Hello from a new owner

[Pastry]

Hi All, I've recently bought a '88 944 Lux and am enjoying simply looking at it, while gradually finding out how it drives. However I'm not pushing it just now as I could do with finding a decent indie specialist to give it a once-over first.

Anyone know of anywhere near Glasgow? I've found the name George Morrison on the net but not much info on him. Hartech is also near my parents house down near Bolton but I'd prefer something a bit nearer.

Another noob question that might have been answered elsewhere; I don't have a garage, I'm considering investing in a breathable cover, anyone recommend one?

Looking forward to many years of enjoyable ownership, I've had old cars before in worse nick than this one so I know its going to be a rollercoaster, just hope theres more highs than lows. Over 2 years of saving and research made me choose the 944; I wanted something that looks good, has character, fine handling, some comfort for long trips, well enginnered, reliable and usable as a daily driver.

I considered the following in the process; porsche 968,996, nissan 350z, 300sx, honda prelude, s2000, integra, bmw m5 (e34), 8 series, z4, lotus elise, elan s2, MGB... those are just the ones I remember. Autotrader Pistonheads and Ebay were regularly trawled. FAQs and forums were read. The 944 was one of the first and kept coming back to the fore.

Finally bit the bullet this christmas. (Merry Christmas to me) I'll try get some photos posted but in the meantime just wanted to say Hi!

 

[Fen]

Hi amd welcome. Mik will confirm; I think it's Motortune in Shotts that is recommended for Glesga, but.

Most of your shortlist has also been on shortlists of mine, but I've never bought any of them although I came very close with a couple.

I'm not a fan of car covers in general. Unless you're going to wash and dry the car first every time to fit the cover then you will be doing more damage than good as you'll unavoidably get bits of fine road grit on the inside of the cover which will abrade the paint.

 

[swright]

Hello and welcome.


Stu

 

[georgethackray]

Hi there,

Congratulations on getting a 944!

I use Hartech for everything on my car - I've got their lifetime maintenance package on it. I'd personally highly recommend them, but the maintenance package is probably no good for you as it would mean a long drive whenever any fault develops (hopefully rare!).

They gave mine a big service when I first bought it and it transformed from being an OK car to one that drives better, faster and quieter!

Enjoy!

 

[poprock]

Motortune in Shotts are your best bet around here (I'm in Glasgow too). Phone 01501 822 247 and ask for Peter. I can't recommend him highly enough.

If you really can't face the twenty minute drive out there, then you could try RPM in Maryhill. Good guys, but more expensive than Motortune and I just don't have the same level of confidence in them.

If you want to come along to any club meets, we'll sort you out with all the details. There's one at the Sherbrooke Hotel on the South Side tomorrow at eight-ish, and a TIPEC (the other Porsche club) meet at Bo'ness Motor Museum on Wednesday around the same time.

 

[Alpine]

I'd recommend Hartech too, they do all that's needed on my car, but it is a long way for you. Maybe they could do the first service and give it a thorough once over, and then you could use someone local thereafter?

 

[poprock]

Hartech are great, but there's plenty of very, very good independent specialists here in Central Scotland too. Aside from Motortune and RPM, there's also Brian Miller Motors over in Edinburgh, who are fantastic as well. There's no need to drive hundreds of miles to get your car seen to.

 

[Pastry]

Thanks for the heads up on Motortune; I'll try to get it checked over by them 1st. I can maybe book it an annual outing to Hartech after that.

It looks well looked after but I did notice some transaxle whine and the gearbox is a little stiff especially when cold. Mind you it is bloody cold here right now. I'm thinking of getting the gearbox oil replaced. And praying its not the clutch; I've never had to get a clutch done on any car i've owned, then I looked at prices for the 944 and gulped.

Last question for the time being; the car is on (i think) original 15" teledials, 215/60 pirellis all round. Theyre a bit ancient and nearly down to the tread markers so am gonna get all 4 done, I've read recommendations here and there whats the current thinking? Contenders are Goodyear Eagle NCT5 at £92 a corner (kwik fit) or Continental Premium Contact 2 at £96 (blackcircles) I'm open to suggestions if anyones got tyres theyre particularly happy with.

 

[poprock]

Tyres are one of those things everybody disagrees on around here. If you search the 944 forum for thread titles containing "˜tyres' you'll find a lot of different opinions!

