944 for a kid's first car?

[SCWDP911]

My oldest child (daughter) turned 15 today. Aside from feeling old, and wondering where the heck time is being sucked off into, I have been thinking ahead a little. She thinks Dad’s car is cool. But she also likes 944’s. I have been thinking about helping her buy a 944 sometime in the next year before or around her 16th birthday. I thought about a 911, but too costly I think for a first car overall. I want my kids to appreciate money and what it can do for you if managed well. I also want to make sure they keep the mindset that if you take care of things, they will tend to last, and give you more bang for your buck. My dad proved this to me by making me foot the bill for all of my car expenditures as a youth. He was a streetrodder and helped with mechanical aspects, but I had to pay for things. Only took one set of tires destroyed in about 2 months of burnouts to realize tires can be really expensive! I do not want to have to dump thousands of $’s into a kids car if something does go wrong (topend, etc.). I digress…

I have driven the 944, but I do not really know a lot about them as far as dependability, etc. I can do a lot of the mechanical maintenance and upkeep on it for her. But I do not want to have to work on it every weekend either(after it is up and going - depending on what we purchase). I am going to part with my dad’s philosophy a bit and do a match to what my daughter has been saving up. She is a good girl and is very industrious. Besides babysitting money, she sells homemade gourmet tortillas and has a few loyal customers… I am thinking of something in the $3000 or less category for a first car. Then she’ll have money left over for other items that will surely come up… I also do not mind buying one to fix up a bit if needed over the course of the next year. I have been watching the market a little and there seems to be a few of the 944’s in this price range.

Sorry, I just read through the above. Hope I am not rambling too much… tired from a long week, and it’s only Wednesday.

I just wanted to know your opinions on this idea. Are they decent dependable cars if well maintained? Is there something I am not thinking about clearly?

Thanks,
Shane

[id10t]

Insurance will be the killer... as well as any responsibility issues, self control, impressing friends, etc.

[gprsh924]

actually, the insurance will not be terrible compared to many other cars that she could drive. The first car I drove was my dad's 87 924S and it was only about $150 a year more to insure me on that than on my mom's minivan that we had then. When we got rid of the minivan, I got switched to my dad's 93 525i, but that was nearly the same as the 924.

[HardDrive]

Ummmmm...old volvo 740 might be a better idea?

[jkarolyi]

My first car was a '77 924 bought in 1990...those are too old for a good first car these days, but looking back it was a perfect first car. Awesome handling, but gutless as they come! Really helped teach me the art of driving well.

A base 944 would be a good first car...they aren't overpowered and don't really "impress" friends much anymore. But the maintenance would be the killer! I spent WAY more keeping my '88 944 (second car) going for one year than I have for three years in my '89 911! They are just high-maintenance cars, period.

The best option for a first car these days would be a '92-98 BMW 318i ...coupe sedan, or convertible. Pretty gutless with a four cylinder, but one of the world's best handling cars. A well styled and still modern looking car to boot. You can pick them up in your price range with high miles, they're low-maintenance (no timing belts) and bulletproof, and you can keep liability insurance only on the car. The old-style '91 318is would be an alternate if you can't find a newer one cheap enough.

That's my vote.

[SCWDP911]

Originally Posted by jkarolyi

My first car was a '77 924 bought in 1990...those are too old for a good first car these days, but looking back it was a perfect first car. Awesome handling, but gutless as they come! Really helped teach me the art of driving well.

A base 944 would be a good first car...they aren't overpowered and don't really "impress" friends much anymore. But the maintenance would be the killer! I spent WAY more keeping my '88 944 (second car) going for one year than I have for three years in my '89 911! They are just high-maintenance cars, period.

The best option for a first car these days would be a '92-98 BMW 318i ...coupe sedan, or convertible. Pretty gutless with a four cylinder, but one of the world's best handling cars. A well styled and still modern looking car to boot. You can pick them up in your price range with high miles, they're low-maintenance (no timing belts) and bulletproof, and you can keep liability insurance only on the car. The old-style '91 318is would be an alternate if you can't find a newer one cheap enough.

That's my vote.

Thanks Jay. I must admit I was surprised and shocked to hear about the maintenance costs as compared to your Carrera. Wow...

I will look into the 318's as well... soudns like another good fit. Someone mentioned Volvo's. Another "safe" choice I had not thought about... What about a MB 300D of some vintage?

[Moneyguy1]

THe 944 is a very "needy" car. I have one and I have worked on a number of them. When they are running well, they are a pleasure. When they break down, they can be a nightmare. Also....timing and balance belts are problematc and, according to many, require a rather expensive tool (P9201) to properly tension. I would not recommend one for a first car for the above reasons.

[SCWDP911]

I had a guy on rennlist suggest only 87+ NA 944's. Did they havea better setup as far as the belts and tensioning mentioned above?

