Reasonable?
03-31-2009, 02:06 PM
#31
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Pretty much everything has been covered...good advice offered. I bought my 944S for $2,500 and have been using it for a daily driver for 6months with no problems. I've done some upgrades but only because I chose to. So it's possible to get a decent deal on one thats fairly reliable but from the day I bought mine I assume it will die at any time...that way no nasty surprises. I also have alternative transportation.
One thing I have to add is take an honest look at yourself and determine if you are a mature driver. These cars can get you into trouble. They aren't very fast off the line but they feel pretty good when at higher speeds...especially on corners. You might get tempted to do a lot of high speed cornering to make up for the lack of thrill these things have off the line....and thats where you can get yourself in trouble if you don't realize your driving ability and stay well within it. Drag racing from stoplight to stoplight is a bit safer than seeing how fast you can take corners. I say this because at your age I drove like an idiot and ended up rolling a truck because I wasn't a mature driver and didn't know my limits.
One thing I have to add is take an honest look at yourself and determine if you are a mature driver. These cars can get you into trouble. They aren't very fast off the line but they feel pretty good when at higher speeds...especially on corners. You might get tempted to do a lot of high speed cornering to make up for the lack of thrill these things have off the line....and thats where you can get yourself in trouble if you don't realize your driving ability and stay well within it. Drag racing from stoplight to stoplight is a bit safer than seeing how fast you can take corners. I say this because at your age I drove like an idiot and ended up rolling a truck because I wasn't a mature driver and didn't know my limits.
03-31-2009, 02:24 PM
#32
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Pretty much everything has been covered...good advice offered. I bought my 944S for $2,500 and have been using it for a daily driver for 6months with no problems. I've done some upgrades but only because I chose to. So it's possible to get a decent deal on one thats fairly reliable but from the day I bought mine I assume it will die at any time...that way no nasty surprises. I also have alternative transportation.
One thing I have to add is take an honest look at yourself and determine if you are a mature driver. These cars can get you into trouble. They aren't very fast off the line but they feel pretty good when at higher speeds...especially on corners. You might get tempted to do a lot of high speed cornering to make up for the lack of thrill these things have off the line....and thats where you can get yourself in trouble if you don't realize your driving ability and stay well within it. Drag racing from stoplight to stoplight is a bit safer than seeing how fast you can take corners. I say this because at your age I drove like an idiot and ended up rolling a truck because I wasn't a mature driver and didn't know my limits.
One thing I have to add is take an honest look at yourself and determine if you are a mature driver. These cars can get you into trouble. They aren't very fast off the line but they feel pretty good when at higher speeds...especially on corners. You might get tempted to do a lot of high speed cornering to make up for the lack of thrill these things have off the line....and thats where you can get yourself in trouble if you don't realize your driving ability and stay well within it. Drag racing from stoplight to stoplight is a bit safer than seeing how fast you can take corners. I say this because at your age I drove like an idiot and ended up rolling a truck because I wasn't a mature driver and didn't know my limits.
03-31-2009, 05:24 PM
#33
Nordschleife Master
But just think of all the great parts the rest of us can get from his "Now I'm parting out the car" thread...
<<<I AM KIDDING, IT IS MY SENSE OF HUMOR, DON'T FLAME ME>>>
Really , if a 17 yr old wants to get into trouble in the twisties, they will do it in a Porsche, or an Escort... I personally think the Porsche is more tragic, but again that is just me... I would recommend Buying the Porsche and attending DE events OR AutoX... it is all the fun that can be had, in the safest environment it can be had in..
AutoX.. Come on its only the feelings of the cone handlers that get hurt when a driver overdrives their ability or their car...
<<<I AM KIDDING, IT IS MY SENSE OF HUMOR, DON'T FLAME ME>>>
Really , if a 17 yr old wants to get into trouble in the twisties, they will do it in a Porsche, or an Escort... I personally think the Porsche is more tragic, but again that is just me... I would recommend Buying the Porsche and attending DE events OR AutoX... it is all the fun that can be had, in the safest environment it can be had in..
