Bought This Yesterday; Nearly Died In The Process (1986 Porsche 944)

"Aaron Brown" (ambrown) 10/20/2013 at 23:05 • Filed to: First car

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$1750 was the purchase price, drove it "home" 112 miles, even though it was recommended to me that I shouldn't do that. Probably should not have, and here's why...

About 3/4's of the way back, was getting on an off ramp to exit one interstate and switch to another one (I684-I287), entering a corner, hit a fairly large pothole and heard a very loud bang, knew something wasn't right but couldn't immediately pull off.

Got on the interstate, was stuck in middle lane after the on ramp, traffic was to my right as well as a large two lane exit. Nearly 5 seconds after I got on the interstate, I heard another loud bang, the car swerved a bit, and the rear sank.

I gradually slowed down and attempted to pull off while trying to avoid oncoming cars. I made it onto the shoulder and hopped out to examine the situation, praying that it wasn't the transaxle or some part of the drivetrain. As soon as I hopped out, I whipped my phone out and rang my father to come back, he was about a quarter mile in front of me. As I checked the car out, I noticed that the body of the car was riding on the rear left wheel, and that all but two of the lug nuts from that wheel were gone.

After that initial damage inspection, I stepped back from the car and started to think. Knowing that I don't yet have a AAA card and didn't feel like waiting for them, I attempted to think of other ideas. Then it hit me that the NYS Thruway system and the DOT offer (free?) !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Not wanting to get slapped by a tractor trailer, I called 911 to dispatch me a H.E.L.P. truck for some roadside visibility and help, which didn't work because they're apparently off on weekends.

Soon enough, my father pulled up and we did a temporary fix so we could continue on our way.

TL/DR: my left rear wheel fell on on my 944 at like 50MPH on an interstate

Notes about the car's design:

-Rear seats are more useless than those in the FRS/BRZ

-Still not used to the side mirrors on it, they seem weird to me, and awesome, like some HD movie, hard not to stare into them for long periods of time

-I really don't like the steering wheel in the 86

-Pretty epic otherwise, so far

And here's the list of what has to be done. Mostly minor issues, some big.

Pics!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Aaron Brown 10/20/2013 at 23:07

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Bieber?

Sharky > Aaron Brown 10/20/2013 at 23:09

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Looks like a piece of work, but it'll be worth it for sure when it's running smooth.

Mathias Rios > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 10/20/2013 at 23:10

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no.

Mathias Rios > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 10/20/2013 at 23:11

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That's me.

TexasEdition > Aaron Brown 10/20/2013 at 23:15

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I was going to say something passively condescending like, "well, why didn't you check the lug nuts on the wheels before you left?"

But honestly now that I think about it, who would have checked the lug nuts before leaving? I mean that's something we generally just assume is in check – for better or worse. In this case worse.

So, I don't blame you, and its great you and the car are mostly undamaged! That's a sweet little 944, I've always thought those things were cool. The interior design is actually pretty clean-looking and ahead of its time if you ask me.

Best of luck to ya!

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Aaron Brown 10/20/2013 at 23:15

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Interior looks to be in pretty good shape considering the age. I agree with you about that steering wheel though. Ick. Get an aftermarket wheel ASAP.

Aaron Brown > TexasEdition 10/20/2013 at 23:16

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Thanks!

Aaron Brown > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 10/20/2013 at 23:19

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Either a decent aftermarket or one of the earlier Porsche wheels.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Aaron Brown 10/20/2013 at 23:22

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I'm a sucker for vintage simple 3 spoke wheels.

-Amateur > Aaron Brown 10/20/2013 at 23:25

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At least you got the right color for this car. I love this car in this color combo! Red would have also been acceptable and what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger?

It's a "Porch-uh" > Aaron Brown 10/20/2013 at 23:33

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The rear seats are there for insurance purposes. No kidding, two seaters were more expensive to insure than four.

Best of luck with the car. Too bad you're on the other side of the country from me. I have a pile of parts from my race car that are rotting in a shed.

FYI - those are not factory wheels, so not sure where you'd even star looking for hubcaps.

