Moving on

[Dockrell]

Its time to say goodbye. Like a number of others here MOT time has come bearing costly news. I've had my 944 for about 4 years and it was purchased
because in the recent past it had received new sills. Unfortunately whilst the outside does not look too bad the inside has rotted despite being liberally
coated with rust proofing treatments. As the car was 25 years old with no history of a head gasket change it was going to get a new one as well as the belts etc.

I have enjoyed my few years of ownership of the 944 and have enjoyed being a member of this forum - so much information and useful advice available.

I have collected a number of parts for the car and these will be appearing in the for sale section.

I have replaced the 944 by another car which has similar handling characteristics - a Mazda RX8. I'm lucky that I have a well respected Mazda independent
nearby but a lot of the routine maintenance is easier and no belts to change.

Mike
Ex white 2.7 944

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Sorry to see you moving on and I can see the allure of an RX8, but I must say that living with the rotary engine would scare me!

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I must say that living with the rotary engine would scare me!

Me too! A mate has just sold his, hope that wasn't the one you bought....[&o]

Nice car, but the cost-per-mile was high for him.

 

[charlesm17x]

Id personally never go back to an RX8 just out of interest what was the work that needed doinv what were you quoted only im thinking of getting some body work done on my 944 was wanting to get a general idea about cost.

 

[Ex Skyline]

If you really want a Mazda then, the MX5 is a mental track car [].

 

[Dockrell]

Mike, Paul,
Many thanks for the thoughts re the RX8. Like many cars there are many myths about them. Being two stroke like, the RX8 has a high vehicle duty because of emissions but fuel costs are similar to the 944 - between 5 and 6 miles per litre which is very like my 944. The engine is very similar to a highly tuned two stroke engine 200+ bhp from what is effectively a 1.3 engine is a lot and the electronics are worked 3 or 4 times harder than a conventional 4 stroke engine. Mazda main dealers charge similar prices to Porsche dealers but the independents - Porsche and Mazda are considerably cheaper. Service costs at an independent are similar to those for a 944 with similar intervals. Two important factors are that the wife thinks the RX8 is the most comfortable car I have had and the instruments plus switches are illuminated however the digital speedometer takes some getting used to.

Charles the general view is that replacing sills are approximately £1000 per side, then throw in at least one new front wing, repairs to the rear (and some concerns about the rear suspension points) together with changing the belts and head gasket meant that buying the RX8 was considerably cheaper.

Ex-Skyline my track days were 40+ years ago with a Mk1 Sprite and a Lotus type 36 (Elan fixed head coupe) - the original rather than the MX5 copy. The RX8 is a different animal - smooth, comfortable and quick.

Mike
Ex white 2.7 944 automatic