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944 advice

Jon Darlington

Jon Darlington

New member
Hello All

This is my first post on the 944 forum, I am thinking of changing my daily driver to a 944, I have come across a mint 86 (118,000 miles) with full service history recent top end overhaul (2.7 heads, not sure if that a good thing) + gearbox rebuild, the price is good and I am tempted.

The main question I have is the auto box a disappointment? Also are they robust? I am not looking to break any land speed records but I also don't want to wish I had a manual.

Has anyone got any advice or opinions?

Cheers
 
2.7 head is for a bigger bore I think. 2.5 bore is 100mm, 2.7 and 3.0 liter is bigger. That seems weird if it's correct.

Other than the obvious "wouldn't a manual be more fun?" I can't comment as I have never even been in a 944 other than an S2 or Turbo and they were all manual.
 
I also don't want to wish I had a manual.
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The 944 is a Sports Car. Sports cars don't have automatic. I wouldn't touch it myself. I seem to recall that the 944 auto box wasn't great but I can't remember where I read it. Either way a 44 auto would be worth less than a manual on the open market.

Sorry if I've offeneded any one, I guess I could have been a little more diplomatic.
 
I wouldn't want an auto either but some people like them - nice in traffic I suppose. I would think it would be worth less though as the market is limited - I suppose no bad thing if the purchase price reflects this and you are happy with an auto. One thing to be aware of 2 I know of have needed a rubber damper (somewhere in the transmission train) and apparently from Porsche these are around 1K and difficult to come by in good condition second hand - IIRC there was a guy on Titanic list [FONT=Times New Roman"][FONT=verdana,geneva"][FONT=Times New Roman"][FONT=verdana,geneva"][FONT=Times New Roman"][FONT=verdana,geneva"][FONT=Times New Roman"][FONT=verdana,geneva"]who contacted all the Uk breakers and only found them in the same condition (cracked rubber). Unfortunately don't know the symptoms or even the full details of the fault. There are more Autos in the states so might be worth a trawl of the american web sites to see how common a problem it is.

Tony
 
I looked after a very early 944 auto for a few months when a Register member went to Japan and hadn't managed to sell it before he left. It looked pretty tatty because it had been in a minor smash, but the head had been recently rebuilt and the suspension was all new. I took it to work for a few long runs and it was surprising [:)]

I'd driven autos before but not fast ones, it was quite a revelation to accelerate briskly from rest and just keep one foot to the floor all the way up to highly inadvisable speeds [8D]. Great fun and very relaxing. If an auto floats your boat then in my small experience a 944 auto will more than suffice.
 
Thanks for the info, the motor is up for 2.5 k just had new rear tyres + service with all belts etc. I am still tempted (as its cheap) ,although I am thinking of going for an S2, more cash but I would probadly keep it longer.

Does anyone know of any good places to look.
 
Does anyone know of any good places to look.
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The classifieds in Porsche Post and 911&PW are very good and give a good spread of cars owned by enthusiasts. You may get a better deal through local press, Exchange and Mart, Auto Trader etc but the car is, perhaps, less likely to have been pampered.
 
never heard of a 2.9! If its a pre S2 it's either a 2.5 S or a 2.7 Lux. I think that needs a bit more checking out.
 
ORIGINAL: bamberjim

hi,

I have been offered a 944 and was wondering if someone could put me straight.. the owners has told me the car is a 1989 pre s2 with a 2.9l engine.. said it was a crossover.. can anyone confirm if there are infact crossovers... and any info/links would be great


Many thanks Jim
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Erm....

Possibly don't part with any money until you've at least checked what you might be buying! [:eek:]

Very brief summary:

Lux, 1982 until 1985 halfway though model year had 2.5 NA engine. Old 924 interior. Later cars got new oval dash interior. Few runout 2.7 lt models for last year.

16 valve cars, a few early "S" models with the 2.5 engine, most are S2 badged with the 3.0 lt 16-v engine.

Turbos, all 2.5.

As for links, ask anything you want here as there are thousands of owners who know pretty much everything.
 

ORIGINAL: bamberjim

hi,

I have been offered a 944 and was wondering if someone could put me straight.. the owners has told me the car is a 1989 pre s2 with a 2.9l engine..  said it was a crossover.. can anyone confirm if there are infact crossovers... and any info/links would be great


Many thanks Jim
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At the very least he has no idea what he is talking about. Its more likely that he has a 2.7l 944. This is essentially the same as a 1988 2.5l 944 with a slightly different engine, which has a larger capacity. It (the cylinder block, actually) does have something in common with the S2 engine, but as Ive already said, the car is otherwise similar to other eight valve 944s.
 
The 2.7 was the last of the Lux in 1989 model year. The S2 arrived in 1989 so he could be sort of right in that it is a pre S2. He is obviously confused over the capacity but, just because the current owner is a bit confused, doesn't make it a bad car.

Do all the normal checks, rust especially now, and read up on everything you can find. Establish if he is asking a fair price and remember that just because you are only paying a couple thousand to buy doesn't make it any less a Porsche. Parts and servicing costs are the same for a 944 as a 911.

Allow £1,000 over the purchase cost for the first raft of things to address.
 
The first 944 I ever went to view was at 'Thunder Road' in Colingham, and was an S2 in white. They told me it was supercharged. And they deal in Porsche...
 
Thanks for the advice... my fisrt venture in porsche ownership.. I have spoken to the owner and he is going to check the log book to confirm the engine.. the car has been stood for 2 years! but had FSh before that..it also has the later s2/Turbo bumpers and bridge spoiler..

Will keep you updated
 
Its more than likely to be an S2 then. Youre going to take what he says with a pinch of salt though, even if its a good car. The later 968-type spoiler was only found on the very last 944s mind, and not on 1989 cars.
 
Hi bamberjim. Have you got a pic / link? Is it on eBay / Pistonheads etc? Any more info would be useful to be able to help more!
 
No its not on ebay, the guy is getting me some pics over soon so will update you all.. will try to get a chassis number and work from that i suppose..

Once again thanks for the help

strangley getting excited.. are my Aircooled vdub days coming to an end LOL,
 
Yes it will be a private sale, i do not have details yet as its not been advertised, it came from a friend of a friend etc.. have only spoken to the owner today... and he is going to email more info so will post as i get it and any pics..
 
Should have some pics the weekend, owner has now confirmed its a 2.7... waiting to see if its a 8 or 16v.. should have some pics at the weekend to post


What would be the pitfalls engine wise if it has not been run for a year, (owner said he started it up about 12 months ago and was fine)..

battery will need sorting.. anything else i should be asking him about before i go to view as its a 250 mile round trip

Not worried about the brakes as i have rebuilt 944 calipers before on my beetle, and know to look for rust in the sills and arches

Thanks again for the comments
 
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