I prefer Continental Sport Contacts because of their good performance in the wet (living here, you know how often it's wet). Toyo TR1s are a grippier but less hard wearing option.

 

[appletonn]

As far as the gearbox being stiff goes, mine needed new rear change linkage as the bushes were all shot and after being stripped and all of the shift linkages being cleaned and lubricated it was like a different car and still is 12 months later - just keep the linkage points lubricated and it won't seize up again.

 

[Fen]

I think everyone will at least agree on getting rid of the Pirellis, assuming they are P6000.

On the subject of Hartech while I believe them to be good, there is I would suggest absolutely no advantage in getting them to give a car a once-over. They are relatively expensive (I believe) and I doubt any better than Motortune. The only reason to use them is that once you have paid for the expensive first visit when they get you to fix everything they then do a maintenance plan where most work is included in a set charge, but if you're not local I'd suggest even that is of limited attraction.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Last question for the time being; the car is on (i think) original 15" teledials, 215/60 pirellis all round. Theyre a bit ancient and nearly down to the tread markers so am gonna get all 4 done,

Well done - you're the first person here to achieve ANY appreciable wear on Pirellis. I have a new P6000, only three years old with about 15K on it, that still has all the coloured marks in the tread and absolutely no sign of any wear. The other three are older, with plenty more miles and beginning to perish, and STILL have no sign of wear. [&o]

I'd be surprised if you don't notice a slight improvement with new tyres of a different brand.....[8|]

Probably worth a full alignment as well, I'd not think it'll have been done if the previous owner thought the tyres worth keeping. It's not cheap, but transforms the handling.

 

[appletonn]

ORIGINAL: Fen

I think everyone will at least agree on getting rid of the Pirellis, assuming they are P6000.

On the subject of Hartech while I believe them to be good, there is I would suggest absolutely no advantage in getting them to give a car a once-over. They are relatively expensive (I believe) and I doubt any better than Motortune. The only reason to use them is that once you have paid for the expensive first visit when they get you to fix everything they then do a maintenance plan where most work is included in a set charge, but if you're not local I'd suggest even that is of limited attraction.

I'd tend to agree with Fen - they gave my car a big service and inspection when i first got it and it wasn't cheap once you added all the 'extras' in! They were the 944 gurus, back in the day, but I would say that any good Porsche specialist would be just as good and possibly cheaper.

Good luck!

 

[poprock]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

Probably worth a full alignment as well, I'd not think it'll have been done if the previous owner thought the tyres worth keeping. It's not cheap, but transforms the handling.

I completely agree"”a good wheel alignment is probably the single most cost-effective "˜upgrade' you can give your 944. Around here, your man for that would be Willie at CLCM in Edinburgh. Even the local Porsche Centres take tricky cars to him for an expert eye. You can get him on 0131 458 5559. You'd be looking at well below fifty quid for a bit of attention that can really help you get the best out of your car.

 

[MRGT]

I have 15in teledials on my 944S and have just replaced the tyres with the original size 195/65/15 . I chose to fit Dunlop SP Fast Response which are around £47 from tyretraders.com and get excellent reviews on tyretest.com , normally I would go with Toyo T1-R's or Falken 452's but unfortunately these are not available in that size. I also had a full geometry check done at the same time and the total cost was around £260 inclusive. Car now handles beautifully []

 

[Peter Empson]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

Well done - you're the first person here to achieve ANY appreciable wear on Pirellis. I have a new P6000, only three years old with about 15K on it, that still has all the coloured marks in the tread and absolutely no sign of any wear. The other three are older, with plenty more miles and beginning to perish, and STILL have no sign of wear. [&o]

Oh I don't know, I got a set down to canvas at a track event on an airfield in Oxfordshire many years ago [] The extra grippy surface made up for some of the limitations of the tyres []

 

[edh]

It's not just me then [] - I thought I'd acheived a world first when I changed 2 x P6000's on the Legacy as they were down to 2-3m. It took 4 years but we got there in the end....

 

[Fen]

I got rid of some tread on mine...

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I bet no more than a couple of thou, though....[&:]

ORIGINAL: Fen

I got rid of some tread on mine...

 

[Peter Empson]

This isn't a great pic, there was a lot more canvas showing on the other tyre but I didn't get a good picture of that one []