Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

I'm thinking of buying a 944 as my first Porsche. Like everyone else I fancy an S2 but I'm starting to think that a really good 944 2.5 (can anyone tell me what "Lux" refers to?) might be a better purchase. I've read Chairman Jim's excellent buying guide, the guide in October's Classic cars magazine and Peter Morgan's book. I have yet to join any club and haven't seen any cars yet but I've spotted this one on Piston Heads and it's not too far away:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1274116.htm

What do people think? I'm a little concerned that it's been sitting around and that the fresh underseal may be hiding something horrible.

Also, what does classic insurance cost (ball park)? It would be a garaged, second car doing around 3,000 miles per year and I'm 49 years old living in a relatively safe postcode.

Any comments or thoughts much appreciated.

Cheers, Mark B.

PS Anyone around Solihull with a 944 I could chat to and possible drive their car?

Welcome to the forum.

It would definately be worth popping along to the Central Region Club Night which is this coming Monday at the Red Lion, Earlswood, B94 6AQ. Several 944 owners will be in attendance with their cars and will happily answer any questions and show you what you need to look for.

All 944 models were sold as Lux which was the collective term for the standard package before options.

Classic insurance will typically be £120-£150 fully comp, Hagerty are very good and easy to deal with.

I would agree that you should come along to a Central Region club night but unfortunately our normal club night of 2nd monday in the month has been interrupted for October only to accomodate a special event.

The next club night at the Red Lion will be on Monday 9th November

Please come along and say hello. I will be the chap wearing a Club baseball cap and if you ask me nice I'll take you for a short run in the '44

Hopefully see you there

Paul

Hi Mark & welcome

It doesn't look bad, low mileage can be a double edged sword, sometimes it can be a real problem, these cars (like everything) like to be used & min has given me more grief since it does 2K per year than it ever did doing 25K as my daily driver.

Lux is a UK spec, the German cars were quite barren so when bought into the UK they added sunroof, leather wheel etc. Most pre-S2 cars are Luxes.

They are great cars, and that is a nice one. Looks well looked after ... as already said though low use can have its problems.

Its spec is nice ... air con is rare on these back then. And working now probably rarer!!

You can look at my car if you wish, and I'd be happy to meet up over a beer etc.

As said, cars like to be used .

Hi,

My '44 S2 was in regular use till 1994. It was off the road for 3 years and back on the road from 1997. The car then did about 3,000 miles a year thereafter. When I purchased the car, it had 101k miles on the clock. I use mine as my daily driver but I have spent the last 12 months ironing out all the niggly problems. The car was obviously the previous owners weekend toy until I've started getting some miles on its clock. About 8k a year.

Forgive the pre-amble. The point I was trying to make is that 944's prefer regular use IMO. If you're buying a show queen, just be prepared for a few things to go wrong in the first year. Other than that, I can heartly recommend them as a first Porsche.

Ben

Hi,

Many thanks for all your good advice - you sound a keen and friendly bunch and I'll definitely be taking up those offers of meeting up with 944 owners (and I'll be joining TIPEC any day now of course).

I'm still keen on that 944 for sale I mentioned in my first post and I'm about to Email the sealer (a Dealer) for more information (who did the work for example), and may even venture out next weekend for a look - if it's still for sale, that is. What I have realised is that there are many on the market so there should always be another one around the corner but condition and history are everything.

Thanks again and I look forward to meeting some of you very soon (I'll be sending out a couple of PMs too!).

Cheers, Mark