The Porsche 944 S2 is the Modern Classic You Didn't Buy In Time (Drive and Review)

Fancy a modern classic - something you can drive and enjoy, but which is a little bit different? Not so old you can never take it anywhere, but not so new you'll never get any feeling from the car.
For years the Porsche 944 was an ideal car for that, but recently prices have gone north and that means that examples like this 944 S2 are now the price they always should have been. Here's why you missed out on a bargain!
#Porsche #944
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[@toddscars]

When this video first came out, I felt defeated that I wouldn't own a well priced 944 for the foreseeable future. Until last week - I am now an owner of a 1984 944 for a very good price and couldn't be happier to be on the 944 train. Great video!

[@candle331]

How has the ride been?

[@toddscars]

@@candle331 Chased my tail around for a long time trying to source an ignition issue and ended up selling it. Major regrets!

[@candle331]

@@toddscars time for a new one then :)

[@purplehead9511]

I daily drive my S2 no matter the weather and with regular maintenance they give trouble free inexpensive motoring. Never a day goes by that somebody don't start a conversation about it somewhere, amazing how many people love to see an old car in use.

[@nutsackmania]

Keep those cam chain tensioner pads fresh!

[@DjNikGnashers]

There is something so right about the design of the 944. They are so beautiful, even if they are slow by modern standards.

[@tycorcoran6965]

Not as slow as people as people believe

[@tycorcoran6965]

Brakes are worth uograding, 964 upgrade on mine

[@DjNikGnashers]

@@tycorcoran6965 Release figures for 0-60 were 6.3 secs, but in reality most tests at the time only managed 6.7-6.9 secs. Most warm hatches nowadays will be much faster. I love them though, and would own one in a heartbeat, I just wouldn't expect it to be rapid, because it's not.

[@nemiroal]

@@DjNikGnashers Anyone who is doing digs on a classic car needs their head examined.

[@DjNikGnashers]

@@nemiroal I don't understand the point you are trying to make.

[@drphilgarner]

These have massive brakes. Same as the turbo and I think they were developed from the 70s racecar brakes. If they weren't good on this car then they needed attention.

[@johnpearson492]

Agreed, my friend's regular 944 has phenomenal brakes.

[@stevelinwood4397]

If its the same as my S2 Cab and I think they are then they are Brembo 4 pot straight from the early Turbo models which were straight from the 911's of the era. If they aren't working effectively then they need a rebuild. If not looked after the 4 pot calipers start seizing up which equals poor braking efficiency. Something else that can happen is that the aluminium baffles on the front struts rot through and fall off, the brakes work better with the manufacturers brake cooling all complete. My Turbos brakes have been fully rebuilt and are complete with a ducted air cooling setup for improved brake efficiency. Enjoy ❤❤❤

[@TheMentalblockrock]

That's true! The Brembo 4-pot callipers are made from aluminium alloy and to protect the body of the calliper from the steel backed brake pads, Porsche fitted a stainless steel plate. Combined with the mild steel allen headed bolts holding the plate to the calliper and you have a recipe for electrolytic corrosion to run wild. Which it does, the calliper corrodes, pushing the plate onto the pad, partially siezing the pads. The fix for this is quite simple, strip down and re-furb the brakes, which is a fairly straight forward operation for a good DIY mechanic. I like to re-fit the plates with stainless bolts, the theory being that stainless into alloy is less of an electrolytic nightmare and stainless bolts on stainless plates won't be a problem at all. The pads may corrode but these are cheapest and easiest to replace anyway.

[@asymsolutions]

They are the same brakes per the IPB, Outside of the transmission and engine, option for option the S2 shared the same parts as the Turbo "non-S" ABS equipped 944's. Basically 87-88 is when Porsche decided to use up the last of their "N/A" or base model parts (with the 2.7L version). After that they cut down production to making 951 based S2's and 952 Turbo's ("S"). Even some parts like the water pump, A/C system and power system pump on the engine are the same part number as the 951 Turbo. The clutch/flywheel on the S2 and Non-S Turbo are the same also, as was the torque tube across all models including the 924S (as my understanding). Maybe I'm living in the past (and still holding onto my black on black S2) but I consider the only the turbo, turbo S and S2 cars as worth keeping for a running car/build. The 8v N/A's are in my opinion not worth keeping other than cheap gokart like track toys for beating around the enduro oval.

