Handling is by far it's best quality. Even in heavy-duty Wisconsin snow and ice this is a dream to drive! I've taken several interstate trips, seeking out two lane twisty roads and my '86 944 NA accelerates hard all the way through all but the most hairpin of curves. I take curves with absolute confidence and the thing just screams through them with that rock-solid "no substitute" Porsche authority!

Higher than average maintenance and repair costs in general, although I've avoided major costly repairs so far with my '86 model. I also have an '84 944 NA that needed just the hydraulics on the clutch repaired at a cost of $500. The timing belt/water pump change is coming up for both of them. Weak points are the AC units, power steering hose leaks and the lack of real grunt off the line. The power sunroof on the '84 doesn't work, either. I've had to change the engine cooling fan switches on both of them. It's a do-it-yourself job if you're patient with the tight work spaces under the engine bay near the radiator. Power window motors are also expensive and a weakness on both - but, hey they're getting old! All in all, I love them both and would highly recommend the Porsche 944 as a very affordable sports/GT car that puts a big smile on your face even on the most mundae daily errands.

Excellent affordable sports car with superior handling and plenty of power in upper rev ranges at speed (4,000 to 6200 RPM & 85 - 120 plus MPH) I've had mine up to 132 MPH. What more can you ask of a fifteen year old NA 4 cyl.? It's a great value for the money. I find myself wishing it had another 50 - 100 HP, but there ARE S models and turbos and various tweaks available to get you there if you really want to go....
It feels much more refined than Camaros, Firebirds or Mustangs of the same vintage (circa 84-89). I owned a first generation Mazda RX7 that was also smooth and handled like a dream, but the 944 edges the RX & the 300ZX in refinement and handling prowess. Buy one if you're remotely interested. You won't be sorry.

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I also own an '87 Nissan 300ZX (first generation 300ZX). It's a V-6 and I love it, too. But the Porsches have stolen my heart!

50/50 WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION.
LOTS OF TOURQUE (USED TO BEAT MY DADS OLD 1989 944 TURBO OFF THE LINE ALL OF THE TIME)..(OFF THE LINE I SAID).
UNBELEIVABLE HANDLING (KEEPS UP WITH 84-89 CARRERAS ON THE TRACK WITH NO PROBLEMS).
TIMELESS STYLING.
REASONABLY PRICED THESE DAYS.
LOVES TO EAT MUSTANGS,VETTES & OTHER AMERICAN "SPORTS CARS" FOR LUNCH.
944 TURBO PERFORMANCE WITHOUT THE TURBO "TROUBLES"

