new person considering to buy a 944

[RC18B 911 turbo]

Hi I'm new around these parts and I'm considering buying a 944 I've been looking at insurance quotes for them and considering how young I am they weren't to bad either. Just wanted to know from your experiances of running the cars what is it I should look out for.

Jon

 

[Guest]

I'm 26 and pay £350 fully comp. Bargain. []

 

[Indi9xx]

Buy the best example you can afford, with the best history, the best, condition. A little extra spent in the begining will save you money in the long run.

There is a saying... "There is nothing quite as expensive as a cheap Porsche"

944's are not expensive on parts, and even if you use a specialist, they are probably one of the cheapest cars on the market for labour rates. As far as parts go, I expect that they are cheaper on parts than your volvo for sure!

There is one major changeover year for the 944, it happened half way through 1985. The main difference is in the interior trim and electrics. Pre 86 cars have slightly more problematic electrical systems, but still not the end of the world.

In 1987 there were more changes... such as the wheel offset.. so if you buy a post 87 car you can use even the latest Porsche wheels, if you have a pre 87 car, your stuck with pre 1987 Porsche wheels. But even for the earlier cars you can get late design replica wheels with the early offset. Other changes include some other minor details.

Try to buy one which has had a recent cam belt change, ideally one with a recent cam belt, water pump, rollers and tensioners.. This will save you quite a bit of cash.

If you like performance and have an idea that you would like to modify your 944 in time, then it may be worth getting a 944 turbo, these are very easily tuned.

Last of all, try to get whatever you buy checked out.. Not by the RAC or AA, but either a specialist or maybe an enthusiast.... If you see a car you like, it may be worth leaving a message here asking for someone in that area to go with you on a test drive, as the people in here of course know how they should and should not drive, what noises are normal and what isnt.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Indi9xx

.......it may be worth getting a 944 turbo, these are very easily tuned.....

But subsequently almost impossible to insure. []

There are a vast number of modern cars you could buy for the price of a reasonable 944. These will be cheaper to run, easier to insure, and often quicker (at least at legal speeds). You've got to really want a 944 to put up with one. You never run out of things to do on a twenty year old car and it will drain your bank account if you let it.

Perhaps, after 5+ years of 944 ownership I'm over the honeymoon period?[8|]

 

[944Turbo]

ORIGINAL: John Sims

Perhaps, after 5+ years of 944 ownership I'm over the honeymoon period?[8|]

I've noticed that,we need to get you out on a trackday before you sell it - and then spend ages looking for a replacement 3 months later []

 

[Fen]

I don't find a modified one difficult to insure at all. You just need to look harder. I had 2 quotes for mine with 2 pages of typed A4 of modifications. OK, two isn't a lot, but it's enough. I believe Paul has 2 options (or more?) for insuring his 3.2 as well.

 

[DivineE]

I'm 22years old have owner various 944 since I was only just 18. Now insuring a modified 944 turbo for £730per annum 3rd party from Adrian Flux... Fully comp is a large jump at £1600 but amusingly this is only £200 more per year than I was paying on a 1.8ltr Mk2 golf Gti fully comp so very cheap really. Especially when you consider a 23 year old friend of mine who drives an imported Subaru Sti and pays £3900 per year!!

Ben

 

[Suffolk944]

My insurers, Lancasters, were fine with the mods I have made to my machine and the premium didnt rise by all that much.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: DivineE

...... a 23 year old friend of mine who drives an imported Subaru Sti and pays £3900 per year!!

Ben

That's pretty much the insurers saying "You are going to smash this car up." [] Did your friend mention he knew you Ben. LOL.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: 944Turbo
.......we need to get you out on a trackday before you sell it

So true. []

- and then spend ages looking for a replacement 3 months later []

Oh no, we have to have a replacement before hand. []

I do need something to reignite my enthusiasm. I've got the 300 bhp hat now, I'd like to see 350 bhp but don't want to spend a load more money - the potential should be there already with a bit of attention but, there again, it might not be. I'm certainly not willing to spend the money necessary to get a 400 bhp hat.

Jasper is much nicer on the road - though doesn't excellerate, corner or brake anywhere near as well - so perhaps I should be looking towards a more track orientated Beaky?

 

[944Turbo]

I was talking a replacement 944 to replace the replacement [],
Tony

 

[944Turbo]

Thinking about it there should be close to 350 in Beaky, maybe just some fine fettling - removal of boost leaks etc.

Tony

 

[iainfuller]

ORIGINAL: Indi9xx


944's are not expensive on parts, and even if you use a specialist, they are probably one of the cheapest cars on the market for labour rates. As far as parts go, I expect that they are cheaper on parts than your volvo for sure!

Mmm... Ive just received a quote from my local OPC for the alloy arm that sits atop the boot release motor and pulls the release cable as the motor turns (probably about ten pence worth of materials). ..£86.99 + VAT!!!! Not my idea of cheap.

 

[sawood12]

For items like that I'd try a breakers. I also think that 944 parts are not too bad. Of course there are always going to be examples people have of big bills but people who have normal run of the mill cars are not immune to big bills either. I think on balance they are not too bad. For example the bill to replace the cylinder head gasket is comparable to conventional cars as is the cost for a clutch replacement.

