what should I know before buying an old car as my first car?
Posted by Axxsrr@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 102 comments
I am about to buy a relatively anchient car, its a 1984 porche 944. the price is pretty low for this kind of model and and it seems to be in good condition. This will be the first car that I am ever buying. its a manual transmission but I am very willing/ excited to learn how to drive it. I guess my question would be what advice/tip/warnings do you have? I am assuming its going to need mantenance, which i am also excited for, but where do I go to learn. it has an ungodly amount of miles, but at the same time I honestly dont really know what that means mantienace wise. its sitting at around 150k miles, the odometer is broken so maybe more probably not less. any guidance in any form would be so helpful, i really dont know what I am doing
Donkey_Ali@reddit
That it will cost you a small fortune to keep it
Hondahawkrider@reddit
don't do it...
especially if in this case family or friends don't drive Porsches
it will sit ... and parts availability and cost will be prohibitive
If you're in HS - get what's popular - civics - corolla - veloster etc ... Something that already runs.. You can learn by putting on exhausts, intakes, where if you mess up you can always put it back... You not only be paying got something your are using (no sitting) but if it's what your group has you can learn from others who have done similar work, and they can have parts sitting around to buy cheaper
Zestyclose_Panda_886@reddit
Porsche repair bills are a thing. Expect to pay more for the name. It's good stuff.
Huge-Instance-6613@reddit
The hardest thing about buying an older car is parts. If you’re willing to learn and have bottomless pockets - project cars can be a ton of fun. I’ve had a really hard time finding parts for my 02 because they’re discontinued or whatever. Literally hunting for parts at junkyards which is annoying af. It can be a lot of work and a lot of time without your car actually functioning. I had an 93 mx-3 I had to give up on and it’ll haunt me forever.
SoundMedal@reddit
Welcome to Hell
BEER_G00D@reddit
Please pass on this. Not for cost, not for anything else but wanting to see you live to buy your second car.
hms11@reddit
I don't know if you are trolling OP. It's honestly impossible to tell these days.
If you are seriously considering buying an old, high mileage Porsche as your first car with what sounds like almost zero automotive abilities or background I hope you have 10s of thousands of dollars set aside to keep that thing running for the next 2-3 years.
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
not trolling, I have no clue what I am doing.
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
For the full experience. It’s the £1500 Porsche Challenge from Top Gear.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9qy38y
ShatterProofDick@reddit
Then don't buy this car man. Get yourself prepared for wallet PTSD if you do.
If you're dead set on a Porsche get a 986.
WizeAdz@reddit
Old rear-engined Porsches require driving skills that you don’t (yet) have to keep the back end from kicking out and becoming the front end.
Your budget for this car should include Porsche-specific driver training, which will cost thousands of dollars and some travel.
As a car guy, I’d find that training really interesting and fun. But I wouldn’t find it affordable.
Puzzleheaded_You4586@reddit
The 944 is front engine rear wheel drive.
Jumpy_Childhood7548@reddit
944 is rwd, front engine.
benicebuddy@reddit
Huh
splynneuqu@reddit
A 944 is front engine.
Flash-635@reddit
It's a 944. Front engine, rear wheel drive with a rear mounted transaxle. 50 50 weight distribution. Your grandmother could drive it.
djsimp123@reddit
To be fair 944 isn’t rear engine and is quite easy to drive
californiaschinken@reddit
Probably 10k first 12 months just to keep it running and pass inspection.
Around 3-4k in parts and probably 6-7k in labour.
Hope you don t get electrical problems in your first year.
supern8ural@reddit
This. I had a 944 back in the day when they were cheap. I knew what I was getting into but even then a timing belt job was $1500 and was required every 45k miles. Clutch was more than the car was worth due to the stupid way Porsche put the thing together. I accepted the TB but sold the car when the clutch started to slip (and other things appeared to need attention)
That said if you have the space and tools to DIY, it is the finest handling car I've ever driven.
SalaryDull5301@reddit
Tens of thousands
Rough-Transition-954@reddit
And that's just three years of insurance.
InternationalBite690@reddit
I work on this German garbage for a living. The new garbage leaks all the fluids way too young in its life and the older garbage-say pre 2010 , parts come from Germany if they’re available at all. The cost of said parts and shipping is ridiculous at best. Then the wait time-I’ve waited a month for a coolant hose. These cars are just money pits. I can almost guarantee if you get this car, if it runs now it won’t for long and you’ll probably never enjoy it again. If it doesn’t currently run, you’ll never enjoy driving it. You will however waste a ton of time and money doing it. As others have said buy a Honda/Toyota/Mazda/Subaru for reliable transportation. If you want a project car get something the aftermarket world supports heavily so the options are plentiful and the cost is low. Realistically this Porsche your slobbering on may cost you 20k before you drive it 1 block and it may cost twice that to get to the second block.
