5SpeedP5

ok guys, what is you opinion on a 1984 Porsche 944..... i read they have 150hp 4 cylinder.... and ive been seeing decent under 100k mile ones going for about 5000dollars or less..... very good prices, very good perfomance and German Quality (i really like german cars)......

5SpeedP5

ok sounds good.... yeah im actually on a porsche board right now, the 944 looks good, its just maintanance could be bad, but im seeing HOW bad it really would be..... if it can stand just summer driving every year id be happy....


ill report back

5SpeedP5

Well its looking like maintanance could be expensive, but i can seem to find a decent answer to how bad...... i really would like to get a 944, they are also one of my favorite porsches (style wise)..... they are great cars im hearing, its just the maintanance.

So im still keeping it open.....

Makaveli

Get a 1st gen Protege like someone suggested

Look at what Jesse's doing to competition in it, hehe, but then again he's a good driver they say....

5SpeedP5

yeah ive been looking at them too but i want some more power to play with....


and yeah ive heard alot about jesse, he sounds like a damn good driver.... wish i could have his skillz but hey im workin on that.... im only 16 (for about 7 months now)....

carguycw

I agree on both counts. The reason I put the 944 on the "over budget" list in my previous post is the maintenance cost. These cars are reliable *IF* they are well maintained, but their low price means that many of them have been owned by dummies who just want a "Porsh" for the image and have driven them into the ground. Remember that German parts are VERY expensive, and some of the oddball design features of the 944 make it very difficult to fix- such as a rear-mounted tranny that makes clutch changes an all-day job, and a timing belt that can't be changed without an $800 factory tension gauge. They are fast, fun cars, but if something serious breaks, you are out $3000+ for something that, on a Mazda, could be fixed with $400 of junkyard parts

A 944 racer gave me this advice- *only* buy a 944 from a responsible-looking longtime owner who calls it a "Por-sha" and has complete maintenance records stretching back at least 60k miles. You will pay a premium for this, but it will be worth it.

I would encourage you to seriously look at a Miata. Do NOT exclude it for "macho" reasons- i.e. it doesn't have enough power and/or has a "girl car" image. The Miata has an INCREDIBLE chassis which *more* than makes up for its relative lack of power, it's lightweight so it's very nimble and easy on tires, and it is almost unbreakable. It is one of the few cars that has handling that's good enough to make it do almost anything you want (unlike a Mustang) without being difficult for a novice to control (like a 944 or MR-2). It also has aftermarket support unequalled by almost any vehicle that does not have a badge on it that says "H" or "5.0" There's a reason that my last 2 race cars have been Miatas, and the next one probably will be too

5SpeedP5

thanks for the nice response dude, and i have been reading about maintanance and what i should look at if i do consider a 944..... http://www.connact.com/~kgross/FAQ/944faq.html and http://porsche-944-garage.tripod.com/ are very good resources when it comes to the car....

and i have actually majorly considered a miata, it is number two on my list right now.... the 944 is still on top just because i want to keep researching it to see what all it is capable of and such