Do the gods always strike?

StoneGrey · 07-06-2004, 03:16 AM

My S2 'seems' to be in very good condition and behaves all the time... I will say no more.. I don't like to tempt the gods...

However, saying that, I generally drive around with a sense of impending doom, waiting for a puff of smoke after a few 'high' (5.5 max) revs, always listening for a new noise, smelling for a new smell.... I'm not as paranoid as it sounds, but basically, I'm very aware of the cars sound, feel, smell etc etc.....

In terms of mechanical state, new belts and tensioner, no oil leaks, seals all ok, infact.... I think its too good... all I can really complain about is that she uses oil if I work her a bit.... and there is little smoke at 5+ rpm... but I accept that of a 15yr old.

So... why the post.... well.... the more I read here, the more I worry... almost everybody here is either in the process of fixing something or breaking something. What gives.....

I was told by many enthusiates that 44's are 'bullet proof', OK.. so who the hell has shot one of these things lately?

I expect the Porsche to be abnormally robust and reliable.... its a Porsche....

So that leaves me with two, no three conclusions:

1) The cars are everything people say, and I have a good one!

2) Nobody posts good things like....
Hey... I drove my car today and wow I still love it.....
or... I made my car sing today... and she loved it.... and wants more....
Are these good things assumed to happen everyday.... and are 'almost' a given when owning a 44?

3) You guys bought lemons (by accident or on purpose) and are enjoying the project aspect...

3.5 ) You drive your cars like crazy!

So.. are the gods fair, or they they do just randomly look for some fun with us mere 44 mortals.

Buddy · 07-06-2004, 04:52 AM

I think you should act quickly.

I'll give you $100 cash to take that POS off your hands and lower your anxiety level. Just let me know where we can meet.

Remember, that's $100 CASH. So you won't have to worry about a bounced check or stolen money order.

Just drive the car. Unless it's your only source of transportation, I wouldn't worry about the possible failures that may happen. Takes all the joy out of driving, IMHO.

StoneGrey · 07-06-2004, 05:02 AM

Nice try Buddy........ She stays right here with me......
She's my daily driver and I won't give it up.
Don't get me wrong, I trust the car, I just read more bad stuff than good. In fact its a doulbe edge sword... the more bad I read the happier I am that I'm OK, the happier I am the more I think I'm with messing the gods.... no human deserves to this happy.

.

Thus I never mention how ....... sorry can't temp the gods

bertman · 07-06-2004, 06:10 AM

Why not blame PO's, not the gods, for any repair and dependability problems? No doubt they abused and failed to maintain these rides so you inherit the problems.

I bought my 84 944 new and religiously maintained it. Despite spending the 80's as a daily driver/autocrosser, it is still dead solid and I would drive it anywhere. (only clutch, belts, rack have been renewed)

Ahem... of course I intend no disrespect to the gods!

StoneGrey · 07-06-2004, 06:25 AM

Hmm..... That makes sense...Fortunately, my S2 has had two very good PO's over the last four years (The main Reason I bought her) and now I get a benefit in exhange for my promise to look after her, so..OK the gods are kind..... its those damn pesky humans.....

ronniebaldino · 07-06-2004, 06:30 AM

Keep in mind the cars on this board are a lot older than yours. 944 started life in 82-83 and the 924 stretches back into the 70s.

Yes, you are right. We all only seem to get on here when our cars are broken. That is cause we are all out driving them when they are running. Drive it, enjoy it and come and see us when it breaks. They ar solid cars just make sure you do the maintenence.

When you say belts and tensioner are you talking about the one for the cam chain?

I have had my car 7 years and driven at least 60 000 km and here is my list:

Ball joint
brakes (pads and rotors)
Tires
Clutch
Belts
Chain Tensioner (pad only) we will see how this works out????
Slave and master cylinder re-built
New ECU

I would say that ain't bad for a 7 years of daily driver (6m/pr year).

mambodave · 07-06-2004, 08:19 AM

Heres my take:

Pre 86 cars need lots of TLC and repairs just about every month.

The Best, low maintenance 944 I had was the 86 Automatic. It rarly needed anything it had 108, 000 miles on it.

The worst one was an early 85, it seemed something went wrong every other day, it had 76,000 miles on it.

The 2nd best was another early 85, which had 175k on it. Almost no problems except for the AC.

The only conclusion I can come up with is...

Id rather have one with 100,000 miles or more. It seems that they are already sorted out. The ones with low milage need lots of things done to them appartently.

Moral of this post....

its a crap shoot. All cars including the one that stuff kept happening had good mainytenace records and PPI.

If you have one that doesnt need much attention. Dont sell it...you wont be able to replace it:-)

***But it was worth the maintenance!

gearhead290 · 07-06-2004, 08:34 AM

I've figured out that you never want to beat the crap out of one. Mine has ticked on ~150k, 30,000 of those were some very hard miles-as in many track days, my "play" nights on the street (which I know isn't safe). However, the car has not been abused for a LONG time and it still just continues to fall apart. I've been trying to sell it for a few monthes now and the only time I ever drive it is to and from the place I let it sit, and it still breaks once every 1-2 weeks (and I'm not exagerating).

And I have been great with maintanence.

FLA944 · 07-06-2004, 08:52 AM

Sounds like your car is great (as most of us think)

Remember that this BBS is a technical BBS and a source for information on repairing/restoring your "Baby" Not many drop a line saying how great their car is and no problems well, until you.

Man I envy you! My '83 garage "red" hole is quite a blast. The previous owners had a poor maintenance/repair routine (booger it as much as possible) been 2 years and haven't even driven it! Oh, did I tell you I really envy you!

Rick

ronniebaldino · 07-06-2004, 01:12 PM

Oh yeah I would lay off those 5000 rpm max shifts.