Chair_luger@reddit
1) A 40+ year old sports car is not a daily driver, at best it is for occasionally taking out on weekends.
2) I do not know about that car specifically but most likely is will do very badly in an accident because of the lack of safety features.
3) Be sure to know how much it will cost to insure. Many insurance companies would not insure it even for an older driver. Insurance for a teenager could be very expensive if you can find it. Insurance companies do not like special situations where they cannot estimate the risks based on similar cars they have insured for similar drivers.
Loveschocolate1978@reddit
Does it run? My first quest would be, if it is such a great car, why is he selling it? Next, I would look at safety related items, starting with reading the date code and inspecting the condition of the tires. Next would be brakes. If you don't have the ability to drive a manual yet, I would ask someone you know to take the car out for a short trip and make sure to travel at all speeds through 0-75 mph, feeling for vibrations, handling, listening for unhappy noises, etc. Other people have already said it, so I've been avoid it, but I have to say it. I would strongly recommend not buying it. Your heart sounds set on it though, so I hope that general advice will help you with what ever you choose.
Bagomostlywater@reddit
That’s an awesome car but it’s not the best first car to be honest. It will break you financially and emotionally. There are ‘simple’ cars and not so simple cars and that falls in the later category.
I would recommend a Mazda Miata/mx5 type thing as a first “sporty” car that is still easy to work on and ultra fun to drive.
Flash-635@reddit
I hate to talk you out of buying a car like that but to own an 80s Euro car you need either very deep pockets or mechanical skill and the ability to learn more as well as being able to source parts at a reasonable price.
Not for the faint of heart.
Source: Owner of a VW Touareg, a 635 CSi BMW and a Saab convertible.
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
how do I learn this skill? I want to learn how to all of these things honestly just as much as I want the car , what direction would you point me to find how to learn these things.
TealSapphire@reddit
You really have to ask that? Don’t you have the entire internet at your fingertips? At this rate, you should definitely not get that car
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
look I am just trying to get a direction. if anyone has any extra tips or help I would love to learn it. and if he doesn't or doesn't want to answer me thats fine. I am really just trying to soak up as much info as i possibly can
Puzzleheaded_You4586@reddit
I've written several comments on this thread, but the best way to learn - and it's the way I learned - is to buy a manual for a 1984 944. Personally, I'd go for a different make that parts are more available for, but that's me - I don't know your financial situation. Then, start taking parts off and putting them back on the opposite way they came off (take pictures to help you remember), label the parts in ziploc bags. But know, this is not going to be a weekend project that you buy on Saturday and drive to school on Monday.
When I bought my 1958 Metropolitan in 2001, I didn't have it close to full restoration until 2003, and there were many heartbreaks along the way. I was also working full time and had the extra dollars to put towards it.
None of us want to dissuade you from your dreams, but as experienced & older guys, we're really just looking out for you.
Flash-635@reddit
Buy the workshop manual and read it.
The 944 is an unusual Porsche, it's more like an Audi. The engine is at the front and the gearbox is at the back. The EFI is the old Bosch L Jetronic, I don't know how you'd go getting parts for it but there's a lot of support on the interwebs.
Join some forums, subs and groups, there's plenty around, to familiarise yourself with them.
Do you have tools, a floor jack, stands and ramps and somewhere to work on it?
Is it a turbo?
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
it is not turbo, and I do have tools like a floor jack and such. my father worked on his volkswagen all the time so he has a bunch of stuff I can use
Flash-635@reddit
A turbo would be good. Even the naturally aspirated ones drive nice.
sentrygentry@reddit
YouTube YouTube and more YouTube to start. There are hundreds of videos of guys tearing these things apart out there and repairing different issues. Consider it your first step
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
thank you!
hemibearcuda@reddit
I'm not a Porsche guy, but Ive wrenched on my share of old cars.
First and foremost, research the availability of aftermarket and restoration parts for that specific car. I can almost build my 89 and 91 mustangs dirt cheap from a catalog. But parts for my 96 bronco and 71 cuda cost a premium and are harder to find.
Even if it's a steal, you may find that some parts it desperately needs haven't been reproduced since 1984, and are only available as new old stock (N.O.S.) or used.
If so, expect to pay a gold mine for those parts. It could very well be a $50,000.00 car by the time you complete it.