Mathias Rios > It's a "Porch-uh" 10/20/2013 at 23:34

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The wheels on there are BBS which is cool.

Aaron Brown > It's a "Porch-uh" 10/20/2013 at 23:35

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Damn! What do you have in that shed?

And yeah, I'm sure i'll find something for the wheels.

It's a "Porch-uh" > Mathias Rios 10/20/2013 at 23:46

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Indeed. Personally, I dig the Turbo Twists on a 944.

NoahthePorscheGuy > Aaron Brown 10/20/2013 at 23:49

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Regardless of any small issues, you win.

It's a "Porch-uh" > Aaron Brown 10/20/2013 at 23:49

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Used to have everything you don't need for a racecar, but slowly got rid of a bunch over the years. Still have a headlight assembly (minus the covers) with motors, two exhausts (on stock, one with a magnaflow and an ugly tip), a pile of wires, some interior bits, and I'm sure a few other things.

Aaron Brown > It's a "Porch-uh" 10/20/2013 at 23:51

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Ahhh nice nice. Yeah, I'm not sure whats up with my right headlight. My friend thinks it might be the ground. It lights up very dim, and when I hit the brights, it gets darker.

My exhaust tip is decently rusted, as is the mount. Also my dashboard is cracked.

Mathias Rios > It's a "Porch-uh" 10/20/2013 at 23:53

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picture didn't load try again

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Sharky 10/21/2013 at 00:04

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So since it's a 944 that will be never.

I kid I kid.

I kid because I love.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > TexasEdition 10/21/2013 at 00:08

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When I was 19 I owned a EF Civic and did a bunch of work on it during the summer. I learned a lot but I was also dumb as shit buying stupid ricer crap. One of the things I bought were these cheap aluminum wheels. They looked pretty good but then they almost fell the fuck off because I wasn't using the right lug nuts.
Sometimes I miss that car because it was actually a ton of fun and was such a crapbox.

TL:DR
Make sure you have the right lugnuts, especially as someone noted those aren't the stock wheels.

It's a "Porch-uh" > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 00:12

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You can buy a molded plastic veneer for the dash. Easier to install and cheaper than a used, non-cracked dash.

It's a "Porch-uh" > Mathias Rios 10/21/2013 at 00:12

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KINJA!!!

All Motor Is Best Motor > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 00:19

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My late uncle owned (my aunt has possession of it now) a 944 Turbo S (convertible) in black. It's one of 250 that made it into the U.S. It's in great condition, and I wish I could unload it off of my aunt's hands, but she's going to give it to my cousin (who got a brand new Dodge Charger V6 fully loaded for his 16th birthday) who I know will trash the thing and ruin the trans. Too bad, because it's a great car. Handles nice, and it pulls hard on the highway. I hope you enjoy yours, but you're going to have a lot of fun sinking money into it.

tiddo > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 02:01

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And now off to Kijiji and Craigslist I go to look for used Porsches.

Satish Kondapavulur > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 02:10

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Congratulations! Now I have to come out to NY to see this car once it's restored. And thank goodness it's not a turbo!

alexotics > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 02:38

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What a story! I actually drove a 1986 944 today. It was my friend's, and I let him drive my 1987 325is BMW. Here are some of the pics we took. The 944 was a camera whore.

And here's the both of them:

And more Porsche...

Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 03:14

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Oh fuck you Aaron, now I want a 944 again. I thought I am over my want for a 944, after I spent two months lusting and searching for one and then bought my CLK last year. Now you totally made me want one again and I will do zero work today, because I will be searching for a good one all over Yurop...

Alex87f > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 05:28

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I think you should add "gear knob" to your list.

I was also considering buying a 944 as a second car but put this on hold because I'm afraid of what it's gonna cost in terms of maintenance. I'm especially scared by the clutch and the timing belt, which apparently needs to be done very regularly. What's your take on this? Any advice / reassuring comments?

There's a nice one for sales 20mi from my work, it looks clean but has 185kmi on the odo, which does kinda scare me.

bobrayner > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 06:56

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Nice. I hope you're very happy together!

The 944 design has aged well; it really doesn't look 31 years old. And that snag list isn't so bad - I've bought 3-year-old cars with worse.

