944S2 or Classic 911?
Discussion
Looking to purchase a Porsche to use everyday.
I was originally considering a 944 S2, but was also wondering whether an SC or 3.2 Carrera might be an option.
I have a budget of around £10k (including a part/ex).
The car will be used for my work commute (30 miles roundtrip), with occasional longer runs. Might also do the odd track day, but this is only a possibility.
A 911 would be nice, but am I asking for trouble??
Any advice gratefully received.
I was originally considering a 944 S2, but was also wondering whether an SC or 3.2 Carrera might be an option.
I have a budget of around £10k (including a part/ex).
The car will be used for my work commute (30 miles roundtrip), with occasional longer runs. Might also do the odd track day, but this is only a possibility.
A 911 would be nice, but am I asking for trouble??
Any advice gratefully received.
£10 is going to get you the best of the S2s or a good 968 but is putting you right at the bottom of the 911 market.
The standard running costs, insuracne, service and consumables areprobably 40-50% higher for the 911. Bear in mind though that good independants make these costs pretty reasonable.
However its when things go wrong that the 911 can really break the bank. Have a look at JZ machtech website - thy have menu priced seice and repairs which should give you an idea.
I have had 911, 944 and 968. Given the balance of the 944 / 968s and the above I would favour them for the accosional track day, but overall the 911 is the one that really does it for me. The others just somehow don't get you emotionally like the original.
good luck
The standard running costs, insuracne, service and consumables areprobably 40-50% higher for the 911. Bear in mind though that good independants make these costs pretty reasonable.
However its when things go wrong that the 911 can really break the bank. Have a look at JZ machtech website - thy have menu priced seice and repairs which should give you an idea.
I have had 911, 944 and 968. Given the balance of the 944 / 968s and the above I would favour them for the accosional track day, but overall the 911 is the one that really does it for me. The others just somehow don't get you emotionally like the original.
good luck
James s said:
£10 is going to get you the best of the S2s or a good 968 but is putting you right at the bottom of the 911 market.
I know the 944's are cheap, but £10...!
Sorry, could'nt help it. The rest of what you say i would agree with, apart from the last bit, but then I own a 944 and I have never really "got" the 911 thing.
Each to their own: drive both/all three (dont forget the 968) and then decide!
Thanks for the replies.
I'm thinking of increasing the budget (£13k?) if I do go the 911 route. I've driven a 944 (although not S2) and a 993 so next thing is to try a Carrera.
How taxing are the 3.2 Carrera's to drive? I'm used to a Cerbera but found that wearing to drive if you were tired or not in the mood.
I've been running an early Cerbera and a Golf and want to just have the one car - savings on insurance/tax etc recycled into running costs. Will circa £1500 cover servicing and the odd replacement on a 911, or is this a bit low?
My head says 944 but my heart yells 911!
(While I'm asking questions
- how do the 944 S2 & Turbo compare? All the best specs on ones for sale seem to be Turbo's.)
>> Edited by Buster4.2 on Tuesday 14th September 08:21
I'm thinking of increasing the budget (£13k?) if I do go the 911 route. I've driven a 944 (although not S2) and a 993 so next thing is to try a Carrera.
How taxing are the 3.2 Carrera's to drive? I'm used to a Cerbera but found that wearing to drive if you were tired or not in the mood.
I've been running an early Cerbera and a Golf and want to just have the one car - savings on insurance/tax etc recycled into running costs. Will circa £1500 cover servicing and the odd replacement on a 911, or is this a bit low?
My head says 944 but my heart yells 911!
(While I'm asking questions
- how do the 944 S2 & Turbo compare? All the best specs on ones for sale seem to be Turbo's.) >> Edited by Buster4.2 on Tuesday 14th September 08:21
Boooooooooost.
Get a good (44turbo as late as you can for £10k or so, stick £2k into it in mods and enjoy...
320bhp and 350lbft
Car will still be very easy to drive around town off boost.
