944 vs 944s
03-29-2010 | 01:00 AM
#1
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
944 vs 944s
Hi all,
I've been looking to buy a 944 for a while and I have seen a few. I've basically narrowed down my search to a 1988 944 and a 1987 944s. Both cars are mechanically sound and have been maintained well, but the 1988 944 has some body damage on the rear fender, which won't be cheap to fix. I'm leaning towards the 944s, but are those cars as reliable as the regular 944? It sounds like parts are harder to come by for the 944s. Is that true? Would I be better off to getting a regular 944 for the long run? The cars are within $300 of each other. Any advice would be great. Thanks...
I've been looking to buy a 944 for a while and I have seen a few. I've basically narrowed down my search to a 1988 944 and a 1987 944s. Both cars are mechanically sound and have been maintained well, but the 1988 944 has some body damage on the rear fender, which won't be cheap to fix. I'm leaning towards the 944s, but are those cars as reliable as the regular 944? It sounds like parts are harder to come by for the 944s. Is that true? Would I be better off to getting a regular 944 for the long run? The cars are within $300 of each other. Any advice would be great. Thanks...
03-29-2010 | 02:11 AM
#2
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
The S is harder to find parts for and it has this Tensioner pad that needs to be changed every so often or the engine will explode. But it makes more power, and its smoother to drive in my opinion. Service is key, if both were well looked after I would go for the 188hp S model.
03-29-2010 | 10:28 AM
#3
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I'm not that mechanically inclined, but I'm plan to learn on this car...is there any way of telling when the tensioner pad needs to be replaced? Would it be easier to learn the mechanics on the regular 944?
04-08-2010 | 04:22 PM
#4
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 412
Likes: 2
From: Out of Philly
Re: 944 vs S
Does the fender damage bother you enough to repair it?
I did the same research and asked the same question and went with a 944, because the car I found was a better car for a better price. If I had found a 944S, I would have gone in that direction; the extra hp may make a difference and the shifting is easier. That said, I am sure you can learn on the 944, just like I am...right now, actually. There are more 944 cars out there, hence, more parts out there, and of all of the cars the S is hardest to find parts for.
Regarding the tensioner, you should be buying a car with records; if not full, at least recent. You should absolutely know when the belts, etc. were changed and what the last maintenance on this car looked like. Unless you personally know the owner, if you don't have that information and the seller can't give it to you, consider walking away. You'll still get a thorough PPI, but nothing is better than history.
Make sure that "slight" body damage isn't the result of a mostly fixed accident; significant body work that's spotty is a no-go.
Finally, do you want your car's life to start with something that you have to fix? I didn't, so I walked away from a few "good deals" to get a shiny very used 944 that drives well.
I did the same research and asked the same question and went with a 944, because the car I found was a better car for a better price. If I had found a 944S, I would have gone in that direction; the extra hp may make a difference and the shifting is easier. That said, I am sure you can learn on the 944, just like I am...right now, actually. There are more 944 cars out there, hence, more parts out there, and of all of the cars the S is hardest to find parts for.
Regarding the tensioner, you should be buying a car with records; if not full, at least recent. You should absolutely know when the belts, etc. were changed and what the last maintenance on this car looked like. Unless you personally know the owner, if you don't have that information and the seller can't give it to you, consider walking away. You'll still get a thorough PPI, but nothing is better than history.
Make sure that "slight" body damage isn't the result of a mostly fixed accident; significant body work that's spotty is a no-go.
Finally, do you want your car's life to start with something that you have to fix? I didn't, so I walked away from a few "good deals" to get a shiny very used 944 that drives well.
