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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 115
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Finding spare parts and continual fixes as a way of life?
This site has been very helpful with regard to Porsches, something which I'm new at.
I do get the impression, though, that in buying an old 944, pre-1989, that service fixes and finding spare parts is almost like a way of life. Is this true? Actually, my main question is: Can I buy an old, pre-1989, 944 for my sister who knows zilch mechanically about cars and has little inclination for service? She is the one who ultimately will maintain the car. She does like to drive (the keyword being "drive") a sporty car and thinks a Porsche may be cool. What do you think? Thanks. |
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12-20-2001, 12:20 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Londonderry NH
Posts: 783
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Yes and no
If you find a good cheap mechanic that knows 944s then you will be ok, but maintenance on a 944 can be very costly. If you find a gem of a 944 that has already had all the major issues recently addressed... like clutch, water pump, ball joints, belts and such it will be a much better purchase for her.
Make sure you have the car inspected by a shop that is familiar with all the issues with the 944. Oil leaks while not hard to deal with can be costly if you have to pay a shop for hours of its service. Eric www.geocities.com/eturbo924 
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82 924 restored, 83 944 parting out In search of 1988 or newer nice 944. |
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12-20-2001, 04:07 AM
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I would not recommend a car like this to someone who has no knowledge of or inclination for maintenance. I bought my 83 944 from a person who appears to have done very little maintenance on his own. He had a dealer or specialty shop do everything. He spent a godawful fortune maintaining his car. Of course I bought a very special car as a result. There is a lot of bull---t surrounding the maintenance of these cars, a lot of it perpetrated by people who want to profit from the Porsche "mystique" (read, "charade"). The best that you could hope for would be that you would end up buying AND maintaining it for her.
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12-20-2001, 05:13 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 115
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Thanks for the tips, everybody!
 Helpful tips, as usual. Yeah, I'd better really shop for that tip top shape car or better forget it for my sister's car. I sure wouldn't want to pass on an aggravation for her. |
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12-20-2001, 07:39 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 115
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As I'm shopping around for a used 944, one of the things I find a little unsettling is how some guys discover what's the next part to fix.
By driving it. For example, one guy found out it's time change the clutch, after his gears stopped working on his way to work. So, I'm a little reluctant to give something like that to my sister. |
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12-20-2001, 03:48 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: spokane, wa usa
Posts: 226
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I think I'm going to agree with the group here. I think she would be better off with a car she can just put gas in and drive. There are probably going to be maintenance issues with any car as old as 12 to 19 years and 100,000 plus miles. More than likely, she'd be just as happy (and you too) with something not requiring as much "attention" as the Porsche does.
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12-20-2001, 03:58 PM
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