Are 944s THAT bad?

[Barry Donovan]

galvanized chassis is interesting..

the one off suspension is crazier than a subaru of the same years as the 944.

I wonder what they were really thinking of..
b rally?

I drove a 944 just once, it was autumn, when chassis less than a tractor trailer frame rumble, and even trigger alternators to summer welds.

I did not like the 944 at all. even my tin can subaru held up tougher to frequencies dialing in to cold...and had more foot pounds with ten gear..and aWD 3 mode.

and that damn headgasket..

I got back in my 84 t-top monte carlo with an engine too big, put up with the squeak and leak above my head and thanked my lucky stars for steel under my butt.

the games some companies play...the 944 may be one of the worst teasers of uncorrect with wild stabs of exotic somethings to speak of.

going for superleggera to hold a v8..try traditional, vega stuff, old tin can mustangs..
even a subaru. that one would need nothing up front to strengthen..maybe line strut towers.

special tools, blah. always a way to do what you got to do. no mig welder on these ventures is silly anyway.

[Javelin]

Buick,

Sorry, finger slip, it's supposed to say 5x130mm. Same for the 64-current 911, Boxster/Cayman, 83+ 944, 968, 928, 914/6, Panamera, Cayenne, and presumably all the new ones coming out soon.

[SuperBuickGuy]

Buick,

Sorry, finger slip, it's supposed to say 5x130mm. Same for the 64-current 911, Boxster/Cayman, 83+ 944, 968, 928, 914/6, Panamera, Cayenne, and presumably all the new ones coming out soon.

ahhhh, now it makes sense. so it's basically a wheel adapter away from happiness

[SuperBuickGuy]

galvanized chassis is interesting..

the one off suspension is crazier than a subaru of the same years as the 944.

I wonder what they were really thinking of..
b rally?

I drove a 944 just once, it was autumn, when chassis less than a tractor trailer frame rumble, and even trigger alternators to summer welds.

I did not like the 944 at all. even my tin can subaru held up tougher to frequencies dialing in to cold...and had more foot pounds with ten gear..and aWD 3 mode.

and that damn headgasket..

I got back in my 84 t-top monte carlo with an engine too big, put up with the squeak and leak above my head and thanked my lucky stars for steel under my butt.

the games some companies play...the 944 may be one of the worst teasers of uncorrect with wild stabs of exotic somethings to speak of.

going for superleggera to hold a v8..try traditional, vega stuff, old tin can mustangs..
even a subaru. that one would need nothing up front to strengthen..maybe line strut towers.

special tools, blah. always a way to do what you got to do. no mig welder on these ventures is silly anyway.

so we'll mark that one as a "just say no to the 944"

[oldsman496]

'89 944 replacement parts priced this morning from a major parts chain.....none of these were available off the shelf, all required to be ordered and shipped in... for a small additional charge of course....

Front brake pads------------$143.99 (set)
front rotor--------------------$242.49 ea.
ABS pressure regulator-----$138.99
Radiator----------------------$466.69
water pump-----------------$499.99
Knock sensor (turbo mtr)--$85.99
Crank sensor----------------$157.99
Mass air sensor-------------$267.49
Outer tie rod-----------------$127.99
replacement turbo----------$1,941.79
alternator--------------------$251.99
motor mount-----------------$172.39
power steering pump-------$724.79
(1) fuel injector--------------$124.58
fuel pump--------------------$258.99
A/C compressor w/clutch--$712.99
evaporator------------------$332.49
condensor-------------------$704.36
starter-----------------------$359.99

virtually all of these items are re-manufactured units. shipping usually adds 4-6 days for arrival.

[Beagle]

renegade hybrids, lq9. FTW. Brakes are for pussies, and so is A/C. haha.

[SuperBuickGuy]

'89 944 replacement parts priced this morning from a major parts chain.....none of these were available off the shelf, all required to be ordered and shipped in... for a small additional charge of course....

Front brake pads------------$143.99 (set)
front rotor--------------------$242.49 ea.
ABS pressure regulator-----$138.99
Radiator----------------------$466.69
water pump-----------------$499.99
Knock sensor (turbo mtr)--$85.99
Crank sensor----------------$157.99
Mass air sensor-------------$267.49
Outer tie rod-----------------$127.99
replacement turbo----------$1,941.79
alternator--------------------$251.99
motor mount-----------------$172.39
power steering pump-------$724.79
(1) fuel injector--------------$124.58
fuel pump--------------------$258.99
A/C compressor w/clutch--$712.99
evaporator------------------$332.49
condensor-------------------$704.36
starter-----------------------$359.99

virtually all of these items are re-manufactured units. shipping usually adds 4-6 days for arrival.