[@markhendry1]

The older I get the more the older cars appeal, I owned an S many years ago and sold it for my first house, was no faster than the hot hatches of the day but felt so much more special.

[@fredbobberts5753]

They were not cheap cars the S types. With delivery etc they would have been 32-35k in 1987 in the USA, around 74k in today’s money. That 944s of yours was a very nice car and I would have thought much better to drive than most contemporary cars.

[@Fee.1]

“Built by hand, but not in a good way” 😂 well said

[@SAMMYJR00777]

hu?

[@Fee.1]

@@SAMMYJR00777 that’s what he said

[@gavinburt3750]

Great car and an honest review. I have a grey S2 in the garage after lusting after one in the 90’s (but settling for a cheaper MR2 Turbo). The gear-slop is a known issue and can be fixed pretty cheaply. Fit an Only944 Short Shifter and it’s a completely different world when changing gears, it tightens everything up to that of a modern car. Brakes are crap as is the 30yo suspension so get the callipers refurbed and fit Bilstein B6 suspension. Water pump failure is common too and is a must when purchasing or using as a negotiation tool. I love mine to bits (200k on the clock) and actually prefer it to drive than my 997.1, the S2 simply has more realistic usable power.

[@thedetailingdoctor5746]

Don’t take it to a main dealer burn money it will be quicker 😂🤣 best line all year mate absolutely love that 🤣🤣🤣

[@chrisenright7003]

Nobody in an OPC would know where to start.

[@raykunik4702]

I have the 89 951 w MO30 and it’s amazing!!

[@davidgoliath5901]

I'm a chuffed recent owner of an extremely clean and tidy red manual S2 coupe. Australian delivered car with black leather etc. So pleased ..its a very sharp analogue drive. Buying one? Protect your investment; change the cam belt/water pump etc, change the balance shaft belt and change the chain/guides driving the other camshaft. Then go and find a nice quiet road..

[@marklawrence2417]

Absolutely love my 944S2 Cab, had it for 14 years now & even with the odd classic car hiccup (he is 30!), one drive and all is forgiven - massive smile every single time...

[@sadsismint]

I can't watch this.... i bought one as my second car (i went from a fiesta to a 944 XD ) and i sold it :S Biggest regret now, i loved it!

[@simonmurfin1910]

Happy memories! I had a late 944 turbo, black with cream leather interior, which I bought myself as a 25 year old birthday present (nearly 25 years ago!). Loved that car! Third gear, about 45 / 50 mph, it was quick enough to make good progress and the handling was great. As for storage, I got 2 adult mountain bikes, and luggage for a week away including a black tie dinner in the car for a London to Scotland trip. Try that in the same era 911. As I remember it, the gearbox was tight and precise with a lovely mechanical feel.

[@alexv8150]

The glorious thing about the 951 (944 turbo) is that it’s a 400hp weapon with basic bolt on modifications. Porsche would and did build something capable of destroying the 911, and everything else around the track but they were not going to sell it like that straight out of the showroom...

[@TheMentalblockrock]

There is a KZbin video of a lightly modified turbo (260BHP) doing Nurburghring laps and he DESTROYS modern 911's, passes them like they are parked. He does an incredible 8 mins 6 seconds or something like that. I watched all 8 mins and NOBODY overtook him the whole way round and he passed lots of much more modern cars! Look it up!

[@anthonidanowski9404]

@@TheMentalblockrock even more impressive is that its a amateur driver that learned the track on forza!

[@tomodonoghue3309]

@@TheMentalblockrock kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWmYYWxvndF4rqM

[@morganvon5664]

Those old turbos were a blast. You went from nothing to that turbo kicking in without notice - just an amazing jolt!

