Looking to buy 944 advice...

[d14vd_h]

Hi guys,
I'm looking to buy a classic Porche 944 from 1983.
I'm hoping to use this as my daily driver, I dont do extensive mileage for my commute but it would need to be able to handle being used daily.

Are there any resources for calculating the average monthly running cost of this model, or a breakdown of average servicing and parts costs?
Can anyone give me advice from their personal experiences.

Hope to hear soon
David

[supersport]

These cars are certainly up to the job as being used daily. I would get yourself over to the Porsche Club GB (www.porscheclubgbforum.com) or TIPEC forum as they have a dedicated 944 section with loads of knowledge. You don't need to be a member to use the forum.

From my perspective, have an 87 2.5, with 205K miles on the clock, paid £1800 for it 3 years ago and used as daily runner, family holidays and couple of track days. Supremely practical cars.

My costs have been
4 tyres - £300
rear discs pads - £450 included fluid change/bleed nipples and some cleaning up.
windscreen washer pump - £38
hand break lever nob - £16
clutch master (or slave) cylinder - £80
little bit of cheap welding - £150

oil filter changes done myself.

[jabriel]

"These cars are certainly up to the job as being used daily. I would get yourself over to the Porsche Club GB (www.porscheclubgbforum.com) or TIPEC forum as they have a dedicated 944 section with loads of knowledge."

+1

[tr7v8]

jabriel said:

"These cars are certainly up to the job as being used daily. I would get yourself over to the Porsche Club GB (www.porscheclubgbforum.com) or TIPEC (www.tipec.net)forum as they have a dedicated 944 section with loads of knowledge."

+1

+1
Also a buyers guide here:- http://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5...

[Sifly]

The 944 is a very well built, understated car. Well balanced and great fun to drive. If your looking for an everyday car, I would go for a slightly later, oval dash model. They are a little more refined and comfortable with instuments you can easily read!

I'd have a nice 944 rather than a cheap boxster every time.

I'd steer away from any cars with the after-market box type side cill covers as they could be hiding a big nightmare. Most good cars have had the rotten cills replaced or repaired by now.

Happy Hunting

[BillyB]

Unless you are very handy with a spanner, budget £1000 a year. A bit less for a 2.5 or 2.7, a bit more for a Turbo. My Turbo was fairly typical and cost me £1500+ a year. I loved it but at 25 years old, stuff needs replacing. It never left me stranded though.

[blade7]

It's coming up to 30 years old the history over the last 10 years or so is the important thing, if everything's been done in this period it may be a good car, if not you may could be sorting out a big list ££££££.

[pauljmcnulty]

BillyB said:

Unless you are very handy with a spanner, budget £1000 a year. A bit less for a 2.5 or 2.7, a bit more for a Turbo. My Turbo was fairly typical and cost me £1500+ a year. I loved it but at 25 years old, stuff needs replacing. It never left me stranded though.

I'd say £1500 a year is about right for maintenance unless you DIY everything; I've averaged £1K per year for a lux over 5 years, but it needed bodywork and paint then so the next few years would be more. My S2 has averaged £1500 or so, but again there's a few £K of bodywork and paint looming. Blade's point about recent history being the important bit is good advice, buy a car where the owner has spent a fortune recently.

I'm a 944 addict, but two points of caution. A 1983 car might well not have PAS, possibly an issue for you so make sure you're happy with driving it before you commit.

Also, bear in mind that any 30-year-old car will be less reliable than a two-year-old Hyundai, it's just a simple fact. You will get niggly problems with an old car, and it will break down occasionally; my two have let me down a few times over 8 years, but every time it's been a small electrical problem draining the battery. Not expensive, and with no depreciation to speak of the car's are a bargain, but annoying if you're late for work due to a relay or something.

[Fat Albert]

Yes to everyday use, and depending on mileage an average of £1500 a year is about right, some years less, some years more, but what you spend in maintenance you are more than saving in depreciation, and also there is stuff you'll want to do just becuase you love the car

Mine cost just over 15p a mile in running costs and depreciation over 3 years/36,000 miles