944: 83 vs 87?
02-01-2012, 05:46 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
944: 83 vs 87?
Hey guys,
Just wanted to poll you guys quick and see what you thought. I'm looking at an 83' 944 with 93k miles on it vs an 87' 944 with 152k on it (engine was swapped so the engine only has 125k on it)
Any thoughts? In terms of price and condition they're pretty close... personally I'm leaning more towards the 87' but are there any practical reasons why the 83 would be better?
I'm just asking in a general sense since the cars are mechanically almost exact (besides the milage of course lol)
Just wanted to poll you guys quick and see what you thought. I'm looking at an 83' 944 with 93k miles on it vs an 87' 944 with 152k on it (engine was swapped so the engine only has 125k on it)
Any thoughts? In terms of price and condition they're pretty close... personally I'm leaning more towards the 87' but are there any practical reasons why the 83 would be better?
I'm just asking in a general sense since the cars are mechanically almost exact (besides the milage of course lol)
02-01-2012, 05:52 PM
#2
Race Director
Which interior do you like the best? Which car is cleaner more mechanically sound?
I have had both and think the later interior is more modern and has better HVAC. The 83 interior is more vintage. 83 probably has manual steering which some love and some hate.
I have had both and think the later interior is more modern and has better HVAC. The 83 interior is more vintage. 83 probably has manual steering which some love and some hate.
02-01-2012, 06:00 PM
#3
I've owned an 84 and a 90 cab.
The main difference will be parts cost and reliability.
The interiors and suspension are both different although the engine and transmission will be almost the same.
IMO the early cars are easier to deal with. A LOT of the parts are of VW/Audi origin and can be crossrefrenced to much cheaper parts. Even OEM early parts are cheap. Early strut mounts are $40 while late (87+) are $500. Brake rotors on the early cars were used on the 911 1967-83 so there are a lot of choices and they are cheaper. You will be able to chip the late car. The late interior is pretty modern while the early car is down to earth and no frills. The 83 has manual steering that really won't give you any trouble but the late car has PS and will leak and you will spend a lot of time and money rebuilding and replacing stuff to get it to work right. Personally I'd go for the car in better condition, although there is a saying that you should buy the newest porsche you can afford.
Jackson
The main difference will be parts cost and reliability.
The interiors and suspension are both different although the engine and transmission will be almost the same.
IMO the early cars are easier to deal with. A LOT of the parts are of VW/Audi origin and can be crossrefrenced to much cheaper parts. Even OEM early parts are cheap. Early strut mounts are $40 while late (87+) are $500. Brake rotors on the early cars were used on the 911 1967-83 so there are a lot of choices and they are cheaper. You will be able to chip the late car. The late interior is pretty modern while the early car is down to earth and no frills. The 83 has manual steering that really won't give you any trouble but the late car has PS and will leak and you will spend a lot of time and money rebuilding and replacing stuff to get it to work right. Personally I'd go for the car in better condition, although there is a saying that you should buy the newest porsche you can afford.
Jackson
02-01-2012, 06:27 PM
#4
you could look for a 924s....best of both worlds and not pregnant
but it all really matters what you like more. do you like power seats, cold air in the summer,and a molded nose then go late model
if you like working on your car and not having a bunch of gadgets then go with the early model
btw the 83 is the lightest 944 made
but it all really matters what you like more. do you like power seats, cold air in the summer,and a molded nose then go late model
if you like working on your car and not having a bunch of gadgets then go with the early model
btw the 83 is the lightest 944 made
02-01-2012, 07:26 PM
#6
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I've owned an 84 and a 90 cab.
The main difference will be parts cost and reliability.
The interiors and suspension are both different although the engine and transmission will be almost the same.
IMO the early cars are easier to deal with. A LOT of the parts are of VW/Audi origin and can be crossrefrenced to much cheaper parts. Even OEM early parts are cheap. Early strut mounts are $40 while late (87+) are $500. Brake rotors on the early cars were used on the 911 1967-83 so there are a lot of choices and they are cheaper. You will be able to chip the late car. The late interior is pretty modern while the early car is down to earth and no frills. The 83 has manual steering that really won't give you any trouble but the late car has PS and will leak and you will spend a lot of time and money rebuilding and replacing stuff to get it to work right. Personally I'd go for the car in better condition, although there is a saying that you should buy the newest porsche you can afford.
Jackson
The main difference will be parts cost and reliability.
The interiors and suspension are both different although the engine and transmission will be almost the same.
