Will £1500 worth of 944 just be a drain on my bank account?
Discussion
Hello,
Have wanted a Porsche since I started work in 1980 after poly and saw my first 944 in a showroom in Acton west london. I know it's not much to pay for a classic, but with a wife that doesn't understand the need for a 3rd car believe me 1500 looks a lot for "My Toy" and will no doubt mean she gets several new dresses. I have let to make the plunge but have seen 3 so far and hopefully one today that will have my name penciled in the Log book a 1983 Lux under 120,000 miles and loads of history.
Now the questions.
How often do the Cam belts need to be changed - last changed 25k miles ago
Classic car insurance £213 from Heritage 5k a year single driver over 45! is this about right, heard £110 was possible but can't find the company.
Is there anything in particular to watch out for - Electric windows, wheel bearings, faulty speedo.
Any help appreaciated.
Cheers N
Have wanted a Porsche since I started work in 1980 after poly and saw my first 944 in a showroom in Acton west london. I know it's not much to pay for a classic, but with a wife that doesn't understand the need for a 3rd car believe me 1500 looks a lot for "My Toy" and will no doubt mean she gets several new dresses. I have let to make the plunge but have seen 3 so far and hopefully one today that will have my name penciled in the Log book a 1983 Lux under 120,000 miles and loads of history.
Now the questions.
How often do the Cam belts need to be changed - last changed 25k miles ago
Classic car insurance £213 from Heritage 5k a year single driver over 45! is this about right, heard £110 was possible but can't find the company.
Is there anything in particular to watch out for - Electric windows, wheel bearings, faulty speedo.
Any help appreaciated.
Cheers N
Not being Funny but I've just spent £1400 on a mk2 cavalier calibre with no real history and various minor faults. Vauxhall no longer stock oil filters (although Fram do one).
This is my daily driver and so far in 2 weeks I've broken down 3 times. I've spent £200 on parts (and a little labour - could not be arsed with CV joint replacement) tomorrow I'm upgrading the brakes and replacing dizzy cap and rotor.
Your dream porsche is not your main car I can't see the problem.
This is my daily driver and so far in 2 weeks I've broken down 3 times. I've spent £200 on parts (and a little labour - could not be arsed with CV joint replacement) tomorrow I'm upgrading the brakes and replacing dizzy cap and rotor.
Your dream porsche is not your main car I can't see the problem.
The belt shouldnt need foing again as long as its under 5yrs old at that mileage.
Not really any major probs to watch out for, the Lux is a nice model, I had one of my electric window motors pack up on mine but it was only the terminal that had rotted off, ten minutes with a soldering iron and was good as new.
Just check it out, make sure no oil leaks, funny noises or smoke on start up.
Engine should be good for at least 200k but the key is regular oil changes.
Not really any major probs to watch out for, the Lux is a nice model, I had one of my electric window motors pack up on mine but it was only the terminal that had rotted off, ten minutes with a soldering iron and was good as new.
Just check it out, make sure no oil leaks, funny noises or smoke on start up.
Engine should be good for at least 200k but the key is regular oil changes.
Front suspension, try and go over a few speed bumps on the test drive and listen out for any knocking sounds. Mine needs replacing. These damn speed bumps dont help the matter. Apparently not a costly job and are prone to being problematic (so im told) as there is a lot of weight up front on the 944. You wont regret the purchase though what else could you be driving sor the money? Well worth it in my opinion.
944Newboy said:
That's what I thought. So long as it sits on the drive and I can polish it each sunday morning and take it for a quick drive to a pub about 15 miles away down some country lanes for lunch what could be better at the weekend.
Bet you end up driving it more...... which means you HAVE to buy it!
If you get a chance to test drive it first, listen for noise from the transaxle when you accelerate hard,then come off the gas and listen again, the differential bearing can wear and its ££££ to fix. you can check for up/down(not in/out) play where the cv joints connect to the transaxle.
Also check the clutch doesn't slip. Again expensive to fix.
Other wise I'd say Buy it! best £1500 you'll spend if it's half decent.
Also check the clutch doesn't slip. Again expensive to fix.
