crisis of faith!

[OLD_ian]

I started to write this in the what did you do today thread, but as i wrote it I started wondering about where i'm going with the car. It's an 86 lux. So I've copied what i started writing...

I actually washed it today! First time in a while. Then I did the clay bar thing, then rinsed it, then waxed it. It's practically glowing red now! After that I thought about the new distributor cap and coil i had sitting on the shelf so started on that. Swapped the distributor cap and it started up rather more enthusiastically than before. Tried to swap the coil but couldn't undo the nuts securing the wires. So I put the old one back in place for fear of breaking the wires off and causing more damage than good. Start her up and very rough. Under the hood and i see the problem straight away. However massive brain fade kicks in and like an idiot i go to plug in the dislodged ignition lead. Fuck me did that hurt!

anyway, the porker is looking great and driving better than ever. The only downside of it all is that as I washed her I noticed that the sills are looking a little rough. Now I'm scared. I've spent over £7k in the last 2 years between buying it and bringing it up to standard. I didn't have any expectations that money would be recovered if i sold the car - i just wanted it right. If sills need doing as well... 2k more? I'm reasonably fortunate that I can afford to do it, but how much more is this going to cost me? Should I just opt for a Boxster or a 968 Sport? Something that's newer and would cost me £10k then £1k a year moving forward? At the moment the Lux does seem a big unknown. Or should I just bite the bullet and go for a new Boxster- i hate the idea of borrowing money to buy a depreciating asset. Can't bring myself to do that.

My girlfriend is a fan of the Boxster idea as she really dislikes the 944. Something to do with a drive from Wales to London last summer on a 30 degree day when the heat got stuck in the on position and the sunroof fuse blew so we couldn't even take the roof out. It was toasty warm. She was not in a good mood by the time we reached London Bridge. Anyway I guess i'm trying to decide what's the best way forward.

so a bit of a crisis of faith with my favourite car i've owned...

 

[Hairyarse]

Hi Ian

Blimey - if you've spent £7k already there can't be anything other than the sills left to do surely? If that's the case then maybe bite the bullit and get them done. As you say you wont recoup all the money but if this is the only job left at least you'll have a very sorted lux.

Aside from how your girlfriend feels about the car, do you want to keep or are you hankering after something else? Answer that one and maybe there's your answer!

Good luck with the decision

Andy

 

[ukmastiff]

Simple get rid of the girlfriend and keep the 944 ! ,

On a serious note get rid of the girlf.... no where was I , the Boxster is a great car and I came close to getting an early 'S' myself once. However I love a modern classic as I love car meets the way folk help each other the shared enthusiasm etc. Also having two small kids the Boxster really is a no no as my kids totally love a 944 and going out in one.

The 944 is always a talking point in a car park or in a high street , the Boxster is just oh there's a
'cheap Porsche' ( which of course they arent really) but thats how they are seen.

Porsche 944's are cheap to buy yes however much we like to play that down and unless you are unlucky they can be genuinely cheap to run with litttle depreciation. Even a stunning 944 is less than a new Clio or Corsa. However 944's just have that true classic quality that I'm not sure Boxsters ever will and Clios and Corsas certainly won't !

For me daily driver something that does 70 plus MPG , ideal classic still a 944 . I've tried other modern classics recently and have been left wanting both of my old turbo's back !

Cheers

Mas

 

[j4mou]

the sills from the lad that did mine will be around £1000 fitted and painted. but hes here in derbyshire, might be worth the trek for the saving though.

 

[GlennS]

I drove up to Silverstone today. On the way there I stopped for fuel at the filling station in Benson. I guess it was around 7:30am. Whilst I was there two people came over to compliment me on the 944 S2 and talk about it. That isn't uncommon and you don't get that with a Boxster.

The Boxster is a very good car. The 944 is a very good car that is rapidly becoming a classic that people love and appreciate. What kind of car do you want?

 

[OLD_ian]

I'm not averse to a trip up to Derbyshire if it will save me that kind of money.

 

[OLD_ian]

I've had that kind of reaction to the 944 as well. In the Scottish highlands we were delayed for ten minutes in a gas station as a couple of guys were raving on about how cool the 944 was and they'd had posters on the bedroom wall etc. girlfriend was holding back her laughter.

