What do you guys know about 944's?

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Here's what Sports Car International (Nov. 2005 ) had to say of the 944 Turbo in their Sports Car Buyer - 10 Best Sports Cars for $10,000 :

1986-89 Porsche 944 Turbo

The Porsche 944 has received plenty of criticism for not being a "real Porsche," but then again, everything watercooled and/or non-rear-engined has been subject to those barbs by the Porsche faithful. The 944, of course, is both front-engined and watercooled, plus it can trace its roots back to the Porsche/Volkswagen-developed 924.

All of this is bad news for the 944 owner's bragging rights at the next club dinner, but good news for anyone trying to get into a Porsche for a relatively small amount of dough. Missing the 911's historical appeal, the 944 has long languished beneath it older brother in the secondhand marketplace.. Torn-up standard 944s go for $5k and under, while our $10k budget can buy a very respectable 944 Turbo.

Introduced to the US market as a 1986 model, the 944 Turbo - known numerically as 951-immediately stood apart from the non-turbo version. Changes to the front and rear styling gave the Turbo a more purposeful look, while 16-inch rollers with upgraded brakes at each corner improved stance and stopping. The big news, of course, was in the go department, where Porsche's big 2.5-liter 4-cylinder was boosted to 217 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. Sport suspension helped contain the new-found power, and the 944's existing balance-aided by a rear mounted transaxle-made it much more forgiving than a 911.

For 1988, Porsche introduced the 944 Turbo S, which included a power increase to 247 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. A series of upgrades, including larger brakes with ABS, uprated springs, stiffer suspension bushings and available limited-slip differential, further separated the Turbo S from earlier turbocharged models. The Turbo S trim level became standard for all 944s in 1989, their final year in the US.

Though the 944 may or may not be considered a "real Porsche" by some, many 944 parts and repair expenses are shared with its supposedly more authentic siblings. So, if you have the choice, an immaculate standard Turbo is a much better choice than a ratty Turbo S-the latter is more willing to nickel-and-dime an owner to death. Indeed, most of the worthwhile $10k choices will be standard 944 Turbos-power-hungry buyers can slowly bring these cars up to Turbo S specs as budgets allow.

All 944s have timing belts and interference engines-in simple terms, if the belt breaks, expect severe metal-on-metal contact. Like most timing belt cars, most of the Labor involved in changing the 944 belt is the same as changing the water pump. But, since belt changes are much more frequent than water pump failures\ and since Porsche water pumps can cost a few pennies, plenty of owners change the belt and leave it at that. To decipher that sort of history, service records are a definite plus on any prospective purchase.

The 944 will never have the cachet of the 911, but a 944 Turbo provides reasonably comparable performance, more user friendly handling and easier to swallow entry fees than it's storied stablemate. If you can handle the hit to your reputation, the 944 Turbo is an excellent $10k pick.

Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[Brucelee]

"the 944 Turbo is an excellent $10k pick"

I agree, but "choose wisely, my son!"

[Perfectlap]

many a porshafile have been duped into buying a 944 because of its cheap price.
Pay me now or pay me later=== so true with this car, in the end you'll have wished you saved up for a nicer Porsche.

That being said growing up in the 80's I always thought the 944 like the 928 was a very modern design. Back then I didn't like the 911 like I do now, I thought it looked like a beetle.

[tqtran]

I use to have a 1988 944 as a winter beater. It ran great in the snow as long as you keep the stock rims and a good set of all season tires. So many people put 17s on them but the stock skinny rims cut the snow better.

I would reccomend a 1987 and newer 944. They have the newer interrior and most importantly, they have the updated timing belt tensioner (can you say less time in the shop??)

[ljd-924se]

i owned and maintained a 924S for two years in college and loved the car, but it did require a ********************LOAD of maintenance.

finding a 924S/944/944 turbo with a limited slip differential will help a ton in the snow. however, they are tough to find and probably need a rebuild by now, as they are clutch-type LSD's.

IMHO there are better winter beaters in this price range, but there aren't any better sports cars in the $10K range than a 944 turbo.

[ohioboxster]

I think I must not have made my intentions real clear, I was looking at 2k 944's with high miles to drive for 4 months and beat it up a couple of times on a fun day at the track. Not at 10k turbo, unless Im misunderstanding replys. Do you mean do bother with a 2k 944 it just will be a money pit? What else is out there to meet my needs?

[Ghostrider 310]

Originally Posted by ohioboxster

I think I must not have made my intentions real clear, I was looking at 2k 944's with high miles to drive for 4 months and beat it up a couple of times on a fun day at the track. Not at 10k turbo, unless Im misunderstanding replys. Do you mean do bother with a 2k 944 it just will be a money pit? What else is out there to meet my needs?

Unless, it's a solid car you will put 2K in it quick if it has problems, that's what everyone is saying. I paid two thousand, for a clutch job and that was a few years ago.

[ohioboxster]

2k for a clutch? Damn, parts still pricey? I've noticed alot of the ads state new water pump, timing belt, clutch etc.