Updated: 13/FEB/99.

Buying a 944: a highly desirable out-of-production car...

If you have $4 - $15K to spend on a real fun machine, I have some standard "let's go looking" advice. Lower cost cars are older, high-milers, and/or "mechanic specials." Higher cost cars are often later years (say, '88 onward) and are low milage cars, or a 944S, S2 or turbo model.

Shop the paper, the internet, of find somebody with a Porsche Club of America membership and get their used listings from Panorama magazine. Examine maintenence records carefully. See when the timing belt was last replaced, and find out if the owner ever had to replace a water pump. If the records are not available, incomplete, or suspect, take the car to somebody that knows 944's and have it checked. In fact, do this anyway. The cost of this can help you save on possible big repair bills later.

There were a few notable major options: Sunroof, factory radio (Blaupunct), five-spoke alloy wheels, leather interior (partial or full), full power-adjusted seats, metallic paint, and a limited slip differential.

Visual Lookover: Look at the coolant overflow tank for swelling and white cracks -- crazing -- that might indicate the motor had been overheated once. Bad. Of course, remember that it might have been replaced once. Does it look really new, no grundge? Also look for oil leaks under the car, and around the oil cooler assy (to left of motor as viewed from front; behind oil filter.) The cooler can blow out seals, which will allow water and coolant to mix. Very bad. If this happens, the oil on the dipstick will be a chocolate color, much like a milkshake.

Look for body damage that might indicate the car was in an accident. If something is bent up front in the suspension, like a tie rod, you'll never get a good alignment and things will vibrate and be weird. You will not get 100% of the 944's legendary handling. Plus you'll burn thru tires more quickly. A tip: look at the plastic wheel well shrouds inside the front fenders. If it's cracked (or gone!) the front end took a hit someplace along the line.

For any vehicle over 150K miles, expect to replace front engine seals, front wheel bearings, rear carrier bearings, all rotors & pads, shocks/struts, and maybe CV joints, if these items have not been serviced already. Also a very, very good idea is to replace the motor mounts with the latest, 944 turbo mounts. This, and more, is what I did to an '84 944 with a blown motor and 150K miles on it.

On a turbo car, after 150K miles, it will probably also need a turbo rebuild to make it fresh again.

Once you have the car, the cost of maintenance can vary. On a previously owned, well-maintained car, you need only do tuneups and change the timing belt every 30K miles, and pay attention to the usual stuff like brakes and fluids and tires. Replacement parts are the most expensive if you buy them from a Porsche dealer, so don't do that unless you absolutely cannot find a part any other way.

The above is pretty much a getting-started procedure. Lots of patience, and legwork in checking cars out up front, will pay off in the longer run.

Check out the 944 FAQ document. It has lots of great info on model years, changes, and other stuff. Another place of great help to the present or prospective 944 owner can be found by searching the PorscheList 944 archives. To join one of PorscheList's online forums, go to www.porschelist.org



944 Dashboards

I now have a page online which shows the two different 944 dashboards, including a description of all the controls. This area of the car changed significantly in the mid-1985 model year. The late '85 and subsequent 944 got a nicer-looking and much-improved dashboard. The new layout is not only better organized, but the efficiency of the air vents was greatly improved. On this latter point, believe me; I've owned both and there's almost no comparison. The late '85 dash is vastly better.



944 Fuse Panels

I also have a page online which shows the two different 944 fusepanels. This area of the car also changed in the mid-1985 model year. Early 944's fusepanels are located inside the car, to the left of the driver's feet, under the dash. Fuses are the glass BUSS type, which are cylindrical in shape. The Late 944 fusepanel is located under the hood, driver's side, at the rear. It is under a black plastic cover which is gasketed to seal moisture out. The cover is firmly held in place with 2 wire clips. Fuses are the newer, small plastic type with two spade terminals.



You are visitor since this page was originally posted on 13 February 1999.

Buying tips by Bill Underwood

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