944 as a runabout or am I mad ?

[k595]

Have been thinking about changing from 205 gti as a runabout to a corrado vr6 then though for 4-5k you seem to be able to get a reasonable 944s2

Am I right or would it be a nightmare, I have enough tempremental toys as it is, so want something that will just work, be fairly comfy and possibly do the odd track day with out costing a fortune to repair are they really as reliable as a golf as people used to say ?

Never had a porsche unless you count a RS2 so no experience of them

CHeers

[interloper]

944's are not tempremental or highly strung so using one as a daily runner is no problem. Running costs on the other hand are a different matter, they all like to drink a bit and buy a rough one and you can spend a fortune.

Having said that if you find one you like, have it profesionaly inspected (and it comes up all clear) then go for it. Just dont expect to run it on a shoe string.

Click through the previous pages of this area to find a buyers guide.

[silverback mike]

Excellent choice if I say so myself.

[Bananaman]

interloper said:

944's are not tempremental or highly strung so using one as a daily runner is no problem. Running costs on the other hand are a different matter, they all like to drink a bit and buy a rough one and you can spend a fortune. Having said that if you find one you like, have it profesionaly inspected (and it comes up all clear) then go for it. Just dont expect to run it on a shoe string. Click through the previous pages of this area to find a buyers guide.

Have to agree here, got to budget at least £1k/year for service/maint & if your unlicky it could be more that double that.
Having said that you can get classic insurance & there's little depriciation. I use my S2 as my main car & LOVE it, easy to drive & lot's fun when required & it looks the Dog's..........

Just be carefull when buying, look at a few & get the one you like the most inspected.

[softinthehead]

k595 said:

for 4-5k you seem to be able to get a reasonable 944s2 want something that will just work, be fairly comfy and possibly do the odd track day with out costing a fortune to repair are they really as reliable as a golf as people used to say ?

Oh dear, back on the soapbox we go...

Ive run a 944 as a daily drive for 4 years with no real problems at all. Running costs were higher than a Mondeo but factor in nil depreciation and even my accountant was impressed. a well looked after 944 really is as reliable as the proverbial golf, just a lot more fun. Ive said this before on this forum (and will bash on ad infinitum) but for the money you simply cant get anything else that combines such performance, stonkingly good handling and practicality - 2 small children in the back, a boot full of Tesco's finest and you can still leave everything behind on the bendy bits. A good 944 is an unbeatable automotive bargain. The critical word being "good"

As ever, condition is the absolute key. For 4-5K you'll get a superb 944 2.5 or 2.7. I wonder whether you'll really get a mint S2 for that money, unless you are very very careful, and very very lucky.

My old 944 2.7 is now on sale at Hamiltons at Bristol. It was a brilliant car and I still miss it. just that the 968 is even more brilliant...

[softinthehead]

so the short answer to your question is
"no you aren't mad, you are completely sane"

[k595]

THanks lads

I'm not that mad then, might have to up the budget a bit by the sound of it

Cheers

p.s I must look at more tha one this time - usually fall in love with a car and buy a duffer !! spend ages putting it right then get bored and sell it .........

[nonegreen]

I ran 2 944 S2s over 4 years as daily 35k annual drivers

service was oil change and brakes with cam belt done at main agents for guatrantee. Both cars were excellent and never failed at all. In fact never missed a beat. remember though that only the very mintest 944s2s are worth the 8 to 9k asking price the rest are just dreaming and most dealers are just sharks. Best bet is a high priced private sale and just chip the seller to something sensible. I got 5k off the asking price of my last 944 and it was a cracker. People get fed up of waiting.

[dern]

Having had a 944 lux for a year and having had 2 205Gtis in the past I'd have to say you're being significantly braver running the peugeots

Buy a good one (with an inspection if you deem it necessary) and it should be fine. Costs needn't be that bad if you are able to do your own servicing and repairs as I do.

Regards,

Mark

[iguana]

Nope you are not mad.

You can get a very nice s2 in a private sale for a £5k budget.

