944 as a regular driver
Discussion
I am hoping to put some cash into a “fun” car this year. My default option is TVR chimeara, as i have always wanted one and interest in them is what brought me here all those years ago.
However, i was watching a re-run of wheeler dealers recently and was reminded what a nicely proportioned car the 944 is (coupe in preference to soft top).
A brief trip to the classifieds suggests that they are in budget.
My plan is to use my “fun” car most of the time, possibly only shying away in really poor weather - i have found in the past that running sportscars regularly sees them performing better and being more reliable (used to have a morgan).
I have learned that sills rust. Are there any other particular issues? Whats spares availabilty? And overall maintenance cost like?. Also whats the market like (are they holding value or increasing?)
Thanks in advance
However, i was watching a re-run of wheeler dealers recently and was reminded what a nicely proportioned car the 944 is (coupe in preference to soft top).
A brief trip to the classifieds suggests that they are in budget.
My plan is to use my “fun” car most of the time, possibly only shying away in really poor weather - i have found in the past that running sportscars regularly sees them performing better and being more reliable (used to have a morgan).
I have learned that sills rust. Are there any other particular issues? Whats spares availabilty? And overall maintenance cost like?. Also whats the market like (are they holding value or increasing?)
Thanks in advance
I used to run a 944 S2 as a daily years ago which was perfectly fine for me, it was only 5 years old mind you.
Sills as you mentioned would need a good check, and underneath fuel lines can also be quite prone to corrosion, many cars I imagine would have had these replaced by now.
I think the mechanicals are pretty good across the range, spares I think quite plentiful, and maintenance costs should be 'reasonable' on a car in good order.
I think the key thing is to find a well maintained no story car, get a professional inspection carried out for some peace of mind.
Who knows on future values, I don't see them moving a lot one way or another myself.
I have seen the car here and it's very nice as described, an early base model which I think is a bit of a classic and will probably go up rather than down in value, IMO.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Good luck anyway.
Sills as you mentioned would need a good check, and underneath fuel lines can also be quite prone to corrosion, many cars I imagine would have had these replaced by now.
I think the mechanicals are pretty good across the range, spares I think quite plentiful, and maintenance costs should be 'reasonable' on a car in good order.
I think the key thing is to find a well maintained no story car, get a professional inspection carried out for some peace of mind.
Who knows on future values, I don't see them moving a lot one way or another myself.
I have seen the car here and it's very nice as described, an early base model which I think is a bit of a classic and will probably go up rather than down in value, IMO.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Good luck anyway.
I used to run one as a daily and it was good fun! Helped by a full set of Koni adjustable shocks which transformed the feel - it was still good on standard shocks mind.
It was a tough old thing and reliable enough for an old car (especially if we're comparing to a TVR!). Yes, rust was an issue and they corrode quite badly, sills as mentioned, but also battery tray, around the rear tailgate and rear lights and front wings. Corrosion is not always easy to see either.
A very competent daily driver that needed little more than standard servicing (belts are important). Surprising amount of room in it too (although note steering wheel feels very low).
You won't get anything like the same experience as a TVR though. It's very much the boring, efficient, reliable machine versus the bigger, brasher, louder and more visceral TVR. I'd go for the TVR every time! But then I'm a glutton for punishment and enjoy the challenges of getting my hands dirty when things fail and I have other toys to play with if one ends up off the road for a protracted period.
If you've always wanted a TVR and haven't scratched that itch I wouldn't entertain the 944 as a viable alternative for a second....
Value wise, the 944 boat has sailed - values have risen sharply over the last couple of years (dragged up by the 911 balloon inflating). Where they go from here, who knows, but it's unlikely they'll retreat much IMHO - all the dross has pretty much dried up (they used to be 10 a penny) and the stock that's left is largely in enthusiastic hands now, with turnover far lower than it used to be. Find a good one and you should get a lot out of it for a not unreasonable outlay - plenty of specialists around for servicing too. They're great cars, but they aren't a TVR!
It was a tough old thing and reliable enough for an old car (especially if we're comparing to a TVR!). Yes, rust was an issue and they corrode quite badly, sills as mentioned, but also battery tray, around the rear tailgate and rear lights and front wings. Corrosion is not always easy to see either.
A very competent daily driver that needed little more than standard servicing (belts are important). Surprising amount of room in it too (although note steering wheel feels very low).
You won't get anything like the same experience as a TVR though. It's very much the boring, efficient, reliable machine versus the bigger, brasher, louder and more visceral TVR. I'd go for the TVR every time! But then I'm a glutton for punishment and enjoy the challenges of getting my hands dirty when things fail and I have other toys to play with if one ends up off the road for a protracted period.
If you've always wanted a TVR and haven't scratched that itch I wouldn't entertain the 944 as a viable alternative for a second....