[Moneyguy1]

The later models had an "automatic tensioner" for the timing belt but still the tool was recommended or the initial tensioning. To be honest, the 944 reflects too many trips to the VW parts counter. If the engine were a more "conventional" design (straight 6 or v6, even VR6), I think the car would have overcome many of its shortfalls.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I agree. The 944 is a reasonably safe car, one that she'll be proud of (hopefully) and will be sort of distinctive and different (not JAFH - Just Another Fn Honda). The maintenance can be an issue unless she's into learning about that kind of thing, or you feel like having her potentially coming to you every weekend ("daddy, I need you to look at my car. . .")

N/A 944s are pretty good if you keep on top of all the inevitable nagging little things that will pop up. Not too bad a choice. There's probably better out there for the money though. I'd look for an older 'Benz or BMW.

[jkarolyi]

Pre '99 Volvos (the boxy ones before Ford bought Volvo and ) are good, safe, durable cars, but not much fun at all. Ditto the early 80s 300D...however these can be money pits too due to their age and very expensive parts. The engines will last forever, but everything else seems to go wrong! The 318 did very well in crash tests if I recall right...

The '87-newer 944s were better...I got the same advice and bought an '88...but within one year the pinion gear blew (new tranny), water pump froze breaking timing belt ($$$ valve replacement), water cooled oil cooler failed (caught it soon, but who knows how the engine was damaged), the A/C broke and the ECU computer was flaky...just stalling my car at random times. I have owned tons of cars and this was my only "lemon". Wasn't too sad to see that car drive off into the sunset.

[livi]

To complete the picture painted by Jay, my second car bought 1986 was a 76 924. I had it for several years as a daily driver. Cost me almost nothing except routine service. Was completely reliable even in cold Swedish winter climate. I was 20 years old and loved it and so did the girls. It was bright yellow and never after that did I have a car that attracted women as that little 'cute' Porsche.

My first car was a Chrysler Valiant 63... See I´ve driven Yankee cars too!

[rammstein]

From the life lesson perspective, I think its a cool idea. She can save for a year and get a very nice example for around $5k. Don't get a crummy/cheap one. You will hate life.

It WILL require maintenance. It certainly will be cool if she wants to learn wrenching with you on weekends, but you'd have to feel that out before getting into it, cause if she doesn't like it, its going to be a lot of your time without any quality bonding.

SO-
1) If she can afford to have the car out of commission for a week here or there, go for it.
2) If she wants to learn how to work on it WITH you, thats awesome. Go for it.
3) If she saves the money herself and this is what she wants, go for it.

[Moneyguy1]

I agree on the 924. I owned one about ten years back. Underpowered, but cute and as complex as a flatiron. Lost a timing belt one night out in the boondocks. Pushed the car under a parking lot lightpole and changed the belt. Two hours later I was home. No interference design, "half twist" tensioning. Easy.

[SCWDP911]

With what has been said about the 924's, what about one of them with a 944 style flare kit adn wider Fuchs? I noticed the prices on the 924's lately seems to be a lot higher than I would have ever imagined. Would it be taboo to do the 944 style conversion on one?

[stealthn]

Yes I agree the parts and labour of a 944 is too much for a first car. Mine was very reliable but the parts are killer. When my boys are old enough to drive it's going to be cars (they buy) that I can get parts for cheap and easily at any bone yard or auto store, (think American econobox)

[TerryBPP]

BMW 325is convertible. BMW saftey, reliable, and easy to handle.

[the]

The old 924 with the VW/Audi engine was more reliable and needed less attention than the later 944. But who would want a 924 these days? I don't think she'd enjoy that antique, wheezing, droning, buzzing rattle trap at all.

944s were good cars BITD, I had an '86 and it was a good car, pretty fun to drive.

But they are old cars now, aren't worth much, and therefore most need a lot of immediate work. They are, IMO, with a few exceptions, not really worth owning any more.

If that's the price range you are looking at, and she is looking for a European car that is fun to drive, you'd be much, much, much better looking at E30 BMWs (those are the 3 series from '84 to around '91). As cars, they are mechanically far superior to a 944. Easy to change clutches, easy to work on, many of them have a timing chain (depending on model) and the ones with belts are not a problem, no major expensive issues, they are smoother driving, parts are less, build quality is higher, and IMO they are more fun to drive.

[rammstein]

One nice factor of the 944s that gets forgotten is the fact that they are galvanized. I've been under a few, all in the Northeast, and NONE of them had any rust to speak of.

Kinda nice knowing that at least you are buying expensive parts for a car that's not rotting.

Are the Bimmers good in this respect? I sure do dig the older Bimmers too.

[SCWDP911]

Thanks for all of the input so far guys. I am learning a lot...