944 vs 928

[MyMidLifeCrisis]

While continuing my mid life crisis search from earlier forums for the every day sports car, where I have considered tvr s2, BMW z3 or Porsche Boxster, I am now looking at either Porsche 928 or 944.
I must point out that I'm a complete beginner to porsche's so please forgive for any naivety.

So, remit is as follows.
1. Everyday commuting car, approx 25 miles per day.
2. Don't want a project
3. As a beginner, won't tinker with car, but may learn to do small jobs with help of neighbour.
4. Ideally (as we probably would all love to have) no massive reliability issues. Or not expenives ones anyway.
5. £6,000 max budget.

So, after looking a different types, the retro look of the 928 plus the v8 engine looks to be the one. However as I haven't taken the Brave pill just yet, as this will be my first venture into this world. I am nervous of getting a costly mistake. And money isn't a luxury. Looking at the for sale prices for a 928, they are starting at approx £5.5k, and therefore I'm looking at the bottom end of the 928 and therefore probably major problems

Therefore to compromise, I notice that the 944 is of similar look, albeit not the lovely sound or power. But as these start at around £2.5k, I would look at spending an additional £3k to iron out problems.

In summary, bottom end of 928 with no spare cash, or bottom end of 944 with cash to spend.

Cars I have seen are

Porsche 944
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Or

Porsche 928
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...


Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Edited by MyMidLifeCrisis on Thursday 27th September 00:30

[theironduke]

I.ve owned both.

The 928 was a hound and the 944 a minty S2.

I bought the 928 for 2k, spent 5k on it and sold for 3k. The 944 I sold it for what I paid and enjoyed every second of it.

I still like 928's but a cheap one with issues will ruin you, without a war chest i'd avoid. Spent 4-5k on a cracking 944 S2 and enjoy sleeping at night!

[carinaman]

I'd check Porsche specific forums, there's 928 org and another one whose name I've forgotten but very good. Sadly there I saw a nice leggy 944S2 with excellent service history that then seemed to have been altered before being sold on for a profit, a bit like that 200K RS4 that's now on eBay.

I thought 944s were quite frugal, depending on your 25 mile daily run a 928 could use double the fuel. 944s will be easier to tinker with, and possibly cheaper parts with more commonality with the 924 and VAG parts. Greater numbers so cheaper parts and more availability from broken ones. Some corrosion from the cills from the inside out.

Most 928s will be Autos. There's some issue with the transmission that requires inspection from underneath. If you search you'll find it. From an ownership point of view I like the 928S2.5 that came out '85/86 briefly before the 928S4 came out as they have the chassis bits of the S4 but with the less complicated heads. They're a lot more complex for home tinkering.

The chain drive between the cams on the 944S, 944S2 and 928S4s can catch. Something to do with a plastic tensioner in the chain, the chain going slack and wearing something in the heads and in the worst cases ctaching. There are images online in Porsche forums.

Have a look through Garlick's 944S2 posts:

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=2053...


I think they're very different type cars. One is a big GT for continental mile munching, the other is much more the responsive sports car. Given the state of our roads and congestion and the chances of getting caught are you realistically ever going to use any extra performance the 928 may offer?

I think I'd go for a late 80s/90 944S2 without a catalytic converter, but checking the cills carefully for rust.

It's a shame the 4 pots don't sound better.

Edited by carinaman on Thursday 27th September 00:48

[williamp]

I love both, but I have owned two 944 and loved them more. Great cars. More agile, better visability and more practical with the more usable rear boot space. Less complex electronically then the 928 too. But then again, the 928 does have a V8. And was car of the year. And was Porsche's flagship model. And, as the adverts said at the time "It sorts the Chairmans from the managing directors" which says it all, really. Lovely things

[dictys]

Well I have owned mine for 3 years, purchase price £2.5k (it was a dog), costs to make it a reliable daily drive £11.5k. Avg MPG 16-18.

However, I do not regret a single penny, it has a been an amazing car and once the years of catch up maintentaince were done it has been great.

Parts costs are expensive but so will the 944 part costs. The key is buying the best you can afford with a great service history unless you are like me and are reasonable with some spanners and do not mind doing a restoration project.

Mine gets used for high speed blasts through the desert then through the twisties in the mountains. It will do 150+ for long periods and be rock solid, plus you can still have a normal conversation. It is GT car, but very much on the sporting side.

Simply put, it has character.

[martin_b]

I had a 928S2 for 4 years..

It cost about £1K a year to keep on the road because it need one big job a year, but that was fine. I then sold it for £2K more than i bought it for.

Best bit of advice I can give you is to talk to Paul Anderson in Stroud, (928 Spares) he did all the wok on mine, even routine seviceing, and if there is a guy who knows more about the 928 I've never met him. I'm sure he cant point you in the direction of a good'un.