Sell Miata, Buy Porsche 944. Good idea?

[black_falcon]

Owned an 86 944 for ten years now and done over 30,000 miles with it.

Great all around car. Extremely comfortable, the best HVAC system of any car I've owned, rock solid build quality, and really starting to turn heads as you don't see many nice examples on the roads anymore.

Your all around cheapest 944 to run will be an early 83-85 model, although the only real price difference between early and later cars are suspension parts and the climate control system.

You'll have to decide if you want an early (83-85) with the 924 derived interior, or the modernized oval dash of the 85.5+ models. I've driven both extensively and love the retro charm of the early dash, but they lack the refinement and brilliant HVAC system of the later cars.

Problem areas include:

1) Motor Mounts. If the car vibrates your fillings out at idle, plan on about $600. Use the updated Turbo variety.

2) Clutch. If the car has not had an updated spring center clutch, or has no record of the clutch being done, subtract at least $2000 off the price as it will likely need one very soon. The rubber cents of the original Sachs units perishes with age and is a very labor intensive job.

3) Oil cooler seals. Another labor intensive job, plan on spending $800-1000. It's unusual to see head gasket issues on 944's, so if you observe fluids mixing, this is most likely the culprit.

4) Major Services. The 944 is sensitive to timing and balance shaft belts, they do break, and thus a major service is recommended every 45k or 5 years (depending on who you ask). You can get by doing the water pump every other belt change. Budget $2000 if you can't do the work yourself.

5) Power steering racks. Prone to leaking on 944's. Mine leaks, many others leak. It's expensive to fix. Some people convert to manual racks if you're lucky enough to find PS parts from an 83, otherwise budget $1000.