I've owned my 944 for 3 years. A few years before that I drove my friend's stock H reg MX-5. I would describe it as nimble and predictable in the corners, but unimpressive in acceleration. Now the n/a 944 is the one of the least impressive accelerating Porsches, but 2nd and 3rd gears still put a smile on my face, and the cornering ability is so sticky it's incredible. The driving position of the 944 also makes it feel rather special.

There are not many worthwhile performance mods that can be made to the n/a 944's, but the turbo engines seem to infinitely modifiable.

Hi Dave, lots to consider there, but here's my take on this...

The 944 is a heavy car compared with the Mazda, so in general it is not a 'pocket rocket' car, you will have to adopt a different way to drive it. That said, the 944 is simply sublime in the handling department, not many cars come close to the way it sticks to the road like a train on tracks especially in the bends, it's exciting! The 944 power plants are big units that by todays standards are a bit 'agricultural', but they do have power and can be tweaked, again they are different to what you have experienced in the Mazda. Consider the Mazda a sports coupe, the 944 as a GT. If you are after a fast car, then perhaps a Boxster might be more suitable and closer to what you think you want, but a decent 944 Turbo will get you as many points on your license as you need (to lose it!), that's for sure.

There are several options though to choose from, all have their good and bad points. Best thing to do is go and have a look around, test drive as many as you can for as long as you can before making any buying decisions. Maintenance and upkeep costs will factor in here too, as they do require a fair amount of TLC , just have a look at the threads here, or on the USA forums (Pelican Parts, Renlist, etc.)

Have a look at the 924S - its slightly lighter and drives really well.
Try a 2.5L 944 Turbo, it's a Saturn V rocket in disguise...and there are plenty of performance options to be had, LSD, vented brakes, chipped ECU, and blah blah blah..you get the picture.
Try a 2.5L 944S (my personal favourite) this is the 16V engine, no real difference to the 8V at lower than 4000 revs, but after that...Houston, we have lift off! The later S2 has a bigger engine (3.0L) and better intake mechanicals and the bodywork is taken from the Turbo, so a really good all-round car, well worth a look.
The standard 2.5L 944 is a good solid car and the NA 8V engine is more robust that the 16V, so maintenance costs are lower.

Then, if the bank can stand it, go and have a look at a 968...but don't buy a lemon cheaply as it will come back and bite you, due to the Variocam design, the engine tends to need a full rebuild at around 100K miles due to camshaft sprocket wear, etc. This is expensive...make sure you get a solid service history.

Good luck with your decision, and keep us posted!

I will echo what has already been posted, the 944 is a different beast to the MX5, a S2 is a great all rounder with a big torquey motor, the turbo can be very tame when tootling but a run in a 300bhp car which can be had on a 250 for about £500 will blow your socks off if that is what you want, quicker and better handling than a lot of modern "performance cars"
It will feel more solid and is better built than a Mazda, but remember they are old cars now and if not properly looked after can cause grief and £££s
Buy a good un and you will love it.plus you can fit a shiiit load of stuff in them.

it's all been said, other than pop along to your local meeting and see some cars for yourself.

A supercharged MX-5 is going to be an awful lot faster than any normally aspirated 944, even an S2. Its driving position is better, too.

Only an NB can match a 944s propensity to rust...

A supercharged MX-5 is going to be an awful lot faster than any normally aspirated 944, even an S2. Its driving position is better, too.