Hello, I have an opportunity to trade my Subaru Legacy wagon on a Porsche 944. It's a 1985 1/2 so it has the updated dash and looks to be in great shape. My question is what glaring issues should I look for? I know it's been maintained be a reputable Porsche dealer which does ease my concerns. Is it crazy to go from an '03 reliable family hauler to a mid 80's sports car? It's not a mid life crisis thing - I already have the young hot wife. Plus we have another family car.
Thanks Glenn
Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it.....
Seriously, I don't have a clue about 944's, but what would you do with it? If you have a use for it then...Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it.....
fanfoy wrote: Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it..... Seriously, I don't have a clue about 944's, but what would you do with it? If you have a use for it then...Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it.....
So you're saying I should do it.
It would be my new autocrosser. My old Civic is possibly going to become an ice racer.
I don't know that I would. I've heard they're not terrible, but trading off nearly 20 years of car is a LOT of change. Is the P-car just for fun?
Make sure you sit down when you hear how much replacing the clutch on a 944 costs.
Other than that, unless it's a 16V car they're not overly expensive to maintain (aka "cheap for a Porsche"). Just start with a good one, they're not worth an awful lot and it's generally not worth trying to restore one.
Oh, and keep a spare DME relay in the glove box, you'll need it at some point.
I've been learning alot of the 944 and it isn't a perfect car to own now that they are old
If you don't use the Legacy much and you just want a fun car, do it. Otherwise you could sell the Subi and buy a well maintained 944 and probably put money in your pocket
Make sure the oil pan isn't leaking, the timing belt/water pump have been recently changed and it has a recent clutch.
Those are three jobs that if you pay a shop to do it, you'll be very much lighter in the wallet.
These are great cars, but have been neglected by most of their previous owners and can cost a significant amount of time and money to get back up to good working condition if you get a bad one...
As long as you have a 2nd car I say do it. I drive my P car virtually every day however every now and then it has its moments and they usually take it out of action for a week or three. On the other had a well sorted properly maintained 944 is a great car. It is a unique driving experience.
I have owned two of them (944) I tell people to stay away from them. But, then I find myself looking for another one. I'm an addict like that.
As long as you know what you are getting into then go for it. I am looking for an S model myself.
Oh, you asked what to look for.
Timing belt water pump. Clutch. Power steering pump. Balance shafts and rollers and belt.
If you are bold you cand do all of that.
If they are already done, then even better.
What kind of Legacy wagon are we talking here?
i just hope people keep pointing out all the bad things about these cars and keep the prices down on them. i feel they are very much undervalued and i hope they stay that way. i have done about 7 timing belt, water pump, balance shaft belt changes now and i dont see the problem. i bought the tools that make it alot easier used from 944online and i can get the complete kit with rollers and everything needed for $520.00 and it takes one day to do the job. i just bought a steering rack from carsteering.com with tie rod ends for $219.00 on sale. (i bought 3 just to have)
this car has a lot of aftermarket support and they are fun to drive. i am one of the rare that likes pre 85 cars.
i have notice pricing creeping up on them.
In reply to Hoop:
2003 Subaru Legacy Wagon, 5 speed SE L edition.
In reply to mndsm:
It would be mainly for fun, autocross and track days. I may use it for some daily work though, but we do have a second family car - 2004 Subaru Forester XT.
I own an 84 944 and my older brother has an 85.5. They are fantastic cars, my biggest gripe is the lack of power although that's only an issue on larger tracks at PCA DE days where the 911's run us N/A 944 over. My car has been stone reliable, easy to fix. and a blast to drive. I've owned many cars from a purpose built track CRX to a Lexus IS300. The 944 has been my favourite car. I put Koni's under it, stiff T-bars, and Turbo S sway bars and the handling is pure magic.
I say do it. Pray it has an LSD transaxle.
Thank you to everyone for all the assistance. I'm hoping to meet the seller over the holidays and strike up a deal. If everything checks out I will get some pics, if not well I'll keep looking.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Glenn
i really enjoyed my 944, and in a pinch i could fit the whole family (total of 4, though two are half-size). They aren't for the timid of wrench though. Clutch changed by a professional is about the value of the car, but it can be done with patience, a floor jack, regular hand tools (mine took about 16 hr start to finish). Timing belt is a must do on any one you pick up, but the job is easy. Porsche didn't understand water pumps yet when the car was designed, so they drove the WP off the timing belt, sadest design in P-car history. So spring for a wp while in there for the timing belt.
The car will pay you back with nice handling, decent reliability, and if you get into it its own spec series. aftermarket is strong and parts, while not toyota cheap, are reasonable for age and pedigree of the car. in 4 years the car only stranded me once - bad solder joints in the ecu (easy fix but a booger to find). So yeah, i'd do that again.
I just talked to the seller, clutch was done in August and timing belt and water pump done April/May this year. It's sounding really good and I'm going to test drive it next week. If all goes well and he likes my car I could be the proud owner of a 944. Fingers crossed.
In reply to rustysteel: Just got back from checking out the 944. Decent car but needs work, electrical issues, has some rust on the lower rockers and gauges that work and don't work. Felt a little tired when driving but mechanically seemed not too bad. I'm leaning toward just keeping the wagon for now and looking for a WRX or something else. I couldn't get comfortable in the seat, as it had race seats that didn't seem to sit right. I had to lean the seat back or I was hitting my head on the roof. Guess I've gotten used to all the elbow room in the Legacy.
Onto the next one...
Rust on a 944 is very atypical. Think you did the right thing by walking away.
Now I'm thinking BMW 3 series, there's a '93 325is around the corner I'll try to check out. Any words of wisdom? Only thing is it's been painted flat black, like my BBQ.
definitely stay away, if not for the electrical gremlins or unibody rust, but the fact that it's an 85.5. A lot the 85.5 suspension parts are unique and not-crossable to 86+ or 85.1 and older. It has late control arms (aluminum), but the suspension geometry is all different. It's a half-year run car, so finding any suspension parts without swapping everything over to 86+ will be a pain.
golfduke wrote: definitely stay away, if not for the electrical gremlins or unibody rust, but the fact that it's an 85.5. A lot the 85.5 suspension parts are unique and not-crossable to 86+ or 85.1 and older. It has late control arms (aluminum), but the suspension geometry is all different. It's a half-year run car, so finding any suspension parts without swapping everything over to 86+ will be a pain.
87+ is what you mean.
Honestly they aren't that different. Basically 85.5 and 86 cars got aluminum control arms with an early offset. Not particularly hard to find, and you don't really have to replace control arms often enough to worry about it.
I just did a timing belt and water pump in my garage this weekend. I'm about 500 dollars into the job, plus about 20 hours (first time, i'm sure there is a learning curve...)
In reply to Maroon92: I just got an email back about an '87 944S which looks to be in good shape. I'll find out more tomorrow. The BMW owner isn't interested in trades . The Porsche has 220km's on it and doesn't appear to have any body issues. As for timing belts I've done one but with the help of an expert and on a Honda. Still, it's an interference engine so it needs to be done.
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