[@christopherkast8045]

Nice video on the 944 S2, I have an '87 944 N/A, fully restored, with aftermarket headers, exhaust, Rasant performance chip and the European Throttle cam. It's up above factory about 20 % in hp and torque so really fun to drive but very well mannered on the highways.

[@saalboy5641]

My 1991 s2 cabriolet gets a compliment every time I get it on the road, especially from kids, they are fascinated with the look and often give thumbs up. Cheap to own and with reasonable cost of maintenance, what else to wish. One day will convert to the EV, Tesla's used motor fits right in, and in a few years the batteries will improve drastically. In short to own this vehicle is a win-win situation. Thanks for reading.

[@garethholden301]

Unusually shaped items? A mountain bike used to fit in the back of my old Turbo.

[@joelsmith9311]

Great review - I love how you keep getting your hands on cars I lusted after as a young petrol-head. Great job!

[@ct-bq5rs]

The 944 vs. the Alfa GTV 6 is one of my favorite everlasting duels in car History. Italian short stroke orchestra vs. German engineering finesse! If I would own em both, I would never get tired of comparing them by test drives!

[@seany8787]

This channel just gets better and better. We had an early 944 2.5. With the early dash ( which I prefer)

[@IronicTonic8]

I owned one of these and absolutely loved it. Definitely recommend if you can find one in good shape.

[@RMAGEDN740]

Hustling a 944 is fun. Brakes were good enough for me. My shifter might've had a little bit of slop, but when I was tapping redline, it had a perfect length of throw and clutch pickup. Loved it!

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

I wasnt keen on this when new, but the last decade, I have come to like them.

[@volkswagenfras]

Brilliant road that, driven my S2 on it many times.

[@stephenoverstreet9898]

I had a mint ‘87 944 n/a a couple of years ago, and I adored it. It wasn’t powerful at all, with only an 8v engine, but it was built like a tank and had really decent handling. I’ve thought about getting an S2, but that would only be a stop-gap for my REAL passion project: a manual 928. Thank you for the review and memories, James.

[@richardherman650]

You really need to drive a really good turbo. I have driven every variant of 944 and the turbo is fantastic. I have owned one for 18 years and it is truly special. The s2 is a much better daily, but the turbo is much much more thrilling.

[@dickhilt]

Agree Richard. I’ve owned both an S2 and a 250 bhp turbo. Seriously underrated cars. In my opinion a 911 of the same era would not keep up with a 944 turbo on a twisty road. Head gasket disintegrated at 160,000 miles and the car performed no differently! The engine is bullet proof and good for 250,000 miles if maintained. Have gone back to Porsche with a 987 Boxster S Pdk and it’s epic but to be fair so is a well sorted 944 turbo!

[@SAMMYJR00777]

@@dickhilt ahhhh and also 928s4 the best..... beasttttttttttttttttt

[@dickhilt]

@@SAMMYJR00777 can’t argue with that!👍

[@TomScelfo]

Thanks for your great review! I have owned my red, 1989 944S2 for 18 years. I have driven it on Lime Rock Park race track in Connecticut with the Porsche Club more than a dozen times. The car currently has 66K miles on the odometer and can confirm that your suspicion is correct - the shift linkage in my car is tight and glorious. I also have a 2023 Porsche Macan S, but driving the 944S2 still puts a wide smile in my face every time I drive it. I could easily sell my 944S2 for 50% more than the $14K I paid for it in 2005, but that’s not going to happen.

[@JURASSICDIVERUK]

Yes Yes Yes..... Just the 924 and the circle is complete! 😍

[@TheRealJMGPorsche]

You need to drive a well sorted S2, standard or modified. As for the turbo, in standard form they are awesome (Do not discount the addictive "boost shove", and a slightly warmed up will produce 320 BHP and 375 ft/lbs of torque... You could even do with driving a 220 early Turbo, a 250 Later turbo, and a modified one back to back, but please, make sure they are well sorted up together ones!

