Daily driver?

[dozzer]

So lets say I bought a decent looked after 944 privately. I'm sure some of you guys must use yours as a daily driver? It might not be the brightest move just fancy something different. Lots of experience with 911's but not the 944 so thought I would ask the collective before I have a look at one or two []

 

[Veerzigzag]

my '89 2.7 is a daily driver - stays outside - works fine.

 

[homesea]

All the 944's I've had have been daily drivers. My latest a turbo was a daily until about 6 momths ago, covering 11k miles year. It was a great deal more reliable then friends more modern motors.
They only time it let me down in four years is when the rotor arm melted, it went when on full boost while over taking a line of cars. The car had already gained so much speed that I finished my overtake, rolled down the road and into a lay-by!

But in the end it was the cost of fuel that got me, mine has the promax level 2 kit so likes a drink and it only ever gets BP ultimate and covers 22ish mpg. My daily is now a modern VW TDI, 50mpg and boring! The 944 is now used occasionally, 2900 miles between last MOT's.

I would say my first 944, a lux was a great daily. Not bad on fuel and still great fun to drive, infact some days more fun than the turbo as you can use all of its 160ish bhp nearly all the time.

Looking at your past list of cars you know how well these 80's Porsches were built, so if you keep them well serviced they should run and run.

 

[dozzer]

Thanks for the quick replies, it would realistically be up to 60 miles per day so 14k a year aprox and don't see why it couldn't cope if looked after. As always it will depend on the condition etc of the possible purchase that counts. My problem is I mother my motors and need to remember its a daily car!

 

[homesea]

With the age of all 944's its using them through the winter, with all the salt on the road it dosent take long before the rust starts!

 

[Veerzigzag]

The car had already gained so much speed that I finished my overtake, rolled down the road and into a lay-by!

I love anecdotes like this - means I don't feel so guilty after a burn-up!

 

[T3rra]

Iv done 11000 miles in my turbo in 10 months. Used over the winter and the tiny rust spot I the sill gas started 2 be more visual. But I'm doing the sill this year.b4 it gets 2 the inner.

I had a S b4 and turbo gets better mpg. However there's plenty off small jobs which can be done on the weekend 2 keep on road in the week. Been on some long 400 miles journeys in mine.

Mpg is the killer £70/80 a week. Doing the same in the little curtesy car is about £40

I intend 2 get a 2nd car this winter, easte or something, so mpg won't be much differnt but give me plenty off care free room 4 work.

 

[dozzer]

ORIGINAL: homesea
With the age of all 944's its using them through the winter, with all the salt on the road it dosent take long before the rust starts!

Agreed and with the garage already spoken for it would live outside permanently which bothers me bit. There again I have a "life's to short" attitude so may just give it a go []

 

[Veerzigzag]

There again I have a "life's to short" attitude so may just give it a go

Well I paid £2400 for mine a little over a year ago. It lives outside and runs in the salty brine of our Cambridgeshire roads, where our council proudly proclaimed that they had invested huge amounts of our money in obtaining a vast stockpile of salt, to cover the undersides of our cars in corrosive slime at regular and unnecessary intervals. At least they won't get sued by Mr Miggins who drives regardless of conditions and will find an A4-sized patch of frost so he can dump his Kia into the ditch and sue the council. A couple of tiny rust marks have appeared, for attention shortly, but after a year and 12k miles of terrific motoring, that's a good result. Life is not a rehearsal, so get yourself a Porsche.

 

[homesea]

ORIGINAL: dozzer

ORIGINAL: homesea
With the age of all 944's its using them through the winter, with all the salt on the road it dosent take long before the rust starts!

Agreed and with the garage already spoken for it would live outside permanently which bothers me bit. There again I have a "life's to short" attitude so may just give it a go []

I used to jet wash mine every couple of days in the winter. Used to get some odd looks in Tesco when you pop a pound in the jet wash, just wash the under side of the car and drive off with the top half still dirty.

 

[supersport]

ORIGINAL: dozzer

So lets say I bought a decent looked after 944 privately. I'm sure some of you guys must use yours as a daily driver? It might not be the brightest move just fancy something different. Lots of experience with 911's but not the 944 so thought I would ask the collective before I have a look at one or two []

He Des, you know it makes sense []

You know how rough mine is around the edges (and probably all over) and was used as a daily for two years until Daniel grew out of it. It is still in use though and gets thrashed around the track, not bad at 206,000 miles.

All it has really cost is the day that Nick spent swearing at the brakes and hitting it with a large hammer []

If it wasn't for the fact that it keeps spilling its drink it would live outside and I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[david924s]

Used both my previous 924S and my current S2 as a daliy driver and it sits outside all year round, no major problems or costs other than usual servicing, belts, water pump and a clutch a couple of years back, starts each time I ask it to and I think they have less problems being used than standing for months on end.

 

[dozzer]

ORIGINAL: supersport
He Des, you know it makes sense []

Hi Mark, no it doesn't but you know what I'm like []

 

[eddieedmo]

Is that Des ex RPM? if so let me know where you are , in Halifax last time we spoke.
I am over Huddersfield way soon working on a Mercedes Ardenauer so would be good to catch up.

Nick
www.leatherupholsterycare.co.uk

 

[dozzer]

ORIGINAL: eddieedmo
Is that Des ex RPM?

I've been called worse Nick [] PM sent.

 

[DarrylH]

Mine get's used most days, lives outside and has been a lot more reliable than my last car [] I'm used to fixing things every week but touch wood I've only had to fix things I've broken so far.

 

[dozzer]

Ok you've got me thinking it may be an ok idea.. I'll look at what's for sales locally in the Yorkshire area first, when I get home. Best not tell the wife just yet []

 

[supersport]

Des, just get a white one, she won't know the difference []

 

[OLD_ian]

would have no qualms about it at all. Drove mine daily for the last couple of years. Only reason I stopped was I've moved to central London and walk to work now.

ORIGINAL: dozzer

So lets say I bought a decent looked after 944 privately. I'm sure some of you guys must use yours as a daily driver? It might not be the brightest move just fancy something different. Lots of experience with 911's but not the 944 so thought I would ask the collective before I have a look at one or two []

 

[George Elliott]

Des
they are a good daily driver.

one of the differences compared to a 911 pre 996 is the 944 is built more like an '80's Audi (surprise surprise) and at most times everything works. As a complete 911 enthusiast, I would consider the 911 more like a VW (pre Scirocco / Golf)

....and they always had some small niggle or other which needed attention. For example, the Heater was temperamental, the targa top (where applicable) leaked, there was usually an unreliable bulb here or there, the 915 box always needed a tweak to make it just right again, the front brake callipers were hard to keep balanced, the door check straps would start clicking, the luggage compartment would get damp......and the only consolation was a sunny day, roof off and listen to the flat six exhaust note bouncing off a cotswold stone wall ...and all is forgiven[]

But the 944 220 turbo is quoted in Motor magazine road test of 1985 as quite possibly the best Porsche ever produced. (except for the single door mirror of the test car)

George

944t (with two door mirrors)[]