However there are a couple of well known issues & a few old hounds out there & if you buy one without doing a bit of research & you can very easily be faced with a very large bill.

Weve had a huge amount of discussions on S2s & 944s in general on here many times, brew a cuppa & use the search faciliy & read for a while.

[Buster44]

I purchased a nice S2 a couple of months ago and it really is a superbly capable everyday car. Following a house move I traded down from a TVR Cerbera & Golf GTI. The 944 S2 is a far more complete all rounder, if not as mental in the performance stakes as the Cerb. What I love is the bullet proof build quality and practicality (hatch & dropping rear seats makes lugging around long loads a piece of cake - recently had 3 front spoilers for a race car in the back!)

If you're a fussy bugger like me, factor in a bit extra to get it up to scratch. This is still a 13+ year old car and well looked after 90k milers are still likely to need a little bit of 'buffing' to get into shape. My car had covered 93k when purchased and came with a huge history file, but I still felt it necessary to fit new std suspension, 968 anti-roll bars etc etc.

One thing to check is that the belts, chain, tensioner, seals etc have been changed. If not factor it in to the purchase to sort.

Buy & enjoy - as said above if you get a good one you won't regret it!




>> Edited by Buster44 on Friday 26th November 09:17

[timwatsham]

Only thing I'll add is that a Corrado VR6 is also a great car for everyday... Just sold mine recently for £2,700 and whilst it needed the sunroof and heating controls sorted, I'm sure it won't cause any serious bills in the next few years for the new owner.

Again, practical, great fun on the road and track, good image and refined when you just want to cover distance.

An S2 is pretty similar I reckon - trading best of front wheel drive handling from best of rear wheel drive handling, and getting a different image. I haven't driven an S2, but a friends 2.7 944 felt a similar standard to a VR6 in terms of the drive, just a little slow.

If budget is an issue I would go with the VR6 as I have had friends who have spent a lot on their 944s when things have gone wrong, whilst the VW seems to be a little cheaper to get sorted.

[ambrose]

I've spent the last 3 months looking for a decent S2. Maybe I was fussy, but they were all either over-priced or a bit tired. It's tough finding a 13+yr old car which is in good nick. I don't really believe there are many 'decent' S2s out there for 5K.

I just bought a 1987 944 turbo. Its done 54K, and I paid 5750. It's not perfect by any means but I felt that all the big bits should be OK. I also I have to say I think I was lucky.

IMHO you have to be lucky, patient, flexbible in which 944 you go for, or pay alot more than 5K.

Good luck.

[jabriel]

[redacted]

[softinthehead]

Buster44 said:

I purchased a nice S2 a couple of months ago and it really is a superbly capable everyday car. Following a house move I traded down from a TVR Cerbera & Golf GTI. >> Edited by Buster44 on Friday 26th November 09:17

no you didnt, you traded up!!!

[Buster44]

softinthehead said:

Buster44 said: I purchased a nice S2 a couple of months ago and it really is a superbly capable everyday car. Following a house move I traded down from a TVR Cerbera & Golf GTI. >> Edited by Buster44 on Friday 26th November 09:17 no you didnt, you traded up!!!

Good point - traded down in financial terms!

[uk952]

There is a cab in the classifieds (1992 for £6K) that has been used as a daily driver - the current owner had the cams replaced which are the main (expensive) weakpoint on the cab. I know the owner and he has looked after it very well and is active on all the Porsche forums. I wish I could persuade my wife its what she wants but no, she's looking at Mini's and new tigra's

>> Edited by uk952 on Tuesday 30th November 11:11

[poorcardealer]

First thing I do when I buy a 944 is look at the battery..........if its cheap and nasty I buy a Bosche one with a 3 year warranty.........these cars eat batterries for some reason.

[softinthehead]

poorcardealer said:

First thing I do when I buy a 944 is look at the battery..........if its cheap and nasty I buy a Bosche one with a 3 year warranty.........these cars eat batterries for some reason.

I agree. I put in a new heavy duty battery every second winter. probably paranoid, but it never failed to start