TrekHuis > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 07:04

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Add new shifter to the list.

Ikari > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 07:07

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Add to that list:

New front bumper/splitter. The current one is twisted on the drivers side... like it has hit something, its boosted your fog/side light out of place.

Mr2LotusWannabe > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 07:08

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I am sorry, but as a Porsche technician all I can say to all of this is:

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 07:20

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What a kickass car. Love the colour and wheel combination. 944s are supposed to be pretty excellent handlers too.

Nuno Cardoso > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 07:21

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Those American bumpers are hideous! Looks like... a bumper car!

Apart from that, great purchase, have fun with it.

Nuno Cardoso > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 07:23

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I like the steering wheel. Iconic Porsche. I wouldn't change it.

John The Race Fan > Mathias Rios 10/21/2013 at 07:23

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Are you crying in frustration, relief or shame?

John The Race Fan > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 07:25

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Hubcaps?!?!?!
Someone with deeper Porsche knowledge than will correct me, but I don't think Porsche offered wheels on the 944 that required hubcaps. I think only the 356 series and 914 offered steel wheels with hubcaps.

Besides, as someone pointed out, those black BBS (or replica) wheels look damn good!

You have BBS wheels that look much better than

Hey11111111111111111 > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 07:27

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I've always had a soft spot for these 924s and 944s. I like them. But I don't know what to think about those front (and rear) "American legislation" bumpers. Ugly or cool?

burglar can't heart click anything > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 07:36

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Unless you know exactly when it was done last, do that timing belt ASAP. Not a bad idea to grab a reman water pump while you have it apart, they tend to be consumable.

I'm semi-inept and did the job in 5 hours for a few hundred including buying the tools. I sold mine many years ago, and miss it often. Great cars.

thebigbossyboss > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 10/21/2013 at 07:40

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They probably just needed to be torqued with an air wrench.

burglar can't heart click anything > Alex87f 10/21/2013 at 07:40

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The timing belt is a pretty easy job - I think I did mine for around $200 including buying a couple of specialty tools.

I didn't have to do a clutch, but I hear it's a bear. You have to separate the (rigid) torque tube that connects the engine up front to the trans in the back.

There's also a lot of little stuff that tends to go - armrest covers, sunroof gears, sun visor clips.

Totally worth it - very cool cars. If you don't do your own wrenching, though...

burglar can't heart click anything > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 10/21/2013 at 07:42

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That's a 911 dash.

Could be worse, this is the wheel that came on my 944 when I bought it:

Alex87f > burglar can't heart click anything 10/21/2013 at 07:48

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Isn't the change recommended every 3 years / 30 000miles?

I don't think I have the right skills to do a timing belt myself, and I'm afraid that a cheap "around the corner" auto shop wouldn't be able to do a proper job there.

Owning one of those cars is definitely tempting, especially since they're very cheap to buy and fall in the "oldtimer" car category here, which means cheap insurance and low taxes. And let's be honest, they're 80's Porsches, that's enough for me.
I'm just afraid of winding up spending thousands on maintenance

burglar can't heart click anything > Alex87f 10/21/2013 at 07:51

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Hate to be Debbie Downer, but I wouldn't do one if I had to pay Porsche labor rates.

If you've got some hand tools though, no better way to learn to wrench than by trying. Sure, a little more involved than changing oil, but not all that much. It's like adult Legos.

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 07:52

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Good choice on a first car, but if you're going to drive home used cars in the future, follow my mini checklist:

-Bring someone else (as you did)
-Check tire pressure/wheel locks (who knows how long it's been sitting)
-Check fluids
-Check all plugs and fuses
-Insist on test driving the car around the sellers neighbourhood to assess if the brakes are functioning properly
-Look for off camber driving characteristics

If any of these are mentioned in the terms of sale, by the seller, as being missing or broken, don't drive it home.

