First Time Buyer

[PSH]

ah John, but give it a couple of years when all new cars have that little black box watching their every move, informing both authorities and insurance of any misdemeanours and you'll see the humble N/A 944 leaving all new things out there as they are FREEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

 

[924Srr27l]

I’m a big fan of 944s but with your budget I wouldn’t buy one unless it really had to be one.
A 987 Boxster/Cayman S or a 996 would be where my cash would be heading.
If it must be a 944 then it must be an S2 or Turbo - everything else feels pedestrian next to a modern diesel never mind hot hatch or the like.

Full on the money again IMHO.
I accept that if you must have a 944 then you must have a 944 but things have moved on. When a lot of us bought our 944's 951's etc they were cheap performance with a lot of cheaply available upgrades. As a result I could supply Churchillian gestures to exotica I could never dream of owning.

Now, in comparison to newer cars this is no longer the case. 944's come from a time when sub 10 second 0-60 was quick. Today anything more than 6 seconds to 60 is unlikely to be deemed swift. If you are happy to move over when Audis, BMW's, slightly above shopping spec Fords, pretty much anything with GT or Turbo in the name produced in the last 5 years, even a good number of SUV's, are up your chuff on the dual carriageway then get a 944. If you are thinking of heroically leaving them in your wake those days are long gone.

I periodically thumb the pages "Classic & Sports Car" and am starting to think the name is a misnomer. Often featured are cars I would drool over (polite version) as a teenager. Now, when you read the Top Trumps type specs the common response is "How slow!?!?" Thus, what might have been deemed sporty "back in the day" is seldom especially impressive today.

You (2) need to respect the younger generation's desires and also read the post properly, if the request had been "I'm looking for a really quick 944 to beat Modern machinery"
........then fair enough, and I'm sure Pete and several others would of assisted with their experiences etc...

However the OP has said he's liked the 944 shape for some time and now is in a position and age to be able to own and drive one.

He also said "I haven't even really considered getting something more modern but I'm definitely focussing on a 944 or 24 at the minute!"

So your not "full on the money" at all John, because he wants to drive a Porsche Transaxle 24 or 44.

I'm sure he's aware it's a design approaching from 50 years ago! and that it'll not keep up with the latest Gti hatch, or the family 200bhp Turbocharged pumped up suv /4x4 Diesel things etc...

I'm fairly sure his criteria is not to be leaving modern car's in his wake, and if he wanted a Boxster Eldivo he's be on the other forum!

Come on, this is the Porsche 944 section, encourage the first time buyers requests and not diss the classic !

Tell him what's good about them, their traits, advantages and features etc...It makes for a refreshing change that a younger generation is not just looking for
something out of the "Fast and Furious" set with telephone bhp numbers !!

R

 

[924Srr27l]

If you didn't want a Turbo or S2 the next best thing would be a 2.7 944. Limited production run, and an easy uprate to a stealth 3.0 if you ever wanted more out of it.

Easy Uprate?? Not the word I'd use for a full rebuild (N/A or turbo) costs starting at what £10k+ ?

R

 

[blade7]

OP, if you had a 2.7 and fancied an uprate to 3.0, being sensible it wouldn't cost a lot. Used S2 crank, set of used S2 pistons with minor machining to the crowns. New rings,bearings,gaskets, flash over the bores with the pads. Cost you around a bag.

 

[924Srr27l]

OP, if you had a 2.7 and fancied an uprate to 3.0, being sensible it wouldn't cost a lot. Used S2 crank, set of used S2 pistons with minor machining to the crowns. New rings,bearings,gaskets, flash over the bores with the pads. Cost you around a bag.

£1000 ?! [8|] What a Bargain !....NOT

I've been going to the wrong place all this time! ...see if you can persuade Pete to have one of these special deals I'm sure he's like a 2.8 Turbo motor 8v

It wouldn't cost anymore than a sand bag would it ? 2nd hand bits, bit of a wipe here and a skim there with the drill, engine out on the lawn etc...! LOL !

R

 

[Eldavo]

Come on, this is the Porsche 944 section.

Why are you here then?

Didn’t cost me anything like £10k for a rebuild. Maybe they charged you so much because they’d met you before.

 

[Waylander]

[][:-]

 

[924Srr27l]

[/quote]
lukegueli
I obviously appreciate everyones thoughts and I haven't even really considered getting something more modern but I'm definitely focussing on a 944 or 24 at the minute!
[/quote]

 

[944Turbo]

Full on the money again IMHO.

I accept that if you must have a 944 then you must have a 944 but things have moved on. When a lot of us bought our 944's 951's etc they were cheap performance with a lot of cheaply available upgrades. As a result I could supply Churchillian gestures to exotica I could never dream of owning.

