I'm looking to add a decent coupé to my collection, for mainly winter driving... I'd not considered a Porsche before, but have been offered a 1988 Lux, 2.5l 8v in black (shame about the linen leather upholstery-I'd have preferred black), with 117k on the clock for £3000 (I'd assume spending the same again to weatherproof it for the winter). Because of the time constriction (the current owner wants it sold ASAP), I don't really have the luxury of doing the sort of in-depth research I'm used to... I currently own a 1964 Alvis TE 19 FHC, 1969 MGB, a 1973 Mini 1300s, a 1975 Series III LWB Landrover, a 1977 MGBGT, and a 1989 SWB Landrover 90... As well as my daily rides, an MX5 in the summer, and a Hyundai Coupé for the winter. I maintain all these myself, so adding a Porsche isn't a worry, as I've a fully fitted garage workshop... I want to trim down and sell both the Landies, the GT, the Mini, the Mazda and the Hyundai. I had considered a Mercedes CLK as a winter car, but a Porsche seems much more fun-so, my question is simply, which specific model would members recommend?..
Which model should I buy?..
- Thread starter Adams5905
- Start date
Hiya Adam,,,,,
with turbos still fetching high money then a s2 might tick the boxes,,,,
for a few more quid one of our forum users monkey3-Tom has a beauty of an s2 with all the work done that may be available so no spending out loads to make her good,,,,,
good luck,,,,,,,,jasonp,
with turbos still fetching high money then a s2 might tick the boxes,,,,
for a few more quid one of our forum users monkey3-Tom has a beauty of an s2 with all the work done that may be available so no spending out loads to make her good,,,,,
good luck,,,,,,,,jasonp,
Welcome! They are all lovely cars. I would look for condition rather than a particular model. Getting a neglected one up to scratch is an expensive business, especially if rust is involved, which it often is. Broadly the choice you have is a series 1 car (pre 86), these drive more like a classic, or a series 2 which have the updated dashboard, so called 'oval dash'. Series 2 you have more choice of engines 2.5 8v, 2.7 8v, 2.5 8v Turbo, 3.0 16v (S2) and 2.5 16v.
The 924S is worth considering as well (basically a 924 with 944 running gear).
All I would say is it sounds like the time restriction is the current owners, not yours. There are quite a few about, worth spending some time looking, deciding which model you like and getting the one you want.
The 924S is worth considering as well (basically a 924 with 944 running gear).
All I would say is it sounds like the time restriction is the current owners, not yours. There are quite a few about, worth spending some time looking, deciding which model you like and getting the one you want.
924Srr27l
New member
Adams5905 said:
Hi Adam,
Looking at your current line up you've no issues at all with a classic Transaxle porker with your classic car experience & knowledge and workshop facilities etc..
The 2.5 8V 944 sounds a good buy as long as it's in decent condition and doesn't want a huge amount of bodywork and mechanicals replacing.
If not then you may need to spend 3K, but otherwise you shouldn't need to go this far
This model will be ideal for winter especially if it's on 15" Wheels and tyres, check all the usual stuff like brakes, Suspension and bodywork, Interiors also can wear and the Engine's Service history..
The Porsche transaxle car's are very good in the snow, due the amount of weight on the rear axle almost identical to the front axle.
R
PSH
PCGB Member
Hi, and welcome to the forum...which model?...well you'll get a variety of replies to that one. Unusually for me, I'm not going to say which, I'm just going to say that all 944's are great cars but they are getting on a bit now and therefore you need to be sure to get as best a car no matter which model as possible. You don't say which part of the country you're in, try to take someone who knows these cars inside out along with you to view any possible contenders. I'm sure that if you give details of a car you are thinking of to the members here, they will give you their views, you may even find a member who's close by that may go and see the car with you. These cars are very expensive to fix so it's better to spend more on a well-sorted car than a project. If you do go the 'project' route IMHO it's better to get a car with poor mechanicals than poor bodywork, these cars were made in large numbers which means there are plenty of spare parts around. A dud engine is an easier fix than a rotten shell, much cheaper too...
good luck in your search.....
Pete
good luck in your search.....
Pete
Chrishazle
Active member
My first was a 2.5 944 Lux, 1983, nice drive but a bit low on grunt, also no vertical adjustment on drivers seat so wife not happy. Went from that to a 944S, did not like that and swopped to a 968 tip coupe which I kept for 12 1/2 years before swopping to a 968 tip cab which I've had for 6 years.
Of the 944's, I'd recommend a 944S2 - but as others have said, condition and maintenance history, especially cam/balance shaft belts and rollers, cam chain and cams, tin worm especially sills.
Of the 944's, I'd recommend a 944S2 - but as others have said, condition and maintenance history, especially cam/balance shaft belts and rollers, cam chain and cams, tin worm especially sills.
