RE: Porsche 944: Spotted

[GC8]

People are asking speculative prices, but bery, very few cars are selling for them.

[BFleming]

Having co-owned a 944 restoration project for a couple of years now, the decision has been taken to buy a ready-to-go gen 1 Boxster while they're still cheap - which is exactly what I did at 6am this very morning.
The 944 - and my brother's old 968 (now replaced by an early 996) - are great cars on the road and track. They're light, and as a result fast & nimble in the corners. I did a few laps of the Ring in the 968 and it was very much at home. I'm not sure of any advantage of the 2+2 seating arrangement of the 944, as my kids are too big to fit in there, and if they were smaller I'm not sure I'd expose them to the risks of 80's motoring (70's design in reality). Whereas I survived the 70's, and would take my chances with an older car in modern traffic.
The 944 will be sold, and only really requires minimal time and motivation to finish off - both of which have been lacking for a while now. But the Boxster will be driven first and foremost, and kept very much road & track ready.
They're different horses for different courses.

[Gruber]

Some rather harsh criticism of the 924/944 here I think!

As others have commented, the power output was fine back in the day. The real party trick was how well they handled and how much speed they would carry through corners. So no - not objectively lightning fast... but very useable power. Also surprisingly practical with the back seats folded down. And wonderful on a summer's day with the pop-out roof removed.

And pop-up headlights. Who doesn't love pop-up headlights?!

[996TT02]

944 is a nice place to be sat in. Sure "165hp" but the figure is deceptive. Torquey, and felt way faster than a 200bhp Celica or a 160bhp CRX. Also very deep "we mean business" engine rumble. Mine was non-PAS which was a pain, however. It certainly made the car feel very heavy. Unfortunately I don't think the early models have really gotten any better looking seen through the spectacles of nostalgia - for me the latest possible Turbo would be the one to go for.

[Julian Thompson]

I agree with the positive comments about these cars. I have a 986s and a 924s and I love them both but it is the 924s that has got under my skin to a greater extent.

The build quality is excellent, they’re light and nimble and in this new world of light touch control to pilot heavy cars these older cars that are the other way around are just such a lot of fun.

Who cares that it’s not fast and who cares that others think it’s the poor man’s Porsche. (One comment I’ve had is “council house Porsche”!! I don’t give a stuff - my little 924 is in fab condition, has done only 68k and gives me tremendous pleasure. I’d say definitely they’re a great car!

[MrTouring]

I love mine. Bought with my Dad last year it’s a very different drive/experience to my M5 or Clio 200 FF Cup

1985 2.5 with 40k on the clock

Obviously it wouldn’t see which way either went but it feels great, is beautifully balanced and the brown velour and carpeted interior with yellow dials is a great place to relax and listen to David Bowie on the tape player!

Take the roof out on a sunny day and it’s a great modern classic proposition. Starts every time as well which I can’t say for other older cars I’ve owned!

[RSchneider]

That's a class of cars unfortunately no longer built. They are the perfect bachelor's cars. Perfect for 1M+1F with a bit of luggage plus some boxes of wine and stuff you pick up on a drive through France or Italy. Today's GTs are way too "sporty" (lots of fake sportiness). Closest thing today might be a BMW 4 series, or a Mercedes C coupe. But these are much heavier and larger cars.

[Crackie]

BigChiefmuffinAgain said:

I had an S2 back in the day. It was a good but definitely not a great car.
Has a simple 2.5 boxster a few years later which was a lot better.
If one was deciding between the two ( and prices are now similar ) then it would be no contest. Some will argue that the price of the 944 is on the rise and the other yet to settle but if you buy cars for that reason, good luck to you...

Horses for courses. I had a late ( 91/H ) turbo; it was my daily from early 2002 until late 2004 and I took it from 78000 to 126000 in that time. I preferred the way it drove to the Boxster. It had over 120000 miles on it by the time I compared it to my boss's brand new 2.7 tiptronic Boxster and would have chosen the leggy 944 over the new car. The 944 sounded like a hairdryer and the steering wheel was too low, I preferred the older car's steering, chassis and handling balance.

If it was possible to buy a 944S2 / 968 with a 3.2 / 3.4 Boxster engine I'd have one...…….it would be stunning whilst the engine was still under warranty.

[edh]

Great cars, but not such VFM any more.. All the 4cyl transaxle cars are let down by their very dull engines

924S is my favourite as a road car - the most engaging drive.

Turbo is a lot faster, but more complicated & there's always the urge to go for a few more HP & another mod.. I kept being tempted on mine..

I like the S2 a lot, although maybe not at 10k+

986 Boxster S is now the bargain of the Porsche range - with a glorious engine as well!

[tiptreegeek]

I have had my 944S2 Cab for 13 years now & still absolutely love it - many cars have come & gone but this ones a keeper!
Every time I go for a drive I come back with the biggest silly grin on my face and its always fun to see the passenger holding one round the corners.

Yes these are knocking on a bit now - mines 28 years old, running costs are on the 'higher' side for the service items if your not careful & my wifes R56 Mini Cooper S is quicker in the real world (although the ride is much harsher) - but nothing in the post electronic overlord cars come close to the driving experience.

& to all those people who bang on about 986's - yes they are more modern, have A/C etc - but the 2.5's are definitely no quicker than an S2 as my friend found out who bought at 1999 W plate at the sametime I bought my 944 - he could never loose me on any road or pulling away. Still he loved his & he always had a silly grin but sold it on the family expanded.

