How horrible is an auto 944?

[benjj]

As above really.

Blown the turbo on my Range Rover and suspect that doing 3 miles each way to work significantly contributed to its untimely demise.

I've kind of settled on a 944 to use for commuting, PH Snotter dawn raids and local classic rallying. Seen a really well looked after car, nice chap selling, ok price, history, recent gearbox and transaxle overhaul, loads of receipts, porsche club history, good feeling all round - but its an auto.

I know that the 5 sp manual will be miles better but I'm not sure I'll find a better all round car soonish.

Should I go for it?

[Redeem]

I would not. It is probable that you had an automactic gearbox on your range rover so you will find the auto geabox on the 944 very out-of-date.

[williamp]

well you know the engine wont be over-revv'd.....

I wouldnt. there is nothing wrong with the gearbox, but its a sportscar and it doesnt suit. The manuals are cheap enough, and much more fun to drive (oh, and make sure its a later one with the oval dash)

[benjj]

Damn it chaps, just what I didn't want to hear

I know what you mean though.

As for age - the chap who owns the car storage place I use is a 944 nut. He said go for an S2 too but it wouldn't qualify for what I have in mind vis local rallies. I need 83 or earlier.

Maybe 924 is the way to go?

[benjj]

Repost

Edited by benjj on Wednesday 11th July 21:22

[benjj]

Repost

Edited by benjj on Wednesday 11th July 21:22

[benjj]

Repost

Edited by benjj on Wednesday 11th July 21:23

[benjj]

Oops, will delete those in a tic from computer not damned blackberry.

[Conian]

Its not at all horrible, it's quite relaxing, a kick down will get you past a car doing 60/70 very easily.
Its an odd experience, you have a small sporty car with a good engine and a 3 speed auto box but if you want to drive around some b roads at legal speeds or to sit in traffic jams occasionally blipping the gas to move forward 1 yard it really is a lovely place to be.
Its very hard to feel stressed in one, which is why I bought one. I still have it now, next to my slightly angrier manual version

[MrCooke]

I think they're fine.

The 944 is quite a squooshy realxed cruiser of a thing and the lazy 3 speed auto works just fine with a the torquey 4 pot.

I drove a pink 2.7 auto 40 odd miles yesterday and very much enjoyed it. It's got enough poke to get past stuff on A roads, it's just off the line that you'll get beaten by a Prius as first goes to 50-something-mph.

Get one if you want one.

If you like pink, you can have mine.

[blade7]

MrCooke said:

Get one if you want one.

If you like pink, you can have mine.

I like pink, where do I collect it from ?.

[benjj]

Thanks for all the advice chaps.

I've decided I can't live with the auto as I'll require a turn of speed from a stand still when rallying it.

I'm seeing 2 early square dash cars, one today one tomorrow. 1982/3 is essential for rally qualification so both are boggo 2.5 manuals. Will report back.

[Conian]

oddly i find my black auto really fast off the line
well not really fast, but the power kicks in quickly and with the pedal right down it doesnt try to change up too soon.

[supersport]

Tony does love his 944s and that turbo of his is gorgeous, unless he has rubbed all the paint off by now

I drove an auto 944 and didn't like it but then it was a rough example. I also had an auto 924 for the day and it was fine once you had got it going, so I would say as a daily snotter it would be fine. If you're only using it for 3 miles each way then it doesn't really matter, I would just get a push bike and some waterproofs, it's probably just as quick.

[benjj]

The commute thing is really only one part of the man-manths equation!

With the Range Rover I'm averaging 19mpg, seemingly wearing large and expensive components quickly and hitting the value of it with every mile.

My octane addled brain thinks that a sub £3k 944 manul will be a most welcome addition and a fun start/end to the working day. Also, as we all know, 30+ year old cars like to be used regularly if they're to last.

What also appeals is that I'm slowly building my mechanical skills and would plan to do most of the running repairs, servicing and bits myself. The clean, simple engineering of the 944 really appeals for that too.

Ok, better go, I'm off to see a car! Just called my classic car broker - 1982 944 manual fully comp with European breakdown and £100 excess is going to be £220. Very reasonable.

[supersport]

If you're prepared to accept a low mileage it the 944 can be stupidly cheap to run, I have 3000 miles on mine as it is no longer a daily runner and it cost £130 to insure, so cheap it's a joke. Even when it was a daily runner it was only £250 a year.

The crazy thing is we paid £1800 for it three years ago and used it for two years as a family car, done a couple of track days and generally abused, service myself and I could probably get back what I paid for it. Motoring doesn't really get any cheaper.

[A9XXC]

An '83 is a more fun car to drive than an oval dash, the early steering geometry is a less "safe" setup and that makes for a more involving drive.

They are a good daily driver and cheaper to maintain than the later ones too.

The auto would be ok except for you competition requirements, very good for a 3 mile commute, but I'd bike that!

I had an '83 for 3 years and have had an '89 for 2.

[benjj]

Well I am now the proud owner of an '82 944 2.5 manual. Quite a few jobs to sort next week but I'm really chuffed with it.

The first things to address are:

New TPS and temp sensor to sort the erratic fast idle

Replace oil cooler seals and a tiny amount of oil is getting into the coolant

Find out what is causing the white/light blue smoking on heavy throttle

Fix passenger power window

Full fluids and filters service

[rog007]

Looks good! Once you've done the oily bits, a 'detail' I am sure would knock years off it, particularly in black! Happy motoring/rallying!

[rubystone]

As long as rot hasnt taken hold in the sills/in front of the rear wheels, these are superb vfm...well balanced and a lot of VW partbin bits make them cheap to run and well within the realms of an amateur spanner wielder...