REPAIRS ARE NOT CHEAP
NOT VERY MANY AFTERMARKET PERFORMANCE UPGRADES

I purchased my guards red S2 back in the spring of 1996 with 65,000 miles on it. 29 days after my purchase my timing belt broke and we bent 9 of the 16 valves.(Thank God i had a 30 day warranty). After 2 months of fighting with the dealership i finally got my fixed car back. I went ahead and drove the car as a summer pleasure car for the next two years, since winters her in Mn are not too nice on Porsches. Exactly 2 years and 1 week after my engine was rebulit, my timing belt decided to break again, this time taking all 16 valves with it. (I had been autocrossing the car pretty regularly during the summers of those 2 years so i wasn't necessarily "babying" the car by any means). So off to the shop we went, this time however the bill for the repair was on me. $4500 and 1 month later the S2 and i where on our way. I decided to take it easy on the car since the repairs for the engine were a bit high for my wallet. The next year I had a completely different plan in mind. I went to my local Porsche tuning shop and decided to start doing some upgrades that will hopefully cut some seconds off my time at the track.(Brainerd International Raceway).
We started off with suspension. Since my car was not equipped with the factory Mo30 like the 1988 944 Turbo s and 1989 944 Turbos were I had to start from scratch. (Mo30=fully adjustable konis,bigger 928s4 calipers,bigger swaybars). The Mo30 was an option on all 944 S2's. We ordered a set of fully adjustable konis. I got a set of 300# Eibach springs for the front an lowered the rear via the torsion bar. The owner of the shop happens to race a 944S2, and recomended that I change my brake proportioning valve with a 928 factory proportioning valve to give the rear brakes a little more balance. I decided to keep the stock rotors and go with some Porterfield race pads. That year (1999) my best time at the track was 2:10 on street tires. The car went into storage, as it does every year. A late fall inspection showed some signs of wear and tear on the lower control A arms. I decided if i was going to change these i might as well do it right, so i forked over the $1500 for the billett aluminum charley A arms. The inspection also showed that i needed a new clutch,(went with a Sachs sport), the bearings on the tourque tube where a bit noisy, and that I needed to replace the u joints on both sides in the rear. It took my buddy and I approximately 2 months to do all of the above and replace the leaking water pump,pulleys and the infamous timing belt. I also decided to order a performance exhaust system since the old one was 11 years old and showing some signs of wear and tear itself. I went with a B&B full stainless system. I also ordered a Weltmeister strut tower brace to stiffen the front end up a bit more. Last but not least I ordered a set of 17"x 7.5 & 17"x9 c2 cup wheels and installed Hoosier road race tires. My times improved by 6 seconds the first time i went back to the track with all of these upgrades. By the end of the season I was running 2:00 flat consistently. I have since removed the catalitic converter & replaced it with a staight pipe. I have purchased 2 Momo rookie seats,harness bar & harnesses and have installed adjustable camber plates. Hopefully these modifications/wight loss will improve my times at the track some more. I love this car and do very well against the other cars in my class (86-88 non s 944 Turbos,911sc)usually in the top 3 fastest lap times. Unfortunately I will not be driving the car on the street any longer and will be using it as a "track car" only. A 911 will soon be joining the S2 in the garage so i can have a Porsche to drive on the street. Bottom line; if these cars are well maintained they can be a delight. If they are mistreated be ready to fork over some cash in repairs.

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1986 PORSCHE 944 TURBO,1983 PORSCHE 944,1986 PORSCHE 944,1990 AUDI GT COUPE,1993 VW CORRADO VR6,SEVERAL VW GTI's,BMW 325 is.

It amazes me to read reviews on 944 Turbo that claim anything on this car is lame. Especially from people who have purchased them used at 1/5 the price. This car is still worth every penny of 50K. Handling is awesome ~ if you think otherwise then you either do not understand handling or it has not been maintained. You can take this car out on the road "stock" and perform perfect donuts and take high speed turns (45 - 75) feather the gas and perform perfect tail slides while maintaining FULL control!!! I have owned over fifteen 40K and up sports cars and not one handles itself like the 944Turbo. Yes ~ like any car if it has not been maintained its garbage! If you had a F50 Ferrari and it was not maintained ~ it would be garbage as well! Yet, if you walk into an able mechanic shop ~ 100% of the mechanics will tell you this is a dream car/tank. Bullet proof ~ unless it is not maintained for MANY MANY years ~ then you will have problems. This is most definitely a car chicks dig! When is the last time a group of guys or girls saw your car and told you it was awesome! Gorgeous! Outrageous! Bad Ass! Hey it happens to me at least every week and sometimes 2 to 3 times a day! The brakes are awesome. 0-60 stock in 6 seconds. Will do 160 mph and handle it no problem! Turns on rails, never breaks down if the basics are maintained and it out performs 99% of everything that would ever grace the road. Parts are cheep unless your looking to be punished by going to the dealer. After market suppliers galore. Tons of bolt on modifications for less than 5K that will instantly take this car in the stratosphere of performance. 0-60 in 4.75 seconds. 180mph etc... Look guys, if you truly know something about cars ~ this is the most reliable race machine on the street or track. 75% of the time I spank my car - every day. Burn a new set of 275/45 on the rear every 4 months. Dog it on every red light. Rev it to the limit any time I have a chance (daily :) and it runs like a top. It purrs, snaps then growls like a wild beast ~ and begs for more!!! If you have had a bad one ~ then you did a horrible job of buying an abused one (Shame on you)or did not remotely maintain yours. Hell ~ even concrete need to be maintained or it will eventually fall apart, and if you don't feel this car performes above and beyond today's standards ~ then you simply have never owned a high performance sports car and are looking for a caddy type ride! Hey ! if you want a mean machine take it from me. I have had them in the winners cirle for 11 years and this one is a tiger in wolf's clothing. Once this car is maintained ~ its a breeze to keep and very affordable.

