Fact Or Fantasy? Detroit News Dares To Compare Scion FR-S To The Iconic Porsche 944

Oh, it’s good to be in my 20s again. Auburn hair. Lightning-quick reflexes. Eyes like a hawk.

Or maybe it’s just this Scion FR-S I’m driving. Dude, it’s dope.

Not since my first sports car 25 years ago — Porsche’s legendary 944 — has a thrifty thoroughbred felt so good in my hands. “Affordable sports car,” after all, is usually an oxymoron.

But for the durable, adorable Mazda Miata roadster (25 years old this year), examples of the breed rarely survive the business bean counters.

I grew up at the track, the oil-stained son of a Porsche race jockey. But on the street, Porsches were exotics — megabuck 911 playthings for middle-aged moguls. Until the 944 broke the mold. Long before Mercedes (CLA 250) and Audi (A3) crafted down-market sedans to lure younger demographics, Stuttgart hatched a $20K, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2+2 sports car that set young motorheads’ hair on fire.

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randy3023 - 2/19/2015 1:22:44 PM

+1 Boost

The author of this article isn't the first person to notice the similarity between the FR-S and the 944 (and 951). They are quite an interesting comparison.

MDarringer - 2/19/2015 11:27:28 PM

0 Boost

Except the fact that the FRS is garbage and the 944 is genius

MDarringer - 2/19/2015 8:48:39 PM

0 Boost

The 944 will kill the stupid Subaru mess. Bring A GT86 to Willow and I'll borrow a 944.

mini22 - 2/23/2015 7:17:55 PM

+1 Boost

I think it will be a lot closer than MDarringer suggests. We complain about lack of horsepower in the Scion FRS. Yet 200 HP still beats 158HP and 2,700 LBS is less than 2,900 LBS. It is a given therefore that the Scion is going to have the straight line advantage on any of the straights. Then you get down to the turns. In it's day the 944(1983 to 1987) pulled an average of 83 to 85 G on a 200 ft. skid pad. A Scion does it with Prius designated tires at about 89 to 90 G. Perhaps with better tires and plus size wheels the 944 would be able to equal or exceed the Scion. However we are comparing stock to stock. Remember stock 944 came with 16 or even 15 inch wheels in the 80's. A stock Scion, I think comes with 17 inch wheels. It is an interesting comparison but it is hard to imagine that an 83 to 88 944 stock 944 model would out perform a Scion. I do think it would be an interesting comparison between an 89-91 944 S2 and a Scion. Remember that 944 had the 3.0 4 cylinder with 208 HP and 207LBS of torque. That car, I believe did offer a 17 inch wheel option from the 944 Turbo. In that case the Porsche might run the Scion very close and perhaps beat it.It would be a fun video to find out.