Am I an idiot?

So in the search for a new car, I got in contact with a grm member who is selling a Porsche 944. It is in beautiful shape and seems to have been well maintained and since it is someone on this board I feel good about it. My worry is it is a Porsche still and that equals big money for parts." Compared to the other 10 cars I am looking for is it a bad idea (Mk3 Supra, MX3 GS, MX6 GT, Civic, Integra, 240SX, 2nd gen RX7, Neon ACR, 90-93 Celica GT or GTS, AE92 or AE86). I am having trouble finding anything close to in good a shape between Nashville and Birmingham.

I don't think a well-maintained fairly priced 944 is ever a bad idea.

For a DD machine, though, there is likely better options. But on the other hand, you could do far worse.

Have the Porsche inspected for $60 then buy it. If he has the history on the car all the better.

It takes a creative mind to come up with a new take on the same "what car should I get, is this a good car for me to get?" thread every fourteen minutes...

I used to DD a 944 Turbo....it was great. Once I get tired of using the Mach 1 for a DD I may pull the Porsche out and put it back into service.

I've owned both a Turbo and NA 944, and if the maintenance is up to date, they make a great daily driver. Be sure and do your maintenance by the book and you shouldn't have any problems. If you can learn to do the timing belt yourself, they aren't even that expensive. They are a PITA however. And do the water pump, seals and rollers while you are in there for cheap insurance.

Things to look for are the dates for the last timing belt replacement (2 years or 30k miles...my turbo broke at 32k, do not ignore this), steering rack leaks, and clutch come to mind. Other stuff can be annoying, but aren't deal breakers.

Timing belt was replaced 15k ago. The clutch is fairly new as well as a number of other parts.

Are you comfortable with doing what ever is required on the 944?

I sold the wife's IS300 3 months back and got her a near pristene fully loaded AE86. Cheaper, and FAR easier to maintain, and the AE86 is no longer depreciating.

In reply to oldeskewltoy:

Do you mean working on it myself or paying for some one else to maintain it?

Working on it yourself will be HEAPS cheaper.

I am comfortable with simple things but timing belt or clutch I really doubt it. The car currently has non working A/C (might be expansion valve). How hard is it work on this? I have a friend who has done a bunch of A/C work so he could help me but is there anything that I would need to worry about in particular with a Porsche?

I can only speak to my 944 turbo experience, which is a cheaply bought beater. So far it's been no harder to work on than any other car, and parts prices aren't out of line. I replaced both axles in about an hour for $80 each. I had to do a rear wheel bearing - once I bought the HF FWD bearing tool set it was pretty straightforward. Brakes all around, pads and rotors - were easy also. Rotors weren't cheap but I got decent pads for <$100 all around. Timing belt is on the winter project list.

One major plus is the very active communities on Pelican and Rennlist. If you need to do something chances are high that someone else has done it before and cam talk you through it. There's a lot of good used parts for these cars available also which makes the ownership cost much more reasonable.

If you've never driven a 944 before try to get a little seat time before plunking down cash for one. They are not for everyone. Some don't like the seating position, some don't like the relatively limited power, some don't like the dash, etc. especially on the early cars. Find the local PCA chapter; my local chapter is very friendly and helpful.

I will test drive it but the lack of power isn't going to be a probably. Seating position might be a worry though.

i loved my NA '86, and i greatly enjoyed my time with the V8 car, but i definitely did not love that one. i will definitely own another 944, probably within 5 years.

right now i'm toying with the idea of an '86 325es or a '97 328ic. both stick, both cheap.