[@Gozar111]

Great car. I have a 944 Turbo, 928 S4 and a 928 S2. Hi from South Africa

[@SAMMYJR00777]

same great cars

[@matthewgodwin3050]

I've always liked the 944, and now the yuppy image has worn off, they are really cool.

[@Nodstar73]

I was a bit worried on what you would say as I have just taken the plunge, picking up an 89 2.7 first thing tomorrow. You confirmed what I was already thinking, thanks for the content and have a good Christmas and New Year. 👍

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Merry Christmas Marc

[@margysan]

I had a 944 2.5 s wish i never sold it The gear shift was beautiful so that one must have worn linkages

[@nervsouly]

So why did you sell it?

[@margysan]

@@nervsouly couldnt get my fishing tackle in it and my finances couldnt keep up with the upcoming costs it was a 1984 that had had a hard life lol

[@nervsouly]

@@margysan at first I read "finances" as "fiances" and was slightly confused. xD So what's your current fishing mobile?

[@margysan]

@@nervsouly A vauxhall 1.7 dti van lol 17 years old but it does the job you can see it in some of my channels videos 'margerison match fishing' is the channel

[@nervsouly]

@@margysan I'll have a look. And ffs English people it's called Opel not Vauxhall! ;););)

[@acchaladka]

Just sold mine early this year, preserving myself from wealth yet again: whew! Loved it though, fantastic driver. Got a Tesla 3 as a replacement and it doesn't drive as well. Beautiful shirt, buddy.

[@bambychoi9366]

I’m in the market for one of these

[@gregoryjohnson9733]

Find a turbo s.

[@TheMentalblockrock]

You can buy mine after I've restored it! I've owned it since 1996, lots of main dealer history and it will have restored sills by the time I sell it!

[@Mr--S.]

No matter how good the video itself is, regardless as well the reviewed car, the outro is the most epic thing worth watching... feels so good :P

[@lgk-cars5760]

Brilliant video 👏👏

[@martinboulden3540]

Fabulous car James.

[@JAYPCARS]

I always hate the fact when I was broke and in college the cheapest 944 were up for £1/1.5k - I’ll jump on the next decent one I see, if I can sell a few of my other cars first! Nice video 👍🏻

[@A_Lowly_Gentleman]

Love mine ! got one alongside a 987 cayman. the 944 has a few track bits on it. Gaz coilovers, Toyo R888s and some polybushing and it’s kept some far more expensive porsche’s in check on track 👏 its away for a respray soon but would be interesting to see your thoughts against a stock one..

[@Jamesmorley1999]

Buying a good example is so important! Had a test drive of an early 944 with 170k on it a few months back and was rather disappointed. It was sloppy in the gearbox, the brakes were pathetic and the suspension was so baggy it felt like it was held together with blue tack. I still really want one and hope I’ll get one soon enough (great video btw)

[@JFXtreme96]

My dad has an all original concours winning 1989 944 S2 in the Guards Red 👌🏻 love the S2!

[@YounesLayachi]

I had no idea this thing existed ! Looks pretty cool

[@davidclarke4413]

You say the 914 is an odd ball, which it is! But get yourself a drive in one, they are a joy, I love mine!

[@Sileesosij]

I've had my S2 for 8 years as my only car.... Your assessment is spot on ... And I've spent about £6k in total on maintenance, repairs and consumables and id get a little bit back more than I paid for it if I decided to sell tomorrow. There must be something wrong with the gearbox in that red car because mine is as sweet as a nut, not as short as an mx5, but still very tight and precise....nice review jayemm.

[@chriscushing1275]

I have a 944S- the 2.5-liter 16-valve, which makes a bit less power (190hp stock and a shade over 200 in my car), but weighs a bit less and revs a bit higher than the S2. I love the stupid thing, and adding a set of adjustable Konis and 968 sway bars goes a long way toward making it feel a lot less squishy.

[@chriscushing1275]

Oh, and regarding the brakes- because they were cheap for so long a lot of owners opted for some real bargain-basement pads and fluid. Putting on high quality pads, stainless steel lines, and filling the system with good modern fluid will improve them drastically. Oh, and pull the ABS relay out. The ABS is godawful.

