Porsche 944- Living with one?
Discussion
Always liked the look of these since the '80s and unlike 911s, they haven't reached the point of being unobtainable financially.
I quite fancy one for weekend jaunts that my Amazon can't really do comfortably (Trips down to Rheims etc.).
Not bothered about them not being ULEZ compliant, happy to pay that for using the car for odd weekend use.
Nor am I bothered about a Turbo or cabrio, an S2 with less than 150k on the clock is kind of what I'm looking at and my sweet-spot, well serviced and well looked after is more important.
What are they like to live with, reliability, how well do they drive/feel known faults, weak points, real world experiences etc. from the PH owners/ex-owners.
OK to live with or ruinous?
Cheers!
I quite fancy one for weekend jaunts that my Amazon can't really do comfortably (Trips down to Rheims etc.).
Not bothered about them not being ULEZ compliant, happy to pay that for using the car for odd weekend use.
Nor am I bothered about a Turbo or cabrio, an S2 with less than 150k on the clock is kind of what I'm looking at and my sweet-spot, well serviced and well looked after is more important.
What are they like to live with, reliability, how well do they drive/feel known faults, weak points, real world experiences etc. from the PH owners/ex-owners.
OK to live with or ruinous?
Cheers!
There will be many people far better qualified than me along soon, vixen, but I did spend a lot of time pondering these a couple of years back.
Mechanically, nothing much scared me. The problem I had was some of the stories regarding rust, specifically the inner sills. I asked about on one or two forums and some specialists. Responses varied from "don't worry about it, it's not as bad as you think" to "£6000 or more to do it properly". I'd seen a few horror stories where people had started stripping back, only to find more extensive rust than they could possibly have imagined, so I bottled it based on the "worst case scenario" £6000+ quotes.
I suspect the real answer lies somewhere between the two extremes I have mentioned, so if you're comfortable with that then my belief is that they are easy to live with and make excellent daily / weekend drivers.
Interestingly, they are a car similar to the SAAB 900 of which I have a lot of experience, in that the convertibles offer more car for the money than the hardtops. If you have somewhere dry to keep it, and don't mind wind in your hair / flies in your teeth, they may be worth a look. It's also worth looking at Caymans: they're similar money nowadays, and a minimum of 15 years newer.
As I said, I'm no expert, but they appear to be great cars and I suspect when I'm looking to change I may well consider one again.
Mechanically, nothing much scared me. The problem I had was some of the stories regarding rust, specifically the inner sills. I asked about on one or two forums and some specialists. Responses varied from "don't worry about it, it's not as bad as you think" to "£6000 or more to do it properly". I'd seen a few horror stories where people had started stripping back, only to find more extensive rust than they could possibly have imagined, so I bottled it based on the "worst case scenario" £6000+ quotes.
I suspect the real answer lies somewhere between the two extremes I have mentioned, so if you're comfortable with that then my belief is that they are easy to live with and make excellent daily / weekend drivers.
Interestingly, they are a car similar to the SAAB 900 of which I have a lot of experience, in that the convertibles offer more car for the money than the hardtops. If you have somewhere dry to keep it, and don't mind wind in your hair / flies in your teeth, they may be worth a look. It's also worth looking at Caymans: they're similar money nowadays, and a minimum of 15 years newer.
As I said, I'm no expert, but they appear to be great cars and I suspect when I'm looking to change I may well consider one again.
I had two, both 8v cars, a late square dash one and an early oval dash. Sold the last one 25 years ago having used them both as daily drivers doing about 20k miles a year. I loved them. Comfortable, decent amount of space, quick enough, great handling and a refined cruiser. Mine were completely reliable with minimal maintenance. If I could find an early car in good condition and a decent colour - my first was in Copenhagen blue - I'd be tempted to snap it up. Buy a solid one and look after it, and it should be a practical classic. I've no idea what it's like trying to run one these days, but I shouldn't think it's much more difficult or costly than what you already have.
Great choice and very easy to live with. Miles aren't really a problem it's rust in the sills that are the killer. Carry a spare fuel pump dme and I would drive one anywhere. The later oval dash is more comfortable than the earlier square dash which is a carry over from the 924 and puts the steering wheel almost in your lap and can feel a little strange. (I am 6ft 4in so that could be only me it feels a little strange to) great cars also great club scene.
