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Buying a 924 or 944 Porsche....Advice? (bought 944)

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Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#853412
Hi guys

Anyone own a 924 or 944?

I am looking to buy and have a couple of cars to test drive in the next week. Both are looking to be very well maintained and serviced autos with log book history and in perfect working order.

I am after advice on specific problems with these models.

I am looking at a non turbo 81 924 2L and an 86 944 2.5 non turbo

I am aware that this will not be a maintence free car however am i opening a can of worms? or are they fairly reliable?

I Know the 924 Engine is essentially a 2l Audi engine where as the 944 Engine is much more complicated Porsche design. Is the servicing a huge spend?

any input is appreciated even if it is to try to talk me out of it.

Nicko

PS: im keeping the Baja
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#853425
pheww thats a releif..
good luck i"d be interested to see what others have experienced..
fractal geometry; the inner most limits of mind altering abuse

Fantasy http://seventhchronicle.com

Z = Z2 + C1/r = 1/0 = infinity

Barrels www.barrelman.com.au

VW Workshop - aircooledgarage.com.au
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VolksVair Officially Full-On Dubber

252 posts · joined Apr 2010 ·

#853428
The 924's are worth tuppence & the 944, not much better, if you really prefer that kind of body style, go the 944, but no matter how good its been kept, if its turned the clock over, be prepared to spend some hard earned Jenga on a rebuild. May i ask, why that style Porsche? give me a rear engined aircooled Porsche anytime!, but, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, good luck with your choice, oh, in answer to your last paragraph, I'd rather be seen in your Baja.
Adventure Before Dimentia

MickH Hairy Gutted Sloth

3,389 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#853434
Check the service history!!!!! Head problems for both models (leaks). both are great to drive...have you considered a 928S???? That would be my pick...👍
tssnq.com.au

Wannavee Insano Dub Head

729 posts · joined Sep 2008 ·

#853435
I'd say its price that is a major factor in choosing a 944 etc.We'd all like an air cooled Porsche,but as it has PORSCHE on the badge,it will always be expensive.
I like 944's,always have,but when I looked into buying one quite a few years ago,I was advised exactly what VolksVair says.
Cam belts can be the problem if not maintained correctly I'm told.
Do ya homework and good luck

waveman1500 Also rides a Honda

1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·

#853436
A friend of mine has a 944 and it's surprisingly slow. You would go faster in a Mk3 Golf CL I reckon! Nice looking cars though, especially with some nice wide cookie-cutters on the back, which they usually still have. My friend's one looks good but it's had a few things go wrong with it and the costs of repair were high.
1972 VW S-Bug - For Sale!
1968-onwards Beetle panels and glass for sale

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#853438
DON'T DO IT.

I have worked on many, usually cooling issues, but also electrics and rust and general painful experiences for every owner I know.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#853441
aint they a poor mans porsche 🥲
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#853442
Yeah, they'll keep any man poor. 😂
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

BiX Veteran Volks Folk

2,499 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#853458
the later 944 3L has about the same power as the old Facon and weighs about the same (1500 to 1700kgs). They are not quick cars in a straight line. But if you get the later high performance ones, they are overbraked and tired so handle well through the corners. I know of a 968 (944 S3 pretty much) and with the right driver (top GT3 Cup driver) was faster than all of the R34's in Targa..... unitl he crashed.

I know a few people who have owned them and they were a pain. Expensive for most parts.....

Why the auto?
I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#853464
I am not looking for speed. so power isnt really a factor.

As for cab belts timing belts etc. The 944 I am looking at has

- Rewired
- Recent top end rebuild
- New S2 Transaxle
- water pump replaced and call cooling hoses etc
- New Clutch
- New pressure plate
- New Belts at appropriate 30k intervals with a change recently
- New rubbers throughout

The 924 is a similar story except with a big stereo and new paint. Both serviced regularly and owned by porsche enthusiasts.

I am looking at the upper bracket of pricing for these models and both cars have had big money spent and are in top working order.

Oh and both cars are 100% rust free

With this considererd Matt do you still hold by your statement?

Volksvair: I would love a nice Aircooled Porsche but a) I cant afford one........b) actually there is no b)

Bix: I was refering to Automobile.....They are both Manuals
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

MickH Hairy Gutted Sloth

3,389 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#853466
Go the '44....you should get some years outa it if you keep the services up...
tssnq.com.au

ancientbugger Custom Title Time!

1,986 posts · joined Mar 2004 ·

#853474
My brother had a 924 for years....mainly 'cos he couldn't give it away, he had nothing but problems mainly with the electrics. I think it spent more time being fixed than being driven.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#853492
Anthiron wrote:With this considererd Matt do you still hold by your statement?
Well I wouldn't buy one for my family, unless it was super cheap and was to supply brakes and suspension to a beetle 🙂
Anthiron wrote:they are both manuals
👍
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

VolksVair Officially Full-On Dubber

252 posts · joined Apr 2010 ·

#853501
Anthiron wrote:I am not looking for speed. so power isnt really a factor.