Value wise, the 944 boat has sailed - values have risen sharply over the last couple of years (dragged up by the 911 balloon inflating). Where they go from here, who knows, but it's unlikely they'll retreat much IMHO - all the dross has pretty much dried up (they used to be 10 a penny) and the stock that's left is largely in enthusiastic hands now, with turnover far lower than it used to be. Find a good one and you should get a lot out of it for a not unreasonable outlay - plenty of specialists around for servicing too. They're great cars, but they aren't a TVR!
I also ran one as daily driver, in fact was our family car for 2 years. I bought it with 180K miles and ran it until 215K.
As others have said, perfectly usable every day, unbelievably practical, but it won't compare to the TVR for a driving experience.
Take all the advice though about avoiding rusty examples.
As others have said, perfectly usable every day, unbelievably practical, but it won't compare to the TVR for a driving experience.
Take all the advice though about avoiding rusty examples.
sawman said:
I am hoping to put some cash into a “fun” car this year. My default option is TVR chimeara, as i have always wanted one and interest in them is what brought me here all those years ago.
However, i was watching a re-run of wheeler dealers recently and was reminded what a nicely proportioned car the 944 is (coupe in preference to soft top).
A brief trip to the classifieds suggests that they are in budget.
And overall maintenance cost like?. Also whats the market like (are they holding value or increasing?)
Which 944. What budget. maintenance costs are OK if you do most of it yourself. The market has peaked, unless it's a Turbo S or really mint and really low mileage. I wouldn't use a 944 or a Chimp as a daily though.However, i was watching a re-run of wheeler dealers recently and was reminded what a nicely proportioned car the 944 is (coupe in preference to soft top).
A brief trip to the classifieds suggests that they are in budget.
And overall maintenance cost like?. Also whats the market like (are they holding value or increasing?)
Thanks all, I'll see if I can get a close look at one, not many advertised nearby at present - due dilligence and all that
Larrylamb/supersport- I think you might be right, the noise and pure "event" of the blackpool flyer is its own attraction, and probably where I'll end up.
blade - budget 12-15k with a bit of contingency for mending - I don't think that would get me into anything low mileage - although I have no problems with mileage, infact I think I prefer used examples to garage queens
Larrylamb/supersport- I think you might be right, the noise and pure "event" of the blackpool flyer is its own attraction, and probably where I'll end up.
blade - budget 12-15k with a bit of contingency for mending - I don't think that would get me into anything low mileage - although I have no problems with mileage, infact I think I prefer used examples to garage queens
blade7 said:
£15k is where I'd look for a 968 instead.
Yes, I see that - is the 968 a better overall car? aside from being a bit less old? in fairness one of the attractions of the 944 is the old school pop up lights - I never tire of those having previously enjoyed them on MR2 and MX5
sawman said:
blade7 said:
£15k is where I'd look for a 968 instead.
Yes, I see that - is the 968 a better overall car? aside from being a bit less old? in fairness one of the attractions of the 944 is the old school pop up lights - I never tire of those having previously enjoyed them on MR2 and MX5
. 968 has got 928 type pop up lights too.I've had a couple of 944s as daily drives, a 2.7 Lux and a turbo (250).
Both are very usable daily if well maintained. The 2.5 / 2.7 8v cars are really not fast, but the S2 & turbo offer decent performance as does the 968. I had both of mine for 3 - 4 years each, and in that time only had one real problem that turned out to be caused by corroded electrical connectors. The mechanicals are very robust on these cars.
If you do consider a 968, watch for broken teeth on the camshaft sprockets (the exhaust cam is driven by a belt, the inlet cam is driven by a chain off the exhaust cam) - the variocam system seems to put a lot of strain on the sprockets resulting in teeth breaking off. I suspect many 968s have already had one set of replacement camshafts, but that doesn't mean they won't go again.
Whichever one you go for, a well sorted 944 / 968 is a lot of fun to drive, and I'm sure you'll enjoy
Both are very usable daily if well maintained. The 2.5 / 2.7 8v cars are really not fast, but the S2 & turbo offer decent performance as does the 968. I had both of mine for 3 - 4 years each, and in that time only had one real problem that turned out to be caused by corroded electrical connectors. The mechanicals are very robust on these cars.
If you do consider a 968, watch for broken teeth on the camshaft sprockets (the exhaust cam is driven by a belt, the inlet cam is driven by a chain off the exhaust cam) - the variocam system seems to put a lot of strain on the sprockets resulting in teeth breaking off. I suspect many 968s have already had one set of replacement camshafts, but that doesn't mean they won't go again.
Whichever one you go for, a well sorted 944 / 968 is a lot of fun to drive, and I'm sure you'll enjoy
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