Used Porsche 944

Tips for buying a highly desirable car

The Porsche 944 is an extremely desired, out-of-production car, so you better know what your doing if you're shopping for one. Here's some useful advice for buying a Porsche 944:

Finding one

Surf the Internet or browse through newspapers to find a contact for a Porsche Club of America. They will be able to supply you with a copy of used cars listings from Panorama magazine.

Maintenance

Once you decide on a car to go see, make sure you examine its maintenance records very carefully. Check to see if the car has been kept up with its scheduled maintenance - a good maintenance record could wind up saving you money, even if you pay a little extra in the beginning.

The last thing you want is to get stuck with a bunch of pricy repairs right after purchasing the Porsche, so if the records aren't available or if they look sketchy, have the car checked out by a certified mechanic who knows about 944s. Buyer beware, maintenance is expensive! However, if the car was well taken care of by the previous owner, you should only need to do regular tunes-ups about every 30,000 miles, paying attention to brakes, tires, fluids and filters. Keep in mind that replacement parts are most expensive if you buy them directly from a Porsche dealer.

Price

Be prepared to spend between $4,000 and $15,000 on your fabulous used Porsche. The prices of individual cars will vary depending on the year and mileage. Generally, cheaper cars are older and / or have high mileage, while newer cars (1980+) and / or cars with low mileage will be more expensive. The 944 Turbo and S Models will also cost more, as will their maintenance.

Things to consider

Don't go into buying a used Porsche 944 without doing your research! We've compiled a checklist to assist you in making the right purchase:

• Factory options - Some of the major factory options available to the 944 were factory radio, sunroof, leather interior, power seats, five-spoke alloy 'Fuchs' wheels, metallic paint and a limited slip differential.
• Body- Check for body damage that might indicate the car was in an accident. Tip: Look inside the front fenders at the plastic wheel well shrouds. If they're cracked (or even gone), then the front end has been hit at some point.
• Appearance - Examine the coolant overflow tank for swelling or cracks, which will indicate that the motor has overheated before. Also check around the car for oil leaks, especially around the oil cooler assy. If the cooler has blown out seals then the coolant will mix with water, which is very damaging.
• Mileage- Try to find a Porsche with low mileage. If impossible, be warned that any vehicle over 150,000 miles will need many replacements, including front wheel bearings, rear carrier bearings, front engine seals, shocks / struts, rotors and pads, and possibly CV joints. (This is, of course, if the parts have not already been replaced.) Turbo models will probably need a Turbo rebuild after 150,000 miles to maintain the high performance of a Porsche.

It used to be we could depend on the reputation and reliability of North American cars to meet our standards - but could it be the times are changing? Here in the U.S., overseas models are continuing to rise in popularity. Find out why!

PIMP IT

If you love your car, you’ve got treat it right – stock will never do for your hot wheels! Whether it’s for performance or just for the look, aftermarket parts can turn that car you just brought home into your own pimp ride.