What do you guys know about 944's? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

ohioboxster · 10-23-2006, 05:11 PM

Depending on how much in repairs the Boxster sets me back of course. I have been looking at 944's on e-bay for the last couple of weeks but I dont know anything about them. I can pick up a decent looking high mileage 944 for a little over 2k. I would like to drive it in the winter and maybe a few times over the summer beat the heck out of it on a track. Waste of time? Keep in mind I dont care if its turbo they are still pricey for a winter beater as far as Im concerned. I have researched web forums and the only thing I figured out is the fact that they need the timing belts looked after. Any info?

Paul · 10-23-2006, 05:59 PM

944s require a lot of maintenance, head on over to:

http://www.clarks-garage.com/

NickCats · 10-23-2006, 06:01 PM

ohioboxster,

My first Porsche was a 1987 924S which I had for about 2 years ( 2003 - 2005 ).

Basically the same as a 944 without the flared wheel wells...

A fun little car ( picked it up for about $3k ) but absolutely SUCKS in the snow !!!

The hatchback and removable sun roof is nice, but due to the front engine / rear wheel drive design, if there is ANY snow on the ground don't expect to go anywhere ( I found this out the hard way one night ).

Hope this helps...

Nick

RandallNeighbour · 10-23-2006, 06:04 PM

Ohio, my mechanic says that the 944 is the repair shop's dream... always in for this and that, and the parts and labor ain't cheap.

My mechanic claims he bought and paid for his wife's new Mercedes with the monies coming in from repairing 944's!

Paul · 10-23-2006, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCats

ohioboxster,

My first Porsche was a 1987 924S which I had for about 2 years ( 2003 - 2005 ).

Basically the same as a 944 without the flared wheel wells...

A fun little car ( picked it up for about $3k ) but absolutely SUCKS in the snow !!!

The hatchback and removable sun roof is nice, but due to the front engine / rear wheel drive design, if there is ANY snow on the ground don't expect to go anywhere ( I found this out the hard way one night ).

Hope this helps...

Nick

Did you have snow tires on the car? If not, I agree 924s are helpless in snow.

I've driven 924s in the winter for decades. If you install quality snow tires on all four wheels and put about three 40 pound bags of salt in the hatch, they are great in the snow.

stucatz · 10-23-2006, 06:43 PM

I owned a pristine, ducumented early '85 944. The car is a great joy to drive, rock solid in corners with a great third gear. It would be a considerable come down in power from a Boxster. The cars are aging, they require expensive maintenance, it would not take much to have a repair eclipse the value of the car depending on what breaks, unless you are mechanical and enjoy being on a car as a hobby, I'd advise staying away. My (almost a father in law) owned a Porsche dealership. He told me on many occasions the Turbo's required more shop time than the NA units. The turbos are however, very quick.

Brucelee · 10-23-2006, 06:48 PM

944s are fun, the Turbo is the Bomb.

Sadly, it is an annuity for your mechanic and parts shop.

NickCats · 10-23-2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Did you have snow tires on the car? If not, I agree 924s are helpless in snow.

I've driven 924s in the winter for decades. If you install quality snow tires on all four wheels and put about three 40 pound bags of salt in the hatch, they are great in the snow.

Paul,

I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee for the winter, the 924 was my fun car, but one night I got caught in an unexpected snow storm without winter tires and without anything to weight down the rear. I was caught at a red light at an intersection on a slight incline and when the light changed I could not go anywhere. Once all the cars stuck behind me finally went around me, I had to back up and turn around and head back the way I came...

Nick

Darin · 10-23-2006, 06:05 PM

ohioboxster,

I had a '84 944 before I got my Boxster. Yes the timing belt is important to check out. My 944 had the belt broken and replaced before I bought it. The car ran great, but it would not pass emissions testing. Found out it had a bent valve. This lead to the whole head getting rebuilt (also replaced the timing belt). Replacing the belt requires you to take the whole front of the engine off. So you might as well replace oil seals and water pump (if it has not be done already). The 944 also has an issue with motor mounts not lasting. The replacements are much better than the originals. All in all it was a fun car. They handle well and parts are not as costly as the Boxster. Further, things are easier to get to than in a Boxster. You will probably appreciate that after your SC install.

The only major draw back was I never got acknowleged in the 944 like I do in the Boxster. 911 and Boxster owners now give me the nod. I feel so special.

Darin

ohioboxster · 10-23-2006, 06:12 PM

I found that there are a ton of high mileage 944's out there some in the 200k range, it just kind of made me think that the car must not be too bad. I did notice the timing belts and water pump issues. I really dont want a money pit.

Silverstreak · 10-24-2006, 03:06 AM

I think the 944 was quite a bit different from the 924. Maybe it was the same platform, but if you check out the interior, dash, engine specs and so on, the 944 was basically it's own model.

I seem to remember the early 944s had motor mount problems and something to do with the dashboard.... I can't remember if it was a heater core problem or what..... but when I was looking, I was advised to get a newer model rather than older. I ended up ditching the idea and buying a second generation Toyota MR2.

Marc Gelefsky · 10-24-2006, 05:51 AM

I have owned 4 944/951's and I will tell you first..

They can be expensive to maintain
You must get a PPI
A clutch can cost huge $$$
Timing belts if not taken care of can break and bend your valves
These cars are getting old!

Those are just a few items... that said..
They are fun to drive and well balanced. I drove a 951 for years in the winter, you must get snows.

Check out the 944 forum on Rennlist.com
If I was going to buy one I would probbaly look for a nice 944S2

my .000944 cents

blue2000s · 10-24-2006, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverstreak

I think the 944 was quite a bit different from the 924. Maybe it was the same platform, but if you check out the interior, dash, engine specs and so on, the 944 was basically it's own model.

I was thinking the same thing. The suspension, interior (after the first year), exterior and engine were all different between the 944 and 924. I think the only real similarity were the car's profiles. In fact, I think the 924 was even built by Audi where the 944 was assembled in the Porsche factory.

Marc Gelefsky · 10-24-2006, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue2000s

I was thinking the same thing. The suspension, interior (after the first year), exterior and engine were all different between the 944 and 924. I think the only real similarity were the car's profiles. In fact, I think the 924 was even built by Audi where the 944 was assembled in the Porsche factory.

Nope, most 944's were built in the Audi Neckarsulm (sp?) plant
I think only the 968 and "maybe" some very late 944's were buit by Porsche

The 87-88 924S had the 944 2.5 engine and suspension, the early 924's had the Audi motor. The 944 had the same interior as the 924 until 85.5 when it was updated.

944 faq