Newbie Help

[xenon]

Hello all.

I'm toying with the idea of a late (i.e. 1990 on) 944 S2 or turbo and I would appreciate any buying advice / known weak spots from any of the experts on here. Many thanks. []

 

[Diver944]

This thread that is stuck to the top of our forum has lots of useful info

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=38842

 

[xenon]

Yes I read that - thanks. I just wondered about any more specifics. For instance, I have read that if they haven't been done already a car of this age is likely to need replacement fuel and brake lines, which is not a straightforward procedure. Fair enough, but if I know things like this in advance I can use it as a negotiating tool. I understand that the engine (3.0) is fairly robust - what about things like suspension, steering rack et. al?

Is it reasonable, do you think, to use a car like this as a daily driver? What are running costs like? I doubt they're any worse than my current BMW 325i which drinks like a Lib-Dem leader and appreciates a change of 0w-30 every 3000 miles....

Thanks again!

 

[sawood12]

Yes you can use the car as a daily runner in all weathers (I do), I return an average of about 25mpg and i'm not particularly light footed, treat brake lines and fuel lines like you would any other car, replace them when they need it (however the fuel lines are quite expensive to replace if you use OEM parts), suspension is very robust -which is just the problem, the vast majority of cars could probably do with fresh shockers. Stock shockers for an S2 are around £90 a corner and can be fitted by a fairly competant DIY machanic. I believe steering racks can be prone to wear (I think mine has been replaced sometime in the past) but I don't think it's on epidemic proportions. Just avoid turning the wheel if you are not moving. I would imagine running costs would be fairly comparable to your BMW. They do use oil but not as much as your BMW (unless there is something seriously wrong, or you have a serious leak).

At the end of the day the 944 is just a car like any other and should be treated like one. There is no special treatment of the car required - oil change annually or 12k miles (6 months or 6k miles for a turbo), observe the timing belt change interval as diligently as if your life depended upon it and other than that just drive it and enjoy it!!

 

[xenon]

Thanks sawood. Oddly, I think I own the world's only 325 that doesn't drink oil - what I meant was I change it every 6000 miles or so. I don't trust extended intervals. I'm aware that the 3.0 (and others, probably) will suffer piston / valve collision if the timing belt breaks - is it possible to inspect the belt without taking half the car apart? For example, if a seller tells me "belts were done 6 months' ago, mate", is there anyway of verifying that fact? How much should I budget for an indy to change the belt(s)?

 

[xenon]

Oh, and while I'm on - I'm was reading elsewhere on the internet that seemed to suggest that 16v models (e.g. S2) has a timing chain rather than a belt. Is that so?

 

[Diver944]

They have both.

There is a cambelt and balance shaft belt at the front of the engine behind plastic covers.

There is also a camchain that links the two camshafts. This is inside the head and is not on any scheduled inspection list from Porsche so you need to make sure it has been looked after by someone who know's this.

A good rule of thumb is to change the belts every three years or 36k miles and change the camchain and tensioner slipper every 50k miles

 

[xenon]

thanks Paul.