Porsche 944 for a first car???

wantaporsche · 07-16-2002, 12:11 PM

How is a Porsche 944 for a first car? I was looking on ebay and found a 1985.5 porsche with only 61,000 miles on it. here is the link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1843892517

So the only thing that I wanted to know if they are recommended at all for a first car. They are not that expensive, and it is a porsche, that is why I really like it.

Thanks alot,

Tadd Garcia

944S Boyeee · 07-16-2002, 12:21 PM

They are a great first car - but you should have around $2000-3000 saved up. If you don't have this money in the bank, and something goes wrong......you have no car for awhile.

944S Boyeee

wantaporsche · 07-16-2002, 12:30 PM

What do you think of the one that I picked out on ebay? It seemed pretty nice to me.

944S Boyeee · 07-16-2002, 12:43 PM

Looks great, but......

What you need to do right now is search this forum and learn about as much as you can about these cars. Once you know things like Timing Belt Maintainance, etc, etc - then you will have a better grasp on what car is good and what car is bad.

Some people here will give you some links that will answer many questions and inform you more.

You have to know a lot about these cars to own one. Just buying one and driving it doesn't happen like "regular" cars.

944S Boyeee

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

I'd recommend NOT getting a Porsche 944 as your first car. Why?

1. Unless you get an automatic, you probably have little or no experience with manual transmissions. A transmission job on a 944 can run anywhere from $1000.00 to over $2500.00. There are cheaper ways to learn how to drive a manual: namely get a toyota, honda, ford, chevy, dodge...etc.

2. The 944 is a rear wheel drive car. While RWD cars typically handle better than Front wheel drive cars, they can be a little trickier to control in rain, snow, or slippery conditions, and if you accidentally drive beyond the limits of the car.

3. Maintenance: not only is the tranny an expensive thing to replace, most maintenance items on the 944 are costly, unless you do it yourself. Even if you do it yourself, the parts are typically more costly than other car companies. The 944 is a cheap car to buy, typically, but expensive to maintain. It's all about that badge on the hood!

4. Rarity: While there are still a lot of 944's on the road today, they aren't making them anymore, so the numbers are going down. As a first car, you're better off getting something you don't have to worry about getting damaged: let's face it: you're a new driver, and statistically, you have a greater chance of getting involved in an accident than experienced drivers.

That said, a Porsche 944 can be an excellent SECOND car! Get a honda, learn how to drive it, and then you'll be ready for your Porsche.

Just my $0.42
-Zoltan.

david944 · 07-16-2002, 01:15 PM

Well, a porsche 944 was my first car. The body was perfect, leather was rough, spent days waxing on it (looked new). Motor had about 130k on it. I gave 2000.00 for it and drove it I guess about a 1 1/2 year and put 30k on it. Sold it for 2500.00 That was a year ago and still see it everyday and its running fine. Never had anything done to it. (Not by me anyway or the current owner)

I've been around 944's since I was little and if theres one thing
I have learned it's that a 944 with only 60k on it will probably give you more problems than one with 130k with new stuff (waterpump, belts, etc) Some will disagree of course, but its all opinion.

overkill · 07-16-2002, 01:22 PM

I agree with Zoltan! The money that we fork out for parts is enough to make a grown man cry. If you are looking for a first car then you must be young. You have plans for college? If you go to college, how much money will you have set aside if your car when it breaks down? Your probably not going to do any of the work yourself and as we all can agree,... labor cost way more then the parts do

Do the math.

AFJuvat · 07-16-2002, 02:11 PM

Ditto, Unless you have some cash saved up and a fair degree of mechanical skill, I would not recommend having it as a first car.

Something else to consider.... do a search on this forum for "insurance" I'm 32, with no accidents and no tickets, full coverage on the car and still pay $350 every 6 months, think about what it would cost a new driver. Due to the high cost of repairs, you would be foolish not to have full coverage on the car, again, unless you have a big bank account.

AFJuvat

overkill · 07-16-2002, 02:14 PM

Thats all you pay for full coverage!!! DAMN, I pay $310 for liability only every 1.5 months!!! Sucks to be me

scottmandue · 07-16-2002, 02:18 PM

I suppose it depends on how much time and money you want to put into the car. Some people take excellent care of there first car, others (like me) drove there first car into the ground. If the thought of spending (approximately) a thousand dollars a year in maintenance doesn't scare you or the idea that if you don't maintain the engine it will blow up in your face go for it.

Personally I broke many parts on my first cars by learning/experimental/abusive driving... did I mention that Porsche parts are expensive?

Andre · Andre's Garage

i got my 944 about a year ago, it was my first car. I had some bad luck and the first month after a bought it, the clutch went....one of the hardest jobs on a 944. The car spent about a month in my garage while me and my brother figured it out, ended up spending 500 bucks to fix it. anyway point is you really never know what you get and with these cars it kinda sucks with the parts. I know however that when i was about to get the car no one could talk me out of it, so if you are going to get the car just be ready man, but you'll love it.

i pay 1500 for insurance. have not yet been in an accident(knock on wood)

my advise to you is, dont get a NICE 944 for 6000. Get one for 2000 or something so you have money left over. if you dont like it...big deal you are out 2000 bucks, if you like it you can always fix it up. i do have to warn you however, if you are buying htis car just because its a porsche..."They are not that expensive, and it is a porsche, that is why I really like it."...then walk away NOW!