[@AdrianJayeOnline]

I had an s2 cab 90' (H208 GJU) fantastic car and easy to work on (about 10 years ago)

[@goldencheese7247]

Drove one for half a year. Very underrated. Beautiful gearbox, delicious seating position and ride height. Dashboard and interior exude the classic golden porsche Era.

[@goldencheese7247]

If you can find one with a Strosek bodykit you've got a keeper.

[@duncanmartin2626]

I had a 924 Turbo for a few years - I could get a BMX (with wheels on) in the back with the seats down. The gearbox will be the linkage bushes (they were a problem on my 924), unfortunately they are basically inaccessible because the gearbox and torque tube are in the way, so the parts are cheap but the labour is significant.

[@dmn23]

My '90 S2 coupe had 207k miles on it when I finally sold it a few years ago. They're wonderful cars that benefited from being at the end of the 944's evolution with most of the bits truly sorted. And they're far less complex (costly) than a 951.

[@markcarter9476]

Who knew Jay and I are fellow Lotus Excel buddies. Many happy memories, no nightmares, just a lovely car that offered great performance for cheap money. Mush missed and many a classified add scanned and serious thought given.

[@lionljb]

Has been my dream car for quite some time. One day I'll own one

[@stuipooey1]

Back in Glenshee again, great roads up there and a nice backdrop. Another great review video of an underrated car. Had one over 20 years ago and also had the pleasure of driving it on twisty highland roads, what a blast. Sadly I wrote it off 😪 😔

[@Decrepit_biker]

I am fortunate that all of this is on my doorstep! Glen shee is 45 mins from my front door..... maybe a little less on the zx6r.... fantastic roads

[@stuipooey1]

@@Decrepit_biker i also live about the same distance from Glenshee, we are so fortunate John, 👍

[@kynzie14]

I had a 91 S2 with under 80k miles and it was totaled 4 months ago. I was devastated. That car has been in my life since I was a teen. I knew the original owner and the history of the car before I had the pleasure of buying it from him. It was always a treat to drive. This vid brought back vivid memories of that car. Thanks for sharing, Jay, and confirming what we 944 lovers have known for years! Happy Holiday!

[@ianfrost3529]

I never had a 944 but did buy two 924’s for £300 for the pair one silver one black Both went straight though the MOT sold the silver one to pay for the Tax and insurance on the black one because it drove nicer but although had the odd faults and was not very quick we’re good fun down a twisty road kept for 12 months re-MOT sold it then time for the family cars do have found memories of the two cars brought 15 years ago because that’s how old my daughter will be in a few months. Just found the channel love the content.

[@shanehnorman]

I had successive use of a coupé and a cabriolet back in the day. Deeply satisfying to drive, both of them, and truly practical. However, the soft-top suffered from scuttle shake with the top down. It was clearly never designed as an open car, judging by the obvious cut-line around the rear of the cockpit.

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

The original steering wheel is lovely. No idea why it would have been changed.

[@r129r16pfl]

You need a steering wheel spacer

[@chriscushing1275]

It depends on the relative length of your arms and legs- I put a three spoke 930S wheel in mine with a reasonable hub spacer and the driving position became much more comfortable for me.

[@callummunro5400]

Agreed love that 80s look

[@TheMentalblockrock]

I agree, the original Porsche wheel is much better.

[@tommeiner9983]

The original fat wheel looks like shit.

[@Carrera-gp9od]

I had one of these about 15 years ago , I loved it ! £200 a year insurance on a classic policy The sills rusted out on it though cost me a few grand to put right 🤮

[@fredbobberts5753]

The sticks are a bit wobbly even with new adjusters but that does help with that.

[@robbeazley4694]

Hi just watching your 944 s2, I had a 944 turbo a version called SilverRose. It was one of 75 rhdrive made . I had it for 8 years putting on a lot of miles trouble free . The problems came after it only was driven for two miles a day due to circumstances and I had to replace the radiator get the brakes rebuilt . I sold it for a paltry amount considering they seem to be worth £35k

[@jbfinishingsjellebilliau9054]

I have a 944 bought from a private collection,unrestoured and it’s shifting like a new car..no play on the stick and it pulls verry nice and it’s a 2.7 8valve.the problem with a lot of 944’s is lak of maintenance

[@5ebra1]

Great looking car in the right colour.

