Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hi there,

Just to introduce myself I am a Porsche newbie; I currently drive a Mercedes C Class diesel (nothing nice, a £1000 car I bought for commuting, covered in rust scabs) and a Mazda MX5 for the track. I have been thinking about running just one car, suitable for both road and track. Due to the very focused nature of my track car (full race suspension, roll cage, buckets and harnessess, very little interior) its a complete pain in the bum to drive every day, especially with a 60 mile round trip commute. Here it is on the track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfS-dytAwCs

So I have been looking to a 944 or similar, as my budget is only a grand or two. Also I am a right leg amputee so will need to fit whatever I buy with hand controls, so I can effectively add almost £500 to whatever I purchase.

I've had a look at your very useful 944 buyers guide, I am open to other suggestions on potential purchases etc, only thing that puts me off about the 944 at the moment is the 25mpg.

Any advice gratefully received, and thanks for letting me into the forum!

Cheers,
Jon.

Welcome to the forum Jon.

Others on here have much more knowledge than me, and no doubt will be along shortly with some useful info, however for what it's worth here's my bit.......

I've had my S2 coming up to six years now and have not had one day when I have thought of getting rid. It's a great car, really useful as an everyday driver, does everything I want it to except attract young blondes..... but maybe it's not the car

My S2 (3.0 litre) averages 28mpg because I drive like a vicar, but if I'm just driving locally I get a lot less. According to the manual it says Urban 19.8mpg, 38.2mpg at a constant 56mph, 31mpg at a constant 75mph... but I wouldn't know because I've never been that fast as the limit's 70mph .

The 25mpg is an average, therefore depending on the type of commute you may find yourself using up to 2.5 to 3 gallons of petrol a day, 12.5 to 15 gallons a week, 56 to 67 litres a week x £1.36 = £76 to £91 a week on fuel just for the commute.... and it won't be going down anytime soon.

A budget of 'a grand or two' may buy you something usable. I wouldn't bother about mileage (mine's on 209000) so much as condition and service history - the main thing being have the belts been replaced etc etc. My first 944, a '89 2.7 Lux, and my current '91 S2, have been one owner full service history cars and I have not had any major problems with either car. Be aware that if the clutch goes it's £700 to have it fixed, if the cam belt goes it's thousands.

It's not the lightest car to drive, in fact if I'm going locally I usually use my wife's MX5 purely because it's so much easier to drive and more economical.

If the fuel costs put you off but you still want to get into a Porsche, I would consider a late 924, a 2.0 litre one (the 924S has the 944 2.5 litre engine so it's back to fuel consumption). They are more or less physically the same but for the wide arches, but general running costs (parts, fuel, tyres etc) will be lower. You will find a good one for your budget.

Also, if it's easier for you both cars are available as automatics - but fuel consumption will suffer.

Hope it's been useful.

Very useful, thanks. I'm trying to weigh up the costs of having two cars or just one, just having one will always be a compromise.

I had heard the 2.5 944 8v is a non-interference engine, is this right?

Thanks for the welcome,

jon.

Hi and welcome.

I'm sorry, but I can't really offer the advice that you're after, but welcome anyway.

Please let us know where abouts in the country you are, and maybe if you pop along to a local meeting, you could gleen some eye-contact and direct information there.

In any case, I wish you luck in your quest. They are wonderful cars.

Enjoy the ride (eventually).

Sorry it is, its the 924 2 litre n/a that is a non interference engine

Hi and welcome.

First JOIN THE CLUB. Go along & meet some owners & go out in some. The buyers guide is good but the values are rather out of date. Rust & engine condition will be your major concern. The 8v 944 will be the one to go for. The S2 has little more go as it's so tall geared & heavier. Finding a good one is the problem. It can take a long time. Recent (last 4 years) history is all that matters. It costs to keep these in good order & few are prepared to spend the money on cars that are worth so little. A lot more running costs than an MX5. £1500/year if you get a good one. More if not. If you can DIY the spanner-ing you can knock some off but the parts are expensive thanks to the weak pound. Once you got it right for track you won't like it on the road just like the MX5! Full marks for coming on here first though.
Got 35mpg out of mine but the engine was freshly rebuilt & cost thousands.

Hello and welcome

Thanks all. I'm weighing up the options at the moment, it may be that I end up sticking with my current setup of running two cars. There is a certain comedy value to having my little mazda thrash faster kit on the circuit.

Thanks for all the good advice; I'll let you know how things turn out.