Other wise I'd say Buy it! best £1500 you'll spend if it's half decent.
Belts are better at 40K max or 3 years so you're OK on that front. Check engine mounts & power steering pump & clutch, all potential big bucks especially the latter!
Mine was £2,550 it's my daily driver and has done 21,500 miles in a year. Cost 26PPm
and all that isn't improvements are a clutch slave cylinder, several light bulbs & a s/h AFM for the MOT. Does 30MPG driven err. quickly & on unlimited class 1 insurance costs me £400 (but I'm an old git!)
Mine was £2,550 it's my daily driver and has done 21,500 miles in a year. Cost 26PPm
and all that isn't improvements are a clutch slave cylinder, several light bulbs & a s/h AFM for the MOT. Does 30MPG driven err. quickly & on unlimited class 1 insurance costs me £400 (but I'm an old git!)
They are about the same costs as a bmw,i had one for five years and it never broke down once.I sold it last year for a 911,now they DO go wrong and cost!Electric motors (window ,windscreen motors) are dear but thats because they are all bosch,as long as the sills are ok there are no rust problems and they are lovely and smooth to drive
I trust you're joining TiPEC? www.tipec.net
Insurance I've heard RH & Carole Nash are good for limited mileage on 944's.
£215 is quite good, who is that with?
>> Edited by tr7v8 on Tuesday 23 May 08:57
Insurance I've heard RH & Carole Nash are good for limited mileage on 944's.
£215 is quite good, who is that with?
>> Edited by tr7v8 on Tuesday 23 May 08:57
V8 Archie said:It's entertainment not real life.
Erm... isn't £1,500 what the Top Gear guys paid for their Porsches in one of the challenges from last year (or 2004)? If I remember rightly all three were absolute dogs that couldn't travel 100 miles without serious problems. And one was a 944 I think.
I ran an 84 944 lux as my main car for a year and a half and don't see why you need to relegate it to weekend use only.
Problems I suffered were...
Knackered shocks - just by new inserts for the front and replacements for the rear at about 200 quid.
Knackered front bushes - whole set for 100 quid, fitted in a day at home without a press.
Leaky power steering reservoir - got cavitation in the pump due to air being introduced by a leaky union on the reservoir.
Clutch master cylinder - leaked so replaces seals which was a waste of time as bore had worn so new cylinder, about 50 quid I think
Valve stem seals - broken up so smoking at start up and on acceleration after engine braking, swapped seals over with head in situ, 20 quid.
Watch out for rust starting in the sills especially if you have a sunroof.
It's easy to work on and the only way it'll cost you loads of money is if you don't repair it yourself.
Regards,
Mark
944's are brilliant motors, cheapish to run too. You can get most of the consumables from German Swedish & French (air/ oil filters, pads, also Zimmermann discs), just change the oil and filter as often as you can justify (I did mine every 4K)
£1500 is cheap, but I bought a left hooker for that sort of money as a track tool and last I heard it's still pounding round (met blue A3 CCE)
£1500 is cheap, but I bought a left hooker for that sort of money as a track tool and last I heard it's still pounding round (met blue A3 CCE)
944Newboy said:
Hello,
Have wanted a Porsche since I started work in 1980 after poly and saw my first 944 in a showroom in Acton west london. I know it's not much to pay for a classic, but with a wife that doesn't understand the need for a 3rd car believe me 1500 looks a lot for "My Toy" and will no doubt mean she gets several new dresses. I have let to make the plunge but have seen 3 so far and hopefully one today that will have my name penciled in the Log book a 1983 Lux under 120,000 miles and loads of history.
Is that you Nigel?
No it won't. That is unless, like all cars it hasn't been serviced correctly. 944's go on and on as long as they have been looked after. Things like belts and oil changes are imperative to have done.
I've had two, both were faultless.
You won't regret it, but just check for oil leaks (especially to the rear of the engine), check the clutch is ok - that's an expensive job, check the history...if all that's ok then buy it....
I've had two, both were faultless.
You won't regret it, but just check for oil leaks (especially to the rear of the engine), check the clutch is ok - that's an expensive job, check the history...if all that's ok then buy it....
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