Simple as that.

hooningillini > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 10/21/2013 at 07:52

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Love the color as well. A good detailing and either a cleaning or change of wheels will really bring back the beauty. I had an '86 944 NA-navy blue/linen. Painted the Fuchs wheels Porsche White Gold. It was a stunning car. Alas, gone in a very short time to become the downpayment on my first family home, replaced by a stripper Saab 900 sedan.

burglar can't heart click anything > burglar can't heart click anything 10/21/2013 at 07:54

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Oh, and unless the bulb is out, you're not going to get your gauges to light up. They're front lit - there's a bulb in back, and they put mirrored paint on the clear plastic housing to get the light to bend around to shine on them in front. (Brilliant?) Most of the paint was long flaked off on my car.

Chief Illiniwreck > All Motor Is Best Motor 10/21/2013 at 08:00

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A Dodge Charger without a Hemi cannot ever be described as "fully loaded."

Mathias Rios > John The Race Fan 10/21/2013 at 08:08

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A little of everything. Those seats are a joke.

Mailbox Cancer > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 08:12

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Hell yes, NA 944. Be prepared for some - uh - interesting times in the shop. It'll always take a bit o' money and time to keep these running, but it's worth it to see a well-taken-care-of specimen on the streets especially from 86.

Stepdad had that same model with the classic Guards Red paint and black interior. Prettiest vehicle ever, at least when he kept it waxed. Enjoy it.

Yourself > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 08:12

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Great choice! I had an NA 1985 944. Best car Ive ever driven. Period. (I own a 2003 E55 AMG) I regret selling mine every single day. I took mine down the PCH from Vancouver BC down to LA with my girlfriend earlier this year and I wouldn't have taken anything else (Besides a 275 GTB California). Just keep up on those timing belt replacements and fluid changes and it will be the most reliable car you've ever owned! Oh and get some Fuchs!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > John The Race Fan 10/21/2013 at 08:16

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He is shameful of the Bieber hair.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 08:31

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You got yourself quite a deal right here, what state do you live in?

About 6 months ago I myself picked up an 86 N/A, but seeing as how I live in the Northern VA area, I paid a bit more for a decently working version, about 2900. And that body, with the exception of the lower bottom valance looks to be in pretty good condition (hows the gaping on the body panels?). I love the color, and those wheels fit nicely with it as well.

And make sure you do a full and complete check up on it, when I got mine, all I thought I was going to need was some TLC/along with a good tune up, and a paint job/new seats and dash. Boy was I wrong.

As it turns out, the clutch had been in there since the late 80's (Still had a rubber centered clutch disc, from what I've read they stopped doing that around 89 or so), so as a result, the pilot bearing rusted to shit, and started giving me hell whenever I tried to put it into gear. The transmission/torque tube is still good to go, the clutch disc was in good condition, as was every other piece of the clutch assembly, except the PB.

So I drop all of that shit, and as I am doing it I am finding out more stuff, a PO had put on a different exhaust (along with the Turbo rear valance) which, the tip was about 8 inches too short, and melted a portion of mentioned Turbo rear valance, so I get to take that off and either replace it or leave it off (shit wasn't even gapped properly it sticks out like an inch from the rest of the body), as I dropped my transmission, I notice the fuel filter, is stamped 1995 (This was 6 months ago, 2013), FYI, those should be replaced every 2 years.

I decided to get frisky, and good thing I did, calipers, pads, brake lines, and pads, all needed to be replaced, I had been driving it for 2 months before I took stuff apart, and this is what the pads and calipers looked like:

So yeah, they were pretty bad, but, I am glad I found them that way, rather then later on down the road with them failing. But anywho, how many miles does that thing have? (I don't remember you posting it, sorry if you did)

But that one is one hell of a scare that you can go through just driving on down through the road, did it screw up your hub or anything else at all? How do you like driving the vehicle?

And yeah I don't really care much for the 4 spoke steering wheel at all, which is why a lot of 944 owners go for the 930s steering wheel

Make sure you get a spacer if you get the steering wheel otherwise you'll only have like half an inch between the top of the wheel and the dash.

But, seeing as how we are now practically brothers because we own the same car, allow me to give you some tips I have found out, with owning this car; if you don't have maintenance records, I would do all of this, just for the sake of it

Timing belt, this MUST be done every 3 years/30,000 miles, whichever comes first, if there is no definitive answer as to when it was done, get it done asap. A shop will probably charge around 1k for this including parts, plus the radiator needs to be flushed. Good time to replace the water pump as well, you can get a rebuilt one for about 75 bucks.