If comparing it to new 65K and up sports cars ! Technology is a little out dated. Now there are quicker spooling turbos, MAF and electronics that bolt on to this machine.

The car is awesome. Those who claim otherwise just dont know cars. One cant touch this cars performance for under 65K! A 5K upgrade takes this machine into an elite performance catagoty. If maintained like any other car ~ it will run, handle and performe for 12+ years and counting. Its all build on aluminum and virgin steel. Streetable and trackable. Most copied chasis in the world. Most copied lines in the world and DOOOOES IT ALL WITH 4 CYLINDERS!!! INCREDIBLE

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Porsche 930, Ferrari Dino, Ferrari Testarosa, Ferrari 328, Maseratti Merak, 1965 Vett, 2000 Vett, Toyota Supra Turbo, RX7 TT, Saleen Mustang, Camaro SS, all Mustangs between 63 and 67, M3 BMW and a couple of others.

Dynamite looks: best looking car I have EVER had, and I have been around a long time.....
Handling: have taken defensive driving; instructor loves the way it handles
Ease of basic maintenance.....very forgiving; ingenuity a big plus

Some parts difficult to reach: Porsche mantra..."If you can see it, you can't reach it...If you can reach it, you can't see it".
Power. I would have loved Porsche to add a more potent V6 normally aspirated engine. As it is, I would probably (gasp) consider putting a small block aluminum American V8 in one, if Icould find one with a trashed engine at the right price
Quality of interior: cardboard dash, door panels, lousy wiring system, second only to the Brit's Lucas systems. Nothing that can't be overcome with better relays and update switches...ever see anything cheesier than the window lift switches?

Have had a lot of fun with the car. My wife and I go to a lot of casual car shows, and most folks think it is a lot newer than it actually is. It did develop an oil leak in the front seal which was a bear to repair, had to actually give in and get professional help for that one. Overall, the repair costs, outside of that one event, have been reasonable. The car is comfty for long trips and carrise loads of stuff. Try putting golf clubs in a 911!!! We hope to relocate to the sunny Southwest. I will pay to have the car trailered out there since I know its mechanical strengths since I do most of the work myself. Parts are really not that bad if one subscribes to "Excellence" magazine and takes advantage of the dozens of dealers that advertise in it.

It is not a car for everyone. It will run forever if properly maintained. Warning. It loves to be driven hard, but not abused. Smoking the clutch is a very expensive procedure. The 944 is a touring car, not a go-fast straight line hot rod. Over 80, it will outrun most of the Japanese buckets out there,not to mention domestic "sedans". All you will see is a fading little dot in you rear mirror. Don't ask how I know.

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Not many cars compare. Hard to believe, I had a highly modified Corvair turbo (heavy sway bars, high rate springs, Konis, 60 series radials) that handled better than other American iron, but not as well as the 944. Owned a 924 for eight years so the 944 was expected to handle. Had a 356; it loved to swap ends on fast (track) turns. I prefer a balanced chassis like the 944 to the 911 butt heavy design.

Handling, looks, comfort, reliability..
This car handles the road INCREDIBLY !!!!
Shop & you will find a 944 at the right price !! Do your research !!

$$$$$$$ FOR PARTS & LABOR.... Availability of parts can be tough...
Qualified service techs who know these cars are limited in my area, but the information online is unlimited..

