RE: AJLintern's Porsche 944 S2
Discussion
I have almost exactly the same car as Andy I can highly recommend them, but as always you have to be careful what you buy. I had a "specialist" do an inspection on mine before I bought it and I still had some horrendous bills in the first year.
The garage in question did the inspection for free on the premise that they did the 96k service that it was due, the service included all the belts and rollers which is expensive in itself but mine also need a new clutch. The bill was huge but I got the car for the right money so I figured it was worth it. Shortly after I got speaking to Barry Hart from Hartech whilst at the Porsche Club event in Lancs and he convinced me that I should get the cam chain tensioner assembly checked. I was certain it was OK as I had specifically asked for this to be check at the inspection, but nagging doubts convinced me to re-check it. Needless to say the tensioner pad was knackered and the cam sprockets were undersize, so I needed 2 new cams. Cue horrendous bill no.2.
I've had the car for 3years now and the second 2years have been quite cheap, I change the oil every 3000miles and it goes to Hartech once a year for a service ( £230 ) so when you average it out it's not to bad. Tyres last around 7000miles on the rear and 11000miles on the front, and even when driven hard it will still do around 22-23mpg.
Things to look out for:-
1. Cam chain tensioner assembly
2. Brakes can need a lot of TLC. See 911 & Porsche world last month
3. Gearbox pinion bearings , listern for whining.
4. Water pump at around 90-100K
Apart from tha they are bullet proof and the handling is SUPERB.
Andy
P.S. I also recommend the AMD re-chip. More power, hardly noticable, but vastly improved throttle responce and it does BETTER MPG.
P.P.S. Hartech are highly recommended, mine going in on Saturday for it's annual service, I'll let you know how it goes.
www.hartech.u-net.com/
The garage in question did the inspection for free on the premise that they did the 96k service that it was due, the service included all the belts and rollers which is expensive in itself but mine also need a new clutch. The bill was huge but I got the car for the right money so I figured it was worth it. Shortly after I got speaking to Barry Hart from Hartech whilst at the Porsche Club event in Lancs and he convinced me that I should get the cam chain tensioner assembly checked. I was certain it was OK as I had specifically asked for this to be check at the inspection, but nagging doubts convinced me to re-check it. Needless to say the tensioner pad was knackered and the cam sprockets were undersize, so I needed 2 new cams. Cue horrendous bill no.2.
I've had the car for 3years now and the second 2years have been quite cheap, I change the oil every 3000miles and it goes to Hartech once a year for a service ( £230 ) so when you average it out it's not to bad. Tyres last around 7000miles on the rear and 11000miles on the front, and even when driven hard it will still do around 22-23mpg.
Things to look out for:-
1. Cam chain tensioner assembly
2. Brakes can need a lot of TLC. See 911 & Porsche world last month
3. Gearbox pinion bearings , listern for whining.
4. Water pump at around 90-100K
Apart from tha they are bullet proof and the handling is SUPERB.
Andy
P.S. I also recommend the AMD re-chip. More power, hardly noticable, but vastly improved throttle responce and it does BETTER MPG.
P.P.S. Hartech are highly recommended, mine going in on Saturday for it's annual service, I'll let you know how it goes.
www.hartech.u-net.com/
Thanks for the comments chaps 
No I haven't spent £4k on maintenance, I think it adds all the tax and insurance together to get that figure! The main expense was the cam chain work but it's really worth doing for the peace of mind. The other thing was a knackered handbrake which caused an intermittent heavy juddering - basically required a completely new system including rear discs.
I was lucky to find the car - it was the first one I looked at. I bought it from a private ad on PH from a nice chap (also called Andy!) It had a full service history and had been looked after well and even had brand new tyres! The colour was certainly brighter than I'd expected, but it does look great on the car.
I really am very pleased with it - my pride and joy - recommend one to anyone!
AndyS2 - sounds like you had fun in that 9M supercharged 944 - very tempting, isn't it
No I haven't spent £4k on maintenance, I think it adds all the tax and insurance together to get that figure! The main expense was the cam chain work but it's really worth doing for the peace of mind. The other thing was a knackered handbrake which caused an intermittent heavy juddering - basically required a completely new system including rear discs. I was lucky to find the car - it was the first one I looked at. I bought it from a private ad on PH from a nice chap (also called Andy!) It had a full service history and had been looked after well and even had brand new tyres! The colour was certainly brighter than I'd expected, but it does look great on the car.
