Anyone owned a 944 Turbo before?

[biggerbigneil 0]

Tempted at one of these and seem to go for good money

250 bhp and 270 ft lbs!

 

Looked on the Porker forums but seem to be full of w£$%ers

 

Are they expensive to run on parts breaking?

I realise fuel consumption won't be good, just wondering on turbo life and engine reliability as they nearly all have over 100k on them now

 

Thanks for any help!

[bcstudent 0]

Well Tiff Needell had one and he raves about them; that's good enough for me. I expect reliability is pretty good but it's clearly gonna cost if the worst happens.

[biggerbigneil 0]

hmmmm i n t e r e s t i n g

If it's good enough for Tiff...

I shall try and find out what the main problems are and get some quotes

[chrishill 0]

mate of ine looked at 944's before he got a TT (i know, i know). He could afford a nice example, but he decided with cars coming up to 100k miles its more than likely mechanical parts would need replacing/renewing pretty soon. He got a few quotes from garages for stuff like a clutch change, gearbox rebuild, head rebuild etc but the prices were so high he scrapped the idea all together and went for the TT. Its a simular thing to corrado ownership, if you can swallow the fact that parts for the car will be expensive and alot of places will charge you oodles of cash for work simply becuase its a porker, then go for it.

[steve_16v 0]

I know a bloke who owned one about 10 years ago, when I was considering getting one (not the turbo) I asked what the running costs were like and he said they were very reasonable if you go to a porker specialist.

 

Great cars though, iirc it won 'what car' best handling car of the year in about 1986, and are very reliable if you can find one that's been looked after properly.

 

It was the image that put me off in the end though, they've not aged particularly well and will always be known as the poor mans Porsche.

[biggerbigneil 0]

I thought the poor mans Porsche was a 924?

944 Turbo's are complete beasts!

I will look into the costs, I've asked a Porsche specialist in Ripley, Surrey to give me some quotes

[Cnut 0]

get a 968 instead, much better car...

[biggerbigneil 0]

I would like a 968 CS, not enough cash and don't really want to pay monthly

Just found out a belts change costs over £1,000 lol

Doesn't sound cheap to run, not too keen on the idea after that.

On the plus side a 1991 and older car registers for classic car insurance

[Kevin Bacon 5]

I think only the run out turbos wer 250hp? I'm sure the early ones were about 200 brake?

 

I've been in a couple of tired ones and you would seriously regret buying a knacker. Get the best, youngest one you can afford.

 

Not a bad engine, pretty smooth for a big capacity 4 pot (counter rotating balancers)...bit laggy though.

 

They were good in the 80s but I think they look really dated now, especially the rear end. The big rubber spoiler looks really cheap and nasty.

 

There's only two 'affordable' retro porsches worth buying:-

 

968 Clubsport

993

[steve_16v 0]

Have a look on the web for RPM Porsche (specialist), they have a price list for the general things, and a nice looking '87 turbo in stock.

 

The rubber spoiler can always be replaced with a 968 style one

[biggerbigneil 0]

The 944 Turbo from 86-88 was 220 bhp as far as I know and the ones after were 250 bhp - As far as I know

I know what you mean about the back of them, I do like the front and the sides, when I had the Corrado I liked the back and the sides but not as much from the front, that gave it a bit more appeal to me.

 

I think from the maintenance costs I will be holding off for a 968 CS

From reading a few forums, alot of 968 owners put in a tuned 944 turbo engine which are good for 350 bhp with minor expenditure, thats why I thought I'd just get a 944 turbo instead.

I'm very unsure now

[biggerbigneil 0]

Oh also, look how cool this one looks with a 968 style spoiler, I'd probably do that headlight mod also! This one has a V8 in and has been modified by an F1 guy though

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=105&i=7895

[steve_16v 0]

You'll have to do something about the rear light cluster if you get a 968, I followed one home the other day and they just looked cheap and nasty!

[sciroccotune 0]

I know what you mean about the 924 biggerbigneil, there is just something about them - much like a corrado.

 

I will be looking into them maybe next year.

 

Wasnt there a body kit diff? maybe later cars looked a bit more chunky?

[biggerbigneil 0]

The 944 Turbo and S2 has the nice front bumper with inset lights, looks alot better

 

I think the 968 is pretty dam hot all round!