they are fun cars but they are slow as hell, and you WILL have to learn about it, you will have to do some of your own maintenance, i assume you are not loaded and cannot just take it to the mechanic everytime something goes wrong, mechs charge anywhere from 60-100 bucks an HOUR!!

todwic · todwic's Garage

I say not as a first car:
1. unless you are mechanically inclined and stay up on PM you are gonna shell out a bundle in parts/repairs.
2. learn to drive a P.O.S., drive that for a few years. Youthfull exuberance would've (and did)killed my first car. and second. not to mention my 3rd and 4th.
If you have a Porsche for your first car, you'll never be satisfied with anything less. That goes for your 10th car, too, tho.

gixer02 · 07-16-2002, 11:36 PM

Mine was my first and only car so far

I've had it for about a year and a half it's just about 200k on the clock and there have rarely been problems. As far as learning on it goes- go for it! I won't assume either way how responsible you are but here's my case. When I got the 944 as the first car I was overjoyed. I still am- and what does that mean... I BABY IT... I wash it all the time, keep up with all the mantainance(if you don't it's big $ loss), and like I said I baby it.

If I had a pos as a first car guess what I would do- treat it like a pos! and probably drive like I just don't care about the safety of it, myself and others. But since my first car is a Porsche the only habits I know are the one's of an obsessed Porsche owner

It's tricky in the rain/snow if you don't know what you're doing but basically all you have to do is slow down considerably for bad weather. Sounds simple? It is.

It can be very expensive to maintain... Go easy on the clutch and make sure to get the timing belt adjusted at the right times. Theres alot of other things you should know but if you become a regular on this board you'll learn alot.

I'm 18 years old... when I was 16 and I saw a red 944 (i didn't even know what it was) for sale I dreamed of having it and begged my dad to take me to see it. Now I own it

Go for it

Oh and someone said if a porsche is your first car you'll have high standards and not like anything less... I say settle for nothing but the best.

But I agree with whoever said have a few grand left over for future mantainance. And before you buy any porsche find a porsche specific mechanic and pay to have him check it out... It's worth it. Oh, and the ebay link you posted, I think that's a big chip in the paint on the rear left right under the spoiler but it's hard to tell from the pic. Don't buy online w/out seeing it! And get it check by a mechanic first if you can! Good luck...

Pat

Eturbo924 · 07-17-2002, 06:34 AM

Most important thing is to get the best one you can. That does not mean most expensive. That means best condition that your budget allows. I do not agree on trying to find the cheapest one you can. Likely it was owned by some one who was "driving it into the ground". You do not want a car like that. Yes you will learn a lot about maintenance but it will cost a lot of your time. Get what ever car you want to purchase inspected by a Porsche mechanic. Do not purchase one with any big issues and make sure the chassis was never damaged. Try to find a car that has had the major maint just performed... like new clutch, belts, tires, brakes, waterpump.

The actual maintenance of these cars is not to bad if you can do it yourself. Also purchase good used parts instead of new and you will save a bundle! Of course I sell used parts so I can help if needed. I suggest you get an 87 or newer if you can. The auto adjusting tensionor for the timing belt was on the car from 87 on. Also ABS brakes became available as an option on some modles.

Don't let some of these guys scare you. The 944 can be a great first car. Just make sure you have it properly inspected before purchase and be prepaired to fix some of the issues yourself to save some money. What used car for about 7K are you going to find that does not have issues.

Just one quick note. Had a co-worker who bragged about his great honda accord... low maint and such..... oops blew his head gasket at about 70K miles.... oh $1500! No not covered by Honda Hmmmm. Also have seen many Mazda and toyotas do the same thing. So any car can have its issues.... very important to have any used car inspected!

My 2 cents plus some.

Eric

pearldrum · 05:58 PM

My 944 is my first car. I have been restoring it for almost a year now. My dad and I have done all the work ourselves and so far is going fine. I love my car dearly and hope I am never forced to get rid of it. I hear the the maintenance costs are high, but I hope that they will not be too bad. I have put 500 miles on it.
On my site (below) it says what I have done...

scottmandue · 07-17-2002, 02:17 PM

Nice job pearldrum!

Keep up the good work!

Hey what are your labor rates, maybe I'll ship my car out to you for restoration.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

If the 944 had been available in 1965 I sure would have tried very hard to make it my first car!

I had to settle for a 55 Chevy two door station wagon. Not a Nomad. 350, 4-speed, traction bars, extra rear spring leaves, Craigers.

Now that I have a 944 I sure would like to have that 55 back.

pearldrum · 07-17-2002, 05:56 PM

thanks, my labor rates? lol...my dad has been saying for the last 6 months he is in the wrong business, he says he should open a shop and service porsches. We probobly wouldn't do to bad. Especially when there is one shop around that will do a water-pump job and wants $2000 just in labor to do it. So we find our way of doing the job ourselves with the help of Haynes, the people of pelican, and other-car experiences.

wolfrpi · 07-17-2002, 07:07 PM

if you are mechanically inclined AND can work after school to pay Porsche parts prices - maybe

if not - a resounding NO!

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Seriously.

There is a tremendous responsibility in repairing others cars.

I don't think the current "Mechanics Tests" go far enough.

This is why you will pay premium prices as a significant part of it goes to liability insurance. You will also get a new entire assembly where I, if it was my car, would just fix one or two sub components.

Still there's a local German cars only garage that has the owner and three "workers" and all drive some mighty fine German cars. The owner has a new 30 foot motor home and pulls a new Jeep.

Of course he has a good client base as this is Newport Beach, California.