Drewsifer

So, my first 944 was not a huge success. It spent a lot more time being stationary then being driven. And when it did drive my wife didn't like it. The interior was not so nice, and it was loud cause of the bad muffler. So now she's balking at the idea of me getting another. Try as I might I can't convince her I had a bad one. any suggestions?

Drew

luftpirate

My GF absolutely loves my car even though shes done nothing more than see it sitting in the same place for the past 3 years. To me it sounds like the 944 is exactly what it should be and maybe the wife is not up to par ??

Jokes aside, any car is what you make of it. What you described is the typical condition most these cars are in. Remind yourself it is a ~25 year old car, and if you are just trying to get into a Porsche for a few thousand bucks you get exactly what you pay for.

If you aren't willing to spend money or do the work yourself to fix it the car is going to remain in its present condition or continue to deteriorate.

If your trying to impress the wife I would either buy one already fixed up, or not let her ride in it until you have completed the restoration.

chrenan

There are 2 kinds if wives. Those who support an old car hobby and those who don't. Sorry.

thirdgenbird

i dated a girl that hated my hobby, one that didnt care, and now i'm dating one that wants to learn. ive caught her reading clarks garage on occasion

i guess my point is some women (people) dont get it...

M3 Defector

Assuming the decision is financially viable, let me just say, "It's easier to get forgiveness than permission."

My wife has always viewed cars as utility vehicles and couldn't understand why/how I was so passionate about them. Luckily I have been persuasive enough to have 2 M3s and now finally a Porsche. I think after 18 years of witnessing an unrelenting passion for European sports cars and racing she understands that it is just in the DNA and neither of us can do anything about it. In support of my loving wife, I've actually tried to be practical, but it never lasts long.

Stick to your guns and stick it out with her...she'll come around.

odurandina

You're not going to get much sympathy here, Drew...

I don't think for a moment that you had a bad experience - not even close. What you had was a premature separation... from a love affair that is not going to end anytime soon.

The guys on this forum put a massive effort into their cars. They hardly notice it because they love doing it.

A very brief history of what I have done with my 968 is nothing compared to what half the guys in this forum have done setting up their turbos... I've hardly visited the engine bay yet except 1 routine tune up after I'd driven my car about 22,000 miles in addition to several oil changes every 5 or 6 thousand miles. The tune up consising of the following w/ the easiest Porsche ever to work on:

1. Fuel filter
2. new K & N air filter (about every 10,000 miles which also saves time over attempting maintaining the old one).
3. spark plugs.
4. change crankcase oil.
5. change transaxle oil.

in 78,000 miles, the previous owner had spent $9,700 on repairs to radiator, ps system, oil cooler, air conditioner, all poor quality OEM defects, and 2 timing belts and routine oil changes, belts, hoses etc...

Interior of car was out of date when I got the car and there was so much to do. But now it is simply stellar...

Upgrades:

modern wheels 18X8.5 front, 18X10 rear, Dunlop Sport 9000 y-rated, fr. 255-35-18, r. 275-35-18, Porsche crest center caps, -- got killer deals on everything by shopping around -- $1,860.00

Sparco Milano Prestige sport seats, (I got them at 1/2 price and that's damn near impossible, when a speed shop went out of business) + machine shop work modifying the recaro tracks -- $2,045.00

996 three spoke, carbon fiber steering wheel, leather airbag and clockspring + machine shop work to modify the steering wheel hub + 4 hours of hell doing the install -- $890.00

inspect suspension, front swaybar bushings, swap out front brakes for 928 GTS Big Black calipers, slotted Rotors, Pagid pads, adaptors, bias valve and stock 968 Pagid rear pads + install -- $1970.00

upgrade interior lights with giant LED cluster, tons of cleaning and polishing fluids and accessories -- $180.00

rear seat delete replacement carpet + adhesives -- $510.00

new high-performance exaust, 2.5" test pipe, 3" Hooker Maxflow, Magnaflow tip + install -- $430.00

carbon fiber 997 shift **** + minor mods -- $660.00

996 front bumper/splitter (owner had gouged the upper part of bumper) -- $345.00

next up:

1. currently working on hybridization of 996 lower front splitter and 968 front bumper to eliminate cosmetic defect of poor, 968 design below the driving lights. This is a huge project with what for me has been a huge learning experience, use of exotic plastics, etc...

2. change out 5th and 6th transaxle gears from 0.91 and 0.78 to 0.86 and 0.66 and 125,00 mile tranaxle rebuild -- est. $5,800.00

3. timing belt and H20 pump $2,100.00 and re-tensioning @ 1,500 miles - pre supercharger install.

4. install supercharger and oversized radiator and fan -- est. $5,500.00

5. get ready for whatever happens next...

My car has never broken down in its service lifetime -- but as you can see, it didn't come cheap.

Allan - Massachusetts.

Reimu

It would probably be easier to find a new woman in the long run

M3 Defector

PeteL

Mrs. PeteL v1.0 didn't like the 944. She is no longer Mrs. PeteL

Mrs. PeteL v2.0 does like the car and the time I take to maintain it. *Keeper.

chrenan

Good for you! I was lucky and found v2.0 on my first try.

Van

Anyone in the area have a nice car that she can go visit and ride in? If that doesn't convince her, there's just not a car person (like my wife).

vt951

Van, your wife is not a car person, and yet you have how many (4?) Porsches and like a 1,000 sq. ft. garage with a lift in it. I think we need Van to put up a youtube DIY video on "How to persuade a non-enthusiast spouse." Sort of a follow-on to his wheel bearing DIY.

poor-sh-nut

I have had a couple of 944's. There what you make them. If you/wife want something that is trouble free and dependable you need to buy a Toyota. It's not remarkable that you see these cars for sale saying they are in tip top shape and they have 15,000 to 20,000 in receipts to prove it. That should tell you something about owning and maintaining one. I personally have an 87 NA and I have over 15,000 in repair receipts on it. The cars are to be considered ongoing projects. There fun when things are right but can empty your bank account in a flash (if you choose to keep them on the road). My advice is stay after her, buy yourself a decent one, and be prepared to become and Ace Porsche 944 mechanic!

M3 Defector

You don't have to have a Japanese car to have reliability. Buy an M3. They are extremely reliable a blast to drive / DE, easy to work on when you have to and parts are very reasonable.

Just sold my M3 sedan with 174K miles. All I did was replace a water pump and pulleys...maybe $200.

Van

Only 3... and, the key is I had 2 of them prior to getting married!!

But, perhaps the key really is that she still has her own interests and hobbies that I don't participate in.