944S2 & Turbo pasenger ride wanted
Discussion
Got a chum who has been considering an E36 M3 pre Evo, & I have been trying to get him to try a decent 944 S2 or perhaps Turbo before making his mind up.
He doesnt want to just blag a drive of an unsuspecting punter, just wants to initially feel the diferences as a passenger, obiusly if you allowed him to drive he'd sort out fully comp insurance etc, but thats not the inital request.
So I know a few S2 & Turbo owners but most are sort of lower midlands area & he is Guildford area so a bit of a trip, so any one a bit nearer that sort of area fancy extolling the virtues of front engined porkers?
He doesnt want to just blag a drive of an unsuspecting punter, just wants to initially feel the diferences as a passenger, obiusly if you allowed him to drive he'd sort out fully comp insurance etc, but thats not the inital request.
So I know a few S2 & Turbo owners but most are sort of lower midlands area & he is Guildford area so a bit of a trip, so any one a bit nearer that sort of area fancy extolling the virtues of front engined porkers?
Paul thanks for that, (got your e-mail also) will forward your details on. Cheers also steve.
Dom it is, I think, a dificult call, e36 M3s are an odd car for me as I run hot & cold with 'em perhaps more so than any other car & im not really sure why.
M3 condition for condition is a couple to a few £K more (S2 will be older tho) & insurance I found was bit more too.
Driving wise its tough I like them both but I've driven a couple of e36 M3s & seem to have walked away slightly underwhelmed by the M3's power (altho not as un impressed as I was with E30), (although to be fair I thought the same about my first couple of S2 drives) impressed by the M3 handling, rateing it better then a (standard) S2.
If its important to you I think the M3 interior is absolute leauges above S2 in every way, with the majority of S2s with light coloured leathers being the norm which I really can't stand & naff all headroom for lanky blighters (sunroof cars) & if tracking is in mind thats a pain for crash helmets & you can't use a harness with the standard Porsche seats either.
Performance not sure there is mega that much in it really, yeh M3 more power, but more lard too, chipped turbo swifter tho.
S2 M3 (pre evo & no vanos grief) engines both pretty bullet proof & good for 200K+ with good servicing, the big six far more tuneful tho which is the S2 engines only black mark.
See when ever I try & discuss it I just go around in circles
hence I say try 'em ya self & see which you prefer.
>> Edited by iguana on Wednesday 6th October 15:51
Dom it is, I think, a dificult call, e36 M3s are an odd car for me as I run hot & cold with 'em perhaps more so than any other car & im not really sure why.
M3 condition for condition is a couple to a few £K more (S2 will be older tho) & insurance I found was bit more too.
Driving wise its tough I like them both but I've driven a couple of e36 M3s & seem to have walked away slightly underwhelmed by the M3's power (altho not as un impressed as I was with E30), (although to be fair I thought the same about my first couple of S2 drives) impressed by the M3 handling, rateing it better then a (standard) S2.
If its important to you I think the M3 interior is absolute leauges above S2 in every way, with the majority of S2s with light coloured leathers being the norm which I really can't stand & naff all headroom for lanky blighters (sunroof cars) & if tracking is in mind thats a pain for crash helmets & you can't use a harness with the standard Porsche seats either.
Performance not sure there is mega that much in it really, yeh M3 more power, but more lard too, chipped turbo swifter tho.
S2 M3 (pre evo & no vanos grief) engines both pretty bullet proof & good for 200K+ with good servicing, the big six far more tuneful tho which is the S2 engines only black mark.
See when ever I try & discuss it I just go around in circles
hence I say try 'em ya self & see which you prefer. >> Edited by iguana on Wednesday 6th October 15:51
I've never driven an E36 M3, but I'm interested to hear you say the M3 has better handling than an S2. All the instructors who have driven my 944 really liked it's handling, whereas the reviews I've read and people I've talked to seem to see the engine as the main feature of the M3. Maybe I should try an M3 and find out for myself? Certainly the way you describe them makes the Beemer seem an obvious choice.
