How long do you plan to keep your 944

[peanut]

this is a very difficult question for me.

I love my S2 and feel it is the pinnacle of super-car motoring available to me that I can afford to own, run and maintain as a second or third car. However it is a 5th vehicle and is not practical ,economical or getting used enough to warant keeping it.
The accumalative costs of maintaining them all plus our critical lack of parking space is creating real pressure.

I have felt that for some time now I should rationalise my cars but cannot seem to decide on anything so just let things run as they are.

We have a 7 ton horsebox which Mrs peanut no longer uses. I plated it last June (£300.00) to sell and it has sat up a friends farm untouched ever since .What a waste of £3k.

I bought a 2000 Mondeo Ghia for Mrs peanut last xmas for emergency use in the snow and ice,which after 6 weeks she wouldn't use due to petrol costs so I bought another 2000 Mondeo TDi [&o] She now wants a smaller compact car
We still have the Ghia ,which apart from the occasional jolly has sat for 6 months unused .e have had to keep it as the RDi isn't reliable enough for long distances and Mrs p doesn't like driving the S2 []

Now we have bought a transit LWB campervan ! which is brilliant but as we only have 2x car spaces on the drive means the 2x Mondeo's have to sit on the road at the top of our lane .

I dread parting with the S2 because I know I'll never find another Dove blue S2 with cream leather interior but its never used , its a complete waste sitting out there rusting.

I think I may spend some time today rationalising our 'fleet' make some plans and when the dust settles I hope I still have my beloved S2





I feel I should have just one car that is

 

[simdel1]

ORIGINAL: tref
I suspect I am not alone in looking at them like this - but suspect the people that do use them daily are less likely to be on this forum - in the few months I tried driving something other than a 944 daily, I wasn't on the Audi/VW forums as I am for the 944 (and even now I'm not the most regular), yet they were both considered by many as "classics".

This may be the case for a lot of people, but I would have thought that if people thought their car was special - regardless of whether or not it's a daily driver - they would be more likely to seek a place where they can share their passion with others.

I, for example, am a member of the Rover 75 and MG ZT owners club. My car is seen by many as a mundane diesel saloon, but to me it's special even though it is my daily driver. I had contemplated buying a Mondeo or an A4 before a test drive in a 75 changed my mind. I'm absolutely sure that had I bought either one of those cars, I would not have been a paid up member of an owners club simply because I don't think the cars are 'special' enough.


[edited to make context of comment more clear...]

 

[kikbak]

I have to say that I love 80's cars, and have had many, I put them back to how they should be,and then moved on to another, but the 944 was always the top mark in a 80's sports car, so I got one, to do much the same. then the change, every day and month by month just fell in love with her, I cant see there being an end to it. The only thing is that now I want the turbo, but I think the S will stay as well, theres just somthing about it over other top cars I have owned.
joining the forum is for me to find like minded people, who get what I mean......
I must admit that I have reservations with joining a porsche club, worried that the value would be more than interest. If I wanted a boxster, or a 911, I could get one, but that doesn't peel my banana.
So I think the 944 is here to stay, and thats somthing for me.....[]

 

[John Sims]

Perhaps should be allied to a poll "How long have you had your 944?"

Having done just about as much as I can to Beaky (sensibly or otherwise) to do more would be a significant investment for limited return so I am pondering a new project. I have a hankering to develop a full on Track/Race legal Boxster.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Kikbak - the club has all sorts - its so big!
I have £1000 cars but at the local meeting last night I was talking with and enjoying the evening with 15 other car people, they own everything from old 944s, 964s inc a lovely CS, Cayman, GT3 - what you drive doesn't matter, at least in my region (East Midlands), it is THAT you drive!
Plus the multitude of things that are organised for you, always top class, which you can take advantage of or not as you wish, both National or locally.
I thought the same as you, but have been very pleasantly surprised!

 

[Pastry]

I hope to keep mine for... no idea!

Nothing else really appeals at the moment, short of money-no-object fantasies. I occasionally daydream about tweaking it but in reality the engine and chassis are adequate for my ability and pocket, and i'd rather spend the money on keeping the existing spec tip-top.

I recently joined the club after going to the Knockhill Motorfair this year. A variety of cars all owned by friendly enthusiasts, was fun following the crowd and ending up on track almost by accident in a slightly hungover daze. []

 

[Mike_Pollock]

I recently joined the club after going to the Knockhill Motorfair this year. A variety of cars all owned by friendly enthusiasts, was fun following the crowd and ending up on track almost by accident in a slightly hungover daze.

That sounds about right![]

 

[VanhireBoys]

How long have I had mine...? 11 years this September

How long am I going to keep it ? As long as my backside points down the way []

I think I mentioned it before .. My wife calls it "The Acceptable Mistress" but one time she did say that I spent a lot of time on it and "You are always getting stuff for it" ... "Maybe you should sell it" .. I seen red and told her
"I have that car over 10 years and I know you 5years - You do the maths who will be gone first" []

I find I sort of forget about it for periods of time but last Sunday I saw an A reg red 944 ouside Dongal town. I was on my way to my parents place for a few days. I came home and my father said my nephew who is 4 has taken an big shine to my turbo .. he calls it "The Horsey Car" [].. He did say however that it was his [] I told him I would share it with him..! I put a battery in and she ran no problem after 6 months of sitting.... I put in the nephews seat in the passenger side and promptly went off for a 20 mile spin .... Its like being with an old girlfriend that you havent seen in a long time .. I actually forgotten how damn good the car is....! My nephew was only too delighted !

Well I've come to a desicion - I am going to get the car sorted out with belts and wishbones .. It needs the NCT and 3 months tax July August and September.. Myself ans Stephen are in discussions about the 50 year anniversary as well (He will bring sun factor this time []) Watch this space !

