Realistically, what's the cost of ownership look like for 924's / 944's?

[Magnanimous]

Hello all,

To preface, I've never actually owned a car. Motorcycles have been my primary source of transportation since I received my license.

However, the frequent South Florida rains and occasional need to carry a passenger or more luggage than my saddlebags can handle have me looking to get something with four wheels and a roof.

Naturally, I'd like something interesting to drive, and I've always preferred smaller, lighter cars.

In my search, the late 80's porsches have caught my eye. From what I can tell, they seem to be just about everything that I want in a car. Small, light weight, fun to drive, still somewhat practical in terms of storage space, etc.

However, they are now 30 year old German vehicles, and my wallet isn't exactly bottomless.


What does the cost of ownership look like, overall, for mid-80's 924/944's?

How easy is it to find parts when things eventually break? My research suggests that the 924's at least share a lot of parts with VW/Audi products, is it the same case with the 944?

How reliable are they, in general? Would a clean, well maintained example nickel and dime me to death? Or will they run reliably for a fairly long time with basic maintenance?

And how easy are they to work on for a somewhat novice mechanic?

[Dr DIY]

If you have to ask - you can't afford it. Seriously, if you are concerned with costs of maintenance etc., then buy something newer and not Porsche.

[smokintr6]

It's better if you can imagine burning a bucket of $20 bills with out blinking or shedding a tear. Awesome toy car for the mechanically inclined, and can even be quite reliable... But the learning curve is steep, and the parts are expensive. There are a couple good breakers for nice used parts. Buy a miata. You will never do any real work to it, and it will be worth about what you pay for it when you decide to sell it.

[PorscheChef]

If you buy garbage, expect a lot of expense. If you buy a car from someone who has taken care of it, you will do well. It cost no more to maintain a 944 than any other car. If you address an issue when it comes up and don't patch work it, it isn't expensive. I currently own 6 944s, and they aren't any harder to maintain than my Dodges. I would even argue that my 944s are easier to work on. Transmission goes out, no problem, $200-300 and three hours of work and I'm back on the road. Lost a transmission on my son's Ford truck..$1800 later, I traded it for a 944 Turbo. Every used car will have expense. The expense only becomes too much when your expense becomes greater than your love for the car.

[GHEN]

As long as you are willing to do you own work it isn't crazy... but sometimes it gets crazy.

Good luck and enjoy.

GHEN. Oh, and do your belts!

[PorscheNut924]

What's with the duplicate thread posted two days later?

[Tervuren]

Realistically

Well...on one 944 I spent 12X what I paid for it within the first few years on parts.

On another, when a pick up rear ended it and totalled it, insurance gave me $800 more than I had paid for it, including any maintenance over two years of ownership.

So....

Its a matter, if you have to ask, avoid. You can find a seeming perfect car needing nothing, that one year later needs everything.

Mid/low mileage cars will give a lot of trouble from dry rot. They also may not have had fluids maintained properly based on time, rather than miles. They are potential trouble.

High mileage car, will likely have worn metal parts if they haven't been replaced.

Any part not resistant to rust, may need to be replaced regardless of age. My original clutch on my low mileage car bought with about 50K miles on it, said bonkers at 100K and 30 years when the rubber center separated. = Clutch Replaced.

Bad bearings on my 200K+ mile car = Clutch Replaced.

As for nickle and dime you, depends on what level you want to maintain.

[BoulderGeek]

For better or worse, I took a search for turbocharged Miatas into "Well, I have been looking at 944s since the 80s...why not revisit that?"

I shouldn't have done it, but though my nice, turbo Volvo wagon is great in so many ways, commuting in an automatic is just boring. So, I adopted a 1986 NA.

Already, in the first days of ownership, I realized that I need to have the hatch pulled and resealed, probably new hatch pins and maybe locking mechanisms, and the driver's door has a bloom of under-paint rust and dents. Hatch: $200, pins and locks $150, door replacement with identical $400.

After that, it should be pretty reasonable for a bit. Belts and water pump done in January and re-tensioned last month. Clutch 10,000 miles ago, with spring-centered upgrade unit.

I really hope that I can get by on oil changes alone for the next two years.

[racer]

Of course it depends how much you DIY, but imho, 944's are "$10K" cars.. either spent by buying nice up front and just needing factory maintenance or by buying low and replacing everything over the next 3 years.

Just because a 924 shares "audi/vw" parts doesn't mean they are cheap. After all, they are now 30+ year old parts and supplies do/will run out.

You might consider an early Boxster as well.. superior performance to a base 944.

[Tony-K]

If driven like an everyday car (not tracked or abused) and correctly maintained, a 944 is inherently a very reliable car. With their all being in the vicinity of 30 years old, you have to temper that statement with the understanding that some things will have to be replaced simply from age.

My best experiences have been from buying a well-maintained, regularly driven 100-120K mile car from an intelligent and conscientious owner. Any old car you buy will need *something*, but if you start out with a car that you can drive home from a long distance away (good tires, good brakes, good alignment, everything works, recent belts, cold AC, nothing "rigged", etc.), you are off to a good start in terms of minimizing repair costs.

For any 944 that does not have proof of a spring disc clutch, I automatically deduct $1k-$2k from what I am willing to pay.