1984 Porsche 944.?

Question

I'm thinking of buying this car, I've taken a look at it in person a few times, it looks a bit weathered but nothing a new paint job couldn't fix. The interior is very aged, and the car has about 150,000 miles on it. The seller is asking $3200. Do you think this is reasonable? Also do you have any advise for what to look for, common problems with porsche 944's, I don't know much about the subject.

Answer 1

I think around $3,000 for a solid 1984 Porsche 944 is a good price, but you should expect to do more-or-less continual maintenance to keep it running properly. However, this is true of any 22-year-old car.

As for rust, Porsches after 1976 use galvanized sheet metal, so rust is almost never an issue. I had a 1978 Porsche 924 that had no rust whatsoever, and that was after driving it in upstate NY winters.

You will have lots of other repairs, and the 944 will require an expensive timing belt replacement every 30K miles. If you don't do it yourself, expect $500 for this replacement.

Nearly all parts are still available for the 944, so don't worry about that. If you enjoy the car and are willing to do most of the work yourself, this is a very satisfying car. It is peppy, handles great and has decent brakes. If you are willing to spend a little more money, look for a 1986 or later model. There was a major upgrade for the 1985.5 model, which included more power, better brakes, stronger ball joints and a better interior. However, it will probably cost you at least another $2,000 for one of these later models.

Finally, it's always great if you can find a Porsche that hasn't been beaten up on racetracks. Ask questions and see what answers you get, and look for signs that it might have been raced. These include racing seat belts, holes where a role bar might have been attached and painted-over numbers on the doors/bodywork.

I like older Porsches and there is a great community of owners out there to encourage you and help you solve problems. As long as you are willing to do the work to keep your Porsche running, you will find it educational and very satisfying. If you can't/won't do the work yourself, the car will almost certainly be too expensive.

Answer 2

DON'T BUY IT. Porsches, especially the 944's, don't do well when neglected. If the owner cared about their car, they would have kept up the paint and interior. Also, 150k is WAY up there, even for the bullet-proof Porsche engines. Assuming it hasn't been re-built already, at most, you'd have another 10k before you had to have a major engine (and probably transmission) re-build. I would NEVER trust any car that doesn't have a complete service history and meticulous maintenance. (Has it always had new spark plugs, filters, fluids and--if needed--belts [timing chains] and spark plug wires every 30k? Are the shock absorbers and bushings sound? Has the owner seen to any mechanical, body and transmission issues? Porsches of that era are known for rust and abuse. Bubbles anywhere under the paint indicate the presence of rust; the shock towers and body (like any car) are also known to have rust issues. Don't buy a car with rust present--it costs an incredible amount to have safely removed. Stressed and bent suspension components and poorly repaired body damage are also common. Besides which, a great many of the 944's were anything but real Porsche performers. They are often accused of being saddled with "lawnmower engines", and only a certain number had the desireable, 3.0 liter six cylinder. Also, the repairs are often expensive; so is bodywork, upholstery and quality paint. If you purchased the car now, you would probably wind up putting another 5 or 6k into the car to ensure it remained driveable. I would stay away unless you did some extensive research. Talk to the mechanic who worked on the car; see how often the car was in for service and what they think of it. Also, be sure to get a pre-purchase inspection done by a Porsche specialist (get your local Porsche club to recomment one). If the mechanic is reluctant to support the car, and/or the seller refuses to have the car inspected, walk away. It's a basket case that will ruin you--and it may be so as is. In short: be careful; do your research. Always remember that with exotic cars, it's not the purchase price that kills you--it's the maintenance costs!

Answer 3

No. Do not buy it. While porsches are very reliable, a 150,000 mile 944 in mediocre shape is quickly going to turn into a serious money pit. 3200 seems a bit steep. If oyu shop around for about 6k you can grab up a lower mileage turbo one and have a far nicer car.

Answer 4

it seems a bit steep.you could be buying trouble.though the 944 is a good drivers car you must check to see if it has a full service history.also check to see when the cam belt was changed as if that goes expensive.150,000 miles is nothing for the 2.5 or the 3 litre engine as long as it has the servicing done at the required times.pull the oil cap off look for slush to see if the head gasket is ok.start the car up to see if there is any blue smoke if there is walk away.check the wheels for kerb damage also check the ratyres for wear as they ain,t cheap to replace.check for radiator damage and that the car does not over heat when bringing it up to working temperature.listen for rattles and that the hydrolick tappets are not rattling.check for oil leaks as well as water and petrol leaks.check for wear in the steering and knocking on the bull joints.check the condition of the brake discs to see if there are wearing thin and warped.check the exhaust for leaks.as far as body work goes check the panel gaps for crash damage over spray as well.look for rust in the sills rear arches also check those large bumbers for cracks.check the tail gate for rust and rust lift the carpets looking for rust in the floor.

Answer 5

I'm no porshe expert but I've known a few early mid 944s and those few were complete headaches... however i think that body is really nice looking and if it runs ok and the body is good except bad paint id take it for 3200

Answer 6

This car is not going to be cheap when it comes to parts and repairs. Porsche qualified mechanics charge Porsche style prices.

Answer 7

the car has not been looked after! You are going to be throwing good money after bad! You want to look for a car that has been looked after! Okay so you going to pay more fo it but it will be worth it!!!

Answer 8

944.. awful... only worthwhile porsche is any 911.... as you will have trouble selling 944 later...........