I'm sure there's a point in there, but I'm missing it... care to spell it out?

[Teddyzee]

I'm sure there's a point in there, but I'm missing it... care to spell it out?

And a quick search on ebay saves most of that money.

[SuperBuickGuy]

I've never heard the term "frugal" and "race car" in the same sentence. I have heard "frugal" and "looks like a race car, only much slower"

[oldsman496]

$143 for brake pads... Didn't get the point? really...?... I believe the gentelman who started this thread asked something about whether porsches were expensive to maintain.... Compared to my old x-body, yes, they are.

A starter for my ride is 89.99 not 4 times that amount... and its on the shelf. no waiting. yeah, its also reman... but really... didn't get the point? A tie rod for my car is 12.99... not 10 times that amount..... and its on the shelf.....

if you want an old porch as your ride... that's fine. but if repair costs will be an issue for ya, ya might want to keep lookin' for Grandma's old Nova..... I think that might have been the point of this thread..... but i'm no lawyer.................................... ..

clear enough for ya? Or should I have used bigger words?


ed - I think that replacement turbo costs almost as much as a chevy reman small block.... just sayin...

[SuperBuickGuy]

$143 for brake pads... Didn't get the point? really...?... I believe the gentelman who started this thread asked something about whether porsches were expensive to maintain.... Compared to my old x-body, yes, they are.

A starter for my ride is 89.99 not 4 times that amount... and its on the shelf. no waiting. yeah, its also reman... but really... didn't get the point? A tie rod for my car is 12.99... not 10 times that amount..... and its on the shelf.....

if you want an old porch as your ride... that's fine. but if repair costs will be an issue for ya, ya might want to keep lookin' for Grandma's old Nova..... I think that might have been the point of this thread..... but i'm no lawyer.................................... ..

clear enough for ya? Or should I have used bigger words?


ed - I think that replacement turbo costs almost as much as a chevy reman small block.... just sayin...

I know this is going to sound sarcastic, and maybe it is a little bit - however, it's not the overarching point.
For your Nova to be comparable to a Porsche: add $5000 to the cost of a Nova to make it handle as well as a 944. As for replacement turbos, if you're racing it, you won't be buying a factory turbo. If you're racing it, A/C is just silly. And for brakes, Wilwood makes calipers for everything - so replacing them with a better system is well within the budget.

All cars cost money. And a Nova compared to a Porsche - lol - people in the market for a 2 seat sports car do not look at Novas

Oh yeah, and if it's a Nova, you'll be replacing all bits that rusted off.... really, a Nova?

[Bob Holmes]

I think you're being generous. You can't get a Nova to handle like a 944 for anything close to $5,000.

If a Nova is your benchmark, you're not looking for a 944.

If a 944 is your benchmark, you're not looking for a Nova.

I'm surprised that anyone would be surprised by the higher expense for parts, and the fact that they aren't stocked at the local McParts store.

Different strokes for different folks. Let's not get hung up on it folks.

[Woodward_Dreams]

Just to clarify, I was originally looking at nova and a few other muscle cars when i stumbled onto the 944/924 idea. Im mostly trying to figure out if i want a muscle car next or a sportcar/autocross toy at the moment. as alway, i change my mind a lot.

[Loren]

Autocross sure seems like it could be some fun if done right. My old insurance guy did it for years in Porsches, he took me for some crazy rides. He's in a Z06 now, though...

Myself, I go looking at late-80s cheapo Vettes when I'm thinking that way.

The 944 thing reminds me of a conversation I had a few months ago, someone was casually looking at small aircraft (Cessna 172 etc.) and wondering about costs. At the end of it, we all came down to the point that airplanes are something you don't just casually get involved with...you have to have a passion for it and be willing/able to back it up with time and money. Then are you having any more fun than you would be with something cheaper and easier? Hard to say...maybe not...but if you love the equipment and activity, anything you put into it will be worth it. If you don't care that much, it will be an expensive bitter disaster for you to give it the try.

Certain cars are the same way. If you gotta have that Porsche, step up! If you'd have as much fun in a Nova, you'd be crazy to look at a 944, the thing would ruin you.

My own experience with 944s, which is actually not that pertinent here, was with a freind who bought one new. It was at the shop an awful lot for a new car. Crap, the windshield cracked in the sun and it was an $800 repair, a lot of money at the time but under warranty of course. He sold it after a couple years of having to deal with that-type hassle on top of the regular payments.