[@afeudale]

Have an 84 944 for 2 years now...most fun car I've ever driven! Beats out the BMW, Benz even our Tesla for the fun factor. Gets more attention than any of those as well!

[@Ash-pv7mk]

Thanks again Jay. An S2 , well looked after is a good buy. I've owned 8 of them and, as you say, each will actually drive slightly different depending on how they've been looked after. If the 944 had a six speed box it would be perfect, but then it would be a 968. You could do worse than check out the 968 Sport (different and actually rater than Clubsport) Once again Jay, thanks for the review

[@neilrobson3064]

Great review - so much more interesting as a car than some bland pile of hybrid 2020 cack.....

[@stevesas632]

968 is the way to go. Best of the breed, rarer, better investment, 6 speed & better development to that engine.

[@DavidMorley]

Yep! Looks way nicer too.

[@Flatmat]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boHRemOMepZ1a5Y 😂

[@AndrewClelland]

I have one of these now, done just on 254,000km, and rock solid. My gear shift gate is original and very tight... no issues of what you talk about. Also my brakes are original and excellent. However, I also have some of those rather concerning little clunks coming from somewhere, which are a mystery since the car is inspected and also my local car guru mechanic (builds race cars) can't find anything wrong. This engine is sublime when running right... lovely for low rpm cruising, but get it above 4000rpm and it is a completely different animal.

[@lee2217]

I passed my test and 17 and my boss at the time in the car trade had a 3 year old s2 in zermat silver with burgundy interior He handed me the keys and said take it for a spin and fill it up with petrol I felt like a king driving it

[@pereldh5741]

Exactly this, the 944 S2 (or Turbo) is the only Porsche I’d buy. (Ok.. maybe an old run down 959 too..)

[@2702simmo]

How come not the others?

[@pereldh5741]

@@2702simmo I think they’re all pretty ugly

[@2702simmo]

@@pereldh5741 more than the 944? Wow😮

[@pereldh5741]

@@2702simmo yep! 😊 short front overhang, long rear for me please!

[@SAMMYJR00777]

@@pereldh5741 928s4 or gts the best

[@paulbellas8797]

Always loved this car. It is the 944 to own. Wanted to buy one in college back in mid 90’s. Didn’t have the money but you could pick a nice one up for about 15k back then

[@bryandavies6074]

The gear change? Mine was sharp and precise - once I'd changed the linkage (a fairly simple job inside the cabin and a know wear point). The brakes? 944 brakes were neither 'here nor there'... however the 944 S2 had ventilated disks and 4 pads per disk on the front, At the time it was released they were, apparently, the most powerful brakes on any production car. And never a weak spot. The ABS worked fine and they were trustworthy. Weakspot over the range? The front anti-roll bar brackets were on the flimsy side and made of what seemed to be galvanized mild steel. Sitting on the nose, they picked up loads of raod salt and rusted. Both they and the frot suspension bushes were best replaced with after-market upgrades. A great, practicl and fun car - wish I'd never sold it.

[@Android-vk8yh]

I've always like these especially the shape had a toy of it when I was a kid, also like the engine note it doesn't sound like a Volkswagen Beetle on steroids which I'm not a fan of. I think Jay's Lotus line of hand built but not in a good way is certainly a tag that Lotus needs to try and avoid🤣🤣👏👍

[@magicalminis597]

My father bought a used one back in the 90s for $7000. Same car as now but back then no one wanted them. Solid stable and smooth at 100mph.

