944 -- considering buying one. Thoughts?

ferraripete · Jun 1, 2009

tervuren said: ↑

Please take a look in your Porsche books again.

Duel airbags did not come until '89. For sure on the S2, I'm not sure about the 2.7L. The 944S2 and 944Turbo share the same bodywork. The regular 944 and 944S share the same bodywork. The S2 is a big jump over all the other normally aspirated 944's. 3.0L 16V instead of 2.5L 8V. Similar power to the turbo with different engine characteristics. If you want more power than stock, get a Turbo and modify it, there are very few ways to get a lot more power out of the NA's without a HUGE amount of money into it.

At that price, if the car does drive likes its new, it might be worth it to you, but mint 944's are tough sell as I could get one for $3K, redo the suspension and rebuild the motor + fix the interior for less than what you are buying. Someday these cars could become more valuable, but I don't see that happening at all in the next five years. I've owned four of the cars, one(early '85) was sadly wrecked by a lane splitting pick up driver that must of thought he was on a motorcycle, one(86) was a dog and I turned it into a parts car, A '86 that is still a work in progress, prior owner did not keep up with oil level... I also have a beautiful '84 with sport suspension and limited slip trans axel(from the '86).

My early model 944http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=845532&d=1227619281
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i have seen andrew's 944 and i must say it is a very nice example. i would further suggest that i have not met anyone so expert on the 944 as he. a good guy as well!!

the 944 in the various iterations must be the best value in a porsche!!

pcb

Tony K · Jun 1, 2009

I don't see anything wrong with the early dashboard. Maybe some people buying 944s are in the mindset of trying to buy the newest/fastest car they can afford; in that case, they can go buy a ragged out Boxster for $8k; but to someone who just wants to drive a period Porsche, the early dashboard is retro/classic cool. Comments simply suggesting that a person should want a certain kind over the other don't do much good; the best comments inform (i.e. give reasons and details) and let the interested party decide for himself without trying to place a value judgement (or if they do try to place a value judgement, there is reason attached to it).

I've owned seven 944s -- three early and four late -- they're all cool. This past December/January, I bought a 1984 with 65k miles, one owner through April 2008, everything works, and with a NICE early interior. I bought it because it was in nice condition, low-ish mileage, full service history, everything worked, and it had a crispness to everything that all the others for sale (early or late) didn't have; In this case, I'd rather have a nice early car than a late-dash interior with cracks, interior faded/shiny from wear, something not working on the car, leaking sunroof/hatch/battery tray, little details needing attention, etc. With a mindset similar to this, I could easily see someone wanting a pristine, 11k mile early 944.

To each his own!

kmeighannj · Jun 1, 2009

sTyleR said: ↑

What did you decide to get?
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Well, I passed on the 944 and someone else bought it. While I was considering the 944, I also test drove a 2004 GT3 and fell in love. Completely different personality than any other 911 I have had. Awesome. So, I am buying that -- pick it up on Thursday. Basalt black metallic / black with PCCB and Xenons. (I recognize that a 944 and a GT3 are apples and oranges -- the 944 was so perfect that I was just thinking about it as a relatively cheap concours show car).

Market Mover · Jun 1, 2009

nice choice,seems like it all worked out in the end. slight improvement in performance
let's see the pics when you get it

kmeighannj · Jun 1, 2009

Tony K said: ↑

I don't see anything wrong with the early dashboard. Maybe some people buying 944s are in the mindset of trying to buy the newest/fastest car they can afford; in that case, they can go buy a ragged out Boxster for $8k; but to someone who just wants to drive a period Porsche, the early dashboard is retro/classic cool. Comments simply suggesting that a person should want a certain kind over the other don't do much good; the best comments inform (i.e. give reasons and details) and let the interested party decide for himself without trying to place a value judgement (or if they do try to place a value judgement, there is reason attached to it).

I've owned seven 944s -- three early and four late -- they're all cool. This past December/January, I bought a 1984 with 65k miles, one owner through April 2008, everything works, and with a NICE early interior. I bought it because it was in nice condition, low-ish mileage, full service history, everything worked, and it had a crispness to everything that all the others for sale (early or late) didn't have; In this case, I'd rather have a nice early car than a late-dash interior with cracks, interior faded/shiny from wear, something not working on the car, leaking sunroof/hatch/battery tray, little details needing attention, etc. With a mindset similar to this, I could easily see someone wanting a pristine, 11k mile early 944.

To each his own!
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Great post. Agree with your thought process completely. You have to think about the car in the context of what your own personal objectives are. This car is prisitine -- it definitely is one of the best in the world -- looks like a car in a Porsche showroom in 1985. Unrestored with flawless paint and interior. Handling was fantastic -- incredibly well- balanced. That said -- see my other post -- I passed on the car and someone else bought it.

sTyleR · Jun 2, 2009

kmeighannj said: ↑

Well, I passed on the 944 and someone else bought it. While I was considering the 944, I also test drove a 2004 GT3 and fell in love. Completely different personality than any other 911 I have had. Awesome. So, I am buying that -- pick it up on Thursday. Basalt black metallic / black with PCCB and Xenons. (I recognize that a 944 and a GT3 are apples and oranges -- the 944 was so perfect that I was just thinking about it as a relatively cheap concours show car).
Click to expand...

Congrats on the GT3!

justin993 · Jun 2, 2009

Tony K said: ↑

I don't see anything wrong with the early dashboard. Maybe some people buying 944s are in the mindset of trying to buy the newest/fastest car they can afford; in that case, they can go buy a ragged out Boxster for $8k; but to someone who just wants to drive a period Porsche, the early dashboard is retro/classic cool. Comments simply suggesting that a person should want a certain kind over the other don't do much good; the best comments inform (i.e. give reasons and details) and let the interested party decide for himself without trying to place a value judgement (or if they do try to place a value judgement, there is reason attached to it).

I've owned seven 944s -- three early and four late -- they're all cool. This past December/January, I bought a 1984 with 65k miles, one owner through April 2008, everything works, and with a NICE early interior. I bought it because it was in nice condition, low-ish mileage, full service history, everything worked, and it had a crispness to everything that all the others for sale (early or late) didn't have; In this case, I'd rather have a nice early car than a late-dash interior with cracks, interior faded/shiny from wear, something not working on the car, leaking sunroof/hatch/battery tray, little details needing attention, etc. With a mindset similar to this, I could easily see someone wanting a pristine, 11k mile early 944.

To each his own!
Click to expand...

I have had both, and always liked the older dash.

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