Why did I buy another 944?

Dantilla · 01-07-2008, 10:30 PM

Not long ago, I had six 944s. The race car, two running cars that were good candidates for race cars, and three parts cars in various states of decomposition.

Moving to a smaller location, I got rid of the parts cars. Then two friends wanted to join the racing fun, and bought the other two running cars- One is currently having the cage welded in, and the other is waiting in line right behind it.

So I'm finally down to just one 944. Good.

Well, that lasted for only a couple weeks. Bought a nice 1987 944S today.

Maybe I'll drive it for a bit, but it will soon loose the interior for cage installation.
Yup, it's destined to become another track toy.....

rmconner80 · 01-08-2008, 05:00 AM

What color?

I just got an 87S about a month and a half ago, my first 944. I'm storing it for winter, keeping it out of the salt and rain, and saving up for some work on it in the spring.

In any case, I'm curious to hear how it compares to your 8v. By all accounts, keep an eye on your chain tensioner... Mine has 82K and I'm just going to bite the bullet and replace it when I do the belts in the spring. Peace of mind.

Todd157k · 01-08-2008, 06:14 AM

ya, don't we all. UPGRADE, UPGRADE, UPGRADE... DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE...

I LOVE my S. It is so much nicer to drive than the 8v. It has respectable power, great gearing, and until the head blows up, no higher maintenance costs.

Let's see some pics of the new ride.

Dantilla · 01-08-2008, 09:07 AM

No pics yet.

I'm going to go get it with my trailer tomorrow- It's a couple hours away.

Since I have an S engine laying around, I was about to go look at a roller. But when I found this one, with limited slip and sport suspension, I thought it would be a better platform for another race car.

It's red right now, not sure what it will be when It's ready for the track.

I may use it as a street driver for a while. It's in really nice shape. It's kind of a shame to put roll cage tubes through a dash with no cracks.

mistertate · mistertate's Garage

Oh ya, NW 944 ITS fever!

martin944 · 01-08-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd157k

ya, don't we all. UPGRADE, UPGRADE, UPGRADE... DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE...

I LOVE my S. It is so much nicer to drive than the 8v. It has respectable power, great gearing, and until the head blows up, no higher maintenance costs.

Let's see some pics of the new ride.

They are great cars, great handling, decent power. Mine is a 87 S I just replaced the clutch, so it's a brand new 21 year old car now.

Dantilla · 01-08-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistertate

Oh ya, NW 944 ITS fever!

Yup!

Mistertate is installing the cages for us. With three more cars prepped for the upcoming season, we're in for a lot of fun.

Aufgeladen944 · 01-08-2008, 06:29 PM

I might pick up a 944S2 cab in a couple of years. I'd have to have four cars then: 325xi for daily, 2wd POS truck for towing, 951 for track/speed, and the 944S2 cab for cruising.

I'd probably also have to win the lottery first.

70SWT · 01-09-2008, 02:57 AM

These cars are an addiction. I got to the point for a while where I was buying every 944 variant that came up for sale in my local area. Fortunately my house is now in an area where covenants won't let me accumulate cars...and the fact that I am in Iraq also helps...

rmconner80 · 01-09-2008, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin944

They are great cars, great handling, decent power. Mine is a 87 S I just replaced the clutch, so it's a brand new 21 year old car now.

Pretty cool to see an 87 944S in Germantown. Mine is stored for winter right now, but it also needs a clutch, belts, mounts, etc. come spring.

martin944 · 01-10-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmconner80

Pretty cool to see an 87 944S in Germantown. Mine is stored for winter right now, but it also needs a clutch, belts, mounts, etc. come spring.

Hey there, if you haven't done so yet, join the Dorkiphus community, it's a great local (DC/MD/VA) site for p-car guys.

-martin

toolboy62 · 01-11-2008, 11:31 AM

talk to me, I have not heard of this... don't know many local Porsche people.

nate

smj · 01-11-2008, 12:46 PM

Uhm, well... I've got a 914-6 in the garage that won't start, the 944S parked in the driveway awaiting it's fate, and a 914-4 parked on the street that needs a muffler.

What's my response? I'm buying a 968...

Clearly, I can't help the OP with this question.

smj · 01-11-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toolboy62

talk to me, I have not heard of this... don't know many local Porsche people.

My advice whenever somebody is in this situation is to look up your local Porsche Club of America chapter. You'll get all kinds there so if you wrench, go the preservation/concours route, or track the car you'll usually find the contacts you need.

