I have had the pleasure of driving the odd Porsche in the past, of which two were 911’s from the 1980’s era and more recently I drove the new Boxster and Cayman S at the Porsche Challenge track at Silverstone and I was very impressed with the new range. It reminded me why an old friend had gone down the Porsche route from the world of BMW’s and in particular the 2002. Something I’d never do of course.
I was looking for a fun run-around for about £2000 with a nice size engine between 2.3L to 3.0L, and must be manual – I’m bored with automatics. Daily visits on some well know web sites and looking at loads of BMW’s but I couldn’t decide what model was within budget and deliver ‘bangs for bucks’ (Actually I shouldn’t say that). I wanted something with a bigger engine as in town driving it makes little or no difference if you drive a 1.8L. What you’ll get for £2000 is a tatty starting to rust high-mileage E36 328i, which also could have had nikasil issues with the engine. Very early E39’s could be expensive if something goes wrong and generally high mileage and also poor state for this money, I have seen some for under a grand – only the brave need to apply. So what about a nice earlier 5-Series E34 then, well again you try and find a nice one, very few and far between. So I was running out of ideas, when it struck me, what about a Porsche? A 924 is not really recognised as the genuine article and I’d properly be mocked at every junction I stopped at, that left me thinking what the next model upwards is? Of course a 944. Back to the web sites I found quite a few within budget, also making several calls to friends that I remembered also owned 944’s, and everyone said they’re practically bullet-proof, and there is loads of parts available for them, the gearbox is at the back for better weight distribution, they are comfortable, and well built of course, now I’m getting excited.
I liked the look of a black one with private number plate and only in North London, anyway to cut a long story short the guy was immigrating to South Africa (I saw all the boxes in his house so it wasn’t a hoax), and needed it sold by the weekend.
It is a 1985 model 2.5 litre 8v Lux manual with 163 Bhp, 149k miles, new cambelt (very important), fully removable sunroof, power steering, the later more desirable oval dash (apparently), cat-2 immobiliser, tele-dial alloys, pinstripe half cloth interior (typical ‘80’s), 11 months MOT and road tax. We’ll you could say I ‘stole’ it off him. Downside the exhaust was blowing; I have since had a stainless steel system fitted for it which was the same price as a steel system – no brainer. I am pleased to report I am using it every day and absolutely loving it, how cool am I driving a Porsche to work every day, little do they know a tatty Ford or Vauxhall costs the same, what great street-cred.
It’s not mint and I plan to do a few things to it to improve it, I’m loving every minute in it, it’s got torque, great driving position, balance and fantastic to drive on B-roads, when did you last say that about a car? (Actually 02’s come close). Mmm I am going to the Dark Side.
http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q256/richstern/Porsche%20944/
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