1985 Porsche 944 2.5 liter

Summary:

Ecstatic it's my first car

Faults:

Right after I bought it, the A/C broke. There has also been a nasty oil leak under the car.

Also, the car is not as quick as I had hoped for, but its still fun to drive. People will try to race you and it gets annoying. Oh, and cops notice you much much more.

General Comments:

Its not as fast as the old family Audi V8, but its just so darn pretty it doesn't matter.

It really does handle effortlessly. When confidence in the car builds, you can really test how great the car is balanced. It's a head turner too, and I hate it when every punk who's seen "fast and the furious" wants to race me. This isn't a race car (the turbo is, however), this is a piece of art.

All in all, it's a wonderful car who won't disappoint in the long run.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th July, 2006

14th Nov 2006, 22:41

I hear everyone saying that it's a great handling car, and it's a great car to look at, no questions asked, but as a fairly young driver lookin to lose my dad's Ford Taurus, is it worth the investment if I'm on a budget?

1st Dec 2006, 16:30

I agree that this is a really neat car, however with the one I had, maintenance is really horrible. Timing belt must be changed every 25-30k miles, it takes 6-7 quarts of oil, tires cost $700-$800, and there are only a few people you can trust to work on it, as the engine is very temper-mental. I would not recommend this car for someone who doesn't have a steady job to support it. Also, the non-turbo 944 is much faster if you have the 5 speed transmission vs the automatic.

14th Dec 2006, 10:10

I wouldn't recommend it if you're on a tight budget. On mine (I wrote the article) the water pump failed shortly after I wrote this. It cost me $1100 to fix it. I had to take it 40 miles to a mechanic who knew how to replace the pump and install the updated kit.

It's a great car and I'm glad I bought it, but I have to work 30 hours a week to keep it running sometimes.

20th Feb 2007, 15:14

I've had my early 1985 944 for a year and a half now, and I wouldn't change it for anything. The driving experience is a pleasure: the driving position, the way the car handles, the unmistakable sound of the engine, the tight suspension, and the powerful brakes all add to it. I smile every time I turn on the engine, close the door, or even look at the car.

That being said, the majority of these cars are 20+ year old, high-end imports, so maintenance **is** expensive, as are repairs. Learn the ropes of automotive maintenance on a Toyota or Honda, then upgrade to a P-car. Do your research before buying one, and keep in mind there's no car more expensive than a cheap Porsche.

1985 Porsche 944 Turbo unsure

Summary:

Still attracts people young and old, and the young "Porsche dreamers at heart!"

Faults:

A small assortment of problems.

General Comments:

We only use it for special occasions, but it has not let us down for a year or so. Would I buy another 944? Maybe. It still runs great, and attracts people who love its original gold paint with black trim. It looks great in any color!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th March, 2006

1985 Porsche 944 2.5 liter Inline 4

Summary:

One of the most underrated cars ever made and pure Porsche excitement!

Faults:

Rear hatch seal leaks and release inoperative.

Sunroof inoperative.

Taillights leak.

Power steering rack leaks.

General Comments:

This car is the epitome of performance and handling.

Corners like its on a roller coaster track.

Rear seat area is pretty much useless for seating, but good cargo space when seat folded down.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd July, 2005

1985 Porsche 944 2.5L

Summary:

A deceiving unreliable cheap car

Faults:

The first couple of weeks I had the car the head gasket blew. I wasnt too happy.

I got that fixed and a week later the CV joints started clicking.

After that the air conditioner quit in the middle of summer imagine that.

After about one month of kinda reliable driving the clutch shattered bummer.

Got that fixed and yet again the head gasket blew. I didn't bother to fix it, I just gave up and gave the car away. I have had enough.

General Comments:

The car handles very good, but it needs more power.

The car is very very unreliable.

20/25 mpg decent.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 31st July, 2003

8th Jun 2007, 04:26

Even if it was maintained extremely well by the previous owner, a car with over a 100k and that is more than ten years will more than likely need those type of repairs.

I've never owned a Porsche, but if all that you needed was a head gasket, some CV joints, an A/C service and a clutch, you are getting off far better than the average car owner of something with that age and mileage. Especially on the AC and CV joints - those parts of a car always need service at some point. They're the sort of parts that wear out just like tires, brakes, struts, etc.

If anything your review reflects a car most of us would consider relatively reliable and durable.

Try buying something like a Ford Contour with that many miles and you will see that your Porsche was quite a good car after all.

8th Jun 2007, 09:46

I guess I've been pretty lucky with my 944.

I have owned it for 17 years and done 190,000 miles taking it to over 260,000.

I have done all the servicing myself, and all it has needed is a new clutch at 200,000 and the air con packed up.

It has still got the original exhaust.

In reply to 8th Jun 2007, 04:26

27th Nov 2018, 04:09

Actually 100,000 miles is not that much for a modern car, and that is a LOT of maintenance in such a short time. To give you a comparison: my son's Toyota Corolla had NO REPAIRS the first 200,000 miles, at which time, all he needed was a clutch. The same was true for my Subaru Impreza: 260,000 miles with normal maintenance. So, actually, Porsche cars are EXTREMELY high maintenance compared with normal, non prestige cars, or as my buddy (who owned a 911) once said, "If you want a money pit, buy a Porsche. Otherwise, buy a Toyota truck."

In reply to 27th Nov 2018, 04:09

27th Nov 2018, 23:30

I did and it’s worth every penny to own one.

In reply to 27th Nov 2018, 04:09

28th Nov 2018, 19:11

A Toyota truck or a Corolla is not for everyone. Take the bus.