1st gen 86 vs. Porsche 944 - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

venturaII · 12-20-2021, 08:06 PM

Just like the title says. Not a 944 S or Turbo, just the standard 2.5 liter, 160 bhp model. If it matters, it'd be a pre-facelift 944 (early 1985), with the early interior/dash. Track potential as well as DD. Low miles. Discuss amongst yourselves...I gots my reasons.

(The '86 would be a '13 FR-S)

EAGLE5 · 12-20-2021, 10:13 PM

On track, you can find prepped 944s for relatively cheap. Daily driver? LOL!

BrahmaBull1990 · 12-21-2021, 12:01 AM

I want a 944 so bad. The prices ballooned right when they caught my eye.

venturaII · 12-21-2021, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EAGLE5

On track, you can find prepped 944s for relatively cheap. Daily driver? LOL!

Depends what you call cheap. I've got a friend trying to sell me a 100% stock (with Fuchs) 30K mile '85 for mid teens. Total creampuff..just had belts, water pump and all other services done. Just trying to decide if it'd be a reasonable replacement for my FRS or not...

WolfpackS2k · 12-21-2021, 08:47 AM

I'd prefer the post face lift model. Interior doesn't look like it was designed in the 70s by VW. Honestly the overall performance is probably a draw but I'd be willing to bet everything is better on the FRS. Steering, shifting, speed, basic comfort.

Unless you're a mechanic of intermediate ability I wouldn't recommend the Porsche.

EAGLE5 · 12-21-2021, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturaII

Depends what you call cheap. I've got a friend trying to sell me a 100% stock (with Fuchs) 30K mile '85 for mid teens. Total creampuff..just had belts, water pump and all other services done. Just trying to decide if it'd be a reasonable replacement for my FRS or not...

A "classic" car is not going to be a great daily driver. The only advantage is cachet with 944 nerds, who are all dudes.

nikitopo · 12-21-2021, 02:08 PM

A pre-facelift 944 was my dream car as a kid. The 1st gen 86/BRZ is a modern replacement with a bit worse front to rear weight ratio (non transaxle). I would buy the 944 only if I wanted to have a classic car.

Arthur-A · 12-21-2021, 03:00 PM

I made a similar move. I sold my 2020 86 and got a 1992 Nissan 240sx with a stock 155hp KA24DE in a very good condition. And I never looked back! I enjoy the 240 way more. The steering, shifting and overall feel is better. And it is a better daily driver because the engine although having less horsepower has a better torque curve, so it is pleasant to drive at speed limits and the car is smooth instead of being jerky. I haven't taken it to a track yet, just waiting to refresh the brakes and put some coilovers, but I'm constantly taking it to twisty roads and it feels amazing.

I guess the Porsche 944 would feel in a same way nicer than the BRZ/FRS/86.

venturaII · 12-21-2021, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

I'd prefer the post face lift model. Interior doesn't look like it was designed in the 70s by VW. Honestly the overall performance is probably a draw but I'd be willing to bet everything is better on the FRS. Steering, shifting, speed, basic comfort.

Unless you're a mechanic of intermediate ability I wouldn't recommend the Porsche.

I used to prefer the facelifted interior, but the styling of the original has aged better than I thought it would, and I kind of like it now. It's more interesting than the facelift one, for lack of a better word. The FRS shifter feel has never been terribly impressive for a rwd car. The steering is very nice, but the 944 is no slouch in that department either... The idea of manual windows and mirrors, simple radio, etc are also quite appealing to me.

Turning wrenches is not an issue for me. lol

venturaII · 12-21-2021, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EAGLE5

A "classic" car is not going to be a great daily driver. The only advantage is cachet with 944 nerds, who are all dudes.

I've had several daily drivers that were otherwise referred to as classics. I enjoy a bare bones car, especially one with some character. And as far as cachet with '944 dudes', take a look around this place...it's a sword fest in here. I'm 54...the days of women being interested in what I drive are way behind me.

thomasmryan · 12-21-2021, 06:13 PM

price new lifters on an 8V and you will poop your pants a little))

venturaII · 12-21-2021, 08:19 PM

Yeah, I'm familiar with the P tax...I've done a fair amount of work on air cooleds. It can take your breath away..

alex87f · 12-22-2021, 04:22 AM

I actually wanted a 944 when I started the purchasing process that led to my 86. It went like:

-Let's get a 944. Those are what? 5 grand?
-Oh no, good ones are actually 10 grand
-Crap, even those ones aren't great. And you can get a Boxster with a flat-6 for that money
-Well, a really decent Boxster 2.5 is actually 15 grand
-Wait, I can get an 86 for a couple grand more
-> buys an 86.

thomasmryan · 12-22-2021, 07:21 AM

Both are fun cars. It's tough to find a transaxle car that hasn't been modded/hacked.