[JoshMay]

It would have to be quite a special motor for me to be able to overcome the secondhand Porsche image, I just don’t see it with this particular model.

Just makes me think of a footballers wife circa 1982.

[deltashad]

Very nice. 5k depreciation proof. I'd have one.

[blade7]

JoshMay said:

It would have to be quite a special motor for me to be able to overcome the secondhand Porsche image, I just don’t see it with this particular model.

Just makes me think of a footballers wife circa 1982.

Says the man with an M3 cab .

[JoshMay]

blade7 said:

Says the man with an M3 cab .

Ha ha! Touche!
It would leave that POS for dead, but point taken.

[Niffty951]

I spent the better half of my early 20's driving 944s (plural not the model) and drove 2.5, 2.7, 3.0 and turbo models in various states of tune. They all felt strong for the on paper figures. The torque was strong and delivered low in the revs.

It is the definition of a drivers car and what Porsche used to stand for. The components were heavy duty and would stand being driven as hard as any driver could drive it day mile after mile, the cabin was a nice place to spend time, the controls (especially the throw of the manual gear level) were perfect and it took familiarity to extract all the speed through the bends.

Sadly age was not kind to these cars. The engine loved hard driving but the alusil bores were a problem with age, poor service (oils), the head gaskets are all soggy tea bags by now, the sills trapped rust abd were weak on the post 85.5yr models and the front wings, inner rear wings like to rust on them all.

The 944 is for the history books and collectors for me now. I just wish they'd make a modern 4 seater you can fit a bike in, something as engaging to drive and comfortable. The closest I've got is an XKR for cabin feel but it's auto only and would feel out of place on track where the 944 felt at home.

The Boxster has never cut it for me with it's long gears, weedy (but revvy) feeling engine and cramped/plastic cabin. The 944 seats and interior were a lot nicer place to spend time and where the Boxster 3.2 & 3.4 felt thin on performance for its figures the 944 felt the opposite. Plus any time you drive a Boxster hard it starts smelling of hot oil in the cabin and makes me nervous. The brakes were the only area I prefer it as a drivers car.

[Niffty951]

JoshMay said:

blade7 said:

Says the man with an M3 cab .

Ha ha! Touche!
It would leave that POS for dead, but point taken.

M3 would leave it for dead, is more reliable option now and is a proper drivers car but torque delivery is not as satisfying, you have to rev it hard to loosen the rear end and it feels less of an experience to drive. You sit high and don't feel as involved.

p.s. slightly tweaked 944 turbo would leave the M3 for dead

[blade7]

Niffty951 said:

JoshMay said:

blade7 said:

Says the man with an M3 cab .

Ha ha! Touche!
It would leave that POS for dead, but point taken.

M3 would leave it for dead, is more reliable option now and is a proper drivers car but torque delivery is not as satisfying, you have to rev it hard to loosen the rear end and it feels less of an experience to drive. You sit high and don't feel as involved.

p.s. slightly tweaked 944 turbo would leave the M3 for dead

Over a decade ago it took me a long time to buy a 944 I wanted to keep long term. For me they're not a car to be used every day, they're just too old and the controls feel heavy in stop/start traffic. I did consider an M3 instead, and while on paper the engine was better, the chassis wasn't. The M3 was easier to drive though.

[DKL]

I use mine virtually every day although it only does 4k miles a year. Its an immensely practical car so as a daily it works. My journey is varied but includes some stop start stuff. Some years it costs, some it doesn't. I had a 996t for a year but doing the same sort of journeys sorted the men from the boys and the 944 stayed and the 996 went. The 996 was very pretty and very, very fast but I couldn't use it as a daily. Currently on 263k miles so I don't really care how many miles I do.
If it was a total loss now I wouldn't buy another but I like driving it so it stays. I did wonder when it might not be practical to use it daily as it approaches 30 years old but not yet.

[blade7]

DKL said:

I use mine virtually every day although it only does 4k miles a year. Its an immensely practical car so as a daily it works. My journey is varied but includes some stop start stuff. Some years it costs, some it doesn't. I had a 996t for a year but doing the same sort of journeys sorted the men from the boys and the 944 stayed and the 996 went. The 996 was very pretty and very, very fast but I couldn't use it as a daily.

I went down to London to pick up a bonnet in my 944, got caught in rush hour traffic on the way back. If that was a daily occurrence the car would be gone.
I thought about buying a 996tt too, it was very different to a 944t though. 996 had to be going silly fast to get any real sensation of speed, the 944 feels quick every time it comes on boost.

[Niffty951]

blade7 said:

DKL said:

I use mine virtually every day although it only does 4k miles a year. Its an immensely practical car so as a daily it works. My journey is varied but includes some stop start stuff. Some years it costs, some it doesn't. I had a 996t for a year but doing the same sort of journeys sorted the men from the boys and the 944 stayed and the 996 went. The 996 was very pretty and very, very fast but I couldn't use it as a daily.

I went down to London to pick up a bonnet in my 944, got caught in rush hour traffic on the way back. If that was a daily occurrence the car would be gone.
I thought about buying a 996tt too, it was very different to a 944t though. 996 had to be going silly fast to get any real sensation of speed, the 944 feels quick every time it comes on boost.

I did the same 996tt and 944t I loved both to be fair but similarly my problem with the 996 was it's too competent on the road and heavy for track day use leading to big bills. I think all things considered the 944t makes a better buy for smiles per mile and the odd track day.