks all!

[domster]

AdvocatusDiaboli said:

(1) I think I am getting about 5 miles to the litre... which is pretty dismal. Then again my figures might be wrong... Could someone let me know what a 250bhp turbo should give out in terms of mileage. Mine does go through the tank! What should a full tank of gas give you, with a combination of town driving and arsing about? No motorways though!

They aren't great fuel wise. Late teens when you hoof it, mid twenties on the motorway (from memory when I had mine).

AdvocatusDiaboli said:

(2) Any suggestions on how to improve on the interior?

Couple of 968CS Recaro buckets would look great, but compromise rear access if it's needed. A 968CS steering wheel would also look good. Not a lot else to be done; there aren't many carbon/ali trim bits on the market, unless I've missed them.

AdvocatusDiaboli said:

(3) Where can i get the rear plastic screen (not the whole roof!)

It's bonded in. A specialist hood trimmer may be able to remove/replace, or you could try some of that restorative solution that gets rid of scratches, can't remember the name... Renovo perhaps? They sell it in classic car mags for beardies with MGs.

AdvocatusDiaboli said:

(4) Any suggestions whatsoever to improve the quality of experience.

Once you've mapped it to 300bhp, you could put bigger brakes on, perhaps, and 18inch split rim wheels. I wouldn't do the suspension as cabs aren't as stiff as coupes. For safety you can get a roll bar and harnesses, but again rear access suffers. Once you have done that, the only way to improve the quality of the experience is to get a 911, LOL.

ATB
Dom

[steve 944t]

mileage-wise, I get between 250 and 320 miles to a tank on mostly short cross country journeys. I did experiment for a week or so by fanatically keeping below about 3000 rpm. Got about an extra 20 miles to the tank. Also got very bored and wont be doing it again!
Best upgrade for the interior has to be a decent steering wheel. I personally detest the original 944 item.
I found the best way to improve the overall experience was to spend £700 on a Mondeo estate as a runaround. Alternatively have a look at the various products on offer from www.promax.uku.co.uk/ . I have a boost enhancer on mine. It was already fitted when I bought the car so I cant really tell you how much difference it makes but have only heard good comments.

Steve

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

Thanks guys!

I already have a very beautiful non-944 steering wheel in the car.

If I were getting mileage in the high teens I would be happy! But I am not. Do you think anything might need tweaking?

250 - 320 to the tank would be lovely...

Few more for yuor intellects to mull over!
(1)Another wierd thing. I can never fill the tank to full! The nozzle keeps clicking off!
(2)Whats the actual size of the tank?

[magriggs]

AdvocatusDiaboli said:

Thanks guys! I already have a very beautiful non-944 steering wheel in the car. If I were getting mileage in the high teens I would be happy! But I am not. Do you think anything might need tweaking? 250 - 320 to the tank would be lovely... Few more for yuor intellects to mull over! (1)Another wierd thing. I can never fill the tank to full! The nozzle keeps clicking off! (2)Whats the actual size of the tank?

He means "high teens" per gallon. Multiply your litre figure by 4.55 to get the gallon figure.

[david968s]

Yep, 5 miles per litre sounds just about right I would say - circa 23mpg.

Also, what makes you think that you are not filling the tank? Nozzle clicks off, therefore tank is full....???? If it is because when you get in the car after filling up, the fuel level indicator is not quite at full, almost all 944/68's are like that...the tank is full though...

[n1ckm]

When driving in a farily enthusiastic manner the most I have got is about 210 miles from a tank. The tank it, I think 75 litres !

As for the rear window, I looked into this earlier in the year as mine has a very small hole in the stitching. Email [e-mail], they're in Goldalming near Guildford. However, be prepared for a fright, to replace the rear window alone is about £500 !!

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

Magrig, thanks for the clarification! Gallon v litres makes a big difference!!

All helpful info (as always, PH'ers rule).

Any of you 944 owners fancy meeting up for a drink and a dash through the woods in our cars at some point?

The fuel tank makes the nozzle click, but then the gauge says a little under an 1/8th still remains! Guess the gauge is funny...