Having had my daily one since 2013, it s a great car to own. I paid under £4k for an immaculate 2.7 car - only made for one year - with a comprehensive service history and that had been well looked after. Original sills looked fine when I got it but lots of use over a dozen winters did them no favours and there were holes appearing and an MoT failure. I redid them, not fully but I had the Datsun in our single garage and so did it on the drive over the course of a couple of weekends. They re fine but will need some attention in the future but I ve no plans to sell it ever so it ll continue to be enjoyed on a daily basis. They re a great drive, as the cars are perfectly balanced. I did a noisy clutch release bearing during COVID which was a PITA to do but there s plenty of tutorials online.
I ve had the belts done every four years and covered 40,000 miles in 12 years. The lacquer is going in various places as I neglected it a bit after some f
ker keyed it in the first few years. It sits outside in all weathers, doesn t leak - the sunroof drains can get blocked - and always starts. I had a leccy window regulator break but got one on eBay with the motor for £35. The car gets used for tip runs etc so in the end, it s like any other car.
Also had a high pressure fuel hose leak - a new one from Design 911 was £180 but again, eBay did the job, with one coming from a breaker for £30. The spares are readily available. You ll pay more for an S2 of course but there s just more to break and wear out! Agree with the comment about carrying a spare DME in the glovebox.
Looked good when I bought it!
Sills not so pretty now.
Edit: would add that these are very good engines if maintained well - mine has over 170,000 on the clock and burns NO oil at all. Literally none - no top ups between changes.
I ve had the belts done every four years and covered 40,000 miles in 12 years. The lacquer is going in various places as I neglected it a bit after some f
ker keyed it in the first few years. It sits outside in all weathers, doesn t leak - the sunroof drains can get blocked - and always starts. I had a leccy window regulator break but got one on eBay with the motor for £35. The car gets used for tip runs etc so in the end, it s like any other car.Also had a high pressure fuel hose leak - a new one from Design 911 was £180 but again, eBay did the job, with one coming from a breaker for £30. The spares are readily available. You ll pay more for an S2 of course but there s just more to break and wear out! Agree with the comment about carrying a spare DME in the glovebox.
Looked good when I bought it!
Sills not so pretty now.
Edit: would add that these are very good engines if maintained well - mine has over 170,000 on the clock and burns NO oil at all. Literally none - no top ups between changes.
Edited by uk66fastback on Monday 13th October 23:27
uk66fastback said:
Having had my daily one since 2013, it s a great car to own. I paid under £4k for an immaculate 2.7 car - only made for one year - with a comprehensive service history and that had been well looked after. Original sills looked fine when I got it but lots of use over a dozen winters did them no favours and there were holes appearing and an MoT failure. I redid them, not fully but I had the Datsun in our single garage and so did it on the drive over the course of a couple of weekends. They re fine but will need some attention in the future but I ve no plans to sell it ever so it ll continue to be enjoyed on a daily basis. They re a great drive, as the cars are perfectly balanced. I did a noisy clutch release bearing during COVID which was a PITA to do but there s plenty of tutorials online.
I ve had the belts done every four years and covered 40,000 miles in 12 years. The lacquer is going in various places as I neglected it a bit after some fker keyed it in the first few years. It sits outside in all weathers, doesn t leak - the sunroof drains can get blocked - and always starts. I had a leccy window regulator break but got one on eBay with the motor for £35. The car gets used for tip runs etc so in the end, it s like any other car.
Also had a high pressure fuel hose leak - a new one from Design 911 was £180 but again, eBay did the job, with one coming from a breaker for £30. The spares are readily available. You ll pay more for an S2 of course but there s just more to break and wear out! Agree with the comment about carrying a spare DME in the glovebox.
Looked good when I bought it!
Sills not so pretty now.
Edit: would add that these are very good engines if maintained well - mine has over 170,000 on the clock and burns NO oil at all. Literally none - no top ups between changes.
You are doing this correctly, 66 I ve had the belts done every four years and covered 40,000 miles in 12 years. The lacquer is going in various places as I neglected it a bit after some f
ker keyed it in the first few years. It sits outside in all weathers, doesn t leak - the sunroof drains can get blocked - and always starts. I had a leccy window regulator break but got one on eBay with the motor for £35. The car gets used for tip runs etc so in the end, it s like any other car.Also had a high pressure fuel hose leak - a new one from Design 911 was £180 but again, eBay did the job, with one coming from a breaker for £30. The spares are readily available. You ll pay more for an S2 of course but there s just more to break and wear out! Agree with the comment about carrying a spare DME in the glovebox.