Crawl underneath the car, and on the passenger side, near the back of the car, check out the date on the fuel filter, if it is more then a few years old, I would replace it, I don't know the "technical" way to depressurize the fuel system, but I do know it depressurizes itself after about 2 or 3 days.

I would replace all of the brake lines with steel braided lines, it takes care of a maintenance item for you, and allows the brakes lines to deal with a bit more pressure, you can get the full set for a little under a hundred bucks. And along those lines, check the brake fluid as well, I would recommend getting some of those testing strips to see how contaminated the fluid is. Since it is so cheap, and it failing can leave you on the side of the road, I would replace the DME fuel relay (just google it, you'll see why you want to replace it, AND keep a spare in your car). Not long after I bought mine the relay for the light motors went out, you can do it manually, but the relay only costs like 4 bucks, so why not, also, don't forget your cover for it!

Take a look at your transmission, where the shift linkage connects to it, first, make sure there is a dust boot over the part where the linkage connects to the transmission, if there isn't I would recommend one. Next, take a look at the bolt that connects the two together, make sure you've got a metal tie going through it and tied up to the linkage, if that bolt comes out, no shifty.

I could go on and on for days, but I just wanted to make sure someone else didn't fall into some of the pitfalls that I have with my car, its expensive, and time consuming to fix this car, but with that said, heres my car!

Lets be car brothers!

Oh and ps, best sites for our cars, pelicanparts.com, 944online.com, and of course rockauto.com

Meatcoma > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 08:32

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I dont trust Kinja crop so...

This is your tripometer reset. DO NOT press it while moving or you will snap the plastic gears for the odometer.

Meatcoma > burglar can't heart click anything 10/21/2013 at 08:34

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While you are doing the timing belt, I'd have a look at the balance shafts etc. as well.

J-Tenno > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 08:35

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Well ain't she a beauty? Give her some tender love and care.

And have fun, remember to update.

Meatcoma > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 08:37

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I would put the hatch release button at the bottom of your list, or just remove it, while it was a great idea, none of them work anymore.

patman > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 08:40

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Suppressing urge to scour ebay for 944's...

Aj Larsen > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 10/21/2013 at 08:41

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Bigger Bieber.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Alex87f 10/21/2013 at 08:42

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Timing belt needs to be done every 3 years/30k miles, costs with a radiator flush, on the higher end, about 1,400 dollars. And the clutch? As with every manual transmission, it lasts for as long as you baby it and take care of it, a conservative estimate, depending on your driving ability with the stock Sachs clutch disc would be 50-100k miles of life for the clutch. And as for the rest of the maintenance items, you can get them cheap, but, I wouldn't recommend it. And 185kmi isn't that bad, as long as it was taken care of, it will be fine. My 944 has 137000 miles on the odo, and the engine still runs like a champ. The 2.5L slant 4's are essentially bulletproof as long as they have at least some maintenance. Also, it makes for a great daily because the bodies are galvanized so they won't rust. These are fun cars, but also very unforgiving cars, I've spent more days under it then in it, but that's also because it was neglected for years. Spend the extra money, get a full check up before buying, and make sure to get a well sorted out one (if you don't want to work on it yourself) and you will be fine, just don't neglect/abuse a 944 otherwise it'll leave you on the side of the road.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > burglar can't heart click anything 10/21/2013 at 08:47

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I'm in the middle of a clutch job, it's a bitch, mainly because there are so many while you are there things, and you don't want to drop all of that shit again to do it.

Meatcoma > burglar can't heart click anything 10/21/2013 at 08:48

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Ususally you can find an import shop that works on Porsche jag etc relatively close. I have 3 of them within 20 mins and 1 of them is a guy that owns 3 944's and DD's one every day that has 300k+ on the odo. He does exactly what I need him to do and doesn't charge more than he has to or add in stuff.

You just have to find someone you can trust.

pantaloonfan > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 10/21/2013 at 08:49

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I have a soft spot for that steering wheel, though, as it's the same one that they had on the first PC edition of "Test Drive", which I played on a monochrome amber monitor... I'd keep it on that basis personally, but I can understand why you would want to kill it with fire if you didn't have that experience.