Funny thing how dated the interior and dash is. I used to have a 84 Accord and the thing looked like a spaceship inside compared to the 944. Difference of course being the 944 is a rocket ship!

[softinthehead]

used to get 300 miles on a tank, town driving in the 944 2.7 and now get 240 per tank in the 968. would imagine 944T nearer the latter rather than former. the 968 economy (and performance) was improved by using optimax.

cant vouch for renovo screen cleaner but Ive just applied the ultraproofer hood waterproofing stuff and its brilliant. given that renovo screen cleaner is cheaper than a new screen by an order of magnitude (or two) i'd try that first

www.renovointernational.com/

p.s now on my 4th owned or borrowed 944/968, never seen the fuel gauge go to full on any of them. make sure you withdraw your nozzle an inch or two (ahem) after its clicked and you'll get another few litres in



>> Edited by softinthehead on Wednesday 16th November 15:50

[promax]

AdvocatusDiaboli said:

(1) What should a full tank of gas give you, with a combination of town driving and arsing about? No motorways though! (2) Any suggestions on how to improve on the interior? (3) Where can i get the rear plastic screen (not the whole roof!) (4) Any suggestions whatsoever to improve the quality of experience.

Hi,

Congratulations on getting one of the finest and best value sports cars money can buy!

[1] A standard 250bhp 944 Turbo with O2/Lamda sensor (and CAT) will average 280-300 miles to the tank. 400 should be achievable with very gentle motorway driving. It's very hard to resist using the performance, so the 80 litre tank runs dry pretty quick. If you're getting 5 miles to the litre - that's about 22-23mpg. That's OK, so don't be concerned.
[2] 968 Steering Wheel (as all seem to like these). Otherwise keep it standard.
3] Rear screen can be replaced. Check ads in 911PW. Cost me about £200 on a 944S2 Cab some 9 years ago. Can also be polised to a better less milky finish too.
[4] By improving performance & drivability and reducing turbo lag - you can make the car faster, with better response and much more exhilarating. Also make sure you have good dampers and A/R rubbers (both wear making handling less precise than usual). Check out www.promaxmotorsport.com for all manner of interestng and exciting upgrades for the 944 Turbo. We also have full workshop facilities in Brackley too.

Regards,
Andrew
ProMAX Motorsport

[david968s]

softinthehead said:

now get 240 per tank in the 968.

In three years of owning a 968 I never got less than 350-400 miles to a tank, regardless of how hard I drove the car, even on a 120-150mph "cruise" on the continent last year....

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

Everyone, thanks!

Those are very useful figures, nice to know that I haven't got a gigantic hole in my tank!

I have been truly bitten and smitten by the Porsche bug. There's no looking back now.

Can't resist using that performance! So 5m/lire it will have to be. There are worse things that can happen to one! As the person

Just changed the exhaust, the old one was rusting (rest of car is mint acc Tower Porsche). Will upgrade that to something like Janspeed, etc soon though. I can't wait! Then something to bring on that boost a tad quicker...Andrew are you listening!!?

One of only 43 in the country is my T Cab, and its red!

[promax]

AdvocatusDiaboli said:

...like Janspeed, etc soon though. I can't wait! Then something to bring on that boost a tad quicker...Andrew are you listening!

Hi,

Sure am. We do great value Janspeed exhausts for the 944T. I'll drop you some details in a PM tomorrow.

Regards,
Andrew
ProMAX Motorsport

[softinthehead]

david968s said:

softinthehead said: now get 240 per tank in the 968. In three years of owning a 968 I never got less than 350-400 miles to a tank, regardless of how hard I drove the car, even on a 120-150mph "cruise" on the continent last year....

I'm sure, but mine is unfortunately subjected to almost exclusive stop-start 1st/2nd gear stuff in traffic around taunton. rarely get to hoon around, rarely get to drive more than 10mins before switching engine off again, rarely get onto the motorway. you will be getting much better mileage at a steady 120 than I am at 10-20!. youre right though, on a long motorway drive recently I got 350+.