AutoX.. Come on its only the feelings of the cone handlers that get hurt when a driver overdrives their ability or their car...
03-31-2009, 06:04 PM
#34
Three Wheelin'
I didn't because I knew what it needed to make it right (it drives and all, but it wasn't in great shape). And just the parts cost put it above the $3500 or so that its actually worth.
Someone, likely some kid, will buy this thing, thinking they are hot **** in their Rover. The power steering pump will finally **** the bed (it's groaning pretty bad right now) and they will find out its a $450 part, and nobody will touch the thing for less than $105 an hour.
Cars like these, when not total disasters to begin with, are great for people with the space, tools, and inclination to do their own work. They are disasters that turn into broken beaters in just the hands of just about everyone else. This is why there are so many beat *** 944 around now, and so few properly sorted ones.
03-31-2009, 06:22 PM
#35
Nordschleife Master
A lot of people think this about a lot of cars. I was just looking at a '99 Land Rover Discovery II that I could have picked up for $1500. And someone will.
I didn't because I knew what it needed to make it right (it drives and all, but it wasn't in great shape). And just the parts cost put it above the $3500 or so that its actually worth.
Someone, likely some kid, will buy this thing, thinking they are hot **** in their Rover. The power steering pump will finally **** the bed (it's groaning pretty bad right now) and they will find out its a $450 part, and nobody will touch the thing for less than $105 an hour.
Cars like these, when not total disasters to begin with, are great for people with the space, tools, and inclination to do their own work. They are disasters that turn into broken beaters in just the hands of just about everyone else. This is why there are so many beat *** 944 around now, and so few properly sorted ones.
I didn't because I knew what it needed to make it right (it drives and all, but it wasn't in great shape). And just the parts cost put it above the $3500 or so that its actually worth.
Someone, likely some kid, will buy this thing, thinking they are hot **** in their Rover. The power steering pump will finally **** the bed (it's groaning pretty bad right now) and they will find out its a $450 part, and nobody will touch the thing for less than $105 an hour.
Cars like these, when not total disasters to begin with, are great for people with the space, tools, and inclination to do their own work. They are disasters that turn into broken beaters in just the hands of just about everyone else. This is why there are so many beat *** 944 around now, and so few properly sorted ones.
Sorry back to thread...
03-31-2009, 08:10 PM
#37
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Lots of good advice here. I'll add a few things:
Re: a 924, you will either end up with a 110hp 924 with the 2.0 liter engine, or the 924S which has the 944 engine with the "if your timiing belt breaks, you lose valves" problem. The 924 turbo is a good compromise, gets you up to 150hp....
Re: a 924, you will either end up with a 110hp 924 with the 2.0 liter engine, or the 924S which has the 944 engine with the "if your timiing belt breaks, you lose valves" problem. The 924 turbo is a good compromise, gets you up to 150hp....
However, the 924 turbo's timing belt is very easy to replace.
My first car was a 924 n/a, I also have a 924 turbo and a 944.
I wouldn't have any of those as my only means of transportation... but having all 3 of them works out fairly well.
The 924 N/A is the easiest to work on by far. You HAVE to do the work yourself if you are on a tight budget. If you want the car to be a little quicker and still not super hard to work on, I'd go for the 924 turbo. I wouldn't advise the 944 as a car for someone learning how to work on cars. I had and still have lots of fun with my 924 n/a.
04-01-2009, 12:07 PM
#38
Rennlist Member
04-01-2009, 12:40 PM
#39
Race Director
...One thing I have to add is take an honest look at yourself and determine if you are a mature driver. These cars can get you into trouble. They aren't very fast off the line but they feel pretty good when at higher speeds...especially on corners. You might get tempted to do a lot of high speed cornering to make up for the lack of thrill these things have off the line....and thats where you can get yourself in trouble if you don't realize your driving ability and stay well within it. Drag racing from stoplight to stoplight is a bit safer than seeing how fast you can take corners. I say this because at your age I drove like an idiot and ended up rolling a truck because I wasn't a mature driver and didn't know my limits.
Last edited by M758; 04-01-2009 at 01:08 PM.
