Which 944 to buy ???

[random hero]

Im looking to buy another 944 (track car project) ideally around an 87 2.5 model or maybe a cheap S2 , there might be a 87 16v for sale but im not sure about it ,what do you need to look out for on the S2's and 16v's engine wise ??

 

[Fred Hindle]

Heard a lot of bad things about the 16 valve engines so I would avoid getting one of those.
Before anyone decides to shoot me down this is what I have heard not hard and fast fact.
Cheers,

 

[Andy97]

Think that the S2 is pretty reliable but the earlier 944S has a reputaion for unreliability. What about a Turbo?

 

[Fen]

There is absolutely no difference between the S and the S2 in terms of reliability. With all the 16v engines I'd expect the worst; that it needs a pair of cams and the chain and tensioner replaced unless there is recent documented evidence that someone who knows what they are doing has been in there and inspected it.

The reason for the S having a bad reputation is that it doesn't make much more power than the 2.5 8v and it was quickly superceded by the superior in every way S2, hence it falls between two posts. There isn't anything inherently wrong with the S and (I imagine as I have never owned one) the power delivery might be more suited to track work than the 8v as it will be more "top endy".

 

[TTM]

Early Ss certainly had head reliability issues, but those with more than 60k miles may already have gone through some head repair.
Beware of low-milers. There is a chap near me who bought an '87 with a broken head that had only 40k documented miles.

 

[dlknight]

ORIGINAL: Fred Hindle

Heard a lot of bad things about the 16 valve engines so I would avoid getting one of those.
Before anyone decides to shoot me down this is what I have heard not hard and fast fact.
Cheers,

Exactly this maybe what you heard and is definetly not FACT..

Myself and Rick both own an S and before I owned a Lux, the car is much more fun to drive than a Lux and is no less reliable. Any car will be unreliable if you don't have it serviced correctly and regularly !

As long as the usual cambelt, balance belt, tensioners and waterpump (which are on ALL models) are checked and replaced if necessary. The only additional items are the cam chain and tensioner, last time I looked the chain was around £20 and the tensioner about £150.

The S is a very fun car to drive as it has a lot of torque between 4-6500rpm. I know there are more than 2 S owners on this forum so will let them have their 2 pence as well.

I would say don't rush into anything take your time and look for a well looked after car, don't be too picky about colours as you will be waiting forever.

I am very happy with my S and wish people would stop saying they are unreliable without backing up their claims and perpetuating common myths.

Good luck and I hope you find a minter

Cheers

Dave K.

 

[TTM]

I plead guilty as charged, Sir. [&:]

Bottom line : whichever 944 you go for, it must have a comprehensive maintenance history.

 

[Fen]

I've owned 2 16v engines (S2s) and both needed new camshafts. The S is no different to the S2 in terms of likelihood of camshaft trouble so I say I do speak from experience and there is an issue. It affects the 968 as well.

That said I wouldn't recommend not to buy one, but do take into account the history regarding the cam chain and shafts when valuing a car.

 

[edh]

All depends on your budget & what you expect out of a track car

I had a ride with Peter "ten tenths" Empson on Wednesday - his Lux with an S2 engine goes very well, but he has spent a fair amount on suspension & it is quite a light car. Sounds better than a turbo as well.

Good suspension & soft tyres will make any car much faster - so a lowered/stripped out '88 924S on Bilsteins/slicks might be a good cheap route

I do like the punch you get out of the corners in the turbo. 220 turbos may be cheaper than S2's now. ph sportscars had an early one (C-plate) on Fuchs with a red leather interior for under 4k earlier this year.

 

[random hero]

Thanks for all the replys, i have heard simillar stories about the S models but i suppose its like any car if it looked after it should be fine,im staying clear of turbo's not because theres anything wrong with them but im of the thinking that there the more to go wrong on them !!! I will probably go for another 2.5 NA model as i have a spare engine/ecu,starter,alt etc left over from when i broke one up last year,i have my eye on an 86 model (oval dash) but its a pre Abs model and to fit all my turbo brakes and suspension i think it will be easier to fit them on one with abs !!

 

[Fen]

I don't think there is anything more to go wrong with a Turbo. The turbo itself is not horrendously expensive and neither is a wastegate; everything else is comparable to other 944s. When you consider the goodies you get as standard (bigger brakes, LSD etc.) of most Turbos and the tunability compared to the NA cars is does make a lot of sense for a track toy.

 

[random hero]

Budget is going to dictate the car i buy, im not looking for a mint car,quite the opposite infact as its going to be stripped apart anyway and i have loads of parts to fit on it anyway. The pic in my avatar was going to be a track car but because it was an early model put me off it a bit and it was far to original /clean condition with full history to just rip apart,it was in sheffield the last time i saw it after selling it !!!