I would say that the min you need for maint on a 944 is about £1000 a year average. Some years you might spend £500 some it could be £2000.
A nice S2 would also be a great car.
As for the 911, i doubt you can get a good example that would be a good daily driver for £13k. More like £13k + another £4k right away.
Get a good (44turbo as late as you can for £10k or so, stick £2k into it in mods and enjoy...
320bhp and 350lbft
Car will still be very easy to drive around town off boost.
I would say that the min you need for maint on a 944 is about £1000 a year average. Some years you might spend £500 some it could be £2000.
A nice S2 would also be a great car.
As for the 911, i doubt you can get a good example that would be a good daily driver for £13k. More like £13k + another £4k right away.
£13k will find you a very nice RHD 3.2 or a lower mileage SC even. On these cars, condition is all. Drive as many examples as you can before making up your mind whether you could use it every day.
I think you could, but only if it's a nice car. A vague 915 'box, noisy Targa seals and lhd would spoil the pleaure of driving one every day. A good sorted car would be a great car.
Frankly, who can say whether £1500 would be enough to cover any issues with a 944 or a 911? If the engine lets go in either then £1500 is going to be well short of the money needed to put that right!
I've noticed several nice sounding 911s for sale in Porsche Post for this sort of cash and one bought from a genuine enthusiast has to be the best route to go IMHO.
But again, if the car drives like a bag of nails and there's even one spot of rust at any of the critical areas (round headlamps, rear lamps, fuel filler, door shuts, Targa hoop, front screen, rear screen) then be aware of the costs involved in putting that right.
Personally, I'd buy the 911 if that was the only way in which I could justify owning one. I once had a hankering for a Bentley Turbo R and the only way I could justify that was to commute each day to my job in London. The fuel costs put me off! But I did use my first 911 every day for 6 months and enjoyed every minute.
I think you could, but only if it's a nice car. A vague 915 'box, noisy Targa seals and lhd would spoil the pleaure of driving one every day. A good sorted car would be a great car.
Frankly, who can say whether £1500 would be enough to cover any issues with a 944 or a 911? If the engine lets go in either then £1500 is going to be well short of the money needed to put that right!
I've noticed several nice sounding 911s for sale in Porsche Post for this sort of cash and one bought from a genuine enthusiast has to be the best route to go IMHO.
But again, if the car drives like a bag of nails and there's even one spot of rust at any of the critical areas (round headlamps, rear lamps, fuel filler, door shuts, Targa hoop, front screen, rear screen) then be aware of the costs involved in putting that right.
Personally, I'd buy the 911 if that was the only way in which I could justify owning one. I once had a hankering for a Bentley Turbo R and the only way I could justify that was to commute each day to my job in London. The fuel costs put me off! But I did use my first 911 every day for 6 months and enjoyed every minute.
911 would be more expensive to buy/maintain. 13k can probably get you a decent LHD 3.2 but not a good RHD one. 944/968 would be much more refined and comfortable to live with, probably faster or at least just as fast.
But, if your heart says 911 and you like the way it drives after trying it, then I'd say go for it. If later you find that you can't manage either the driving or expense, you can always sell it with minimal lost as they keep their value well. If you get a 944/968 now, you may well love it but there's always the 911 in the back of your mind.
I've driven 944, 968 and 928. They're all bloody fantastic cars, but at the end of the day, it's the 911 that stirred me up inside! It's difficult to explain, "just like children, you won't understand until you've had one".
I would, however, keep £2k or so in the bank and forget about it (assumed gone) until you need it, keep it topped up when you can. On top of that, save @£100 or so a mth for up keep.
Hope you enjoy it whichever you decide to go for.
But, if your heart says 911 and you like the way it drives after trying it, then I'd say go for it. If later you find that you can't manage either the driving or expense, you can always sell it with minimal lost as they keep their value well. If you get a 944/968 now, you may well love it but there's always the 911 in the back of your mind.