IMO the early cars are easier to deal with. A LOT of the parts are of VW/Audi origin and can be crossrefrenced to much cheaper parts. Even OEM early parts are cheap. Early strut mounts are $40 while late (87+) are $500. Brake rotors on the early cars were used on the 911 1967-83 so there are a lot of choices and they are cheaper. You will be able to chip the late car. The late interior is pretty modern while the early car is down to earth and no frills. The 83 has manual steering that really won't give you any trouble but the late car has PS and will leak and you will spend a lot of time and money rebuilding and replacing stuff to get it to work right. Personally I'd go for the car in better condition, although there is a saying that you should buy the newest porsche you can afford.
Jackson
Last edited by ernie9468; 02-04-2013 at 02:06 PM.
02-01-2012, 07:42 PM
#7
I never really had too much of a problem changing fuses and relays (and I went through many fuses). The hardest part was keeping the metal from coming off the fuse as it was pushed in. I eventaully got it figured out.
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02-01-2012, 08:28 PM
#8
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I have an 83. I love manual steering. In general, there's less to go wrong. Fuses are a pain but definitely not a deal breaker. IMO the early interior has more of a classic "Porsche" feel. Lightest of the 944s. Nonpower sunroof is a plus. Later models with power sunroof break and generally require conversion to manual. And the early one you're looking at has less miles, that's a plus.
Bottomline, you should upload pictures of both cars and list all the problems for us rennlisters to analyze.
Bottomline, you should upload pictures of both cars and list all the problems for us rennlisters to analyze.
02-01-2012, 08:44 PM
#9
Instructor
Thread Starter
Butters thanks man that's what I plan on doing for sure when I go look at the two cars. I should see the 83 this weekend and then the 87 later in the month (currently it's set for me to go see it on the 19th)
So I'll definitely upload pictures of everything and let you guys chime in. Good news about the 87 is that the whole suspension was redone so hopefully (knock on wood) I won't have to worry too much about that.
And in terms of the classic Porsche looking interior I think I may have just got a bad taste in my mouth from the car I looked at today. I'll see how I feel about it on Sat.
@Ernie LMAO at that picture haha
So I'll definitely upload pictures of everything and let you guys chime in. Good news about the 87 is that the whole suspension was redone so hopefully (knock on wood) I won't have to worry too much about that.
And in terms of the classic Porsche looking interior I think I may have just got a bad taste in my mouth from the car I looked at today. I'll see how I feel about it on Sat.
@Ernie LMAO at that picture haha
02-01-2012, 08:57 PM
#10
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I have an 83. I love manual steering. In general, there's less to go wrong. Fuses are a pain but definitely not a deal breaker. IMO the early interior has more of a classic "Porsche" feel. Lightest of the 944s. Nonpower sunroof is a plus. Later models with power sunroof break and generally require conversion to manual. And the early one you're looking at has less miles, that's a plus.
Bottomline, you should upload pictures of both cars and list all the problems for us rennlisters to analyze.
Bottomline, you should upload pictures of both cars and list all the problems for us rennlisters to analyze.
02-01-2012, 09:35 PM
#12
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Oh I agree that fuses are easy to remove & replace on an early car,but did either of you guys ever had to change the cooling fan/fuel pump relays on your car? before telling there is nothing to it don't forget I've own an 83 for twenty six years so lol I'll know if you guys are BS me.
Don't get me started on the whole story behind my cooling fans...
02-02-2012, 09:04 AM
#13
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I have owned an '83 & '88 and tracked them both. I like the '83 MUCH better from a performance stand point. I have driven MANY 944/924S' over the years and none of them have ever felt as quick as the '83 I owned.
But to answer your question, I would go with the better conditioned and maintained car.
But to answer your question, I would go with the better conditioned and maintained car.
02-02-2012, 09:39 AM
#14
Instructor
Thread Starter
Gotcha, so bottom line is that the 83 is lighter and has some cheaper parts and the 87 is just newer? But basically go for the sound car since there isn't a huge difference between them.
Ok cool, like I said I'll take pictures and put em up here for you guys to take a look at when I see each of the cars.
Ok cool, like I said I'll take pictures and put em up here for you guys to take a look at when I see each of the cars.
02-02-2012, 09:46 AM
#15
Don't forget the '83 speedo only goes to 99,999 so unless it is a documented low-mileage car, it ain't. I looked at a couple of claimed "low-milers" that were patently not.