944 series.

[bigyagi]

i dont look at the other forums, and i'm wondering if they have as many issues as we do? lately, it seems that a whole load of people are having probs{me included}. are all p cars like this, or do we just have the "runt of the litter"??

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I think they all do; also think of the age these cars - they're typically all over 100K now and in a year or two quite a few will be needing engine rebuilds. This is the stage of a car's life cycle where the wheat gets separated from the chaff. QUITE a lot of cars now are getting parted out, junked, totalled, etc. and that is putting a lot of upward pressure on the price of those that remain, particularly if they're in good shape, and MOST particularly if they're stock. Something to think about. . .

I bet in 4-5 years these cars will be listed at about double the value they're shown at now. . .

[CJFusco]

actually the 944 is one of the MORE reliable Porsches, from what i hear, with the nightmare models being the 928 series and the 924 turbos. I would take a stab in the dark and say that, from what I have seen here, in EXCELLENCE, GT, and 911 & PORSCHE WORLD, that the 911SC is the most reliable (more than 15 yrs old) used Porsche. This is based on nothing besides what I have observed.

[mambodave]

Prices in the Charlotte Market are pretty high. I sold my 86 for $6000 after only listing it for a week. I still get calls on it every day.

I bought my 85 for $4700. (in RI) Its in perfect condition. Iv only had it for a 2 weeks and Ive had 3 offers to buy it for alot more than i paid.

They all have problems. Ive spent $1000 on the 85 in the last 2 weeks for Clutch Master & Slave, AC, Alternator Strut, among a few other things. These cars sure arent for the faint of wallet.

The prices are surely going up in metro areas.

Hang on and keep em runnin boys!

[CJFusco]

there are the occasional costs here and there, but overall I would consider my 944 very reliable! It has had only one major mechanical repair - clutch - since I bought it 4 years ago. Sure, I have an issue once in awhile, but that is to be expected considering it is 1) 21 years old, and 2) a daily driver.

[bigyagi]

yes, i hear all that,and agree. my car has been reliable, starting, and running. i only have a "beef" with what i would consider to be very poor quality oem parts, like the clutch master/slave cylinders, and my continuing saga with radiators. i tried to find an alternative, but decided to stick with another brand new one. this is the 2nd in two years now!
i guess when its back on the road, i will forget all these little problems, and enjoy driving/ownership once again.

[serge944]

We need to set a borderline between maintenance and reliability. These cars are maintenance intensive, but very reliable. I spend countless hours working on my car....but i have never had it strand me or any serious problems occur.

If you dont have much money and cant do the wrenching yourself...youre driving the wrong car. I know i never regret owning a 944.

[bigyagi]

i do the vast majority of my own wrenching, i have to, as this car would bankrupt me!!lol.
i do believe that it is a well built car, and very reliable, but like i said earlier, too many oem parts wear out, or just give up the ghost in no time!
being realistic for a minute, can you compare your other driver, with your 944, as far as maintenance/replacing parts? no contest at all, and my olds is 20 years old too !! however, no need to ask me which one puts a huge smile on my face, as i'm driving!!
dont get me wrong, i'm not knocking the 944, just the quality of replacement oem parts.

[mambodave]

yeah, but even with all the money I spend on maintenance. (not repairs, I replace it befre it goes bad if i have the chance)...
Its still alot more fun than any new car would be, and alot more stylish. Plus, around here, I can go months and not see another 944 on the road.


Repairs AND maintenace is still a lot cheaper than a new car payment.

[fast924S]

LETS JUST KEEP EM RUNNING... The pack for the Pelican guys, No matter what it takes, or how far away you are, I will do my best to help out fellow 944/924S/968 guys.

We have the technology, we can rebuild it.. faster, stronger, better then ever before!!!!

[MrPants]

I think part of it is the cost to buy vs cost to own. i think the 944 series is more likely to have more owners and younger owners than a 911 of the same year. and with that comes a lack of upkeep
thats my theory on my own 944 anyways

[89944TurboS]

I have always thought of my 944's as reliable...Although after seeing the old owner of my X- 89 951 service history, he might not have thought so...

We also need to keep in mind these cars are usually ran fairly hard...They also seem to take alot of G-Forces!

[UconnTim97]

I find them to be very reliable considering most are about 20 years old.

[TCMdocs944]

exactly Tim,

Not really the car as much as the age and the type of driving they see.

[Taz's Master]

944's are becoming hobby cars. Maintenance costs and downtime are difficult to justify on a purely utilitarian scale. They probably won't increase in value to the point where it could be a sound decision to restore one and then sell it, so the real reason to own a 944 is the enjoyment of driving and maintaining it. As these cars age, it will become more and more advisable to have an alternate means of transportation. Not that they cannot be daily drivers (mine is for the most part), but if you cannot get to school or work without it, any time consuming repair will be very frusterating. The smile it gives you as you turn the key, turn the wheel at speed, or walk up to it in the parking lot is what makes the effort worthwhile.

[speed]

Lets seeeee my girls new yellow pok-a-dot bikini or new shocks front and rear, bikini...shocks...bikini...shocks...hey babe check out these cool yellow shocks for the 944...

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by Taz's Master
The smile it gives you as you turn the key, turn the wheel at speed, or walk up to it in the parking lot is what makes the effort worthwhile.

So well said! Out of all the vehicles I own or have owned in the past , my '44 definately gives me the most enjoyment. I agree it is not a cheap car to own, If i couldnt do the work on it myself i probably wouldnt have it. As everyone else stated , the replacement oem parts are my biggest complaint (especially in the clutch hydraulics dept.!) Only major probs so far was a clutch replacement at 140,000. For a daily driver you have to have a backup vehicle, I try not to use it as a daily driver anymore, but with the price of gas nowadays, my trucks are spending more time sitting in the driveway. I sold my 96 BMW recently, because I hate having a car that everyone and their mother has!
In todays world of leased, throwaway cars, most people cant understand why I want to keep a 20 y/o car that I always seem to be working on. I just tell them , "until you have a car like this, you will never understand"