[Lippy 0]

i dont think a 968 is worth the extra over a good 944 turbo. They aren't too much different in looks wise and are meant to be as sweet handling. I think the kudos factor is against them vs a 968 CS (which are meant to be very unforgiving in the comfort stakes).

 

I've looked at them, partly for the classic insurance but decided that a nearly 20 year old car was too risky if things went pop and having to pay porker specialist prices.

[biggerbigneil 0]

true, some prices on servicing I have seen in classifieds are ridiculous, for instance £15k spent in two years. This could be a lie but even half of that is too much!

[samm_cvr6 0]

was considering a 944 n/a before i got my VR and glad I didn't get the 944, have to agree, it's aged really badly, for the sort of money you'll be spending on a good 944 turbo, and it would have to be good, I would much rather get an M3 E36 EVO. 8)

[vr6storm 0]

http://the-corrado.net/.archive/forum/download.php?id=4228

 

this is my 220bhp 87D plater I owned back in 1994/95..............had it up to 150+mph :twisted: .........anyway it wasn't the best example tho as it had a hydraulic clutch prob and a funny groan now and again from the rear suspension and it needed a £400+ clutch change.....for the F***in A/C compressor but i bought it cheapish £7995 was cheap for a 7yo

 

problem these days with them seems to be rusty sills and the rear axle bearings

 

 

quite tempted to maybe buy another but tbh the Corrado offers nearly as much grunt a lot cheaper

[biggerbigneil 0]

http://the-corrado.net/.archive/forum/download.php?id=4228

 

this is my 220bhp 87D plater I owned back in 1994/95..............had it up to 150+mph :twisted: .........anyway it wasn't the best example tho as it had a hydraulic clutch prob and a funny groan now and again from the rear suspension and it needed a £400+ clutch change.....for the F***in A/C compressor but i bought it cheapish £7995 was cheap for a 7yo

 

problem these days with them seems to be rusty sills and the rear axle bearings

 

 

quite tempted to maybe buy another but tbh the Corrado offers nearly as much grunt a lot cheaper

Wow thats a nice one!

I think they have aged very well from the front and side, the back needs that crappy rubber spolier taken off and the rear light clusters done all red.

 

I might be tempted by an E36 non Evo M3 if I can find one with leather

[Kevin Bacon 5]

I might be tempted by an E36 non Evo M3 if I can find one with leather

 

Peachy engine, less gruff and quieter than the 3.2 and of course it's minus the silly money VANOS replacement costs. I just can't stand the steering on the E36, it's horrid imo. Too many turns lock to lock (as per the E30) and zero feedback. Lovely looking car though.

 

My mate had a Dakar one with black leathery goodness, but it was such a shed. Everything rattled and it just felt twitchy and uncomposed on the road to me and not especially quick either if the truth be told. I'd say raise your budget and make sure you get a stonker of an example otherwise it'll be a move you'll regret.

[stel g60 0]

ive driven a couple of turbo 944s, one being a j reg convertible. lovely cars. you thought about a late 928? got one in for a clutch, a S4 GT. thats the car!! 5.4 litre N/A, bloody quick!!!!

[vr6storm 0]

ive driven a couple of turbo 944s, one being a j reg convertible. lovely cars. you thought about a late 928? got one in for a clutch, a S4 GT. thats the car!! 5.4 litre N/A, bloody quick!!!!

 

bloody expensive to run and fix too :twisted:

[biggerbigneil 0]

kevHaywire,

Ah, the Dakar Yellow, also known as a flying banana lol

 

Yes, definitely a non-Evo, there is a good article in one of the Performance BMW mags trying to get a a sub 8 lap time around the Nurburgring.

 

The Evo's quote 321 bhp but all the standard ones I have seen on rolling roads struggle to make 310. The 3.0L is suppose to hit 286 bhp but there is a guy on the e36coupe forum who makes some excellent induction kits (DaveF Kit) which has loads of members showing over 300 bhp on dyno's with just that modification. I would like a sub 80k miler with silver vader's but is very hard to find. Then I need to find some 17" LM's and do a Brembo break upgrade!

 

I'm getting more tempted by this instead of the Porsche now. Depends what around in July/August really

[CoxyLaad 0]

you thought about a late 928? got one in for a clutch, a S4 GT. thats the car!! 5.4 litre N/A, bloody quick!!!!

 

My mate has just bought one, and is averaging 14mpg!