How does a GTV6 compare to a Porsche 944?

["George Collins" <lag@domain.elided>]

Doug Holtsinger writes:

How does a GTV6 compare to a Porsche 944? Can anyone compare these two cars
in terms of handling, acceleration, braking, suspension, etc.?


Here is my comparison:

Engine: This is the best part of the GTV6. Although it doesn't produce that
much more power than the Porsche, the exhaust tone and refinement of the
engine is unmatched by cars costing many times more. With a little more
power and lower gearing, the GTV6 is marginally faster in a straight line
than the 944. However, compared to the Alfa V6, the Porsche inline 4 is very
pedestrian motor. It vibrates a lot more, and it not nearly as interesting
to run up to redline. It think most people who own a GTV6 will agree that
the engine is best thing about the car.

Transmission: Both cars have transaxles, but Porsche did a much better job
in terms of shifting quality. The Alfa shift quality is abysmal to anyone
not familiar with it. To those who are, it is merely atrocious. The 944
linkage is no great shakes, but certainly better than the Alfa. Both cars
have problems with syncho wear.

Steering: Both cars use unassisted rack and pinion steering that IMHO offer
significantly better steering feel than modern power steering equipped
vehicles. However, the latter 944's had power steering, while the early
944's had the weird offset steering wheel that never seemed to fit my body.

Handling: Although both cars handle exceedingly well, this area of the
vehicle really shows the difference in design philosophies. The Porsche was
designed for the autobahn. It is more stiffly sprung than the GTV6, with
less roll. It is more of a neutral handler and you can pitch the tail out
easier than with the Alfa. The Alfa seems like was designed to travel fast
on the narrow mountainous roads that are so common in Italy. The suspension
is much softer with a heavy dose of under steer at the limit. It is also a
much more stable in regards to throttle response or road conditions than the
Porsche. If you hit a bump at speed in the Alfa, the deDion rear suspension
keeps the rear end planted with little change in direction. Although a
stable car, the semi-trailing arm rear suspension in the Porsche is much
more likely than the Alfa to send you sideways. Generally, the worse the
quality of the roads, the better the GTV6 will handle in respect to the
Porsche.

On a racetrack, a stock Porsche will outhandle a stock GTV6 because of its
wider tires (215 vs 195) and stiffer suspension. But in the real world, the
differences are moot. Note that a common modification in the GTV6 is the
installation of a heavier rear sway bar. This dramatically reduces the
oversteer designed into the stock Alfa.

Braking: In the real world, braking differences are minor. On the track, the
Alfa tends to suffer brake fade because the inboard rear disks do not get
enough ventilation.

Modifications: Modifying a 944 is very simple; you sell it and buy a 944
Turbo. The Alfa offers more room for performance upgrades in terms of
dropping in a 3.0 litre engine from a Milano 164. With a Sperry valve job, S
cams and FI mods, these engines can produce well over 200 hp. In a light car
like a GTV6, that is a lot of power. Of course, a 944T probably offers more
performance for the same cost.

At this point in time, neither vehicle is anywhere near cutting edge
performance. Thus, I am not to sure that picking one over the other based on
0-60 times or skidpad figures makes any sense. You should buy the one that
is more fun to drive and gives you the most pleasure. The slight performance
edge the 944 has at a track really doesn't overcome the fact that for me at
least, the GTV6 is a much more fun car to drive on the road. The combination
of the jewel-like engine with the stable and predictable chassis has always
kept me from buying a Porsche. I suppose it always will.

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