Looking at a red '85 944 5spd for $1,500. I don't really have room for it and maintenance of my two 928's is a full time job. Hope my head clears by tomorrow.

 

No slap forthcomiong from here. Just got a $1500 '87 and am fixing it up. Going to be a combination winter car and, for the family, a 5-speed trainer and beginning DE car.

Easier to fix than the 928 and, for big stuff, cheaper too. Lots more parts available.

 

Go for it Steve. I love driving the 944. Much different than the 928. Its nice to have a variety of cars to spice things up.

 

Steve, you can park it in my garage as long as you leave the keys.

 

I'm thinking about one too and I also have no space for it. I'd have to sell the Kombi (VW Microbus) and face the family assault head-on. Is there a 944 equivalent of the 'Big 3'?

Colin, 89GT. For keeps.

 

No "big 3" for the 944 from what I've seen. However, the large number of 944s mean that regular Porsche retailers cover them well. Paragon seems popular. Pelican, too. And there are a lot of specialty houses for racing bits.

 

Parts are plentiful and cheap on eBay compared to 928. I hope you are serious Ernie.

 

I don't have a problem with a 944 (I have an 86), but I would make sure it's an 85.5 or newer, so that you get the updated dash. I am not a fan of the early 944 interiors.

 

If you have to do this, buy one of the last of the 924s. This has a full 944 motor in a body that is 100lb lighter than the 924, also narrower with less wind resistance. It also has the 924 turbo suspension and brakes.

I had one, did the 800 KM from Calais to Basle (500 miles) once in 4 hours. I would still have it if a good friend had not rolled it for me and bent it in only 3 dimensions ...

 

I recently sold off my last 944. IMHO they are much harder to work on than the 928 because everything is packed so much more tightly in the engine compartment. Also some critical things are not well thought out. For example: the labor on a clutch replacement is about $1500. Guys I know who have done it themselves have taken the better part of a week. You pretty much have to disassemble the whole car. On a 928 I could do it in about 2 hours if everything goes right. Tracking down fuel injection air leaks and wiring problems is much harder due to the more constrained space.
The one I sold was in pretty nice condition and I sold it for $3k. The guy I sold it to traded it to a dealier who gave him $500 ! So $1500 is a pretty good price, but not such a big deal that you should do this if it does not really work for you.
If you do buy it the minimum you should do first is be certain of the age and quality of the clutch. You really don't want to put one in.

 

944's are terrific cars. If you've never owned one, you're missing out.

 

The one you posted a pic of has the very sought after Fuchs wheels as well.

 

Ok - I'm not out of the woods yet but am thinking more clearly today and the urge isn't as strong - no thanks to most of you. I thought you people would help restrain me but instead you egged me on. Most of you would probably encourage the guy on the ledge to JUMP! You're as obsessed as I am!

 

Well .... sought after ... maybe. I love Fuchs and my 944 had them. However they are 23mm offset, and came only on early 944 ... so there are no upgrade options. No bigger wheels and no bigger brakes.

 

Later 944 came with 928 -friendly offsets. And of course Fuchs do not fit 928.