1985 Porsche 944 2.5 liter from North America

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 Lux 2.5 from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Tiny oil leak.

General Comments:

Wow! This is my first sport car. I have never been in a Porsche before, and sure I haven't driven one before. I come from Israel, and in Israel we don't have motorsport; well we do have Porsche, Jaguars and BMWs, but it's so expensive that you've gotta be rich to buy one (bloody tax) :)

I came to the UK, and wow cars here second hand are cheap!!! I got the money, so I went to buy a Porsche 944 Lux with full leather. As you sit inside, you get the feeling you are in something special; not a Japanese sports car, but this is the real deal, sitting low. The tiny steering wheel and these sport leather seats all give you the feel of "come on baby, let's get some speed".

It's not very fast, but it's fast for a first sport car. 163bhp to the rear drive, do the work changing gears, and it's amazing; very fast, very smooth. I really like the driving position, especially when you are going fast on narrow country lanes and tight corners.

The car's best thing is the way it handles. I mean it's got 50/50 back and front, so you can do amazing things with the car. I will sell this car soon, and get myself a younger 944 S2.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th March, 2006

21st Mar 2006, 09:43

Yeah, very great car. The 50/50 weight distribution is very amazing, and the kind of power that 2.5l 4 cylinder puts out is greater than most engines today. Yeah, definately look into finding a turbo or an s 944.