I've driven 944, 968 and 928. They're all bloody fantastic cars, but at the end of the day, it's the 911 that stirred me up inside! It's difficult to explain, "just like children, you won't understand until you've had one".
I would, however, keep £2k or so in the bank and forget about it (assumed gone) until you need it, keep it topped up when you can. On top of that, save @£100 or so a mth for up keep.
Hope you enjoy it whichever you decide to go for.
Just had my '89 944 Turbo serviced and speaking with the mechanic, he said that 944 turbos generally cost a bit more than 3.2's on average, but both are a step up from an S2. And although my 12K service was only £350, there are a few jobs which are "in the pipe line"...
>> Edited by mr_yogi on Tuesday 14th September 11:41
>> Edited by mr_yogi on Tuesday 14th September 11:41
Butzi - I beg to differ - £13k can buy you a decent rhd 3.2 - I have even seen good high mileage G50 boxed cars at this figure recently. OK, so lots of PCGB members stick their cherished cars up for loads more but do they sell them? BTW a mate bought a clean 130k miles rhd C2 coupe from an advertiser on PH several months ago for £12k...
Frankly, and IMHO (I!), I'd not give over £10k for an lhd car - difficult to shift later on unless it's something like a Cabriolet.
Where's Iguana when you need him? (resurfacing some driveway I suppose
)
Frankly, and IMHO (I!), I'd not give over £10k for an lhd car - difficult to shift later on unless it's something like a Cabriolet.
Where's Iguana when you need him? (resurfacing some driveway I suppose
)rubystone said:
Butzi - I beg to differ - £13k can buy you a decent rhd 3.2 - I have even seen good high mileage G50 boxed cars at this figure recently. OK, so lots of PCGB members stick their cherished cars up for loads more but do they sell them? BTW a mate bought a clean 130k miles rhd C2 coupe from an advertiser on PH several months ago for £12k...
Frankly, and IMHO (I!), I'd not give over £10k for an lhd car - difficult to shift later on unless it's something like a Cabriolet.
Where's Iguana when you need him? (resurfacing some driveway I suppose
That's nice to know 'cos a friend of mine is planning on getting a 3.2 later this yr, and he's panicing as prices keep going up lately, overtaking early 964. My bro-in-law has also just bought a 964 c2 with 120k for just under 13k. May be 964 would be another possible choice, buster4.2? They are better car to drive and to live with, slightly faster, and if you get a sorted one, reliable. Just rather expensive to fix if anything goes wrong, but no more than say a 993.
you will almost certainly be dealing with individual preferences/prejudices when you get replies on this post, so I'll declare up front that IMHO the 944 represents better pound-for-pound value for money than any other car on the planet, including 911s. Not that the 911 isnt wonderful (it is) but for £10K you will get an absolutely top spec glorious mint 944S2 or turbo, and only a so so 911. As a third car for weekend flings, go for the 911. As a reliable daily drive that will start, get you to work and back quickly, safely and with plenty of entertainment, no contest, its the 944. Remember it is NOT A BORING CAR, its brillianlty balanced, fast enough for just about everyneed, built like a battleship and relatively cheap to maintain. And if you still hanker after an old 911, just go round a corner too quickly in the wet and marvel as your 944 forgives you, then remember that the 911 wouldnt have
I agree, if you're buying with your head, 944 is definately a "better" car. But then there are many other cars that are fast, comfortable reliable and good value for money, although not in the same way a 944/968 can be. However, there's something a 911 has and the others don't (well, not as much anyway). I don't know what and can't explain it. Drive the 911, and if you still don't know, then go for the 944/968.
Well, our gentleman here has the bug for the beetle, and in term of practicality and everyday use it appears obvious that the younger the car, the better - all too true as far as a*se-engined porkers are concerned, right ?
So within the budget indicated I'd guess an high miler early 964 might meet expectations.
So within the budget indicated I'd guess an high miler early 964 might meet expectations.
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