Looked good when I bought it!
Sills not so pretty now.
Edit: would add that these are very good engines if maintained well - mine has over 170,000 on the clock and burns NO oil at all. Literally none - no top ups between changes.
Edited by uk66fastback on Monday 13th October 23:27
I owned an S2 for twelve years from 1998 and covered over 80,000 miles in it, taking it from 29,000 to over 110,000.
I believe the S2 is the sweet spot but wouldn't dismiss a 2.7 either. A 968 Sport could also be a worthy alternative and doesn't seem to carry the price premium of the 968 Club Sport.
They do corrode and need to be checked very carefully for rust and accident damage, as well as the usual problems with old cars.
One thing I would recommend strongly is that you buy the very best car that you can afford. Trying to bring even an average-to-good car up to the standards of the best will cost a great deal more than the price difference to buy the best in the first place.
Do come back here with any questions you have on these. I loved mine and drove it all around the UK and Europe, and it never once let me down.
I believe the S2 is the sweet spot but wouldn't dismiss a 2.7 either. A 968 Sport could also be a worthy alternative and doesn't seem to carry the price premium of the 968 Club Sport.
They do corrode and need to be checked very carefully for rust and accident damage, as well as the usual problems with old cars.
One thing I would recommend strongly is that you buy the very best car that you can afford. Trying to bring even an average-to-good car up to the standards of the best will cost a great deal more than the price difference to buy the best in the first place.
Do come back here with any questions you have on these. I loved mine and drove it all around the UK and Europe, and it never once let me down.
Edited by 9xxNick on Tuesday 14th October 16:01
I had a girlfriend back in the 90s who's old man was a powerfully built director and drove amongst other things, a 968 Sport. After a few months of dating she and I had a trip planned to the Lakes - her dad took pity on my VW Golf and lent us the 968 for the weekend. I mean, his daughter and his Porsche? What was he thinking! Anyway, it was amazing - brilliant handling, most fun I had ever had. Car wasn't bad either etc etc
Relationship fizzled in the end but that car left a mark. Brilliant chassis and given the price of Quattros and M3s these days, 968s and 944 look like bargains
Relationship fizzled in the end but that car left a mark. Brilliant chassis and given the price of Quattros and M3s these days, 968s and 944 look like bargains
As others have said, they’re great cars to use everyday and for fun. I’ve had a 968 for the last four years, which is basically an updated 944S2, and it’s been fantastic - not just to take for a blat but also to drive every day. The family bus is in for repairs at the mo so I’m dailying a 32yo car and have done 3000km in just over 3 weeks.
Caveats previously mentioned apply - buy the best you can - mechanically strong with parts easy to get doesn’t mean always cheap. Also some bits of trim can be a pain to find. Mine has a FSH from new and I’m only the third owner but it’s still 32yo so stuff needs doing.
Rust isn’t as big a problem here, but that is definitely something to get checked.
And they’re also v practical cars, 2+2 seating plus proper hatch with fold down seats means lots can be carried - including mtbs…
And, of course, a pic…
Caveats previously mentioned apply - buy the best you can - mechanically strong with parts easy to get doesn’t mean always cheap. Also some bits of trim can be a pain to find. Mine has a FSH from new and I’m only the third owner but it’s still 32yo so stuff needs doing.
Rust isn’t as big a problem here, but that is definitely something to get checked.
And they’re also v practical cars, 2+2 seating plus proper hatch with fold down seats means lots can be carried - including mtbs…
And, of course, a pic…
I had a 944 maybe 20 years ago, as an everyday car, when it was an old car. Travelled a lot of miles. Great handling balance but even then the 2.5 felt a little underpowered. Bigger engine ones may well be better.
For similar money you can buy various versions of Boxster. Having also owned a 3.2s as an everyday car, before the kids, that's where my money would go.
Boxster just feels more special. I could imagine taking one for a spin just for fun, but probably not a 944. Engine note alone more exciting handing also great, in a different way. (Try not to think about it potentially failing spectacularly)
For similar money you can buy various versions of Boxster. Having also owned a 3.2s as an everyday car, before the kids, that's where my money would go.