Thanks for all your advice, chaps-I went and had a look at the car this morning, crawling all over and under it-and was most disappointed... It turns out that the vendor was using photographs from when he bought the car, six years ago, and he's quite obviously a 'bodgit and scarper' restorer-rotten sills, mismatched wheels and tyres, bad electrics, lousy paintwork, and, despite all this glorious weather, the car smelled distincly damp, so there's obviously water ingress somewhere (sunroof?).. I shall keep searching, and, as you advised, look to up the ante in favour of spending more money to get the car winter-proof when bought... Meanwhile, if anybody hears of a decent Turbo or an S2, ideally in black with black trim, please let me know... I'm off next week to have a look at a 911, but I think it may be a little rich for my wallet-unless I sell anything by then, of course... And there's always the 912 I had a look at in Auderghem last year-it's still for sale, apparently..
uk66fastback
New member
Yes, get the best you can for your budget condition-wise. If you want to just go fast, get one of the faster models, but owning one of these is about far more than just going fast ...
My 2.7 is great to drive all over the country - big distances sometimes, and I never feel as though I don't have enough power for getting about.
Your current crop of motors don't exactly seem like speed freak machines if I'm honest, so I'm sensing you're after more of the driving experience rather than outright speed. Good man!
My 2.7 is great to drive all over the country - big distances sometimes, and I never feel as though I don't have enough power for getting about.
Your current crop of motors don't exactly seem like speed freak machines if I'm honest, so I'm sensing you're after more of the driving experience rather than outright speed. Good man!
Chrishazle
Active member
Just to counter Blade7's comment, one of the cars I test drove before settling on the 968 tip coupe (in 1998, admittedly) was an M3 Evo with the steptronic gearbox. It's close to the worst car I have ever driven! Only way to get a smooth gearchange, whether in full auto or manual, was to drive it like I stole it, and in manual mode the gearbox was stupid, does not compensate for you forgetting to change down when braking to a halt - hence I ended up trying to pull into a gap on a roundabout in 4th and nearly got T-boned! That doesn't happen with the 968 tiptronic, whcih was part of the reason I bought that rather than the M3!!
blade7
Well-known member
If the car you drove had a steptronic gearbox it wasn't an M3. The gearbox option on the M3 is SMG, and it's fitted to the M3 CSL with just a software uprate . As the M3 CSL is a great track day car I don't think you're correct. And the M3 convertible has the option of a nice light weight hard top too.Chrishazle said:
Chrishazle
Active member
The car I test drove in October/November 1998 was the demonstrator of the BMW dealer in Otford, Kent, which he described as an M3 Evo with steptronic gearbox. Thankfully I know very little about Big Money Wasted cars.
PSH said:
... or try to follow one. [
]A great deal of very sound advice above.
Something that hasn't been raised is the issue of having "Porsche" on the back. It makes you a target for every inverted baseball cap wearing, Halfords addict, shopping car owner on the planet. And the truth of the matter is; cars have improved a great deal in the 25 years since they started the 944. It might say Porsche on the back but there are a lot of modern hot hatches which will annihilate a normally aspirated 944, and these aren't even the Madras versions.
Having re read the original question (always a good policy) I can see you aren't likely to want to tank down the outside lane with your lights on in the daytime so wont be embarrassed when a Fiesta Zetec S leaves you in its dust.
Equipped garage or not I'm afraid £3K on a 944 these days is likely to bring you a lot of trouble. And "something for the winter"??? Well, you can drive a 944 in the winter but it isn't the time of year I would choose for it. You are lower than a lot of cars so get covered in spray. The heating (and AC if equipped/working) is good though. It is also an extremely well balanced and predictable car on wet roads (unless you get a Turbo). Otherwise???
Another issue with winter driving is other cars are more likely to hit you. 944's haven't yet achieved classic values but cost as much as a classic 911 to repair. We have heard of 944's being written off for little more than a damaged bumper.
PSH
PCGB Member
Just a small counter to some of John's comments... I've owned my turbo for more than 18 years...it's my daily driver and has been driven in all road conditions without drama...wet, ice and snow nothing fases my use of the car. Grip in the wet with good tyres is very good and as far as being bothered by young drivers?...I've not really had this...I do get an awful lot of attention though...everyone looks at the car and it's a normal experience to get very favourable comments from both young and old. As for being slower than modern traffic....a well modified turbo isn't concerned by such matters....modern Porsches in general are slower...only true supercars are going to leave you and since you'll be hitting 3 figures in mere seconds it's really not worth even trying...I'm getting far to old for such dangerous antics.....
Pete
Pete
blade7
Well-known member
PSH said:As for being slower than modern traffic....a well modified turbo isn't concerned by such matters....modern Porsches in general are slower...only true supercars are going to leave you and since you'll be hitting 3 figures in mere seconds it's really not worth even trying...I'm getting far to old for such dangerous antics.....
Pete
I look forward to reading your posts Pete, and agree with most of what you write. You obviously know plenty about the mechanical side on a 944 turbo, but since the introduction of hotter hatches like the Focus RS and the Golf R I wouldn't bet my house on seeing the likes of them off in a 944 turbo, particularly in the wet. The older we get, the faster we were [
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