As for cab belts timing belts etc. The 944 I am looking at has

- Rewired
- Recent top end rebuild
- New S2 Transaxle
- water pump replaced and call cooling hoses etc
- New Clutch
- New pressure plate
- New Belts at appropriate 30k intervals with a change recently
- New rubbers throughout

The 924 is a similar story except with a big stereo and new paint. Both serviced regularly and owned by porsche enthusiasts.

I am looking at the upper bracket of pricing for these models and both cars have had big money spent and are in top working order.

Oh and both cars are 100% rust free

I think you allready had your mind made up before posting, go with what your heart says & enjoy.

Yeah I think the rear engined Porsche is out of reach for many of us. cheers Frank
Adventure Before Dimentia

DubCrazy Custom Title Time!

1,295 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#853518
dont waste ur time even looking at the 924, even if its free!!! the 944's are better but as already said not the best.

Price will be a big thing to, the 944's are not worth much. A mate brought one from a local Porsche enthusiast that had owned it from new and it had full srevice books,was in very very good condition inside and out with the original cookie cutters and some later cup rims thrown in to. I cant remember the year but i can find out if u want.. Price.. 4 grand with a roadie.

The bloke who had owned it had 7 other Porsches and really did look after them well but in saying that with in a couple of months he brought it to me with electrical problems,only minor it has to be said but still ....

really the 944's not a horrific car really, not great but as i said to the mate who brought his what else would he have got for a his money? a busted arse commadore/falcon...

steff...........
Life with out a v-dub is no life at all!!!!!

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#853550
the 924 is a gutless turd as you can get. the 944 on the other hand is or at least when new a great car and the turbo and S2 turbo was great performers.

The down side today is the mechanics of the engine can be great but being so little k's for an old car the cooling system will almost guaranty to be corroded and not up to scratch.


Best bet for a 944 is to get a low k one with the best body and interior as you can and get the engine and clutch 100% overhauled from ground up.

Should in theory give you a reliable car. But that being said you either don't get the car or you have to be prepared to spend a bucket load initially

imho a 914 would be way sweeter👍👍

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#853551
oh and apparently the 944 engine is bullet proof from what I have heard. nikasil plating on the cylinder walls and a balancer shaft are some of its unique feature which supposedly contributes to their long life.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#853554
vlad01 wrote:the 924 is a gutless turd as you can get.

imho a 914 would be way sweeter👍👍
I'll second those two comments Vlad
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

evsky Seriously Crusin Dubber

125 posts · joined Sep 2008 ·

#853570
By an rx7 u get the same looks (a very close copy ) serious performance and jap reliability when taken care of. Or keep saving for an air-cooled porsche. Even a fake 356 outlaw style before any water cooled porsche for me👍

SuperOwen Fahrvergnugen

868 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#853685
I worked on a few and wouldn't touch one unless your a diehard enthusiast. For the money you will spend on a decent later model one get yourself an MX5 etc. It will be so much newer, more reliable and mainly fun.
They have a tendency to blow head gaskets and then snap headstuds off in the block, same as the 928's.
Compared to newer cars I never thought they were much fun to drive, even the turbo 968.

wolfgang54 Officially Full-On Dubber

238 posts · joined May 2010 ·

#853693
968 ?
1954 Beetle
2003 Beetle 2.0
2004 Turbo Beetle 1.8
2007 Touareg tdi (retired)
2009 Pajero Tdi Shorty (retired)
2011 FJ Crusier
1973 P76

Wish list:

Porsche 550
zooey deschanel

BiX Veteran Volks Folk

2,499 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#853695
968 was a version 3 of the 944. They changed so much they made it a new model.
I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#853753
yeah and it looked like a 928 🙅😬

I have heard of people sinking a 968 engines into 944s and then boosting it 😂 944/68 turbo S2 lol

thats would be ace. 😵

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#853758
Well Mixed opinions............ Steve from T&D Autos is ringing me back in the morning about the service history on the 944. and im going for a drive. so we shall see.
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#853887
I couldnt help myself.......The car was amazing to drive and couldnt be faulted.......Mine

[IMG]https://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2396/12661963.jpg[/IMG]

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62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

wolfgang54 Officially Full-On Dubber

238 posts · joined May 2010 ·

#853889
noice
1954 Beetle
2003 Beetle 2.0
2004 Turbo Beetle 1.8
2007 Touareg tdi (retired)
2009 Pajero Tdi Shorty (retired)
2011 FJ Crusier
1973 P76

Wish list:

Porsche 550
zooey deschanel

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#853891
Plus if i really wanted to i could get some cookies or some thing for it and make a profit selling the Fuchs and the car 😂
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#853893
fair enough

Well done 😉
Futue te ipsum!!!

Rural Baja #tassievwpickers

1,075 posts · joined Jan 2006 ·

#853923
I'm not a great fan of them, but that one is damn cool 😁