StealthyTrooper > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 08:56

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i read that as "rear headlights"

j4066 > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 08:57

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I kind of always liked a 914 as a second fun car, but I've seen so many problems with them. I like the looks, but I insist on being able to get out of the driveway before something breaks.

rosslitman > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 09:06

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Fellow Jalop Aaron Brown is in Westchester? My stomping grounds!

Aaron Brown > rosslitman 10/21/2013 at 09:07

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From NYC!

clair3_s > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 09:09

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Had a similar incident happen years ago on a 64 Corvette with knock-offs. Drove it all the way from Orange County NY to Westchester County, NY (about 60 miles), most of it on the highway. About 1/2 mile from home we were stopped waiting to make a left turn onto a side street, and the right rear wheel started coming off. To make matters worse, we didn't have a lead hammer so we had to call our mechanic to get the wheel back on. It's a miracle it didn't happen on the highway while we were doing 65 mph. The more we thought about it, the more freaked out we got. Needless to say, we changed the wheels to bolt-ons. :-/

Good luck with your Porsche,

ThatsAgood1jay > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 09:17

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I did this exact thing on my Torino. It had a set of uni-lug Cragar SS wheels, which have a washer on the lug nuts to hold them in place, well if you put that washer on backwards, the lugs will back out as you drive. We had just gotten it back from a shop for rear brake adjustment and sure enough they put them on backwards.

driving a long then all the sudden (*BANG* *bang* *bang* *Bang*) as the other two lug nuts were almost off as well, the wheel was wobbling on the hub. HAd to walk home to get a jack as well because all I had with me was the incredibly dangerous bumper jack.

900turbo > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 09:19

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Funny, I almost bought a 944 back in the '80s for $17,500. As a 24yr old back then I could afford the car but not the $4000/yr insurance.

rosslitman > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 09:29

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Superb, we shall all have to have a Jalop gathering of the minds.

The New Garage > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 09:35

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About every 944 I see has a broken center console lid. This looks good from here!

ejp > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 10/21/2013 at 09:35

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I believe that this is the Momo Prototipo. People really seem to like those...but I actually love the four spoke wheel in that car.

thirteenthfloorelevator > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 09:41

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Yup. It is FUCKING TERRIFYING when your wheel falls off. Had a beater's engine seize once at 70MPH & had to dip the clutch & cross three lanes of traffic VERY fast, too...

RWD_Volvo > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 09:44

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Awesome. I've never had anything like that happen, but I've got a good similar story:

Bought a 280ZX in the early 00s. My wife and I drove a pickup up to Green Bay, WI to pick it up. We had a car dolly reserved at the local U-Haul with the assumption that we'd pick up the dolly then the car. It took too long to drive through Chicago, so we didn't get to Green Bay till the UHaul was closed, so we just picked up the car and drove home to Ann Arbor, MI, 450 miles away. At night.

It was going great, really, driving down I-43 and I-94 without plates on a 20 year old Datsun, until Chicago. After traffic cleared on the North side, we were great, until a cop pulled the Datsun over for no plates on the South side. I was driving the truck so I had to pull off at the next exit. It was 111th or 115th street. i.e. a VERY rough area, especially at night. The IL state cop saw the bill of sale and sent her on her way to pick me up and get the hell out of the south side! He was more worried about my safety than the legality of driving without plates lol.

Then, we had to get gas in Kalamazoo. Start the s130 back up, and no headlights! So, here we were 100+ miles from home with no headlights. Amazingly, about 30 seconds later, they popped on. That car had more than a couple electrical gremlins over the years...

pfftballer > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 10/21/2013 at 09:46

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Those are awesome until you are violently thrashing at the wheel trying to recover from a spin and manage to get your pinky finger stuck in one of the holes and you nearly die as a result. Trust me, it can happen.

