Porsche 944 Takes Effort and Money to Maintain
Like any love affair, owning this 944 has been a very up and down experience.
Love Affair
Old cars are a love affair for most of us, but like any typical relationship, they have ups and downs. Good relationships take time, money, and patience to maintain, and that's certainly been the case for Road & Track's Lucas Bell and his Porsche 944. Bell purchased his 1986 944 back in high school for the paltry sum of $2,700, and over the last six years, he's dished out considerably more trying to keep it on the road.
Photos: Lucas Bell for Road & Track
Beginning of Something Special
Like most of us, Bell wanted his first car to be, well, something cool. He realistically couldn't afford to insure something with V8 power, so he was attracted to the 944 for its cool styling, enjoyable driving experience, and affordable price tag. He lucked out when he found a low-mile example for sale at a local car lot and was surprised when the dealer accepted his lowball offer.
Photos: Lucas Bell for Road & Track
>>Join the conversation about the 944 right here in the Rennlist Forum!
Problems Surface
As most of us are well aware, that's usually a sign that something is amiss. Being the fifth owner of this particular 944, Bell soon found out that it wasn't particularly well-cared-for over the years. That has led to a number of headaches for him, including having to replace the cooling system because the previous owner put all sorts of coolants in there.
Photos: Lucas Bell for Road & Track
>>Join the conversation about the 944 right here in the Rennlist Forum!
Worn Parts
Aside from replacing worn gaskets and hoses, a botched brake job, and mismatched spark plugs, Bell has also swapped out the clutch, shifter fork, timing belt, and numerous other parts, and many more are in need of service as well. Altogether, Bell estimates that his investment in the old Porsche is around three times what he originally paid for it.
Photos: Porsche
>>Join the conversation about the 944 right here in the Rennlist Forum!
Lesson Learned
All of this on a car that only has 70k original miles, which seems excessive, but that's what age will do to cars (and us). The lesson learned here is important for anyone seeking an older car of any sort - the 944 is mostly known for being very reliable, but poor maintenance, or a lack thereof, will transform any similar endeavor into a money pit.
Photos: Porsche
>>Join the conversation about the 944 right here in the Rennlist Forum!
Don't be Dissuaded
"This is not meant to talk anyone out of purchasing a cheap Porsche 944," Bell said. "I absolutely adore my car and have no plans to send it on its way anytime soon. I am also lucky enough to have other exciting vehicles at my disposal, which makes it easier to accept when the 944 is down for the count. That said, let my experience be a counterpoint to those who say it’s a Miata alternative for the budget-minded enthusiast. It may start that way, but the 944 will give you headaches."
Photos: Porsche
>>Join the conversation about the 944 right here in the Rennlist Forum!
Learning the Hard Way
On the bright side, this experience has taught Bell more than just valuable life lessons - he's also learned how to wrench on this 944, which is something that will serve him well for the rest of his life. And as they say, the hard lessons are usually the ones worth learning, anyway.
Photos: Porsche
>>Join the conversation about the 944 right here in the Rennlist Forum!
For help with the maintenance of your Porsche, check out the how-to section of Rennlist.com