[@arryc3947]

Back in 2000 ish my boss had an E plate 944 - manual with the later 2.7 litre engine in it (fitted by Porsche after the original engine failed under warranty) - I say had, but I probably mean has, as I'm pretty sure he's still got it. Guards Red, black Fuchs wheels - it looked the absolute business. At the time I had an S13 200SX with ~280bhp which I loved, but I always remember being very happy to be thrown the keys of his 944 for the day when going to see clients. Tried to buy it off him back in 2004-5 for about £3k which was a lot of money for one back then. I remember 7-8 years after that you could pick one up for £1500. Nowadays, it seems they're 996 money. Missed the boat it seems but if I happen to fall into £10k I'll buy one for the nostalgia. The hated Porsche? Not by me.... ever..

[@dogchainsaw3923]

I picked up 1995 Audi UrS6 for $4200! Drives perfect too!

[@theodor12]

What does that have to do with this video?

[@theofficialstig]

@@theodor12 buying cars before they appreciate

[@centrelinecadd]

944S2 is a great car, one of the best I've owned - in Guards Red too, but it was immaculate

[@jamesross4593]

A white 1990 944 S2 was the first car I bought. Sold it three years later for 50% more. Wish I still had it, great little go-kart on twisty roads amd the steering feel was amazing.

[@scottthomson9813]

I was looking at one of these a couple years back. As they can be a bit problematic due to age though I picked up a 2016 Genesis Coupe instead. All the gizmos needed inside with a 6 speed manual, RWD, with a NA V6 with 348hp and a sports exhaust. Great little car but always have a soft spot for a nice 944!

[@SAMMYJR00777]

u cant compare 944s2 to genesis lol no comparison

[@scottthomson9813]

@@SAMMYJR00777 You are correct! The Genesis is faster, better built, has more tech and is more comfortable and more reliable. No comparison at all!!

[@yogiguitar1]

oh god! i had a 944s2! they're great cars i lived with it for about 5 years then it got killed in a accident.so i got the turbo s which was faster but not as good if that makes sense. anyway that got hit up the arse gave me whiplash and i then got an mx5 mk1 which was the most fun ive ever had.in fact i left england in my mx5 and wound up living in sw france.ive still got it actually but ive not driven it for 9yrs..ill get round to sorting it eventually. funnily enough my youngest son phoned me up a couple of weeks ago to tell me he's gone and bought a 944 ! i had to laugh cause he always liked my 944. i used to pick the kids up from school in it or go out to the cinema or to eat pizza etc. on reflection the s2 is one of the best cars ive ever owned. hard to beat it does it all.

[@marcusmcneal7453]

Never hit like so fast in my life

[@TheMentalblockrock]

Do you have one?

[@marcusmcneal7453]

@@TheMentalblockrock No, but I’ve been looking for one to buy. They’re super hard to find and even when I do see them they’re in bad shape. Owners still want upwards of $8k USD for rolling shells. They’ve become ridiculously expensive.

[@mustanglover1923]

Hey James, what would you choose between this 944 S2 and the Lotus Excel SE? Would love your views on pros and cons. Thanks! Rich

[@julesv8664]

Gear shifter play, there is a pin missing/loose under the shifter boot.

[@vincentpoole7588]

JayM - is there any chance one could do a test of the Vauxhall Carlton GSi3000 from a same era as san Porsche 944S2 ? Would be interested in a comparison versus the C30SE 24 valve 201Hp Six !

[@nickblake8041]

I've owned 6 of these over the years s2,s and turbos the last one was tuned by John Mitchelde independent specialist running 417 bhp .

[@TheRealJMGPorsche]

Hey Nick! You are a blast from the past! Get in touch... We are now known as JMG Porsche and have moved from Christchurch to Ferndown in Dorset. All the best - Jon Mitchell - JMG

[@Stag2997]

Later Turbos came with 250BHP. First Turbo with that was the Turbo S, with one of the most coveted Turbo Ss being made, a Silver Rose. That, and a chip didn't take a 250BHP not far off 300BHP. It was fun! I've owned two An '89 S2, which was a pricey thing to keep. Low mileage mind you. I then owned a 944 Turbo with 290BHP. That was alot of fun. It was quite modified! The harshness of the 968CS would have been down to the renowned M030 suspension option. This was standard on Turbo Ss but it was an option on S2s and Turbos, in either the 220 or 250 format.