I have about the same amount of monies in both.

12-20-2021, 08:06 PM	#1
venturaII Only users lose drugs. Join Date: Nov 2014 Drives: All the time Location: Shrewsbury upon Worcestershire Posts: 1,818 Thanks: 874 Thanked 1,067 Times in 674 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	1st gen 86 vs. Porsche 944 Just like the title says. Not a 944 S or Turbo, just the standard 2.5 liter, 160 bhp model. If it matters, it'd be a pre-facelift 944 (early 1985), with the early interior/dash. Track potential as well as DD. Low miles. Discuss amongst yourselves...I gots my reasons. (The '86 would be a '13 FR-S) __________________ "To know a thing well, know it's limits. Only when pushed beyond its tolerances will true nature be seen." Amtal Rule

12-21-2021, 12:01 AM	#3
BrahmaBull1990 Howdy Join Date: Feb 2021 Drives: 2020 BRZ PP Location: Snohomish, WA Posts: 589 Thanks: 1,271 Thanked 446 Times in 248 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I want a 944 so bad. The prices ballooned right when they caught my eye. __________________ There's a point at 7,000 RPM... where everything fades. The machine becomes weightless. Just disappears. And all that's left is a body moving through space and time. 7,000 RPM. That's where you meet it. You feel it coming. It creeps up on you, close in your ear. Asks you a question. The only question that matters. Who are you?

12-21-2021, 08:19 PM	#12
venturaII Only users lose drugs. Join Date: Nov 2014 Drives: All the time Location: Shrewsbury upon Worcestershire Posts: 1,818 Thanks: 874 Thanked 1,067 Times in 674 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Yeah, I'm familiar with the P tax...I've done a fair amount of work on air cooleds. It can take your breath away.. __________________ "To know a thing well, know it's limits. Only when pushed beyond its tolerances will true nature be seen." Amtal Rule

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12-21-2021, 02:08 PM	#7
nikitopo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: '15 BRZ RA Location: Greece Posts: 3,787 Thanks: 2,416 Thanked 1,944 Times in 1,261 Posts Mentioned: 29 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	A pre-facelift 944 was my dream car as a kid. The 1st gen 86/BRZ is a modern replacement with a bit worse front to rear weight ratio (non transaxle). I would buy the 944 only if I wanted to have a classic car.

12-21-2021, 03:00 PM	#8
Arthur-A Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Drives: 2020 BRZ/86, 2020 BMW 330i Location: PNW, USA Posts: 292 Thanks: 196 Thanked 172 Times in 104 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I made a similar move. I sold my 2020 86 and got a 1992 Nissan 240sx with a stock 155hp KA24DE in a very good condition. And I never looked back! I enjoy the 240 way more. The steering, shifting and overall feel is better. And it is a better daily driver because the engine although having less horsepower has a better torque curve, so it is pleasant to drive at speed limits and the car is smooth instead of being jerky. I haven't taken it to a track yet, just waiting to refresh the brakes and put some coilovers, but I'm constantly taking it to twisty roads and it feels amazing. I guess the Porsche 944 would feel in a same way nicer than the BRZ/FRS/86.

12-21-2021, 06:13 PM	#11
thomasmryan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Drives: hyper blue Location: east tn Posts: 401 Thanks: 166 Thanked 260 Times in 154 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	price new lifters on an 8V and you will poop your pants a little))

12-22-2021, 04:22 AM	#13
alex87f Meow Join Date: Aug 2017 Drives: GT86, Volvo 996 Location: France Posts: 532 Thanks: 314 Thanked 444 Times in 236 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I actually wanted a 944 when I started the purchasing process that led to my 86. It went like: -Let's get a 944. Those are what? 5 grand? -Oh no, good ones are actually 10 grand -Crap, even those ones aren't great. And you can get a Boxster with a flat-6 for that money -Well, a really decent Boxster 2.5 is actually 15 grand -Wait, I can get an 86 for a couple grand more -> buys an 86.

12-22-2021, 07:21 AM	#14
thomasmryan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Drives: hyper blue Location: east tn Posts: 401 Thanks: 166 Thanked 260 Times in 154 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Both are fun cars. It's tough to find a transaxle car that hasn't been modded/hacked. I have about the same amount of monies in both.

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