Of course, as you can see you'll also make those connections through great resources like Pelican's forums. 'Sall good, many ways to skin that cat.

Spievy · 01-11-2008, 01:05 PM

I have been hesitant to join PCA. For the fear to be ridiculed, none of my Porsches are original. So are the PCA guys real snobby to the ones that have done minor modifications?

smj · 01-11-2008, 01:23 PM

The club's big enough that eventually you'll find all types. Sure, in ten years I've run into a handful of folks who'd made a point to refer to my 944S as an Audi, or a 914 as a VW. Less so in the latter case, nowadays these clowns don't know their history...

I was active in Zone 1 (New England) before I moved to the SF Bay, so I don't know the capitol regions specifically. Overall I find the club to be very accepting, but each region varies and within each region you'll find different crowds. The concours-and-wine-tours crowd may look down at your car for being dirty and not care how well it corners. The wrenching-and-track set might think your stock car's pretty but wallows a bit and suggest some upgrades and a diet.

Even if I have to work past a couple of near misses initially, there's a lot of good folks to get to know through the club. It's definitely been worth it for me.

But don't forget resources like Pelican, or model-specific boards. I have a great time with the folks from 914world.com -- the West Coast Ramble this past summer was an absolute blast!

Spievy · 01-11-2008, 01:36 PM

Thanks SMJ

I might go ahead and join PCA. I have been looking at 914world for a while an there is some interesting stuff there.

martin944 · 01-11-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toolboy62

talk to me, I have not heard of this... don't know many local Porsche people.

nate

Here are the site URLs, join up man!

http://dorkiphus.net/porsche/

http://www.pcapotomac.org/

Aufgeladen944 · 01-11-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spievy

I have been hesitant to join PCA. For the fear to be ridiculed, none of my Porsches are original. So are the PCA guys real snobby to the ones that have done minor modifications?

Let me be the first to say that I was also hesitant to join PCA. I was concerned that it would indeed be a bunch of car snobs who look down upon a lowly 944 owner. I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least.

The Hudson-Champlain PCA chapter where I live is full of some of the nicest, non-judgmental people I have met in the car world. You want to get harshly judged for your ride? Hang out with a bunch of teenagers/college students. There is such a large disparity of incomes within the PCA that even the snobs (and there are some, just like any community) are more than smushed out by the more poor of us. Count me amongst the POOR. I have NEGATIVE dollars.

The best driver in my club drives a 924 that is about 50 percent rust, has 200,000 miles on it, and burns a quart every time it's started. But he's also one of the nicest guys in the club. Actually, almost everybody is nice! A lot of the guys here have 944's or 951's. The Boxster is popular, and the older 911's seem to be the "real" car of choice-all the guys that race have 80's 911's. The richest guy (a jeweler, very nice man) sold his 2005 911 Turbo and bought a GT3 instead. Give you any idea of the range in peoples' incomes? I was welcomed with open arms, despite my youth. The next youngest guy in the local chapter (I think!) is probably about 15 years older than I am.

I also learned valuable lessons in car control (saved my a$$, let me tell you!), and the social connections will probably come in handy at some point, too. The activities are always fun, even without cars. We're going snow-shoeing later in the month. Never done that before, so it should be an adventure. Going 120 in the GT3 at Lime Rock was an unbelievable experience, too. Wouldn't have happened without PCA.

It's only 40 bucks, too. Even if you hate it (and I doubt you would), that's not that much money. Hope that sways your opinion.

BeerBurner · 01-12-2008, 03:06 AM

Dantilla: Yay for the new car! I've got the urge to have a collection of these things... too bad I don't have the space to park them!

I was hesitant for a while to join the PCA. My experience from a long time ago wasn't that great. My dad was a PCA member and we both felt that they were pretty much 911-centric Porsche snobs. I went to a PCA/VW club autocross and the 911 drivers wouldn't even talk to you unless you drove a Porsche. Makes me happy that the FTD was run in a '79 Rabbit...

Anyway, I was talking to some people and they mentioned that the local chapter was no longer that way so I joined. I did it mainly for the DE-access but I also like the magazines. I haven't done any gatherings yet, but I want to.

I also recommend Dorkiphus. They're a bunch of normal guys but can be pretty cut-throat in the banter (especially if you have a 924, 944, 928 or Boxster) but it's all in good fun so don't take it personally. There are always people willing to help with Porsche projects and they are a fun bunch of guys to hang out with.

BB.