This has always been my dream car since I was a kid, and over the last 2 years I had been shopping for one but was finding the normal price ranges were around $4000 and up...I drove past a local garage one day and saw red 1983 944 posted for sale for $2500 and immediately stopped to ask the dealer what's wrong with it ?? He said that he just purchased it at an auction in New Jersey, and that the car was sound other than a slight shimmy in the steering between 60-70 mph. After test driving the car, and noticing some minor problems ( headlights were rubbing against cooling hose when powered, slight dent in rear bumper, power window switch needed to be replaced, small rust hole in muffler), I offered him $1800 and he took it !!!! I wrote a check and the next day I picked up the car...I was amazed !!! I immediately had the oil changed, fuel filter changed, new plugs installed, new air filter, new fuel line coming from gas tank into the filter and had the timing belt inspected and checked and had a high speed balance & alignment done...I've driven the car everyday since June of 2000, ( now it's Feb,2001) and have not had one problem other than a bad tank of gas. I had the door stops replaced ( they were broken off entirely), which I got off a totalled 944 in upstate NY, had the passenger side door handle replaced ( got that off the same 944 ), put a new rotor cap on and run the car on high test ONLY and change the oil every 2500 miles. The car presently has 126,000 miles and still is running AMAZING !!. I drive this car frequently between NYC and Albany, often putting over 600 miles a week on it and it's a dream to drive on the open highway. It's a 169 miles from NYC to Albany and with a radar detector I can make the trip in around 2 hours. The car is great on gas mileage in city and on the highway...I'm now getting ready for a full service for the upcoming year and going to do the timing belt and waterpump folly...I've been extremely lucky since I purchased this vehicle with no service history paperwork at all..but the body and frame have no rot or rust at all, and I've gotten a price at Maaco for $600 to do all the bodywork & paint over with Dunlop God's RED paint & urethane coating with a 4 year warranty. I plan on keeping this car for the rest of my lifetime. The pleasure of driving the 944 everyday makes commuting to work something to look foward to ( it's a 74 mile roundtrip commute for me). It's not good in the snow...no weight in the rear end and I have come close to totalling it by skidding in a complete 360 onto some womans front yard after getting caught in a blizzard..thank God there weren't any vehicles parked on the street !! This vehicle is unlike anything I've ever driven...the bucket seats mold to my body frame beautifully and all the controls are naturally
accessable...I like the pop out sunroof better than the motorized ones..they can be costly to repair..and the power & response the 944 has for a 4 cylinder is incredible. I'm searching for a new wiper motor currently, my current one has limited time left and make alot of noise.
This was the best $1800 dollars I have ever spent...also knowing that I haven't seen any other 944's in the Upstate area is great...Thanks Porsche for building a real keeper.

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Ford mustang, Porsche wide body, ..

Performance. Looks. Ride. Fun factor. Chick attention.

None

This was an fantastic car. It was quick, fast, reliable, looked cool, handled amazingingly well and when duty called, managed to get me some from women, who otherwise, wouldn't have given me the time of day.
It's a shame it ended it's life in against a hydro pole. I wasn't even in the car at the time! Haven't gotten me much trim since said episode.

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There is no substitute

handles great tight steering perfect suspension high tech even today

i think this motor is not a very good power plant timing belt is the same as a chevette could use 75 hp more speedo junk lights are like candles

at 3500 dollars i guess i would say its a deal.but after anyone drives it they think it costs 25,000.i will let timing belt break.i will put a real motor in it. 400 ci chevy at 425hp should do.only weighs 200 more and will
outlast any motor i know. plus parts for this are the cheapest in the world.mine runs the same as all the others but i wish i had power steering.
also i have never ever seen one the same color as mine.champange.overall after owning mgs, austins,corvettes,muscle cars i like this the most.if you buy one do not let anyone work on it.they are easy i think to work on.also that timing belt bull---- is a crock.i put mine on without that
$500 tool 45,000 miles ago and it runs fine.use 15/50 synt oil and change filter often.

