Cup or "Tear drop" mirrors

[Copperman05]

90's mirrors on what is essentially a 70's designed car do look wrong to me, I also prefer the standard door handles and rear spoiler. With the exception of the lozenge steering wheel (which I hate) the car looks best left as standard IMO. However I also like a period looking track focused car too.

I do think the 968 or 933 cup wheels suit these cars buts thats about it...

Edd

 

[pauljmcnulty]

With the exception of the lozenge steering wheel (which I hate) the car looks best left as standard

I don't have an issue with the original wheel. To me, all the Momo replacements look like cheap corporate kart wheels. [&o]

 

[MarkK]

The Lozenge wheel has grown on me,looks quite unique and period.

 

[Ewan]

When looking at the car from the noze, the flag mirrors seem to suit the earlier (pointed, more angular front-end) cars best. But, with the introduction of the more rounded "turbo" front-end, the softer shape of the Cup mirror seems a better match. Similarly Cup wheels work well with the Cup mirrors, while the flatter D90 wheels work better with the flatter flag mirrors. (IMHO)

And surely you can't argue against the Porsche designers updating the rear by fitting the bridge spoiler in place of a lump of (continually fading) black rubber.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Bridge spoiler is a PITA when part of it comes loose, or worse the typical 968 problem of the "hockey sticks" coming loose. Frankly the whole thing is poorly made and poorly designed. ISTR the rubber spoiler also had better aerodynamics.

Guys it really is a grass is greener thing much of this IMHO. On our 968 nearly every PITA thing that needs fixing or sorting out relates to one of the "updates" they made from the 944. The side skirts and the gash beading seals all over the car being a case in point.

 

[Trevor68]

And surely you can't argue against the Porsche designers updating the rear by fitting the bridge spoiler in place of a lump of (continually fading) black rubber.

This stuff "Einszett Gummi Pflege Rubber Conditioner" has brought the colour back to the rubber spoiler and water beads off it nicely too.

Not stopped me hankering after a bridge spoiler though.

 

[pauly]

ORIGINAL: Neil Haughey

Bridge spoiler is a PITA when part of it comes loose, or worse the typical 968 problem of the "hockey sticks" coming loose. Frankly the whole thing is poorly made and poorly designed. ISTR the rubber spoiler also had better aerodynamics.

One has hung off the back off my car for 20 years without issue, got any data pointing to the earlier spoiler being better ?.

 

[George Elliott]

Cup mirrors suit certain model years, generally 89 onwards. Cups on a 1980 924turbo would look wrong IMO
The 951 and S2 can wear them due to the later smooth front PU.

I agree your appreciation of the lozenge wheel Paul, they date from an era of excellent Porsche's - the 3.2 carrera (except MY 84/85) the 944, 951, 959, 964 which were cars that delivered a tactile driving experience and a fingertip touch. Momo wheels are better suited to people who drive with their fists[]

Any data on the RS1600i rear spoiler to compare Pauly? I always considered them more of a Marketing component like the speedo.

George
944t

PS, no 959 experience but vividly recall the 4wd drift shots with one cup (like) mirror.

 

[pauly]

ORIGINAL: George Elliott

Any data on the RS1600i rear spoiler to compare Pauly? I always considered them more of a Marketing component like the speedo.

I never really got the RS1600i, bit of a tarted up XR3i in my view, regarding the spoiler I have no data but look at just about any saloon car racing where they are allowed to modify the rear spoiler and it's usually higher than standard, what do you think ?.

 

[George Elliott]

Its a fashion thing with motor sport roots IMO.

Yes, DTM or Saloon cars have rear spoilers for down force purposes, F! cars sprouted them in the 60's, Sports cars like the 917 learned their benefits - the hard way, Group B rally cars needed them, Porsche put them on the 2.7 RS - the duck tail, for genuine reasons of parting the rear airflow at high speed, and reducing rear lift. Recently the Mk1 Audi TT found that a teardrop profile is unstable at higher speeds, and following a few scares and bad press they were added.

A 944 in un-speed-restricted Germany, yes I think it would be noticeable above 120mph.

But does a diesel family saloon need a one inch long 3/4 inch high rear spoiler.......the car salesman probably thinks so.

George
944t

 

[Copperman05]

ORIGINAL: George Elliott
Momo wheels are better suited to people who drive with their fists[]

Dont Momo wheels appear on just about every Porsche Le Mans race car from the 70's + 80's? Ham fisted indeed, I'm in..

Edd

 

[colin944]

The reason they put spoilers higher up on racing cars dtm etc is to get the wing into clean airflow.This creates down force,however on a road car they are usually added for cosmetic reasons or to clean up the air flow over the car in order to reduce lift and not to add alot of downforce.The TT had very bug problems at it's launch as it would suffer from severe lift off oversteer at very high speed.There were a few deaths in Germany on the autobahns.The addition of the small lip on the tail cured this problem along with a rear suspension mod.I don't personally think Porsche would have fitted a spoiler to the 944 if it made no difference to the car.

 

[Hilux]

I don't personally think Porsche would have fitted a spoiler to the 944 if it made no difference to the car.

If you sit at over 150mph for any length of time you`ll realise what the flat flooring and aerodynamics actually does - been there and done that (in Germany of course [] )

I can elaborate but trust me it works.

 

[Copperman05]

who said Momo wheels weren't in good taste? [&:]

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2536223/1991-porsche-944


I rest my case...[][][][]

Edd

 

[944 man]

Not quite the point, but the original 944 wheel (well, not actually the 'original' wheel, but you know what I mean) is by far and away the best quality wheel. It feels right in a way that I cant quite articulate.

Its a shame that its no longer considered to be aesthetically pleasing and also a shame that there wasnt ever quite enough room for it in even the late 944s cabin.

I wouldnt entertain changing that wheel, or the slightly larger version of it, if I had a 964 or 964RS...

 

[Jonny944CS]

I also love my lozenge [&:] My only gripe is that for track use it is a little too far away. A 2-3 inches closer to my chest would be spot on. Anyone know of a spacer kit???


If my hazy memory of aerodynamics lectures serves me correct, rear screen angles of around 30° are particularly bad for inducing lift at elevated motorway speeds - even in cooking hatchbacks. For example, the large spoiler seen on the back of Rover 200/25's was genuinely the result of an oh s#it moment during the transition from stylist to engineer...

I would guess that both the rubber and bridge type spoilers to have a similar effect on reducing lift, with the bridge version being more efficient in terms of minimising drag.

I've often wondered if the extended-length rear bumper on the 924 Carrera GTs was also added to reduce lift...

 

[wolfie308]

I tend to agree that tear drops and clear lenses better suit the S.2 and turbo. I'd have tear drops on mine if it wasn't for the cost and that I'd have to have both doors sprayed again as the difference in base would be very apparent.

However, here's one exception that I particularly like, photo courtesy of smiffyraf

As a complete aside, pic below shows my clear lenses to the first McLaren F1................in the world [8D] A subtle improvement over the half amber originals IMHO and the owner's.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Edd - I think you may need to have a rest![]