Now, in comparison to newer cars this is no longer the case. 944's come from a time when sub 10 second 0-60 was quick. Today anything more than 6 seconds to 60 is unlikely to be deemed swift. If you are happy to move over when Audis, BMW's, slightly above shopping spec Fords, pretty much anything with GT or Turbo in the name produced in the last 5 years, even a good number of SUV's, are up your chuff on the dual carriageway then get a 944. If you are thinking of heroically leaving them in your wake those days are long gone.

I periodically thumb the pages "Classic & Sports Car" and am starting to think the name is a misnomer. Often featured are cars I would drool over (polite version) as a teenager. Now, when you read the Top Trumps type specs the common response is "How slow!?!?" Thus, what might have been deemed sporty "back in the day" is seldom especially impressive today.

Ah but it is a while since you drove yours My cab which has a lot less power than my coupe still surprises me (ad others) on occasions, the newer stuff might have similar/greater power levels but generally are also a lot bigger / heavier. Even the big power 600BHP super saloons can struggle to put down their power, either vaporising the tyres or flashing the TC light and backing off the power. The 944T torque hit from the big turbo always helps in the giant killing stakes and in making it feel more lively
Tony

 

[Frenchy]

^^^^^That^^^^^ my 944 Turbo is still much quicker than a lot of new " performance stuff" and it's 31 years old.
Some of you lot need to go out in a "sorted" Turbo to know what they can really do.[]

 

[PSH]

I agree with Tony and Jim, that modern stuff is crap, looks awful, weighs as much as a house and has zero shove in the back being so 'linear' with modern turbo systems... you can keep it...
As Jim says, a well-sorted turbo will show a clean heel to most things out there, a well-sorted turbo with much more power will wave goodbye to them.....The OP wants a 944, good on him, there are few cars out there that are as good on the road and none have better looks..... good luck with your quest young man...

Pete

 

[blade7]

I agree with Tony and Jim, that modern stuff is crap, looks awful, weighs as much as a house and has zero shove in the back being so 'linear' with modern turbo systems... you can keep it...
As Jim says, a well-sorted turbo will show a clean heel to most things out there, a well-sorted turbo with much more power will wave goodbye to them.....
Pete

On a dry road, when the road is wet/slippery a 944 isn't going to drive away from an AWD hot hatch with 400+ bhp. Obviously I rate the 944 turbo, but I'm not kidding myself it's better in all conditions than something designed 25 years later.

 

[John Sims]

Ah but it is a while since you drove yours

Chwarae teg. I'll have to give you that.

 

[PSH]

I agree with Tony and Jim, that modern stuff is crap, looks awful, weighs as much as a house and has zero shove in the back being so 'linear' with modern turbo systems... you can keep it...
As Jim says, a well-sorted turbo will show a clean heel to most things out there, a well-sorted turbo with much more power will wave goodbye to them.....
Pete

On a dry road, when the road is wet/slippery a 944 isn't going to drive away from an AWD hot hatch with 400+ bhp. Obviously I rate the 944 turbo, but I'm not kidding myself it's better in all conditions than something designed 25 years later.

Never had a problem driving in the wet however, I would add that anyone who pushes their car hard in the wet no matter which car/marque they drive is an idiot..

 

[blade7]

Never had a problem driving in the wet however, I would add that anyone who pushes their car hard in the wet no matter which car/marque they drive is an idiot..

Say that ^^^ to Ayrton Senna when you see him...

 

[PSH]

We are talking on the road not race track...on the track you can take as many risks as you like....all the traffic is going in the same direction.....

 

[blade7]

We are talking on the road not race track...on the track you can take as many risks as you like....all the traffic is going in the same direction.....

I've driven away from faster 2wd cars in my old A4 quattro Avant, in the wet. There will always be someone faster and better than you, are they all idiots and risk takers?

 

[PSH]

Hmmm..depends on your definition of 'driving away faster'. But, in a word..yes

 

[John Sims]

We are talking on the road not race track...on the track you can take as many risks as you like....all the traffic is going in the same direction.....

I've driven away from faster 2wd cars in my old A4 quattro Avant....

4wd almost seems to defy physics (which is why it is used in rally cars). A 4WD in a saloon with some grunt will eat corners. Led a convoy of 944s with Jasper our 3.0 ltr 4WD X Type Jaaaaag, had to stop to wait for the 944s.

 

[PSH]

But is 4WD safer?... not according to the tests shown by IIRC 5th Gear.. RWD is by far the best for keeping the car going in the right direction when a sudden hazzard appears... think of iirc the poor toy bunny... In fact I have personal experience of what happened to my son when driving a highly modified Evo....and witnessing a Porsche 993TT...both would never have happened in 2WD cars, be it front or rear wheel driven....
Just saying....you can ditch that ABS crap too...once it engages, you've already increased your stopping distance.
We have too much driver assist crap these days, self drive and most dangerous of all being brake assist....there are plenty of horror stories out there on that one...lol