04-01-2009, 06:27 PM
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I didn't say they were dangerous
I simply said they are the most fun at higher speeds on corners...which is also a good place to get yourself in trouble if you're not a mature driver. Of course you can drive anyway you want in any car but certain cars beg to be driven certain ways...4wd trucks beg to be driven offroad.... old muscle cars beg to be drag raced.....944's beg to take corners at speed. As said, it all comes down to the driver...thus my saying he should do an honest appraisal of himself.
04-01-2009, 06:42 PM
#41
Drifting
buy one if you're prepared to become a mechanic, which mean initially spending a good amount of money on tools, jacks, jackstands and learning how to use them.
I wouldn't recommend a 944 if you don't have a dry covered garage to work on it when it does break which it will.
it's an old car and even if you get a good one be prepared for unexpected things to break and having the car on jackstands a lot.
you might get lucky and drive for a year with nothing breaking or you may get major things breaking every 2 months.
clutch replacement is extremely expensive to make sure that is okay.
pretty much all parts on a 944 are expensive, even simple things like cap and rotor and ignition wires are much more expensive than on a jap or domestic car.
be prepared to spend all your money maintaining the car and not having any money left to go out with friends.
I wouldn't recommend a 944 if you don't have a dry covered garage to work on it when it does break which it will.
it's an old car and even if you get a good one be prepared for unexpected things to break and having the car on jackstands a lot.
you might get lucky and drive for a year with nothing breaking or you may get major things breaking every 2 months.
clutch replacement is extremely expensive to make sure that is okay.
pretty much all parts on a 944 are expensive, even simple things like cap and rotor and ignition wires are much more expensive than on a jap or domestic car.
be prepared to spend all your money maintaining the car and not having any money left to go out with friends.
04-01-2009, 08:52 PM
#42
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I would recommend getting an na944. I dove in the deep end with all the big kids and went straight for a 951. Now I have some repairs to do. Sure, I'm paying for the consequences, but I can afford to, both financially and in terms of knowlege. I can wrench on a car. And anything I do not readily know myself, I can figure out with the help of one of the most knowlegable 944 specialists around (the only perk of living in Oklahoma), or through clark's garage.
I'd say a basic tool set and some jacks will take care of this car. I've been through some areas of this thing and so far, I have only needed some sockets.
There are a few things you may not want to do yourself, like a clutch job. In which case, it is handy to have money saved up. I would start putting money aside and wait till I had enough to maintain the car in the event of a mechanical failure. I'd speculate, you'd want at least 1k to back you up if you ever needed it. Possibly (and most likely) more.
Having owned one of the cars for a short time, and seeing the initial maintenance costs, I'd say keeping "just in case" money on the side is a GOOD idea. That definetly goes in the good idea bin.
P.S. Parts aren't bad if you know where to find the vendors online. Pelican is great. This will help keep costs "reasonable".
I'd say a basic tool set and some jacks will take care of this car. I've been through some areas of this thing and so far, I have only needed some sockets.
There are a few things you may not want to do yourself, like a clutch job. In which case, it is handy to have money saved up. I would start putting money aside and wait till I had enough to maintain the car in the event of a mechanical failure. I'd speculate, you'd want at least 1k to back you up if you ever needed it. Possibly (and most likely) more.
Having owned one of the cars for a short time, and seeing the initial maintenance costs, I'd say keeping "just in case" money on the side is a GOOD idea. That definetly goes in the good idea bin.
P.S. Parts aren't bad if you know where to find the vendors online. Pelican is great. This will help keep costs "reasonable".
04-01-2009, 09:31 PM
#45
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Congrats on setting your sights on worthwhile stuff. It really comes down to homework and it appears that you are into that process. The upside is, yes you can, the downside is **** happens. These cars are really simple things and aside from a dozen or so things really quite bullet proof. As long as you don't worry abut heat, either completely on or off, and A/C not working. If you have not worked on cars, don't worry you will. I've owned the 944 for 7 years and only drive it in fair weather and about this time of year ask myself why? Until I drive it.