steelynorm
steelynorm New Reader
3/15/11 12:39 p.m.

I have been thinking about purchasing a boxster. Love the way they drive, but could be too cost pronibitive. How much is a well sorted 944 n/a?

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
3/15/11 12:45 p.m.

Less than $2000! I bought an 86 944 3 weeks ago.

jonny330
jonny330 New Reader
3/15/11 12:48 p.m.

how much work did you put into it after picking it up?

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
3/15/11 12:54 p.m.

So far? Nada, really. This one had full service records from 90-2011. Timing belt/balance belt/water pump were done 7K miles ago. I've had to replace 3 bulbs and a set of wipers.

Now that's not to say it doesn't need maintenance. It needs a RF ball joint ($189 for a set plus install), a pair of rear shocks (still researching as my car has a Sport Suspension, but figure $150-$500 depending on what you get), the rear hatch struts ($85), and a tune-up (fuel filter, spark plugs, air filter, oil change, about $100).

According to the PPI that's all it needs, though I will be doing more as it is my new autocross/track car.

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim SuperDork
3/15/11 12:57 p.m.

Depends very much on the 944, though, even with the N/As. My personal favourite (the 944S2) clocks in at something like $6k-$9k from what I've seen.

racerdave600
racerdave600 HalfDork
3/15/11 1:12 p.m.

I would think $5k would get you into a seriously nice NA, about $6 to $10k for a decent turbo, and about the same for a S2. Maintenance records and condition are worth more than low mileage.

steelynorm
steelynorm New Reader
3/15/11 1:23 p.m.

In reply to racerdave600:

do we think an S2 is more reliable than a boxster?

Javelin
Javelin SuperDork
3/15/11 1:29 p.m.

Early Boxster non-S? Oh yes, absolutely!

pres589
pres589 HalfDork
3/15/11 1:29 p.m.

What do 944 Cabrio's in good condition go for?

racerdave600
racerdave600 HalfDork
3/15/11 4:55 p.m.

Yeah, I'd think the S2 is more reliable than early Boxster's for sure. The later ones seem to be better though. A properly maintained 944 is fairly reliable. During my several years with a Turbo and NA 944, the only failure I had was a DME relay, if you don't count the timing belt breaking on the turbo right after I bought it. It had a ton of maintanance issues to catch up on, but no failures other than those.

From what I understand, the S2 is even better, with the 968 the best of the bunch.

John Brown
John Brown SuperDork
3/15/11 4:58 p.m.
steelynorm wrote: Love the way they drive, but could be too cost pronibitive.

Pronhibnol... the date drug!

Maroon92
Maroon92 SuperDork
3/15/11 6:52 p.m.

In order of awesome...924<944S<944<924S<Boxster<944S2<931<Boxster S<968<987 Boxster/Cayman<951<968 Turbo<968 Turbo<924 Carrera GT<968 Turbo S

You now know... and knowing is half the battle.

thunderzy
thunderzy New Reader
3/18/11 9:59 p.m.
Maroon92 wrote: In order of awesome...924<944S<944<924S<Boxster<944S2<931<Boxster S<968<987 Boxster/Cayman<951<968 Turbo<968 Turbo<924 Carrera GT<968 Turbo S You now know... and knowing is half the battle.

AGREED

Jay
Jay SuperDork
3/19/11 6:40 a.m.
Maroon92 wrote: In order of awesome...924<944S<944<924S<Boxster<944S2<931<Boxster S<968<987 Boxster/Cayman<951<968 Turbo<968 Turbo<924 Carrera GT<968 Turbo S You now know... and knowing is half the battle.

Why is the 944S less awesome than the normal 944? And why is the 968 Turbo less awesome than the 968 Turbo? And where are all the 928s?

Maroon92
Maroon92 SuperDork
3/19/11 6:50 a.m.

I didn't include 928s because they are taken on a case by case basis. A perfect GTS would be sweet, but a 79 that has no records and needs a new interior would be...less so.

I don't care for the 944S twin cam engine, it is gutless below 4000. It might be fun in a lighter chassis, but in the 44 it is just annoying.

The 968 turbo is so exceedingly rare in the US that I had to list both of them...

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