Is this Porsche 944 Turbo a good deal?

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Now that I have a suitable rallycross car my attention turns to the track with the same strategy: buy an inexpensive but well performing and relatively reliable car that will be fun to learn to drive on the track.

The May issue of Grassroots Motorsports had an article about good buys in 80s Porsches, and after having ridden in a front-engine Porsche at the last VIR HPDE decided to see what was out there. Being cheap, the idea of trading in my 2001 Forester and adding a few thousand to get a fun car with no payments is way more attractive than taking on a car loan, even if it means spending some time replacing parts and getting it into shape.

This car went to the top of my list not because of the turbo, but because the owner appears to have done a bunch of maintenance. The rest of the cars available locally have had very little done to them, which means there's certain to be a lot of work to do in order to make them track-worthy. GRMS says a 944 turbo between '86-'89 should go for between $6K and $10K, and this is right in the middle.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/1697488932.html

I'd appreciate any comments on this strategy as well as this car in particular. Maybe there's a better place to be looking for used cars?

Thanks!

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 2:53 pm

Paging Tom Freeman.

Pesonally Michael, I would buy Adam's 944 if I wanted something like that. It's much cheaper and a known commodity. - AB

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Paging Tom Freeman.

Pesonally Michael, I would buy Adam's 944 if I wanted something like that. It's much cheaper and a known commodity. - AB

I don't know Adam... How can I contact him?

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 2:59 pm

Michael Czeiszperger wrote:

I don't know Adam... How can I contact him?

THSCC ForSale 944

Not a turbo, but a fun sorted car. - AB

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Whoops, I forgot to mention its going to be my daily driver for a while. It is very attractive to get a track-only car, but impractical as I don't have a truck, and don't plan on getting one for a while. So.... I'm looking for a car that is street legal and could be driving into work three times a week.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 3:14 pm

There are lots of 944's used as $500 cars in Lemons racing. Guess why?

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Vincent Keene wrote:

There are lots of 944's used as $500 cars in Lemons racing. Guess why?

The free market has determined that $500 is a fair price for the car? In any event I'd be happy with a 924 or 968 as well.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 3:20 pm

Michael Czeiszperger wrote:

Whoops, I forgot to mention its going to be my daily driver for a while. It is very attractive to get a track-only car, but impractical as I don't have a truck, and don't plan on getting one for a while. So.... I'm looking for a car that is street legal and could be driving into work three times a week.

I'm sure that car is street legal and ok on the street. Anything that you would want to put on track I would want a rollbar in anyway. I think a quick test drive would surprise you.

As for a 944 Turbo, unless you are like Adam and absolutely know the pitfalls of owning such a car, you would be better off not walking, but running away. They're money pits to the 10th degree. Adam is part owner (or maybe full owner) of Black Forest Industries that specializes in German auto parts. Not only do I bet his car is good, but I bet he is going over the top to tell you what is wrong with it.

I have no affiliation with Adam other than selling him some used tires in the past, but he is a good egg and maintains his cars with Mike Whitney-esque precision. - AB

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 3:35 pm

For you intended used I think you should look for a 968, a 968 will give you a similar performance to that 86 turbo, without the turbo lag.
If you really want a turbo, look for a Turbo S or 89 up, they are better.
Edit, Like Aaron said the turbo will required more maintenance....

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Patrice Bousquet wrote:

For you intended used I think you should look for a 968, a 968 will give you a similar performance to that 86 turbo, without the turbo lag.
If you really want a turbo, look for a Turbo S or 89 up, they are better.
Edit, Like Aaron said the turbo will required more maintenance....

Thanks, I value reliability way over performance.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 3:44 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

As for a 944 Turbo, unless you are like Adam and absolutely know the pitfalls of owning such a car, you would be better off not walking, but running away. They're money pits to the 10th degree.

Exactly what I meant. Unless you like working on 944's...

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 3:57 pm

Present and accounted for...

Michael - I had a ROTTEN experience with my 944, and I'm the current preacher to tell people to run away from them :lol:

In all seriousness, they have their good and bad sides, but never, ever think a 944 is a cheap car. Buy in may be cheap, but maintenance is not, especially if you are a MasterCard mechanic like me.

'86 is the first year of the 951, and unfortunately, the one you want to avoid. The turbo and exhaust plumbing on the '86 is different than the other years and is problematic. You're also stuck with the "early offset" 944 wheels which somewhat limit your choices of wheels. The '86 also didn't have ABS either.

If I were in the market for a 951, unless the '86 was a pristine example, I'd opt for an '87-'89.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 4:02 pm

If you are looking for reliable/predictable/inexpensive the Miata isn't bad either. Not the fastest thing in the world, but has good predictable handling and they are inexpensive to maintain/buy as opposed to the P-car, BMW, stuff. Doing about 5 DEs a year and the THSCC AX Schedule, I go through 1 set of front brakes p/year (maybe), Oil, gas etc. Tires last a season (RA-1s or the like not V710s or Hoosies). In 145K miles I have been through 1 clutch/2 slaves, on my second set of shocks, but the replacement costs are relatively low.

this probably holds true for the Civic/240/CelicaGT stuff too and maybe for some of the VW stuff.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 4:11 pm

Patrice Bousquet wrote:

For you intended used I think you should look for a 968, a 968 will give you a similar performance to that 86 turbo, without the turbo lag.
If you really want a turbo, look for a Turbo S or 89 up, they are better.
Edit, Like Aaron said the turbo will required more maintenance....

16 Valve 944/968 motors have their own set of idiosyncracies. The 3.0L 16v motor in my 944S2 had a great torque curve...but the repair bills weren't worth it.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri May 07, 2010 4:11 pm

RobLupella wrote:

If you are looking for reliable/predictable/inexpensive the Miata isn't bad either.

X2. It's hard to go wrong with a Miata. VERY reliable, super easy to work on, tons of aftermarket support, and huge data base of information.

I doubt you hear any complaint from a Miata owner other than it's not that fast in a straight line.

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