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1960 austin healy 3000 the only car that comes close to the way this handles

-Handling
-Style
-Economy(31mpg)

-The parts cost too much $$
-Non turbo is very slow
-Cheezy 4X6 speakers
-No A/C and the heat is stuck on and gets pretty crispy in the summer

People say that it is not very reliable, I have put on around 300,000 miles without any major repairs(the two big ones were the clutch and U-joint). I changed the oil once and am afraid to change it because it lasted me 300,000 miles. I just put in a quart once every 4 or 5 months since porsches natrally burn oil. I love this car and is worth however much it costs. I am looking into buying a 944T. Porsche has truly won me over with this car and I will never not have one. For being 12 years old it still looks like a 2000 model. If any one is interested make sure to snatch a good one. Check the car througaly and make sure it wasn't driven my a rebel teen(like me). Overall I am very impressed with this car and give it the best rating

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91' vette(convt.)
89 mustang (over 500 horsepower)
80 mercedes 500SE

Price
Looks

Lame 146 HP

Talk about a Cinderella story...I just bought this for $750.00 with 96,000 miles on it. It wasn't running but the previous owner thought it was the fuel pump. I didn't want to get my hopes up, so I thought I would part it out if it looked like trouble. Dash was cracked, no rust, some rock chips and a couple of minor dents under 6" diameter. Cloth seats and interior are in excellent shape. Title checked out clean. So I got it home, diagnosed it, and put a new fuel pump in- then I held my breath and fired it up. At first it was spewing wet and nasty black stuff from the exhaust- turns out it had just some water accumulated in the exhaust from condensation. It ran rough on the first test drive, so I wheeled her back into the garage. Found 3 disconnected vacuum lines. Fluids looked good, heater was working, so I gave her another spin. Wow, did I luck out- it ran great. Engine, clutch, tranny, steering, handling, wind noise, electrical, etc.- no problems. Doubled or tripled the value just by fixing the fuel pump and some other very minor repairs. I am now shopping around for a new paint job. Got a repair manual with the car but no maintenance records. I was just going to turn it for profit, but now I am leaning towards keeping it, even though I'll have to do the timing belt/water pump gig this summer. Talk about an attention getter- everyone wants to see it and get a ride. I have less than $1,000 into it and it looks like they go for $4K-$9K. I just can't get over what I deal I got- Hell, I paid $1,200 for a golf cart just to buzz around my property with. I never had a very high opinion of German/Volkswagen vehicles, but this baby is changing my mind faster than a kid in a candy store...

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None

- Unreal power in its "sweet spot" - few cars can touch it 50-110mph
- Looks cool for an eleven year old car
- Handles like nothing I've ever driven
- Very high quality paint
- Plenty of bang for the buck available in modifications
- Negotiates snow surprising well with the right tires (Blizzak)

- Pretty weak outside of said "sweet spot." You've gotta risk clutch trauma to get low-end oomph. I was once beaten to a 2 lane to 1 lane merge after a stoplight by a Toyota Sienna minivan (!!) the same day I *soundly* beat a C5 Corvette in a 70-140mph Interstate romp. Weird, eh?
- Surprise! - you're gonna put some $$ into this car to keep it pristine. Mine was all original when I got it, and I've put about $8K into it in 30 months. That's head gasket, various exhaust leaks, rod bearings, catalytic converter, etc. I'm still running original clutch and turbo at 103K [cringe].
- Can be inexplicably moody in terms of power. Apparently the turbo is pretty sensitive to temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, phase of the moon, driver's favorite color, ... you get rhe point. It'll still pin you to the seat on the worst of days, though.
- Interior is pretty pedestrian.
- Stock sound system is awful.

If you are looking for a pure sports car and find one of these in really nice shape, and it hasn't been driven by a testosterone-charged kid or taken to the track, get it!! It looks fast, feels fast, and won't bankrupt you (at least relative to the cars that share its performance characteristics).

I have no major mods - just an Autothority stage II chip. There is a *lot* you can do improve power and handling. Take my sentiments and multiple their effect on your buying decision by two if you have the extra 5-7K to put into a mass air flow system, larger turbo, and boost controller. Those and the right clutch will take any soccer mom off the line and, more importantly, put your 50-110mph thrust in the range shared by the thoroughly vicious 911Ts and Vipers.

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