ThatbastardKurtis > It's a "Porch-uh" 10/21/2013 at 09:53

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The first car advice that I ever gave was when I was about 5 or 6 and my Aunt asked me if she should get the 1983 Datsun 280ZX 2+2 or the Porsche 944. She told me that the rear seats were bigger in the 280ZX than they were in the 944. I told her to get the 280ZX because of that...now, I am glad I did that because the 280ZX is still running with no major issues, whereas a Porsche 944 would have been costly to maintain.

jamisparker > John The Race Fan 10/21/2013 at 09:53

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He probably means the center caps. They constantly fall off, and Porsche is happy to sell you 4 more for $130+.

jamisparker > Hey11111111111111111 10/21/2013 at 09:54

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They're ugly. But they do a good job of protecting the car and they don't make it any less fun to drive.

MadisonSuicide > It's a "Porch-uh" 10/21/2013 at 09:57

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"The rear seats are there for insurance purposes. No kidding, two seaters were more expensive to insure than four."
No kidding, learned that real quick when I went to insure my RX7 back in 92.

missdshift > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 09:57

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Hey, the bestest and cheapest thing you can do with that car is autocross. No need to modify, just make sure it's not leaking fluids and the wheels aren't falling off (ahem....). There's one more PCA AX in New York (near jones beach) this season on Nov 10. You should come out and drive. You can be my guest so you get the member's discount.

jamisparker > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 09:58

2

I picked up an '84 944 about 6 weeks ago for $1600, but it isn't in nearly as good shape as yours. As others have said, get a timing/balance belt kit and a remanufactured water pump ASAP and do the job. It isn't too complicated, clarks-garage.com is the online bible of working on 944s, there is no job not explained in detail there. Join a forum somewhere so you can ask questions and learn more about the things that need taken care of, rennlist and pelican-parts both have active forums for 944 owners. Enjoy the car!

neihousejose > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 10:01

2

I am so jealous. You mean to tell me I could have saved $1200 AND had a Porsche instead of a Focus?!!

ejp > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 10:02

5

Nice car, and the paint looks great. I had an '87 in the same color (Maraschino Red):

A couple of tips:

Check out the 944 FAQ . It's a bit dated, but it's not like Porsche built more of these after this FAQ was written

Pelican Parts forums are your friend. This is an excellent source of information.

I am skeptical of your to-do list. If you think that this is all this car needs, you're either very lucky or very nuts. For the sake of your bank account, I hope that it's the former - because these cars can get prohibitively expensive. Did you get a pre-purchase inspection to verify your to-do list, or is this just what you can see?

A set of factory wheels would look great on that car. I believe that the '86 was the last year to come with Fuchs forged wheels. The '87 got the later phone dials to fit over the (optional) ABS sensor. A set of 16" turbo Fuchs would look even better (IMO), but these are getting expensive.

Many have said to do the timing belt immediately - if you don't have service records, I agree with this. While you're in there, you can replace the water pump. Also, while you are in there - the balance belt is a must-do. My balance belt broke...not that much of a problem; the rougher engine felt racier. The problem was that the broken balance belt wedged itself between the timing belt pulley and the timing belt, resulting in an interference condition (somewhat catastrophic for the head). Don't make the same mistake that I did.

Check the ball joints on your control arms. These things are pretty nice one-piece aluminum jobs, but the ball joints fail and are not easily replaceable.

Find a good mechanic who is familiar with these cars. Even if you are a pretty good wrench, there are more than a few jobs that you might not want to tackle yourself.

The factory steering wheel grew on me. It's comfortable and fits well in my hands - but this is, of course, totally subjective. Someone else recommended a Momo Prototipo - people really seem to like these wheels.

Since you seem to be in upstate New York, George B will become your best friend. If you're close to him (Ulster Park, I think) - he can even work on your car.

Anyway, other than the maintenance issues and cost of ownership, I had a lot of fun with my 944. It was comfortable, FAR more comfortable than the 911's of that era. Also, it was pretty great to drive - although I always wished that my NA had more power. If I were to get another 944 car, I'd either get an 89 951 S (turbo) or a 968. Then again, the 2.5L NA 944 has enough power that you can use it almost all the time - e.g. drive it like you stole it and still be sub-felonious.

Have fun with it!

SurvivedAPintoCrash > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 10:12

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haha! there's no thing as a cheap old german car.