Get the car all warmed and then rev the ***** out of it. Your car is a 16V built by porsche. They put the redline at 6000 + for a reason. I am not saying you have to drive it hard all the time but the odd blast is good for the motor not bad. As long as the fluids are in good shape then this will clean all the crap out of the engine.

I am not saying drag starts but the odd 6000 rpm shift won't hurt it a bit.
Mine 87 S tells me it likes it and purrs like a kitten.

singpilot · 07-06-2004, 01:30 PM

'83 944 Guards red. Daily driver. My daily drive can be Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Has never stranded me.

Everything works. No pesky power steering or power sunroof, tho. Weren't available on the '83.

138,000 miles.

Moneyguy1 · 07-06-2004, 01:42 PM

Now I love wrenching on Porsche cars..Have worked on many over the years. (long time PCA member)

But, isn't it interesting that folks will buy a domestic vehicle (or Asian) and drive it for a decade or so, doing nothing more than the absolute minimum (oil, belts when they break, that kind of stuff) and the average Porsche owner is never satisfied and just has to read "Excellence" articles about how to upgrade this, enhance that, and so on. How many ads for accessories/upgrades imply "Fix the xxxxx that the factory forgot"....

I don't understand it. If "excellence was expected", it should have been deliveres, no ups, no extras. Why the fixation on upgrades?

singpilot · 07-06-2004, 05:33 PM

P.S. Yes, Moneyguy, My '83 looks like the day it came off the floor.

No upgrades.

Well, one forced upgrade.

The water pump is the 'new improved' water pump. They stopped selling the OEM one. The 'new improved' one looks suspiciously like the more expensive 'turbo' water pump.

AFJuvat · 07-06-2004, 10:34 PM

A couple things to keep in mind:

The cars are old - the newest 944 is 13 years old. Things will wear out over time.

While the cars are "cheap" the maintenance and parts costs have gone up.

Many Previous owners skimped on maintenance - the new owners get to pay for it.

You must always... ALWAYS leave one small minor thing unfixed, otherwise the gods shall smite you with a big repair bill.

AFJuvat

Paul Glasson · Paul Glasson's Garage

It really helps to get a car with full service history and few PO's. I am the second owner of my 84 model, and the PO had it as a company car and was loaded and spent the money on maintenance, but things still go wrong at 160K km. I still regard myself lucky; in 2 1/2 years have had clutch cylinders o/h, alternator o/h,battery,clutch replaced and fan thermoswitch + service every 15K km, so tempting the gods think I have been lucky.Oil consumption would figure at 1l/1000km but engine was redone at 106K by PO.

StoneGrey · 07-07-2004, 12:55 AM

ronniebaldino

Quote:

When you say belts and tensioner are you talking about the one for the cam chain?

Cam Chain......

Mambodave

Quote:

Id rather have one with 100,000 miles or more. It seems that they are already sorted out. The ones with low milage need lots of things done to them appartently.

I'd go with that... My PO's did the belts, A/C pulleys, balance shaft bearings, Chain tenstion pad, Brake disks, etc.... He's active in the racing community and this was is non track toy. He had the bucks and spent them well.... for me

Quote:

If you have one that doesnt need much attention. Dont sell it...you wont be able to replace it:-)

That's what my wife said... Clever woman!

gearhead290

Quote:

it still just continues to fall apart

Hey dude.... You have my sympathy.... Here I am gloting about how awesome..oops.. no tempting the gods... sorry man..
Have you thought about contacting the BREAK Foundation
(Big Random Entropy Activated Kaos Foundation). They have sophisticated equipment that measures for entropy fields, and then use other even more sophisticated equipment to divert the field to the neighbors car. It sounds like you have a massive one in your garage.... I don't have the new address, but their last building imploded.

AFvat

Quote:

While the cars are "cheap"

They are still rather pricy here in South Africa, so it keeps things even.

ronniebaldino

Quote:

Get the car all warmed and then rev the ***** out of it. Your car is a 16V built by porsche. They put the redline at 6000 + for a reason.

oh I do, but I don't like the smoking. When i hit the lotto, I plan to fix that.

All in all, thanks... and good driving all, and may the gods be kind to all.

ronin · 07-07-2004, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by StoneGrey
2) Nobody posts good things like....
Hey... I drove my car today and wow I still love it.....
or... I made my car sing today... and she loved it.... and wants more....

(begin shameless plug)

I drove my car today...

I made my car sing today...

singpilot · 07-07-2004, 09:08 AM

StoneGrey!

Is your S2 white?

I was in Joberg last March, and saw a really clean one parked in a mall garage.

Would be funny if it was yours.

Also saw the cleanest white 944NA on the street in Capetown.

ronin · 07-07-2004, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
I don't understand it. If "excellence was expected", it should have been deliveres, no ups, no extras. Why the fixation on upgrades?

it was delivered. the problem is that many people just don't (or don't want to) realize that and attempt to do the superfluous anyway

Kore944 · 07-07-2004, 02:31 PM

Nice reply Ronin. I have worked on all kinds of cars for a couple of years now and there is a least one that I have learned about the 944. People can knock it all they want, but in my opinion, this car was ahead of it's time. With the suspension it has, the weight ratio, the simplistic design of the engine, this is a car that not only provided great performance and reliability, but also did on a very nice budget. Even when the cars were new, you could not get the handling and great drivability out any car for the same budget as the 944. For instance, the brakes. People nowdays are dumping thousands of dollars into a brake setup for a Honda that was standard equipment well over 13yrs ago on a lower budget Porsche. Weird if you think about it. Whenever I hear some say "poor man's Porsche" I immediately know that they have never driven or worked on a 944 or they would have a little more respect for one. Anyway, here's 2 cents.