I really am very pleased with it - my pride and joy - recommend one to anyone!
AndyS2 - sounds like you had fun in that 9M supercharged 944 - very tempting, isn't it
I picked my car up from Hartech on Saturday after is annual service. Price was £289, this is £230 for the service and the following extra jobs:-
1. Fix a slight coolant leak on radiator hose
2. Replace temp sender due to ECU logging an error code on it.
I was supplied with a full written report with all the other things that they found, from which I can tell they have been over the car with a fine tooth comb e.g. they found that one of the bolts on the door arrestor was stripped, and that the interior light only works from the drivers side door!!
Apart from that the car is good for another 12months/12000 miles.
Andy
1. Fix a slight coolant leak on radiator hose
2. Replace temp sender due to ECU logging an error code on it.
I was supplied with a full written report with all the other things that they found, from which I can tell they have been over the car with a fine tooth comb e.g. they found that one of the bolts on the door arrestor was stripped, and that the interior light only works from the drivers side door!!
Apart from that the car is good for another 12months/12000 miles.
Andy
Glad to hear it! How do you find out about the faulty temp sender? My gauge appears to read low, though from what I've been told the actual temperature is normal. The gauge hardly seems to get above the first line, though the heater works ok.
I have to send the car in to check out a funny rattling noise from the engine
I have to send the car in to check out a funny rattling noise from the engine
There are two temperature sender son the engine, one for the DME and one for the gauge, they work independently of each other. The later S2's are equipped with OBD (on board diagnostics) that can be read using the Bosch "Hammer", hence the fault being logged by the OBD, read during the service and the offending sender duly changed, 10/10 for Barry & the team.
Colin is right, the fault was with the sender for the ECU, apparently it was not sending the correct signal to the ECU. I must admit I hadn't noticed any problems with how it was running but it did feel better after the service, then again it always does, how much of this is phsycological(?) and how much is down to actual changes is hard to tell. I'm just happy that I can tell a difference.
I did a 200miles drive to Litchfield and back yesterday, I went down the motorway as I was late but I came back up the A515 to Ashbourne, cut across a B road to Matlock, went up the Via gellia to Bakewell, out of Bakewell on the 13 bends and onto Baslow and back to Sheffield. It's on roads like these that I remember why I don't want to sell this car, it was absolutley PERFECT, and despite me wanting to modify it ( Supercharger , QTB convertion etc etc ) there was not a single time when I actually needed more power, there was nothing I coulden't overtake and it gets to 120mph quick enough to get you into trouble on public roads. Not that i was doing 120mph, just what I've been told....Officer
Anybody thinking of getting a 944S2 should definatly go for it.
Andy
Andy
I did a 200miles drive to Litchfield and back yesterday, I went down the motorway as I was late but I came back up the A515 to Ashbourne, cut across a B road to Matlock, went up the Via gellia to Bakewell, out of Bakewell on the 13 bends and onto Baslow and back to Sheffield. It's on roads like these that I remember why I don't want to sell this car, it was absolutley PERFECT, and despite me wanting to modify it ( Supercharger , QTB convertion etc etc ) there was not a single time when I actually needed more power, there was nothing I coulden't overtake and it gets to 120mph quick enough to get you into trouble on public roads. Not that i was doing 120mph, just what I've been told....Officer
Anybody thinking of getting a 944S2 should definatly go for it.