I bought an audi a8, and it seems every other month or so there's something new to fix... yesterday, the window regulator broke and the window went all the way down. Had to find something to cover to drive a hundred miles back home, very late at night on a Sunday... At least it was not raining or winter cold... Ended at a CVS and bought a box of Saran wrap and clear packing tape. It was loud, but it got me home (at 55-60 mph...)

Rebelscum_65 > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 10:13

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Obviously you don't have enough friends who are missing their legs.

sflash868 > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 10:16

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Check out Speedwerkes in Nyack, NY. Porsche specialty shop that fields a race team of 944s. Good guys and 100% the most affordable option you have other than doing the work yourself.

Wonk Unit > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 10:29

1

Great pick up, apart from the wheel thing. had one in high school, that exact color, but a higher degree of "Custom Fading" Tons of fun, and pop up headlights get all the ladies!

TheBaron2112 > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 10:41

2

Allow me to help you with your list.

Tachometers go out a lot. I have an 85 and recently did the 924S gauge swap after my tach died. I don't know how to manage that on the 4-gauge dash. Hydraulic pistons for the hood can be bought at O'Reilly's or something. They're super easy. Don't even bother with a radio. Hatch release button, don't bother. Just use your key. My 944 key doesn't even fit my hatch lock, so I have to replace the whole mechanism. Rear wiper blade (and fronts) can be bought off of Pelican Parts. Get Bosch. They're cheapest and best. AC system is maddening. Get it recharged but be on the lookout for compressor clutch failure, and fuse/relay failures... The AC system has fuses and relays in 2 different places and many of the diagrams online and in manuals are wrong. Have fun!

But top of your list should be a timing belt NOW and a possible change to the water pump. Just to be safe.

Congrats on the 944, though. It's a super fun car and you'll love tossing it around the twisties.

velyse > burglar can't heart click anything 10/21/2013 at 10:41

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this times one million. these things love to eat valves.

limerockcodger > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 10:42

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On behalf of all the dads of your generation... I do hope you gave the old man a hug!!! Jeesus Harold on a rubber crutch.... If he was grumpy I don't blame him, and if he was cheerful I imagine it was so because you weren't smeared into a red paste across three lanes of I-684!!

Sunday parent duty for a kid who is "out of warranty" comes with a price tag, sonny. Hope your dad finds a good time to present the bill!!! Bet he has a garage or basement that needs some heavy lifting.

brownweird > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 10:54

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I had a 1985.5 944 for about 6 months. Sold it after I replaced the clutch because it cost more to keep it running than buying a new WRX (in 2003). You'll laugh and cry if you ever need plug wires.

The back seat is pretty worthless, but I have a BRZ now and I'm not convinced it isn't just as bad. When I was picking up my WRX the dealer had an XK convertible sitting in the showroom that I'm pretty sure had the worst back seat ever.

I've toyed with the idea of buying a 944 again. I loved the car, but they're just too old and too expensive to work on. A 968 would be great but for the cost of a good one you might as well get a 911. And if you might as well get a 911, there are a ton of other cars to start thinking about.

Stef Schrader > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 11:00

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Whoohoo! Bumper turdlets!

Congrats on the car. And yes, it's an interference belt, so CHANGE THE TIMING BELT NOW OR ELSE. Big, bad things happen when you don't.

N54S62 > alexotics 10/21/2013 at 11:03

4

But thanks for sharing your amazing story.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > alexotics 10/21/2013 at 11:03

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Nice car, but next time have the light behind you so it doesn't make the pic too dark.

Grizwold > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 11:22

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If you don't properly, fully, tighten the lug nuts on the tire (quick tire change), then they can fall out or sheer off. Happened to my following an Accord winter/summer tire change.

Jeramy Bailey > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom 10/21/2013 at 11:28

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Or turn the headlights on.

thestiggy > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 11:28

1

Everything always goes back to TopGear UK:

theseandarcy > Aaron Brown 10/21/2013 at 11:34

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The wheels scream 'PONTIAC!'

FrankStallone > Alex87f 10/21/2013 at 11:34

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I've always wanted to get a 944 and swap in a small block chevy V8. One day...