My new 944!

"wtovin" (wtovin) 07/30/2014 at 18:19 • Filed to: None

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So yesterday I bought my first car. A 1985.5 Porsche 944! Grey paint wrapped around a black interior sitting on some classic 80's phone dial rims. About a quarter of a million miles on the chassis with a new transmission, clutch, radiator, and timing belt, resealed engine and steering rack, fresh fluids, tires, and brakes. No aftermarket modifications, and only about 2k miles put on it since 2007. I'm told the previous owner swapped the engine with a lower milage example - but it's hard to tell.

Things that remain to be sorted:

- Suspension (getting some clunking sounds from the front driver's side).

- Passenger window doesn't open

- Minor road rash and rock chips on nose panel and front bumper

The original black seats have been swapped for some tan sports seats (they seem to have more support than the base 944).

There are tons of little fixes that need to be made (cosmetic and otherwise), but I'm hoping all the major expenses - clutch, transmission, etc. - hold out at least for a few years.

Thoughts?

Saracen > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 18:22

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Beautiful. And one of the few modern classic sports cars that aren't rocketing in price rapidly. It's never been a better time to get one.

JGrabowMSt > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 18:24

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Goddamn, with all this pressure, I may get the red one that's for sale a few miles from me (not).

But if I did have the pocket change to blow on a little get-around sporty car, the 944 would probably be the one.

Time to join the ranks of 944 Oppo owners (it's a growing number)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 18:27

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Congrats! Everyone's buying 944s now! First, everyone was buying FoSTs and FiSTs left and right, now 944s! :D

There must be some demographic or chart for Oppo car purchases..

Also, welcome to ze 944 club! :)

Manuél Ferrari > Saracen 07/30/2014 at 18:30

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With all these Opponauts buying 944s the prices will go up SOON, haha

wtovin > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/30/2014 at 18:33

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Thanks! Someone needs to organize a 944 meet soon.

Saracen > Manuél Ferrari 07/30/2014 at 18:34

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Yeah. I need to hurry up and get a place to store all these cars I want! (the house purchase fell through)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 18:35

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There is a 944Fest! http://www.944fest.com/

But an Oppo 944Fest. That depends, where are you located, if you don't mind me asking?

Hammerfrog > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 18:35

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Awesome.... if I wasn't going to college in a place with hard winters, I would totally look into one of these. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you spend on it?

Manuél Ferrari > Saracen 07/30/2014 at 18:37

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Yes we must buy all ze cars!

Sorry to hear the house purchase feel through :(

wtovin > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/30/2014 at 18:37

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New York area

Saracen > Manuél Ferrari 07/30/2014 at 18:39

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Eh, it's okay. It was a nice house but would have needed lots of work.

Now I can focus on finding one that already has a huge garage for all ze cars.

wtovin > Hammerfrog 07/30/2014 at 18:39

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Just above $3k - I have friends who have spent as little as $1,750 on their daily driver 944's, but I'm a sucker for the cosmetics and that gray paint! Also, figured with the new clutch, transmission and all new seals I'd be saving quite a bit in the long run.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 18:40

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Ok, you're close to Aaron Brown and Mathias(also 944 owners), I'm in Michigan but meeting somewhere halfway would be awesome; say Pennsylvania for example.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Hammerfrog 07/30/2014 at 18:41

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I am(Michigan winters). And I'm still gonna drive the 944, with snow tires. :)

wtovin > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/30/2014 at 18:43

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I work with Aaron at the Classic Car Club and Mathias came with me to buy this one! I was actually looking at the blue one that he just bought for myself but he liked it more than I did so he ended up with it... I have another friend (not on Oppo) with a track ready 85.5.. This could be big.

Manuél Ferrari > Saracen 07/30/2014 at 18:43

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I backed out of a few houses before getting the one I bought last year. So many issues you don't see until you get the inspection report back...

Haha maybe you can find a house that not only has a huge garage but also has some cars in it that you like but the owner doesn't want anymore. Make it a package deal!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 18:45

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THIS SHALL HAPPEN!! :D

Hammerfrog > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/30/2014 at 18:49

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I keep thinking I'd totally wipe out on ice and end up in some Ithaca gorge if I had a RWD first car... even if it was a relatively underpowered, well-balanced one like a 944. so I'll probably just go the safe route and get a subaru :-/

wtovin > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/30/2014 at 18:49

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Someone make a post "Calling all 944 Oppo-ers" - I bet we could get at least 10 together for 944 Fest 2014 'Oppo Edition' before the Winter hits.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 18:53

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Already made it! :)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Hammerfrog 07/30/2014 at 18:56

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Ithaca ? Where's that? RWD will be my third car, all I know is that this is gonna be quite the interesting winter... ;)

Now the 944 has 50/50 weight distribution, and a weaker but very peppy 4 cylinder engine; with proper snow tires, it should prove to be a very decent and fun winter car! But with the lack of modern creature comforts and assists, you'd have to be much more careful and improve your skills as a driver.

N51fanatic > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 20:08

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hahaha i saw this on craigslist central jersey last night (i think?)

Walker Tovin > N51fanatic 07/30/2014 at 20:16

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That's the one!

N51fanatic > Walker Tovin 07/30/2014 at 20:19

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the guy had a limerock m3 and lotus in the garage in one of the pics. Also had a red 944. Some gearhead he must have been.

wtovin > N51fanatic 07/30/2014 at 20:24

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He was actually a huge douche. Kept trying to nickel and dime me, and trying to raise the price at the last minute. I tried to walk away at one point but he refused to return my deposit because of his "emotional trauma" and "wasted time". Worst buying experience ever, but I'm glad it's over and I got a solid car!

N51fanatic > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 20:25

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no way really? You would think a guy like that, who i have to presume is well off financially would cut a kid buying his first car like a 944 a break. Glad your happy, post lots of updates about the car.

Hammerfrog > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 07/30/2014 at 20:27

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Ithaca, NY (home of Cornell)! The winters are pretty brutal, or so I've been told.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ithaca,_N…

wtovin > N51fanatic 07/30/2014 at 20:31

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Will do! Thanks for your interest :)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Hammerfrog 07/30/2014 at 20:40

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Ah yes! NY has some brutal winters indeed; however, my Uncle(who lives in Clinton, NY) has taken his 85.5 944 out in the winter, with all seasons no less and survived whenever he drove it. As long as your sensible, safe and not overconfident(like me! :P), you'd be pretty okay to drive a 944 or a 924 in winter!

JR1 > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 20:53

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Good choice! I'd love to have one I just wish they didn't have terrible reliability. Looks great in black congrats!!

Brian Silvestro > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 21:10

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It really does look good. Coming to the AutoX on Saturday?

wtovin > Brian Silvestro 07/30/2014 at 21:38

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Probably!

Brian Silvestro > wtovin 07/30/2014 at 21:39

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Nice! See you there.

Mathias Rios > JR1 07/31/2014 at 00:56

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Like any German car, reliable if maintained properly.

Stef Schrader > wtovin 08/01/2014 at 22:26

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#winning, duh.