Andy
Andy
Too right Andy They really inspire confidence and are a joy to drive - performance car bargain of the century The power is certainly adequate (as Bentley would put it) and very smooth, but I'm sure the car would just get even better with more. I'm aiming for 300bhp/300lbs.ft if possible
I bought a couple of books from Amazon today:
- Original Porsche 924/944/968 by Peter Morgan
- Porsche 924/944/968 A Collectors Guide by Michael Cotton
You can save a few pennies if you buy them together Lots of interesting reading 
They really inspire confidence and are a joy to drive - performance car bargain of the century The power is certainly adequate (as Bentley would put it) and very smooth, but I'm sure the car would just get even better with more. I'm aiming for 300bhp/300lbs.ft if possible I bought a couple of books from Amazon today:
- Original Porsche 924/944/968 by Peter Morgan
- Porsche 924/944/968 A Collectors Guide by Michael Cotton
You can save a few pennies if you buy them together
Lots of interesting reading Don't take Morgan's words with a grain of salt though, there are some stupid mistakes in it such as "the 1989 S2 and the Turbo S had the same brakes, derived from these of the 928 S4" and "the 944 turbo cabriolet had the same 16 valve engine as the coupé"
>> Edited by Thom on Tuesday 15th April 09:47
>> Edited by Thom on Tuesday 15th April 09:47
AndyS2 said:It's on roads like these that I remember why I don't want to sell this car, it was absolutley PERFECT, [...] there was not a single time when I actually needed more power, there was nothing I couldn't overtake and it gets to 120mph quick enough to get you into trouble on public roads.
I do not think I could have put it a better way than this.
Can I just quietly beg to differ? The 9m commandment clearly states:
"Thou shalt not accept all that is given by the maker, as it is only in the eyes of the maker that you have sufficient power to control. For those who seek more, ye should choose the other way forward offered by the true creators of power, for they alone offer the most gratisfying journey."
I rest my case.
"Thou shalt not accept all that is given by the maker, as it is only in the eyes of the maker that you have sufficient power to control. For those who seek more, ye should choose the other way forward offered by the true creators of power, for they alone offer the most gratisfying journey."
I rest my case.
The 9m commandment clearly states:
Thou shalt not accept all that is given by the maker, as it is only in the eyes of the maker that you have sufficient power to control. For those who seek more, ye should choose the other way forward offered by 9m, the true creator of power, for Him alone offers the most gratisfying journey.
So what sort of performance do you think would be possible with 300bhp? Has anyone reached maximum speed in their car? I thought it was set up to reach 150ish mph on the redline, in which case a higher ratio final drive would be required to go faster.
So maybe 0-60 in 5 seconds and top speed of 170ish?
I know 0-60 means nothing in normal driving and 50-70 a much more useful indication of performance - I'm always very impressed by the 3rd gear accelaration when overtaking
So maybe 0-60 in 5 seconds and top speed of 170ish?
I know 0-60 means nothing in normal driving and 50-70 a much more useful indication of performance - I'm always very impressed by the 3rd gear accelaration when overtaking Andy I have clocked that 3100 rpm in 5th is 80 mph in an S2 so theoretically with a red line at 6400 the gear ratio should be good for 165 mph 
I've seen 150mph on my speedo (which was probably 140) but of course that was in Germany as it is not allowed here
It's the acceleration and midrange on track that I would be looking for with a 9M conversion, but the top speed is always nice in the bar room bragging stakes.
B.T.W your history page has inspired me to start posting some of mine, makes for scary reading when you add it all up
I've seen 150mph on my speedo (which was probably 140) but of course that was in Germany as it is not allowed here
It's the acceleration and midrange on track that I would be looking for with a 9M conversion, but the top speed is always nice in the bar room bragging stakes.
B.T.W your history page has inspired me to start posting some of mine, makes for scary reading when you add it all up
diver944 said: Andy I have clocked that 3100 rpm in 5th is 80 mph in an S2 so theoretically with a red line at 6400 the gear ratio should be good for 165 mph
I saw 272 kph on mine (169 mph) on the German Autobahn between Paris and Le Mans
(see this pic taken in another car; not even in the red line yet)
Andrew currently your S2 is a fine example of the marque.The idea of 300bhp is gonna cost you quite a bit,not only in terms of application cost,extra insurance and no benefit maybe a deficit if ever re-sale is a consideration.
Would it not be easier to buy a 944 Turbo SE,for the cost of a good night out you could get the ECU re mapped to nigh on 300bhp.I would have thought insurance wouldn't be that much more and if you want to sell,just put the old chip back in/
Is this a stupid idea?
Would it not be easier to buy a 944 Turbo SE,for the cost of a good night out you could get the ECU re mapped to nigh on 300bhp.I would have thought insurance wouldn't be that much more and if you want to sell,just put the old chip back in/
Is this a stupid idea?
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