944 cabriolet
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Discussion

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

23,433 posts

312 months

Sunday 3rd March 2013
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On the lookout for a 4 or 2+2 convertible. Gone down various routes, Stag, Scim GTC, Lotus Excel (not a conv.) but have stumbled onto the 944 Cab. I keep questioning myself however, will I use it as a sports tourer convertible or will I, at the age of nearly 60, just look like an old poser? Its always struck me as a poser car but it seems to have a lot of good atributes and appears relatively inexpensive at the moment.
Sorry I don't mean to offend any Cab owners.

TTX50

52 posts

175 months

Sunday 3rd March 2013
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I think the image of the 944 has completely changed from when they were new. It's much more of a classic now and I doubt anybody's going to be thinking you're a poser - just someone who's appreciating and enjoying a solid, quality, classic sports car. You could always grow a beard and don a flat cap and emulate the Morgan & MG brigade if you're really worried!

pauljmcnulty

850 posts

269 months

Sunday 3rd March 2013
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It's not recognised by many people, and those who do tend to appreciate it's a clever choice. I think the image is fine, and probably better than the coupe in all honesty.

Lots of possible bills, as we always say with 944s, so do your research. Don't assume that a cheap Porsche to buy will be cheap to run; get the best and it'll be fantastic, but they can throw expensive years at you if a few things all need doing at the same time. Also look for 968 cabs, they are almost as good wink,and prices have come right down.

The PCGB 944 forum is a good place to look for advice and cars for sale. Tipec also have a good forum for the front-engined cars.

See, TR7V8, it's easy to mention both 944 forums at the same time....beer

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

23,433 posts

312 months

Monday 4th March 2013
quotequote all
TTX50 said:
You could always grow a beard and don a flat cap
LOL - Had a beard for around 30 years, until one night on a late bus home from a works night out, two kids sitting behind me were talking and suggested I looked like Doctor Shipman!!!
Beard came off the next day.
New wife wouldn't lke me with a beard - too spiky!
Had a few flat caps in my MG Midget/B days but they blew away in my Lotus/Caterham days
Thanks for the confidence boost guys

5STM5

306 posts

179 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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I had my 944 S2 Cab for 12 years, always a reliable car. Started out as my daily driver, then moved onto becoming my weekend car. The image of the 944 has changed since it was introduced. As there are so few (relatively speaking) on the road now it is seen as rather unique and a classic.

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

23,433 posts

312 months

Monday 4th March 2013
quotequote all
I'm kind of thinking a more practical "sports" car with the space for the bairn (& dog). Really want another TVR Chimaera but wife hints thats not a family car and I seem to think I'll get better mpg from the 944 too.
Reading the reviews and ocassional threads on here the 944 seems reasonably reliable too.
Quite liked the look of the one for sale in Knutsford, the blue being a bit different to the usual red but thats over 140 mile away..

Conian

8,030 posts

231 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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Long time 944 fan here, they do seem to be entering an age of new appreciation, and rightfully so! Right, time to go drive mine biggrin

Porschespeak

16 posts

164 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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Great if you have a garage....they can become tiresome with the trim
Noise after a while, half the car if a coupe in more ways than one, choose
Carefully and inspect stitching on roof for worn or missing thread

GC8

19,910 posts

220 months

Monday 4th March 2013
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Id suggest a 968 Cab too, and maybe even a Tiptronic. No one wants 968 Cabs and the Tip is the ginger haired stepson. Provided that it doesnt have any problems it makes a lovely weekend car though and I say that as a 944 Turbo owner (and previous Turbo and 968CS owner too).

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

23,433 posts

312 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
quotequote all
GC8 said:
Id suggest a 968 Cab too, and maybe even a Tiptronic. No one wants 968 Cabs and the Tip is the ginger haired stepson. Provided that it doesnt have any problems it makes a lovely weekend car though and I say that as a 944 Turbo owner (and previous Turbo and 968CS owner too).
Why is the 968 so unloved both in FHC & DHC forms, to me as a Porsche novice (last couple I drove were in the late 70's and 80's (air cooled 911's) 968's just seem to be a facelifted 944.
Not sure I fancy tiptronic - seems like something to go wrong

Oh and before the hair fell out it was a sort of ginger.....
Apparently when I was born my mothers first words were "oh no not ginger"!


shoestring7

6,193 posts

276 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
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Skyedriver said:
GC8 said:
Id suggest a 968 Cab too, and maybe even a Tiptronic. No one wants 968 Cabs and the Tip is the ginger haired stepson. Provided that it doesnt have any problems it makes a lovely weekend car though and I say that as a 944 Turbo owner (and previous Turbo and 968CS owner too).
Why is the 968 so unloved both in FHC & DHC forms, to me as a Porsche novice (last couple I drove were in the late 70's and 80's (air cooled 911's) 968's just seem to be a facelifted 944.
Not sure I fancy tiptronic - seems like something to go wrong

Oh and before the hair fell out it was a sort of ginger.....
Apparently when I was born my mothers first words were "oh no not ginger"!
The 968 coupe isn't exactly unloved...

The cabriolet suffers from the loss of roof, the scuttle shakes. The auto is an old skool 4 speed, and knocks a big chunk off the performance, As is often the way, when a car moves from daily commuter to weekend/hobby car status, the autobox becomes much less desirable.

SS7

f1ten

2,165 posts

183 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
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Im a big fan of the convertible now and they are very rare. Image is now totally acceptable as opposed to when they were new it was a total show offs car. Now they are simply cool. the engines need looking after though and dont sound that great. As a result I decided to go for a 500sl of same age, but a close second would have been a 944 cab.

Legacywr

15,718 posts

218 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
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What sort of budget are we talking here?

GC8

19,910 posts

220 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
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Its the Tiptronic 968 Cabriolet which is unpopular, not all 968s or even all Tips.