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Updated: 13/FEB/99.
Buying a
944: a highly desirable out-of-production car...
If you have $4 -
$15K to spend on a real fun machine, I have some standard
"let's go looking" advice. Lower cost cars are older,
high-milers, and/or "mechanic specials." Higher cost cars
are often later years (say, '88 onward) and are low milage
cars, or a 944S, S2 or turbo model.
Shop the paper,
the internet, of find somebody with a Porsche Club of
America membership and get their used listings from Panorama
magazine. Examine maintenence records carefully. See when
the timing belt was last replaced, and find out if the owner
ever had to replace a water pump. If the records are not
available, incomplete, or suspect, take the car to somebody
that knows 944's and have it checked. In fact, do this
anyway. The cost of this can help you save on possible big
repair bills later.
There were a few
notable major options: Sunroof, factory radio (Blaupunct),
five-spoke alloy wheels, leather interior (partial or full),
full power-adjusted seats, metallic paint, and a limited
slip differential.
Visual Lookover:
Look at the coolant overflow tank for swelling and white
cracks -- crazing -- that might indicate the motor had been
overheated once. Bad. Of course, remember that it might have
been replaced once. Does it look really new, no grundge?
Also look for oil leaks under the car, and around the oil
cooler assy (to left of motor as viewed from front; behind
oil filter.) The cooler can blow out seals, which will allow
water and coolant to mix. Very bad. If this happens, the oil
on the dipstick will be a chocolate color, much like a
milkshake.
Look for body
damage that might indicate the car was in an accident. If
something is bent up front in the suspension, like a tie
rod, you'll never get a good alignment and things will
vibrate and be weird. You will not get 100% of the 944's
legendary handling. Plus you'll burn thru tires more
quickly. A tip: look at the plastic wheel well shrouds
inside the front fenders. If it's cracked (or gone!) the
front end took a hit someplace along the line.
For any vehicle
over 150K miles, expect to replace front engine seals, front
wheel bearings, rear carrier bearings, all rotors &
pads, shocks/struts, and maybe CV joints, if these items
have not been serviced already. Also a very, very good idea
is to replace the motor mounts with the latest, 944 turbo
mounts. This, and more, is what I did to an '84 944 with a
blown motor and 150K miles on it.
On a turbo car,
after 150K miles, it will probably also need a turbo rebuild
to make it fresh again.
Once you have the
car, the cost of maintenance can vary. On a previously
owned, well-maintained car, you need only do tuneups and
change the timing belt every 30K miles, and pay attention to
the usual stuff like brakes and fluids and tires.
Replacement parts are the most expensive if you buy them
from a Porsche dealer, so don't do that unless you
absolutely cannot find a part any other way.
The above is
pretty much a getting-started procedure. Lots of patience,
and legwork in checking cars out up front, will pay off in
the longer run.
Check out the
944
FAQ document. It has lots of great info on model
years, changes, and other stuff. Another place of great help
to the present or prospective 944 owner can be found by
searching the PorscheList
944 archives. To join one of PorscheList's online
forums, go to www.porschelist.org
944
Dashboards
I now have a page
online which shows the two different 944
dashboards, including a description of all the
controls. This area of the car changed significantly in the
mid-1985 model year. The late '85 and subsequent 944 got a
nicer-looking and much-improved dashboard. The new layout is
not only better organized, but the efficiency of the air
vents was greatly improved. On this latter point, believe
me; I've owned both and there's almost no comparison. The
late '85 dash is vastly better.
944 Fuse
Panels
I also have a page
online which shows the two different 944 fusepanels. This
area of the car also changed in the mid-1985 model year.
Early
944's fusepanels are located inside the car, to the
left of the driver's feet, under the dash. Fuses are the
glass BUSS type, which are cylindrical in shape. The
Late 944
fusepanel
is located under the hood, driver's side, at the rear. It is
under a black plastic cover which is gasketed to seal
moisture out. The cover is firmly held in place with 2 wire
clips. Fuses are the newer, small plastic type with two
spade terminals.
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this page was originally posted on 13 February 1999.
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