 

[blease]

I can see why you started this poll Paul. It must be frustrating, embarrassing and tiresome to arrange a high profile event with the company and receive so little physical support. But you only need to look at the comparative activities on the 944 segment of this forum and the tipec forum to realise that there is a thriving community of 944 users out there.So it begs the question as to what sort of event is the appropriate one for the 944 community. The evidence would suggest that going to the Silverstone centre wasn't!

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: blease
....... The evidence would suggest that going to the Silverstone centre wasn't!

Not really the thread for this debate but I would have to disagree. I think Silverstones main down fall was the short notice:-

Most 944 events involve getting together and kicking tyres - tick box.
Petrol Heads enjoy the opportunity of driving something else - tick box
Petrol heads enjoy seeing cars go sideways - tick box
Fancy a burger - tick box
See some classic Porsche racing cars - tick box

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcTwZsJKVJY&feature=player_detailpage

This strikes me as one of the classic forum comments "..I knew Blenhiem was going to be rubbish. I'm glad I didn't go."

 

[JamesBall]

I didn't even know there was an event at Silverstone last weekend!

Out of interest, did attendees manage to get a go doing any of the activities in the video linked to above? If I had known about the event I would have questioned the value of going as I would have assumed it involved:

- Parking my car up
- Wondering around on my own until I found another lost soul to talk to
- Watching other people do some interesting activities with cars
- Buy a coffee
- Try to find another lost soul to talk to
- Go home and wonder if my time wouldn't have been spent better with my wife and two kids who I rarely see

I am exagerating for effect, clearly.

I want to go to some of these events and I have just rejoined the Club partly for this reason but I have a nagging doubt about how much I will enjoy them tbh.

 

[poprock]

Honestly, the Silverstone event sounded absolutely brilliant. The wife and I would have been there like a shot if it wasn't a 700 mile round trip!

I'm lucky enough to have been invited down there for a private event a while back and it was the most fun I've ever had on a track. The opportunity to try it again for a VERY cheap price was amazing and I'm still gutted that I couldn't join in.

I'd love to attend more of the big club events, but they're mostly too far South. I can afford one, maybe two big car-related trips per year and that's my limit.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Silverstone event was 22 May I think - Pics Here -
I went and had a great time, didn't book till late so "only" got the choice of being thrown around slowly in a Cayenne on the off road track ( done that at Gaydon a couple of years ago - also a PCGB event) or fast in a Panamera on the low friction surface, which was fantastic!
There were various "U Drive" bits as well - Silverstone
I know a few people in the club now, just through going to events, and although I went on my own really enjoyed it.
Silverstone Classic soon (missed the GT1s [])

 

[blease]

John, I agree with your tick box analysis. That's why I always try to get the club stand at either Silverstone Classic or Goodwood.. But that's just me.
I think the question of how to keep the 'middle years' users is an interesting one. We are neither fish nor fowl. Neither well heeled new-car-proud enthusiasts nor equally proud custodians of precious classics. And yet, as I said before, we are at least 10 times more active on the forum than any other group. So I don't think the factory should think that there is nothing for them in this group.
I don't have any bright ideas about how to improve engagement or keep factory support going for these models but business will always sniff out an opportunity as the thriving independent network of garages and shops shows.

 

[loc944]

I have owned my 944 for 3 1/2 years now, I was originally looking to buy an Escort or Capri or something along those lines, but when funds became available and started looking I came across 944's and am so glad I did, I have really enjoyed owning it and having just done my sills and a bit of paintwork, had I bought a Ford it would have been sills, wings, doors and whatever else and would have not been as rewarding to drive. I plan on keeping it, I do fancy a Boxter or even a 911, but would like to keep my 944 aswell.

Alan.

 

[OLD_ian]

I would have gone but the car was in the shop! The only downside was that the events seemed to all involve the Cayenne or the panamera, two cars I've got no interest in whatsoever. Sorry I'm old school and think of Porsche as a sports car company. 911, Boxster and Cayman are all great. The others... I'd rather have a proper off roader or a quattroporte. Not that I can afford one!

 

[Mike_Pollock]

There were 997, Cayman and Boxsters to drive on the kick plate and the ice hill, clips are on you tube - see my post above.

Must say I've no interest in the big boys either, but I've been driven in both, and must say they are impressive!

 

[OLD_ian]

I've been driven in a Cayenne and wasn't too impressed, nor was the guy driving it (who usually drives an M5). For the Panamera, well why not take that superb V8 and put in into a proper sports car? If it can make an enormous overweight barge go well, what could it do in something weighing 1000 pounds less?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

The point about both of them is that they are built for a market and within those requirements their capabilities are superb. I've no interest in and have never been in any sort of modern top end car, and for me the chance to experiencesuch vehicles driven by good drivers pushing the limits of the cars was a well worth it.
I certainly agree that the V8 should go into a super coupe ASAP!

 

[Super_Marv]

I've got my 968 filed under "it's a keeper"

With regards to the Silverstone event (I expect this will go un-answered) how many cars actually turned up? It's not unusual for events run for the first time to be relatively small...they gradually get more popular after a few years, if they're good.

I was interested in going, I like seeing other Porsche cars of the same era as mine, but as a non-member, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to use the test track facilities, so I decided not to go.

I don't know why, but I never considered one of PCGB raison d'etre to be to encourage owners to keep their cars on the road...thinking about it that of course makes sense.

I do love the way that Porsche still produce the majority of parts for their older cars - I think that's brilliant...I'm not sure many other manufacturers are the same (I know BMW are) and Porsche aren't one of the mighty big car manufacturers (well, they weren't until VAG took over)

Isn't there some crazy statistic that something like 90% of Porsches ever produced are still working and being used?