Paul
Paul
I have driven all the cars mentioned, normally beyond the limits and into hedgrows, in the interests of science and keeping the badger population down. I would say that a 944 coupe (not the cabrio, that's sodding awful) has a slight edge on the M3 in handling terms, but the M3 is vastly underrated. It understeers a touch if you don't trail brake into corners, but it is amazingly neutral when you know what you're doing. Main criticsm is that the steering feedback isn't quite as good as the 944, and you don't feel quite as 'keyed in'. More like you sit on an M3 whereas you wear a 944.
The M3 is vastly more modern in feel though. Remember the group tests of the time were comparing 968CS with M3.
The M3 is vastly more modern in feel though. Remember the group tests of the time were comparing 968CS with M3.
domster said:
I have driven all the cars mentioned, normally beyond the limits and into hedgrows,
Dom the Porsche murderer
& don't forget to mention that the only one you've somehow managed to not throw in the ditch you set on fire to spite it 
domster said:
M3 is amazingly neutral when you know what you're doing.
Admitting a nack for throwing Porches in hedges, & then claiming to know what you are doing behind the wheel, are not ofen found in the same sentence!
hmmm how do you spell delusional again iguana said:
domster said:
M3 is amazingly neutral when you know what you're doing.
Admitting a nack for throwing Porches in hedges, & then claiming to know what you are doing behind the wheel, are not ofen found in the same sentence!
I never said 'I' knew what I was doing! I was talking in general terms, ie if you did know how to cane the living tits off one without the badgers mugging you.
>> Edited by domster on Wednesday 6th October 17:10
I have driven the above motors and find it hard to agree with the m3 handling view.
I did about 2k over a feww months in an M3 evo and never got on with the handling at all.
i have a good friend who did 40k in a newish 968 lux then 40k in the m3 evo mentioned above....The M3 made him get back into Porsche as it was just no fun in the handling department.that doesn't mean to say the engine wasn't sublime above 4500rpm though
I did about 2k over a feww months in an M3 evo and never got on with the handling at all.
i have a good friend who did 40k in a newish 968 lux then 40k in the m3 evo mentioned above....The M3 made him get back into Porsche as it was just no fun in the handling department.that doesn't mean to say the engine wasn't sublime above 4500rpm though
Paul968 said:
I've never driven an E36 M3, but I'm interested to hear you say the M3 has better handling than an S2. All the instructors who have driven my 944 really liked it's handling, whereas the reviews I've read and people I've talked to seem to see the engine as the main feature of the M3. Maybe I should try an M3 and find out for myself? Certainly the way you describe them makes the Beemer seem an obvious choice.
Paul
Paul its really a tough one that I always stuggle to answer, they are quite different cars, yet both have vey persuasive arguments, and there are always 964s nipping away & trying to get in the mix! (although if you want RHD & sub £8k as my buddy does then that them ut of the picture) trying for yourself is really the only way. Plus some may consider a couple of jap wagons like 300Z & Supra too if they float your boat & if its not an everdayer some may consider early TVR chims too.
clubsport said:
I have driven the above motors and find it hard to agree with the m3 handling view.
See thats what I mean diffrent views as CS & I usually agree on the handling of cars & have similar views, if not quite similar budgets
Thing is tho CS have you driven an S2 in a while? are you thinking more your old 968CS vs Evo tho?
You can make an S2 handle like a 968CS but as standard its obviously softer, but the 968CS is a fair bit nicer & 968CS vs EVo I'd place the 968 way ahead.
The best of both worlds would be if Porsche had shoehorned in the 928GT or GTS engine in the 944, & with lightweight front end parts i.e. bonnet wings etc- & kept weight distribution as close as pos to a 968CS used suspension settings so that it was similar to the 968CS & by now with the depreciation applied I'd have a fleet of the feckers
diver944 said:
most are sort of lower midlands area
Are you talking geographically or class when using the term 'lower'
In your case definatly class- but also height
I have suggested that despite the trip up he drop you a polite e-mail, as I guessed if he bribed you with a Wagon Wheel or something & seeing as you are such a nice chap
& have a personal 944 hareem, you could show the differences between yr S2 & Turbo. Simon Clark, cheers.
Clubsport- cheeky blighter
old shocks- Konis were sat in the shed & not on the car! & it later turned out it had worn wishbones too, so yes not the sharpest-oh and before Dom pipes up yes yes it had a boot full of tarmac too! 
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