dmjames

For the record, I love how the 944s warp our perception of what qualifies as a 'reasonable vehicle'. Virtually all of the non-944 people I know would wonder what the hell would possess someone to buy a 16 year old car, much less buy one as the support vehicle for when the 30+ year old car breaks down.

So you know, this is why I love you people. Seriously. Screw the status quo.

Tiger03447

+1 on us weirdos!!

Tiger03447

Thanks, Spencer. Once I get the hoses out, I'll put some extension tubes onto the heater core so I won't have to do this again. Hope the core itself is OK..no noticeable leaks and there is still some coolant left in it from the PO. Thinking of hacking the firewall and enlarging the opening. Then putting in a removable plate to cover the damage. Might not have enough clearance to put in some rivnuts in the firewall. I don't want to compromise the core or the heater unit; but I sure don't want to pull both units (AC too). This may be turning into a major PITA.

audi49

Took her to the Euro Auto Festival in Greenville, SC on Saturday. Beautiful day and 450+ European cars.

V2Rocket

I wouldn't bother.
The first ones lasted 30+ years didn't they?

Oh, and carefully look over the original heater hoses when you have them out...when I pulled mine, there was a Ford oval next to the Porsche part number

odonnell

Right?? My favorite is when people say "my car is getting pretty old and worn out" or something and then they say "it's a 2008." That's a new car...to me...

These 3rd gen 4Runners are actually super reliable, the 5vz-fe motor is a workhorse and will turn 400k when looked after. I got this one from an older couple and it's only at 160k. I bet it outlasts a lot of cars that are a decade newer.

p-talk

I had the opportunity to take my 1984 NA out to the local SCCA autocross event this past weekend. The car did not break, performed well despite my UTQG 400 all-season tires, and I had lots of fun. There were all kinds of different cars at the event, from modified sports cars to a bone-stock Crown Vic set on destroying their tires.

Here is my second-to-last run that I got on video:

dmjames

Yep! My last two cars before this 944 were e39 BMWs- sold the sedan with 160k so I could buy a wagon of the exact same car, which had 180k when I bought it, and 220k when I sold it. Only real problem with the touring was that its Pennsylvania past was catching up to it in terms of rust... If it'd been from a less-salty climate, it would have easily made 300-400k.

Here's to 'high-mileage' cars!

Tiger03447

A couple of weeks ago, I posted that I was doing an early to late seat exchange and that I was doing some extra bracketry to accommodate the 3rd bolt in the late model seat rail. Passenger seat has been out for a while, but not the driver's. I was able to back out one rear bolt. All the other three had to have the heads deconstructed with a Dremel. That done, the seat came right out, and I stripped back the carpet to get a good look with what was going on below. . Surprise! the accident the PO had been in, had deformed the metal of the seat rail supports very badly, so more than usual fab work will have to be done, with some welding to bring the crossmember up to a decent level of strength, and mucho tweaks to the left rear driver seat rail support, to restore that as well. Active tinworm residue was apparent as well, which IMHO, was a contributing factor. BOO! Just what I didn't need...

dmjames

Finally got around to replacing the passenger side motor mount... Colossal PITA but totally worth it. Now I know which rattles I actually need to fix, because honestly, if you're basically sitting in a paint shaker, *everything* rattles.

Also started trying to convince my wife that it's worth buying a parts car. Turns out my 84 has some, shall we say, 'questionable' quality body work once you get close enough and look hard enough for it, and someone near me is selling an 83 with a dead engine (no compression at all in cyl 1) and a really solid, low-mileage body... She's the voice of reason for me from time to time, so I'm really hoping I'm not nuts...

Tiger03447

Audi 49..is that an annual event? Might have to put that one on my "to do" list...Thanks..very beautiful car you have there.

Flammulator

This weekend I took my 944 for my first road trip with it. Basically I drove highway 101 up from the San Francisco Bay Area to Arcata. There are curvier and perhaps more scenic routes up the coast, but for being a relatively quick road, this one is fun. Think 55-65 mph highway following rivers, climbing up and down smallish mountains, dipping in and out of redwood forest, only slowing for a few towns.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I'm continually shocked how good these cars are. My 944 was happy to do 70 I mean 65 up every hill (other cars I've driven on this road have not been capable of this) with a mountain bike, camera equipment, all my camping stuff, clothes, books, and some food packed inside, but somehow not interfering at all with visibility. Despite keeping up a good pace, and puttering around town and on some slow gravel roads, the car averaged better than 28mpg. Fine by me!

I'll admit, when I bought it, I wasn't sure it'd end up being comfortable for long cruises, but I've never felt less tired after 4 hours of uninterrupted driving. Almost as if Porsche designed the car for sustained high speed and roads with curves in them.... Go figure.

audi49

Yes, it's an annual event. Had their 20th anniversary this year. Up till this year, it was held on the grounds of the BMW factory (enemy territory since I own 2 Audi's) in Greer, SC. This year they moved it to the Verdae golf course in Greenville. Awesome event. Lots of new and old/classic euro cars. They're online every year. Always around the 18th of Oct.

Thanks.

azbanks

Do you have more pictures of the black cab behind you?(your car looks good but I am partial to cabs)

V2Rocket

washed it.