Either way they are alot of car for the money - even if you get a turbo and choose to spend alot of money to get to monster levels of performance you will have spent a fraction of the money for a newer car of comparable performance - unless you get too far into the law of diminishing returns territory.

 

[RC18B 911 turbo]

Thanks for all the useful tips everyone.

I've already seen a few I like but when it nearer the time for me to get one I will leave a message for if it is possible for one of you kind people to come and have a look at the car with me because I only have a vague idea of wha to look for on these cars

ORIGINAL: Indi9xx

If you see a car you like, it may be worth leaving a message here asking for someone in that area to go with you on a test drive, as the people in here of course know how they should and should not drive, what noises are normal and what isnt.

 

[Indi9xx]

ORIGINAL: iainfuller
Mmm... Ive just received a quote from my local OPC for the alloy arm that sits atop the boot release motor and pulls the release cable as the motor turns (probably about ten pence worth of materials). ..£86.99 + VAT!!!! Not my idea of cheap.

There are occasional parts like that which are silly prices from the main dealer... But on the other hand, they are also the kind of part thats amazing is still available from a main dealer... Try to buy something like that for a 20 year old Renault, Ford or Vauxhall.

Compare the price for consumable items for alternative cars, such as brakes, service items, etc with something like a volvo...

A good example is the crank sensor for the 944... You can get new original Bosch ones for about £70. When a couple of years ago I wanted one of these for the wifes Vauxhall (Now long axed thank god!) and it cost me £125 for an almost identical Bosch part. The same went for a thermostat for the same car... £32 from vauxhall, £12 from Porsche.

Compare the Porsche prices for many of these items, and then compare them for prices for a 20 year old TVR, Lotus etc and your into an altogether new ball game.

I am often amazed how you can call an OPC for almost ANY part of your car, and they can get it within 24 hours...

Even more amazing is when enquiring with the OPC network for parts for a 1970's Porsche, like a 911E or a 912, and again, you can get almost any part at modern car prices.

Many main dealers of other marques drop parts support 10 years after a car goes out of production.. Porsche keep going forever... You can still buy 90% of parts for a 1950's 356 through the main dealer network.. thats just amazing

 

[Indi9xx]

ORIGINAL: John Sims

There are a vast number of modern cars you could buy for the price of a reasonable 944. These will be cheaper to run, easier to insure, and often quicker (at least at legal speeds). You've got to really want a 944 to put up with one. You never run out of things to do on a twenty year old car and it will drain your bank account if you let it.

Perhaps, after 5+ years of 944 ownership I'm over the honeymoon period?[8|]

Shame on you John! []

We need to re-ignite your spark!

Dont be tempted by the much newer sports cars worth similar values... You just know they are still on a depreciation slope that you know is heading torwards scrap values sometime between now and 4 years down the line.... a 944 brought today is pretty much a depreciation free zone. Try that with £3k to £10k worth of any modern sports car... I think any car like that is going to possibly cost as much per year to run, plus your going to loose maybe 40% per year on depreciation. Which is what I call expensive motoring!

Whats your current list of mods? I take it you have a bigger, turbo, DP wastegate, bigger injectors? In which case I am sure we can get you up to 340BHP... If you have the smaller turbo, I am sure we can get you to around 350lbs of torque.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Indi9xx

Whats your current list of mods? I take it you have a bigger, turbo, DP wastegate, bigger injectors? In which case I am sure we can get you up to 340BHP... If you have the smaller turbo, I am sure we can get you to around 350lbs of torque.

Critical spec:-

Paul's redundant Lindsey Super 61, Rick's redundant 55 injectors, TiAL DPW, Greddy boost controller and Link MAP induction with Guru MAP chip set. Forge dual piston dump valve.

I agree with Tony, it should be good for 350+. I seem to have had more success with the Link MAP than most, but it does need a bit more mapping since I fitted the GReddy - it recorded 316 bhp at the last rolling road day with an MBC. I also have a boost leak - one or two have said they think they are being chased by a Dyson when making discrete progress with Beaky in a convoy.

Obviously the MAP kit accommodates the boost leak but the hiss is still quite annoying - I might get around to connecting the induction to a compressor to see if I can find the leak some time this week.

 

[Indi9xx]

I bet the Forge dump valve could well be the boost leak.

I respect the fact your sticking with the Link system, so many people gave up on that system, I am sure it can work and would love to see someone crack it.. But I bet that in the short term, you could remove it and pick up an easy 20 bhp in one hit and maybe another 10bhp with some fine tuning... But imagine the respect you would get from actually getting a Link system to work.

I bet Rick and Fen give you some stick over still having the link system in there, which may well make you more determined. If you give up on it and think about binning in it, I would be interested in having a play with it somewhere between you and bin.

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: 944Turbo

I've noticed that,we need to get you out on a trackday before you sell it

Right - emergency planning mode switched on, we can't lose the Sim Meister []

How is everyone fixed for a day early next year?

Bookatrack have a Saturday at Castle Combe on Sat 3rd Feb for £150, GoldTrack have three weekend dates at Silverstone in January - £175 for the Naional circuit, £195 for the GP. I also know that Donington have several of their own days throughout January for £115 open pit lane (their website is down just now so I don't know the dates)