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For several months I've been looking for a 951. There is so much said about how impressive the 951 is that I just had to try one as part of my Porsche journey. There are a lot of smart people out there in the discussion forums and, you can learn a lot from other 951 owners. Some of the things said again and again are "A 951 is the cheapest means to having a powerful 944." I am becoming convinced that this is true. However, I'll say right up front that the constant chatter about "boost" gets a bit wearisome for the non-turbo 944 owners. In spite of this, I have to say that the 951 is all that people say it is. It does everything the 944 does but does it a little bit better. If you like the 944, then you're going to LOVE the 951. 951's are hard to find though especially here in the mid-west. They are even more difficult to maintain [than a 944] but they raise the fun-meter a full notch above the 944 NA. One of the things I hear a lot too is there is no such thing as a cheap Porsche. Well that might be true, these things are relative. In my case I stumbled onto a very good deal (I think) on an 87 951. My car had some body damage that pushed the purchase price below $5000. It also had several light modifications. All in all it seemed in pretty good condition with just a few minor things needed to return it to everyday service. OK, maybe "minor" is an understatement. The mods:
The problems:
The upside:
Commentary - A couple of other trivial points around the comparison of the 951 to the 944. I've said from time to time that the 944 is an excellent commuter. This is true - the 944 is very stable at highway speeds, the brakes are as good (or better) than any other car I've driven and I find myself very comfortable in congested, high-speed traffic. The 944 has enough power to move through traffic easily. It not only feels very solid on the road, but it has adequate cabin heating and cooling and a good level of comfort. The 944 does NOT have an impressive amount of power. It is not a muscle car nor is it intended to be. The approach Porsche took was to create a solid, nimble car through careful weight distribution. This and a sophisticated suspension is the heart & soul of the Porsche 944.
Adding muscle, especially in a small, well-balanced package is difficult. The 951 is an attempt to do this. The 951 and the 944 are the same car - I've felt this way many times and I suspect that until you drive a 951 or work on one, you may feel that way too. Generally, this is true; however, the 2 models do drive differently. Under the hood of the 951, things are, well, cramped. There is plumbing everywhere! All the extra stuff under the hood takes 951 maintenance problems to another level of frustration. If you're considering a 944 or a 951, be aware that maintenance is a special part of owning these cars. Sure you can do you're own maintenance - of course you can. But if you're new to doing auto work, just know what you're getting into, these cars are well down toward the deep end of the pool. My plans for this project - I'm really not quite certain yet. I think the car's value justifies an approach different than that of my 944 Budget Porsche. I doubt that I will go for an all-out purist approach either. I suppose I will do what most do, and limit my modifications to a few well chosen and well executed improvements.
After taking care of the waterpump and front seals, I have to next deal with this problem - failed emissions testing.
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