Planning on buying a used old Porsche as my daily car. 1970's to mid 80's 911 or 928 or even 944.?

Question

Are they reliable? Will I get instead in to a problem doing so? Please help.

Answer 1

I recommend a decent 944 with good maintenance records. These cars are comfortable, fun to drive and can carry groceries under the hatch. The 944 requires 30,000-mile timing belt replacements and you'll need to stay on top of the same sorts of things in any 20-year-old car. (Such as brakes, bushings, shocks, interior bits, etc.) Parts are very available for the 944 and are reasonably priced.

The 928 is a high-strung beauty that can be very expensive to fix. The 911 will hold its value well and has a huge following. Lots of parts and upgraded gear is available for the 911 but the initial price for the car will be much higher for a 911 than a 944. I think the 944 is prettier, too.

Answer 2

I've had several of these beasts pass through my hands including a 1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2, 1987 Porsche 944 turbo, 1996 Porsche 911 twin turbo, 1988 Porsche 928 S4 as well as numerous others I've been lucky enough to experience.

Can they serve as reliable daily drivers? You bet. Are they more demanding than a Toyota Camry to maintain? You bet.

If I were looking for a daily driver I think the 944 series or 1987-1989 911 Carrera series would be my picks. The 944 is more comfortable than the 911 assuming you like the "sit on the floor" type seating position. The 944 is also quite economical in terms of fuel economy (even the 944 turbo isn't bad in that regard as long as you aren't into the boost all the time... which, I'll admit is difficult.)
The engine in the 944 is a 2.5 liter 4 cyl unit which was NOT built by Audi. The old 2.0 liter 4 cyl engine found in the 924 was an Audi unit and it was not exactly a crowning achievement for either company. The 944 engine was derived from the early 928 V8... half of it at least. ;-) The basic 2.5 engine in the 944 is very reliable and I know of several with more than 300k miles on them. The 944 turbo adds a bit to maintenance levels but I found that it wasn't bad and parts were easy to find and didn't cost an arm and a leg. On the 944 just make sure the timing belt service has been done fairly recently, check the body for prior accident damage as many of these cars have been whacked and in many cases repaired by the blind (or so it seems?!), also check the clutch and gearbox function (I don't like the automatics), suspension, etc. Try to buy an enthusiast's car if you can find one near you. Chances are that you will pay more but it will likely have been maintained far better than one that Joe Schmoe has for sale in his yard.

The 911 is also a great car. The 80's cars were generally well built and reliable. After all, that had many years of development by then. A 911 will easily cost you double or triple the cost of the 944 but it is an iconic sports car so you'll have to pay up a bit. Check for body work, engine/oil leaks, suspension, clutch (post 87 models were hydraulic assist) exhaust and heater boxes etc. The 911 also will require periodic valve adjustments which isn't the end of the world but it will add to your maintenance costs.

The 928... der Land Shark. Fantastic grand touring cars... not really a sports car per se. These cars often get a bad wrap for being unreliable and horrendously expensive to maintain. A well sorted 928 is quite reliable and can be used as a daily driver as long as you are OK with the fuel economy. ;-) Again, I've seen more than a few with 200k-300k miles and still going strong. They are well built although the interiors often tend to show their age with dash/pod cracks, warping panels etc. The body is mostly aluminum (roof and rear quarters are steel) so corrosion isn't usually a problem except around the rear window bases. Again, the newer the better.

Get out and drive them and see what you like the best. Then when you get serious have a well versed Porsche mechanic inspect the car prior to purchase. Good luck!

Answer 3

whell i have a 1987 944 and all my friends make fun of the mileage and age it has 201867 miles on it but it doesn't matter ...its all about how the previous owner took care of it. mine was garaged and i have every service record since it came of the lot and i have NEVER had one problem with it but the speakers. so if you get one that was taken well care of it will last ..if you take care of it. The 928's are a mess they are very high maintenance cars plus gas mileage sucks. but if you get either of these cars make sure that it doesn't leak oil in the 80s that was a big problem with the Porsche 924, 944, and 928.
if you get a 944 and it does need some parts i am also restoring a 1987 Porsche 944 s there is a website www.944online.com that is excellent for parts good luck!
but if you take care of them yes they are bulletproof

Answer 4

te 944 is the cheapest and most reliable out of all of these but it is the best daily driver if you are looking for a older porsche good on gas and very fast.. but if you buy the 928 you will find you self living in it within a few months becuase they break alot and are very costly to rapair. if you got the 944 or the 944 turbo you would love it and not be broke all the time.

Answer 5

Any of these cars are great rides. They are are all thoroughbreds so all are high maintenance and require loving care and (especially the 928) lots of money to make right when they break. The 911 has thousands of club suporters and parts are plentiful; the 944 basic engine is an Audi design and should go 200,000 on the lower end easy provided it was well cared for. They are all beautiful and you will never lose on in a crowded parking lot. My suggestion would be to purchase the best one your budget will allow as it will save you much money and heartache in the long run.
Porsche......there is NO substitute.

Answer 6

It will be rather unique in some people's routines and activities; on the more common individuals use, the principles will be quite general and generic (albeit name brand products) since accepted methods are hammered out daily with the only variation being improvements and updates in the security software and security products. Really I have not come across any new approaches but the utilities improve while pretty much doing the same things. This will sound silly but it is an example I am going to use anyway (as I am no security expert). If computer viruses start floating down from entrails or rising from crop circles to find their way into our computers, that certainly would be very alien. That is not happening, at least I have not heard of it!

Answer 7

For a car that is great all around and lasts for ever the mid 80's 944 or 944 turbo. Great on gas too.

Answer 8

Look for a 911. These cars are solid and if you find one in good shape will serve you well. 928 is expensive to keep on the road and most 944's have been driven to death. Look for a Porsche shop in your town and call them to see if the have one for sell. Often shops know of good cars like this.

Answer 9

If you plan on taking some time on rebuilding/working on one, the Porsche will make an acceptable daily car. I wouldn't say they were reliable, you constantly have to notice its smallest problems, do experiments, take car of small to big problems, etc. Yes, you will run into solvable problems. I recommend the 924/944. They aren't quite as complicated.

Answer 10

Bad idea. ANY car from the 70's and 80's is not going to make a good dependible daily driver. You would have to rigorously maintain it and the parts will be difficult to find for some systems on a Porsche in short time. You can't just run down to NAPA and pick up a starter or a water pump for one of those things. The parts will have to be ordered.

Now I wouldn't mind having a 80's 911 turbo as a good weekend driver though.