Am I nuts...944 as commuter?
+ 951= 
08-03-2007, 04:18 PM
#32
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Originally Posted by ausgeflippt951
I would recommend that if you can only find a beautiful example 944 for around $4-5k, spend the extra dough on it. Buying a 944 for $2k that has a few tings wrong with it will end up being an $8-10k car really fast.
08-03-2007, 08:42 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by Weston
It all depends on if you turn your own wrenches or not. I bought one for $1100 and did all of it's mechanical work (timing & balance belts, ref sensors, O2 sensor, some electrical mess, etc) for a few hundred bucks by myself. So, for under $2000 total, I had a 944 that would have worked well as a daily driver, if I hadn't turned it into a race car. While I did get a better deal on the car than most, you can still find plenty of 944's for under $2000 which only need simple work. It's because Porsche mechanics charge a fortune, and most owners know more about eating cake than they do about simple mechanics. We really have it easy with these cars though... they're pretty simple to work on in most cases. The two biggest jobs are getting the oil pan off (support the engine and at least partially drop the subframe, steering rack, suspension, etc), and doing the clutch, but those are really just more time-consuming than hard.
Very true; I should have qualified my statement. Definitely helps if you can turn a wrench for yourself.
08-03-2007, 09:26 PM
#34
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Originally Posted by azmi951
I put 110K miles on my turbo in 3 years as a commuter. I did 200 miles a day and loved driving it on the highway. Then I would drive from Arizona to college in Michigan with the thing packed to the gills with school supplies. Maintenance is not too bad if you stay on top of things. An NA would be way cheaper as a DD. My back up was the Chevelle. 5000rpm on the highway and $40 a day for the commute made the Porsche seam cheap to drive.
08-03-2007, 11:51 PM
#35
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Originally Posted by Weston
It all depends on if you turn your own wrenches or not. I bought one for $1100 and did all of it's mechanical work (timing & balance belts, ref sensors, O2 sensor, some electrical mess, etc) for a few hundred bucks by myself. So, for under $2000 total, I had a 944 that would have worked well as a daily driver,
I've been daily driving it for 6 months now. I figure I'll be into it for about $4k when I'm done. That's leather inside and fresh paint outside. can't beat it.....as long as you're turning your own wrenches and don't decide that you need parts RIGHT NOW and brand new.
08-04-2007, 02:27 AM
#38
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Originally Posted by Zporsche944
5000rpm in a chevelle? were you driving 130mph the whole way? what is your gearing like
08-04-2007, 08:51 AM
#39
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Added points... I got the fancy, custom-fitted sunshades for the '24/44 (from another rennlister) to keep the heat down in the summer; that with the sunroof cracked makes a huge difference.
It's also amazing how much crap you can fit in the back hatch - these cars are extremely utilitarian. Most recently, I've had a whole Birel race kart frame in the back, yes, with the hatch shut! I've also previously used another 924 to bring a queen-sized futon home, though admittedly it did stick out a little.
It's also amazing how much crap you can fit in the back hatch - these cars are extremely utilitarian. Most recently, I've had a whole Birel race kart frame in the back, yes, with the hatch shut! I've also previously used another 924 to bring a queen-sized futon home, though admittedly it did stick out a little.
08-05-2007, 06:34 PM
#42
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Nope, they're all good.
however, you have to ask yourself what you'd like. '83-85.1 had the interior borrowed from the 924; in 1985.5 the 944 switched to the later, updated dash -- quite similar to that of the 911.
Power steering and a power sunroof became standard in 1984; ABS and airbags became standard in 951's and options in N/A's in 1987.
In 1987 the base N/A received a bump in compression, which gained a significant amount of power. In 1988 the base model received slightly more power. In 1987 (IIRC) came the 944S, which had a twin cam motor producing something around 175 hp or so. In 1989-1991, the S turned into the 944S2, which had a 3 liter, twin cam motor producing 208 hp.
The turbo arrived in 1986 and gained about 30 hp in 1988 with the introduction of the optional Turbo S which later became standard in 1989.
however, you have to ask yourself what you'd like. '83-85.1 had the interior borrowed from the 924; in 1985.5 the 944 switched to the later, updated dash -- quite similar to that of the 911.
Power steering and a power sunroof became standard in 1984; ABS and airbags became standard in 951's and options in N/A's in 1987.
In 1987 the base N/A received a bump in compression, which gained a significant amount of power. In 1988 the base model received slightly more power. In 1987 (IIRC) came the 944S, which had a twin cam motor producing something around 175 hp or so. In 1989-1991, the S turned into the 944S2, which had a 3 liter, twin cam motor producing 208 hp.
The turbo arrived in 1986 and gained about 30 hp in 1988 with the introduction of the optional Turbo S which later became standard in 1989.
08-05-2007, 11:04 PM
#43
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I commute from West Lafayette to Indianapolis (between 140 & 150 miles round trip) on a daily basis and my 944 is splendid to drive. I ride my ZZR more often during the warmer months but the 944 still makes the trip once or twice a week. Depending on my zoom factor for the day my 944 will usually average between 29 and 33 miles per gallon while the ZZR averages 50.
