J Berk

Depending upon the car, I do not agree, John.

An 8v 87 NA if it was maintained properly can be a very reliable car provided the maintenence was/is done.

The early NA I had prior to getting my S2 looked like a rat....3 different shades of oxidized guards red! But it ran like a swiss watch with only maint. items needing attention.

My S2 is as reliable as my honda now that all the maint. is up to date.

To the OP.....you have received lots of great advice....just to add to it...spend the few hundred dollars on a PPI before you make the leap into a 944.....it's the cheapest way to avoid making a big mistake on a car that has not been maintained.

Potomac-Greg

If all we cared about was reliability and cost of ownership, we'd just all buy Camrys. But life's about living and if you love driving, a 944 delivers more enjoyment-per-dollar than anything.

pontifex4

One thing I forgot to add which might be relevant in the Bay area: open the rear hatch, lift the cargo area carpet out and check that the left and right cubby holes behind the wheel wells and the spare tire well aren't (a) filled with water, or, (b) filled with rust.

Both my 944s have a leaking rear hatch which is very common in these cars, and is caused by the hatch glass separating from the frame that the hinges mount to. Water gets under the hatch glass and runs down the channels of the hatch frame and normally falls down into the cubby holes, where it will typically drain out the drain holes in the bottom. I just bought one where the holes were plugged, and there was 6" of water in the driver's side cubby. No rust, though. As far as I know, the bodies are all galvanized. Needless to say, the seller and I both agreed that this should reduce the price.

You can have the hatch re-glued at a glass shop, or source a replacement fairly inexpensively since you're in a populous area, but it's certainly something to bargain on if you find an otherwise good car which lets water in there. Test it with a hose.

I'm sure you realize that the danger in starting up a thread like this one is that you'll hear so many (unweighted) flaws that you'll get scared off. I almost did, but now own two. They're absolutely wonderful cars in the right circumstances, chief among which is that you have alternative transportation to take the pressure off a 20+ year old platform when it needs attention.

Erzengal

Lots of good info posted. The main things, as mentioned, read the Clark's Garage FAQ, most your new owner/buyer info is in there. Have the car run through a PPI by a shop that knows these cars.

Maintenance for these cars can add up as they are 20+ year old cars, and things are going to need to be replaced and fixed. However, a well maintained 944 is very dependable, and quite fun.

If you own a 997, I would recommend an S or more so an S2 for a Daily Driver.

yellowline

Don't get a pre-85.5 car if you plan to actually use it on the street.

Potomac-Greg

Heh???

A post-85.5 is 95% the same as pre-85.5.

ADias

Great comments. Coming from the flat6 world I learned a lot in less than a day about the 994 thanks to your replies.

There are several cars for sale and I am going to take a look. If I am interested in one a PPI will be done and prior to that I will check the car myself. From my forum search, this is the best thread for someone interested in a 994 and in need to learn the basics about it. Thanks!

Potomac-Greg

Don't let the flat-six world skew your pricing expectations. The nicest 944 n/as are worth $6,000 or less. ... as painful as that is to me.

ADias

Clearly. I am actually shooting for less.

J Berk

+1 on an S2...and YES...I am biased. Having owned both an NA and now an S2 there is a HUGE difference in power, smoothness and overall drivability. And you can get an S2 in pretty nice shape for under $8k.

As I said before ...if maintained, these cars are very dependable...and I believe the S2/968 motor (3.0litre) to be the most bullet-proof of them all.

If you want pure, raw power and a car that's easy to turn up the HP on....get a 951 instead.

ADias

We shall see. I am going to see a couple of cars soon. Curb appeal and overall condition is the 1st road block, the next is a thorough mechanical inspection and a PPI last with a 944 mechanic I trust. Power is a non-issue for me - I have a '10 Carrera S.

Erzengal

Not even sure what that means..


Just note, a good clean 944 NA will end up costing about $4-5 in the end. Sometimes you can get lucky, but most of the time those $2.5-3k ones need a few things which adds up

There is a huge difference between the 997-2 S and a 944, especially a NA one. From Power, to Interior quality, and so much more. However, having driven both before, I do still enjoy the qualities and character the 944 has, and hope you enjoy yours once you get one.

ADias

What's going on on 85 1/2 models?

I am going to check an '83 and an '87. Why is the '83 less desirable? I know now by reading the Clark's Garage FAQ, but I wonder what you guys think? Is the non-assisted steering of an '83 too heavy?

And another question... what are the std rims (sizes) for '83 '87 models?

Crunky

Standard rims for the 83 I believe are 15x7s, the 87 I'm not sure but probably 16s or 15s.
I've owned and have driven my 84 daily since I bought it for $2900 in march 2006. The only work I've done on it (that wasn't self induced) was a clutch job. The factory clutch has a rubber center that disintegrates over time.
I know I'm jinxing myself by saying this, but I haven't even touched the belts or water pump, and I don't have any records or receipts either. My odometer stopped working 2.5 years ago at 135k.

J Berk

Crunky

Now that you said it...better go change those belts !

Adias....1985 1/2 is when the dash changed. Depends on your tastes....having owned both, I prefer the late or oval dash to the early one.