[@ItsThatKidGreg]

I wanted one of these before I was in the market for a first car and I hate that I missed it at it's lowest value

[@TheJmebe]

Ah! I did buy one. I bought it in 2007 from RPM Technik. A white S2. A very elegant car. One that I regret selling..

[@amelbye]

the 968 and the 944 S2 has the same suspension, and the 968 is heavier. The 968 handling better is probably down to the 968 being fitted with M030 suspension vs this car having the standard suspension - or simply the 968 being in better condition. Brakes on the S2 are big enough for racing. It's not about the brakes not performing, it just has a more manual-like brake response and you have to push harder than you might be used to - just like the steering. The car doesn't do the job for you like most modern cars. Or perhaps the pads fitted are completely useless. While the 968 engine may be even better, the 944 S2 engine is very a very good engine! Strong even pull throughout the rev range. Easy to drive fast.

[@jim_bocho]

Bought one cheap in 2011. unfortunately, I crashed it 4 years ago couldn’t afford another one back then. Settled with an S and love it (miss my S2 still, though). That loose shift knob is an easy fix, btw.

[@SAMMYJR00777]

944s are tight as well. there are not much diff from s2 to s not a lot

[@jim_bocho]

@@SAMMYJR00777 Mostly low end torque is missing. And the looks, of course 😉

[@brianiswrong]

Love the rear lower balance👌as shown off at 3:27

[@chrisenright7003]

Valance. 👌

[@brianiswrong]

Blame auto thingy,cheers

[@jakerothwell4913]

Great location

[@robertcoyle1598]

Just recently sold my S2 and bought a 968 and I have to agree there is a difference. 968 is way more refined and modern. The S2 is more like a go kart.

[@nemiroal]

Go Kart is usually a good think. Can you elaborate on pros and cons between the two? I only have a 968.

[@robertcoyle1598]

@@nemiroal yeah your right about the term go-kart been a good statement. What I meant was the 968 is an improved version of the S2 and what makes the difference for me is the the gearbox. The shifts are so much better. And the engine does perform a lot better. Similar low end toque but the pick up to red line is much better. And another plus you don’t have the sill corrosion problems.

[@edweston8044]

I've seen a couple of vids on the S2. None of them match the exhaust note of mine. Stock as far as I know. It has some higher frequencies mixed in and I very much like pin the redline on it. It can't match the sound of the Ducati 748 that it shares the garage with, but few cars can. It does pass with authority. It has seen some work over the years. Some of it expensive. I can't think too many cars I'd want to replace it with.

[@allmonkeysallthetime]

Amazing little cars! The headlights can be a bit of a pain sometimes and the rear glass is EXPENSIVE (probably the most pricy item on them), but they handle like god. Drove a few decades ago and they were awesome. They used to be cheap in the '90s and were considered "the poor man's Porsche" until you drove one. Not the quickest things in the world, but they handled like nothing else when they came out. The mechanical feel of the gear box is pure awesome! Sadly, Porsche doesn't want to get into the affordable performance car game now to compete with Japanese makers.

[@LOTPOR0402]

Had one of these and the Excel over the years. The brakes are momo , same as the turbo , and should work well .If you want to try crap brakes try an Alfa 916 gtv/spider.Rust main issue on these 944 now and even 15 years ago .One of the advantages of the Lotus

[@benzinapaul7416]

Always liked the S2, as you say probably a great middle ground. Arguably a purer look than the 968.

[@familytime4473]

Looking to buy my first s2. Convertible or couple better for potential price gain?

[@69hongkongphooey]

Damien...Lord of Beans 🤣 A step up from the Omen.

[@Jorge-Tamacas]

I like the 911 from the same era of this 944 but, if I had to choose, I would go for the 944, especially the late 944 turbo with its 2.5L and 250 hp, same power as the 911. Why? Because almost everybody would choose the 911, and I like to go against the common trend, that's why I would choose the 944 which some say it had better handling than the 911. Anyway, great car presented in this video. Cheers!