Talk to me about 944's...
Discussion
Morning Porsche section 
The lease on my Golf R comes to an end in April, and as I no longer do mega miles, I'm tempted by the prospect of buying and running some interesting cars to use as my daily.
Always had a bit of a Porsche itch that I've never scratched, and being a child of the 90s, I've always had a thing for the 944, so I've started looking.
late model S2 Cabriolets float my boat - so, what do I need to know?
If there any good links, or preferred specialist dealers, I'd be grateful for any info
Cheers,
Jon
The lease on my Golf R comes to an end in April, and as I no longer do mega miles, I'm tempted by the prospect of buying and running some interesting cars to use as my daily.
Always had a bit of a Porsche itch that I've never scratched, and being a child of the 90s, I've always had a thing for the 944, so I've started looking.
late model S2 Cabriolets float my boat - so, what do I need to know?
If there any good links, or preferred specialist dealers, I'd be grateful for any info
Cheers,
Jon
There are two rules when buying a 944 as far as I'm concerned...
1. Check for rusty inner and outer sills
2. Check for rusty inner and outer sills
The best way to look for that is, open both doors, pull out the black plastic air vent that's in the door shut. Put a torch in and look down at rust heaven.
Jubag said:
There are two rules when buying a 944 as far as I'm concerned...
1. Check for rusty inner and outer sills
2. Check for rusty inner and outer sills
The best way to look for that is, open both doors, pull out the black plastic air vent that's in the door shut. Put a torch in and look down at rust heaven.
This. 1. Check for rusty inner and outer sills
2. Check for rusty inner and outer sills
The best way to look for that is, open both doors, pull out the black plastic air vent that's in the door shut. Put a torch in and look down at rust heaven.
Plus also having owned an S2 cab and an early 2.5 square dash NA model... guess which is still in the garage?
The coupe is a more exciting drive, and as the 944 matured it went from a slightly underpowered but rapier-like B-road racer to being a fairly strong GT / Motorway car. The Turbo is gathering fans and TBH any 944 is still a lovely thing to wake up to.
Make sure that the belts have been done religiously (including the water pump at the right interval). On the S2 engine the cam chain slipper is also an item to keep on top of, and you'll also do well to refresh with OEM parts the suspension bushes and mounts. Clutches are a PITA and you'll find many / most 944s will have a noise that sounds like clutch release bearing but is more likely the carrier bearings in the torsion tube.
A lovely choice, and one of the best handling cars made. Don't discount the 924 either, the S has the 944 motor (albeit slightly detuned for most model years).
Dr Interceptor said:
Morning Porsche section
The lease on my Golf R comes to an end in April, and as I no longer do mega miles, I'm tempted by the prospect of buying and running some interesting cars to use as my daily.
Always had a bit of a Porsche itch that I've never scratched, and being a child of the 90s, I've always had a thing for the 944, so I've started looking.
late model S2 Cabriolets float my boat - so, what do I need to know?
If there any good links, or preferred specialist dealers, I'd be grateful for any info
Cheers,
Jon
I have a Golf R too, and you go from that into anything other than the very best 944The lease on my Golf R comes to an end in April, and as I no longer do mega miles, I'm tempted by the prospect of buying and running some interesting cars to use as my daily.
Always had a bit of a Porsche itch that I've never scratched, and being a child of the 90s, I've always had a thing for the 944, so I've started looking.
late model S2 Cabriolets float my boat - so, what do I need to know?
If there any good links, or preferred specialist dealers, I'd be grateful for any info
Cheers,
Jon
available and you will feel mugged, forget it, and the best you can get means it will
have no place on the road every day, if you follow. Difficult decision, you could
buy a hack, or buy the best as I say and only use it now and again.
The Red Devil said:
I have a Golf R too, and you go from that into anything other than the very best 944
available and you will feel mugged, forget it, and the best you can get means it will
have no place on the road every day, if you follow. Difficult decision, you could
buy a hack, or buy the best as I say and only use it now and again.
In fairness the R is a tool which I use every day. I get more pleasure out of driving the 1973 Beetle with 48hp available and you will feel mugged, forget it, and the best you can get means it will
have no place on the road every day, if you follow. Difficult decision, you could
buy a hack, or buy the best as I say and only use it now and again.
Thanks for the comments folks
Would be a good time of year to buy a 944 cab I guess?
I'd certainly echo the "buy a good one" point, although how many of us want to buy a bad one? A 944 is good enough to use as a daily car, but will need regular maintenance as old parts fail. It's generally fairly easy to work on (if you're that way inclined), with good support from forums, specialists etc..
Drive a few & see what you think - they should feel solid & mechanical with reasonably heavy control weights (certainly compared to modern cars). They are nice cars to steer & drive even when you're not charging about (I guess the Golf is a bit dull when you're just pootling along). I've never driven a 944 cab though, & if you want a convertible & don't need 4 seats, I'd also look at a 986.
I'd certainly echo the "buy a good one" point, although how many of us want to buy a bad one?
A 944 is good enough to use as a daily car, but will need regular maintenance as old parts fail. It's generally fairly easy to work on (if you're that way inclined), with good support from forums, specialists etc..Drive a few & see what you think - they should feel solid & mechanical with reasonably heavy control weights (certainly compared to modern cars). They are nice cars to steer & drive even when you're not charging about (I guess the Golf is a bit dull when you're just pootling along). I've never driven a 944 cab though, & if you want a convertible & don't need 4 seats, I'd also look at a 986.
edh said:
Would be a good time of year to buy a 944 cab I guess?
I'd certainly echo the "buy a good one" point, although how many of us want to buy a bad one? A 944 is good enough to use as a daily car, but will need regular maintenance as old parts fail. It's generally fairly easy to work on (if you're that way inclined), with good support from forums, specialists etc..
Drive a few & see what you think - they should feel solid & mechanical with reasonably heavy control weights (certainly compared to modern cars). They are nice cars to steer & drive even when you're not charging about (I guess the Golf is a bit dull when you're just pootling along). I've never driven a 944 cab though, & if you want a convertible & don't need 4 seats, I'd also look at a 986.
And if you do need four seats then also look at (confusingly) a 968 as they are essentially a 944 "S3" I'd certainly echo the "buy a good one" point, although how many of us want to buy a bad one?
A 944 is good enough to use as a daily car, but will need regular maintenance as old parts fail. It's generally fairly easy to work on (if you're that way inclined), with good support from forums, specialists etc..Drive a few & see what you think - they should feel solid & mechanical with reasonably heavy control weights (certainly compared to modern cars). They are nice cars to steer & drive even when you're not charging about (I guess the Golf is a bit dull when you're just pootling along). I've never driven a 944 cab though, & if you want a convertible & don't need 4 seats, I'd also look at a 986.
A 1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet which was a 2015 National Concours winning 944 Cabriolet sold for £18,000 at the Silverstone Auctions Classic motor show just recently, link is: http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1990-porsche-94...
I actually had a look round a similar 944 Cabriolet a few years ago whilst attending the Porsche Show at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon and thought it looked beautiful.
You can view a list of the other cars that were sold on the same day at the Silverstone Auctions Classic motor show by visiting this link: http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/nec-classic-mot...
I actually had a look round a similar 944 Cabriolet a few years ago whilst attending the Porsche Show at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon and thought it looked beautiful.
You can view a list of the other cars that were sold on the same day at the Silverstone Auctions Classic motor show by visiting this link: http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/nec-classic-mot...
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