944 advise required
Discussion
Im thinking of getting a 944 as an everyday car but would like to know if you can put a child booster seat in the back suitable for a 5 year old.
Also if anyone has any experince of running one of these as an everyday hack and would like to offer me any adivse, all comments would be gratefully recieved.
P.S. My budget would be in the region of 6k.
Thanks in advance
Dave
Also if anyone has any experince of running one of these as an everyday hack and would like to offer me any adivse, all comments would be gratefully recieved.
P.S. My budget would be in the region of 6k.
Thanks in advance
Dave
dp400 said:
Im thinking of getting a 944 as an everyday car but would like to know if you can put a child booster seat in the back suitable for a 5 year old.
Also if anyone has any experince of running one of these as an everyday hack and would like to offer me any adivse, all comments would be gratefully recieved.
P.S. My budget would be in the region of 6k.
Thanks in advance
Dave
Also if anyone has any experince of running one of these as an everyday hack and would like to offer me any adivse, all comments would be gratefully recieved.
P.S. My budget would be in the region of 6k.
Thanks in advance
Dave
Hi Dave,
I have run my 944 S2 as my daily driver for the last year, and if anything I think these cars prefer/need to be run everyday. So no problems there. As long as the car is serviced when it should be you will have no problems.
Mine is up for sale in the classifieds here at the moment at £5k.
All the best
Alex
Hi
I can't comment on the booster seat issue, but can certainly recommend the 944 as an everyday car. I had a late model and did 35k in 3 years, only expense other than regular maintenance was CV joints (£700) going at 100k.
A 968 is definitely the better car - but for the money the 944 is awesome. Check how knowledgable the owner is and its history rather than being too fussed with mileage and colour.
I can't comment on the booster seat issue, but can certainly recommend the 944 as an everyday car. I had a late model and did 35k in 3 years, only expense other than regular maintenance was CV joints (£700) going at 100k.
A 968 is definitely the better car - but for the money the 944 is awesome. Check how knowledgable the owner is and its history rather than being too fussed with mileage and colour.
They are great cars,i sold mine last year with 150,000 on it and it was as strong as ever.Mine would have been better quicker but i could not afford the S2 then.When you buy one the owner should know everything about the car as porsches tend to attract those kind of people hence this website!There are no major bugbears with these cars but it also wise to check out hartechs website on this model.I loved mine it NEVER broke down in five years.
I have run my S2 as a daily driver (only car) for the last 9 months. BUT, two points to note - I drive very little (live in London and use public transport to get to work) AND I don't have kids. So my circumstance may be a little different to yours.
They make good daily drivers. They are practical, seat 2 in comfort and thus far don't seem to be too pricey to run. But the back seats are small, and getting adults in them is difficult. I'm about 5ft8 and can manage about 20 minutes before needing to get out and stretch. My wife is smaller, but has a lower comfort threshold so needs a leg stretch after a similar time! Alot depends upon how far back the front seats are - if they are all the way back there is just about zero rear legroom.
Boot is very practical. Difficult to load into (high) but lots of space. We bought a full-sized christmas tree back from B-in-a-Q on Saturday, along with a large bootload of Christmas shopping. They are practical cars.
Mine is doing about 24mpg, mainly town driving.
Bills - I have just paid a staggering £700 for a full belt change and a rear wheel bearing. I don't expect to pay this much too often ... if you are practical then DIY maintenance is quite possible. I have serviced it myself, and intend to do most other things myself where possible.
Buying - there are some rough ones around. I looked at about 6 or 7 before buying one. But I think I got a good one, and paid a reasonable price.
To my eyes, the 944 S2 and the 968 are pretty much the same car, with different headlights. (I actually prefer the look of the 944 as well!) The 968 nominally has more power, but it doesn't show in the performance figures.
If you are in London and want to talk with a load of enthusiasts, there is a get-together of 944 junkies in Albert Dock tomorrow evening - let me know if you are interested.
Oli.
They make good daily drivers. They are practical, seat 2 in comfort and thus far don't seem to be too pricey to run. But the back seats are small, and getting adults in them is difficult. I'm about 5ft8 and can manage about 20 minutes before needing to get out and stretch. My wife is smaller, but has a lower comfort threshold so needs a leg stretch after a similar time! Alot depends upon how far back the front seats are - if they are all the way back there is just about zero rear legroom.
Boot is very practical. Difficult to load into (high) but lots of space. We bought a full-sized christmas tree back from B-in-a-Q on Saturday, along with a large bootload of Christmas shopping. They are practical cars.
Mine is doing about 24mpg, mainly town driving.
Bills - I have just paid a staggering £700 for a full belt change and a rear wheel bearing. I don't expect to pay this much too often ... if you are practical then DIY maintenance is quite possible. I have serviced it myself, and intend to do most other things myself where possible.
Buying - there are some rough ones around. I looked at about 6 or 7 before buying one. But I think I got a good one, and paid a reasonable price.