Suggestions to change girlfriend insteSd of car... A couple of friends have pointed out that with her I'm punching above my weight. Realistically they're right. Very lucky to have her. But I'm not buying a Honda. No matter what she suggests!

 

[Buddy]

I've had the same response in each of the 5 Porsches I've owned and while there are those who hate you for having one, it's their problem...

Then again anyone suggests getting a Honda...

On the subject of girlfriend or Porsche, sounds like if either goes you'll want the same again only moreso...a Porsche is a way of life.[]

 

[PSH]

I'd stick with the 944 but hey I'm bias and proud of it..., however if you did give in to the GF you can get some other Porsche models these days that haven't kept their value as well as our beloved 944's. Boxsters start at £4k, 996's start at £6k which are both in 944 price range... Personally I don't take any notice when various Porsche models have been called a 'poor mans Porsche' but I will make an observation. My car is an 86 model, I bought my house in London around the same time as my cars first registration, the car cost around 20% more than the house and house prices don't get much higher than London. Lastly a brand new Boxster today will cost you less than a 944 Turbo did over twenty years ago?

Stick with the 944, you know it makes sense....

Pete

 

[Copperman05]

Depends if you want to keep the car in the long term or of you fancy a change, the 968 sport is a very nice car (still more of a 944 in my mind) but even if you bought one it too would most likely need some investment to make it 'right'. Not a bad thing, because as enthusiasts that's what we do, if it was always value v money spent on a car then we wouldn't buy them in the first place, how far you go with you current car will depend on what you ultimately would like and how much you want it.


Edd

 

[andy watson]

Hi Ian,

Like you brought mine and spent in the first 2 years around 8k have owned her 10 1/2 years with the total to date around £15k that includes a replacement engine and clutch at £2k, so the car has cost £7k over 8 1/2 years = the suggested £1k a year to run.

Keep it, keep the lady and buy a boxter....you will be a happy man[][]

 

[VanhireBoys]

I have my turbo 12 years ... Its cost me about €1-1.5 k every year since I got it..... This year to get work done for NCT and stuff I have sank about €2000 .. now she has decided to misbehave and I have spent about €400 at least so far and she is still down.. I dont want to add it all up for I'll only get depressed

The car has cost me a kings ransom but once I drive it, show it and get nice comments (and get in the Porsche Post Cheers Paul and Mike again) I forget totally about it. Its a great stress relief,a place I can get escape the foibles of life...... To me that is a very small price to pay for 944 therapy

Dont add it all up and dont listen to herself - Get the sills sorted you have all the big work done now ...Dont give another person the pleasure of a well sorted 944.... If you get a Boxter who knows what sort of nasties are waiting to take your hard earned cash....

Ive told this story many a time and the lads here have heard it before but My wife said to me once "That feckin car costs you a fortune - Why not get rid of it " to which I replied " I have hat car 12 years - I know you 6.. you do the maths who will be gone first" []

Good luck with the desicion lad, If its a cash thing then keep the 944.. It will be cheaper in teh long run.

 

[OLD_ian]

well, today didn't make anything easier! Drove to the Tipec meet at Hatton Country park. The drive there and back was superb. The car is running beautifully at the moment. After a days driving like that it reminds me why I always wanted a Porsche since I was 13. It also demonstrates that a sorted 944 lives up to those expectations.

I should probably stop by a good body shop to get their opinion on the sills. Who knows maybe it won't be that bad. At least I'll be able to make an informed decision.

 

[Copperman05]

Depending on where you are based why dont you take the car to Dave at Daytona Coachworx, he has done all the bodywork on my car and they do a lot of front runner Porsches, you cat fault their work either.


Edd

 

[Fat Albert]

I had both my sills repaired for £600, that might be enough to get you by for a few years.

[Harry Enfield]If I saw you going to buy a Boxster I would say 'No! you don't want an overpriced Toyota made pretend Porsche, you want to keep a proper front-runner!'[/Harry Enfield]

BTW the 968 Sport is a lovely car....

 

[j4mou]

Shouldn't that be [Ricky gervais] lol