Boxster just feels more special. I could imagine taking one for a spin just for fun, but probably not a 944. Engine note alone more exciting handing also great, in a different way. (Try not to think about it potentially failing spectacularly)
Duke Caboom said:
IBefore the kids, that's where my money would go.
That’s what I like to hear! 
Boxsters are fine but to me, at their current age, they’re still a bit ‘new’ car …
The 944 is a lot more old skool. My mate has a 987 3.2 manual and while it’s nice, I wouldn’t swap … people are always complimenting the 944 at petrol stations etc but a Boxster’s well, a Boxster. You rarely see another 944 on the road.
uk66fastback said:
That s what I like to hear!
Boxsters are fine but to me, at their current age, they re still a bit new car
The 944 is a lot more old skool. My mate has a 987 3.2 manual and while it s nice, I wouldn t swap people are always complimenting the 944 at petrol stations etc but a Boxster s well, a Boxster. You rarely see another 944 on the road.
I agree, the same goes with the Cayman. Nice, but just 'an older Porsche'. To me, anyway. Boxsters are fine but to me, at their current age, they re still a bit new car
The 944 is a lot more old skool. My mate has a 987 3.2 manual and while it s nice, I wouldn t swap people are always complimenting the 944 at petrol stations etc but a Boxster s well, a Boxster. You rarely see another 944 on the road.
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1747029
Thought this looked lovely, but wondered if I could drive a Yuppietastic '80s Guards Red Porsche and whether I'd ever be let out at junctions.
Do they still suffer that 'Porsche stigma' ?
Thought this looked lovely, but wondered if I could drive a Yuppietastic '80s Guards Red Porsche and whether I'd ever be let out at junctions.
Do they still suffer that 'Porsche stigma' ?
vixen1700 said:
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1747029
Thought this looked lovely, but wondered if I could drive a Yuppietastic '80s Guards Red Porsche and whether I'd ever be let out at junctions.
Do they still suffer that 'Porsche stigma' ?
Not that I ve noticed. A lot of younger drivers have no idea what they are anyway, although the girl at the hatch at a Golden Arches drive-thru did say that s a cool car - and she was all of about 18.Thought this looked lovely, but wondered if I could drive a Yuppietastic '80s Guards Red Porsche and whether I'd ever be let out at junctions.
Do they still suffer that 'Porsche stigma' ?
That one in the link - if it drives as good as it looks, it d be lovely to own. Should I have got an S2? Maybe, but it s only 300cc more - albeit with the DOHC. I do like the more elegant and smoother front end of the S2.
Get the best one you can find for your budget as has been said. Plenty out there - that s why they re a £10k car and not a £20k car.
Edit: forgot to say that prior to buying mine I was all set to go by train to Cornwall (from Peterborough, so a looooong way) to buy a Guards Red F reg 2.5 car. Then my blue one (which I had seen for sale before, appeared more or less overnight on ebay having just been sold … so I bought that instead. Funny how it all works out.
Edited by uk66fastback on Wednesday 15th October 12:57
I very much doubt that you'd get any adverse reactions in a 944. I was out in my 993 this morning and a chap in a DPD truck made a point of saying what a lovely car it is and how nice it is to see one on the road, which reinforces my impression that people generally see the older cars as a hobby thing rather than a status thing.
Regarding the red S2, that's clearly had some extensive paintwork done since the rear badging has been attached differently and with much closer spacing than it left the factory with. Not necessarily a problem but I'd be checking it out very carefully for any short-cuts that may have been taken.
Regarding the red S2, that's clearly had some extensive paintwork done since the rear badging has been attached differently and with much closer spacing than it left the factory with. Not necessarily a problem but I'd be checking it out very carefully for any short-cuts that may have been taken.
Huzzah said:
Red & black, perfect colour combo.
Looks lovely.
Here's a bit of history ...Looks lovely.
https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/threads/toms-a...
I ran an '88 2.5S for a few years as a daily 20 or so years ago. As others have said it's a very comfortable, practical car. I used to regularly take camping kit and 2 mountain bikes with the rear seat down for weekend trips to Wales. No major issues, other than head gasket soon after getting it, and parts/servicing was reasonable.
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