To my eyes, the 944 S2 and the 968 are pretty much the same car, with different headlights. (I actually prefer the look of the 944 as well!) The 968 nominally has more power, but it doesn't show in the performance figures.
If you are in London and want to talk with a load of enthusiasts, there is a get-together of 944 junkies in Albert Dock tomorrow evening - let me know if you are interested.
Oli.
I run my 91 S2 up and down to aberdeen and it's excellent for long journeys, seats are very comfy for me at 5'8", though the leather mine has looks great it does tend to get a bit sticky at times.
Do go for the best car with the most complete service history you can afford, preferably from an enthusiast (or somebody that has deep pockets), take a friend that knows porsches (if possible 944's) and buy a good one, a bad one will cost you dear.
*Make sure everything works as it should*
As a daily driver the 944's are probably unbeatable for what you get, I personally like the look of all of them but the late models with the so called 'bridge spoiler' look the best (and some of the interior colours can be an aquired taste).
Engines are mostly indestructable given regular maintenance, just make sure the belts have been done by the previous owner because if not you will end up with the bill instead of him!.
Prices are still falling, i paid £4500 for my 91 S2 with just over 100,000 on the clock last year, so for £5,000 you will get a really good one- LOOK AT PLENTY.
Oh, and I get over 30 mpg on a run, have never had any problems and it's as fast as an audi TT and honda S2000 much to my brothers dismay (though I did get lunched by my mates 'chimeria' on the dual carriageway, I mauled him around the twisties in return).
reagrding the (immortal) debate about 944/ 968, they are very similar, but there is quite a price difference for little gain, It depends on what floats your boat but the 968's do have exclusivity on their side as well as being newer and a bit more modern looking (I like the front lights but I'm not sure about the back end and those sill trims 'side skirts?'), but the cars themselves are almost identical under the skin.
There is loads of advice and info on here, and nearly all of it is spot on so a bit of surfing will reap huge rewards.
Andy.
Do go for the best car with the most complete service history you can afford, preferably from an enthusiast (or somebody that has deep pockets), take a friend that knows porsches (if possible 944's) and buy a good one, a bad one will cost you dear.
*Make sure everything works as it should*
As a daily driver the 944's are probably unbeatable for what you get, I personally like the look of all of them but the late models with the so called 'bridge spoiler' look the best (and some of the interior colours can be an aquired taste).
Engines are mostly indestructable given regular maintenance, just make sure the belts have been done by the previous owner because if not you will end up with the bill instead of him!.
Prices are still falling, i paid £4500 for my 91 S2 with just over 100,000 on the clock last year, so for £5,000 you will get a really good one- LOOK AT PLENTY.
Oh, and I get over 30 mpg on a run, have never had any problems and it's as fast as an audi TT and honda S2000 much to my brothers dismay (though I did get lunched by my mates 'chimeria' on the dual carriageway, I mauled him around the twisties in return).
reagrding the (immortal) debate about 944/ 968, they are very similar, but there is quite a price difference for little gain, It depends on what floats your boat but the 968's do have exclusivity on their side as well as being newer and a bit more modern looking (I like the front lights but I'm not sure about the back end and those sill trims 'side skirts?'), but the cars themselves are almost identical under the skin.
There is loads of advice and info on here, and nearly all of it is spot on so a bit of surfing will reap huge rewards.
Andy.
Edited by silvers2 on Monday 11th December 10:21
Ive run a 944 or 968 as a daily driver for the last 6 years - with no problems at all. no major hiccups, no tears, very reliable and very forgiving. You have to spend some time choosing, especially with the 944 as they are all now very old cars. but superbly built. OK so the cost of maintaining is more than your average car, but there are very few cars that will reliably sail past 60 in under 6.5 and cost you under £6k to buy. Im your position I would have no qualms at all about getting one
I would try to stretch to a 968 as I find them gruntier, better handling and much better looking but hey I may be in the minority looking at these posts! Interior is identical.
A 968 will cost more but hold its price better as it was the last of the front engined Porkers (for now and excluding the Cayenne of course)
A 968 will cost more but hold its price better as it was the last of the front engined Porkers (for now and excluding the Cayenne of course)
Both my boys grew up in the back of a 944 and we've covered huge continental distances with them happily ensconced in the back. There are booster seats that fit in there for the very small but from the age of 2-3 they fit perfect. I know the regs have just changed regarding child seating but my boys are taller than me now 
so I know little about that.
so I know little about that.964RS said:
I've just bought a 944S2 today to use as my winter daily driver.
Lets just say this thread has made me very happy
Fingers crossed....
Jason
964RS / 996GT3 / 944S2
Let's wait and see how long it is before he really comes 'round and starts to think about selling that 964 and the GT3, eh? Lets just say this thread has made me very happy
Fingers crossed....
Jason
964RS / 996GT3 / 944S2
diver944 said:
Both my boys grew up in the back of a 944
Couldn't you bring them up in a house, like most other people? Oli.
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