Second, inspect the underside real closely. Look for bad rust through corrosion. Surface rust is expected, but if metal is peeling off in thick chunky layers or full of holes run away. Also check for signs of frame damage like bends or strech marks as signs of frame repair.
If you don't know how to do this, take someone you trust. You don't want to deal with bad rust or frame damage no matter how good the deal is.
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
there is not rust, Im pretty sure all parts have been replace atleast onec if not twice
Puzzleheaded_You4586@reddit
Question: if you don't know what you're doing, then how do you know if it does not have rust issues?
If you're dead-set on buying this car because you've already told all your friends you're getting a Porsche, at the very least, find a mechanic to go with you to look the car over. Someone with experience may cost you a few dollars up front, but can make an informed decision whether this is a good deal or a money pit.
Take a jack with you and raise each wheel and check the bearings. While the car is off the ground, try opening the doors - this will determine if its structurally sound. This is a uni-body car, so rust is not your friend. I know you stated it doesn't have rust, but rust hides. Oftentimes, rust will get into the door pillars that can't be seen with the naked eye - this is why I suggest opening the doors while a wheel is off the ground. If the door is hard to open or won't close, don't walk, run from the car. Rust repair is very expensive.
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
fair question. they have pictures of the engine up and down but maybe the are hiding rust well
BoxBoxBox888@reddit
A lot of people shitting on your idea in this thread but I think you should go for it. You sound like your eyes are wide open to the risks and you're willing to learn and put in the time. You would clearly have an easier/cheaper time with an older Japanese car, but if your heart is set on a P-car, I'd just advise researching the issues you'll likely be encountering and then pricing the parts out ahead of time, just so you know there aren't any $$$ disasters waiting.
If nothing else you'll get some great stories out of this experience. Will make a great college app essay lol.
Good luck!
taidizzle@reddit
My rough estimate for most cars in the 90s and 80s today is 2x the price to fix. If yoire going to buy a older Porsche for $10k expect at least $20k worth of parts, labor, and wisdom.
I'm not trying to dissuade you from fixing and maintaining one of these but they're far more advanced than an economy box. there's so many more sensors and moving parts that make a Porsche a Porsche and not a Toyota so that alone youre already losing a battle because most common car problems won't apply to you.
you're working on an older but advanced product. If you really want to play with an old car get car mechanic simulator and spend thousands of hours on there before you lose that in dollars
doc-sci@reddit
“Seems” seems like a problem. It takes a lot of knowledge and money to keep a car that old safe and on the road. If you are planning on learning as you go…recognize that you may spend more time walking than driving as you learn.
DriveRightCarBuying@reddit
I had an 86 944 as my daily in high school about 10 years ago.
It constantly needed work — and these cars have only gotten older since. While I have an incredible soft spot for the 944, I do not recommend them to basically anyone unless they have deep pockets and absolutely love how they look.
If you still want something light and fun, look at 06-13 Miata’s.
naterpotater246@reddit
I feel like nobody should have to tell you that this is a terrible idea. You really should just get a honda, mazda, or toyota as your first car and worry about a project car later when you've established a reliable form of daily transportation.
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
to be clear I am still in high school ( I have two more years) and we have two other cars. I am kinda wanting this to be a project car.
Puzzleheaded_You4586@reddit
If you want an easy to work on older car, why not buy an old air-cooled VW Beetle? Your dad already knows something about them and they're easy to wrench on and parts are very available. Later on, if you want it to go fast, there are many many options for the air-cooled VW engine. Larger displacement, better carburetor, the list is almost endless. There are body kits to make it an off road vehicle or wings and wide fenders to make it street. The bottom line is a 1984 944 will be a money pit.
navlgazer9@reddit
Who uses the other two cars ?
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
mom and dad
naterpotater246@reddit
I don't think this is a good project car to learn on at all. Parts will be scarce and expensive, and I've only heard things about german cars being hard to work on. Get a Miata instead.
fiddycixer@reddit
This right here. Parts scarcity is the number one concern. I'm pretty good with a wrench (and there's plenty of forums and YouTube to get specific). I have the resources to pour into a German project car (would be a BMW 635 CSi- because my dad had one) and I'd still opt for a 80's or 90's mass production type. Miata, Camaro, Mustang because the parts alone are easier to source. I can't imagine what finding a wiring harness for 30 year old niche German sports car would be like. And expect to pay dearly for it when you do find one.
YeahIGotNuthin@reddit
These are beautiful and unique.
The internet is equal parts ai slop, porn, conspiracy theory / disinformation, and German car repair videos, so you should find some 944 info on rennlist and pelican parts and PCA to read up on what makes these cars so challenging to keep up now that they are old.
And they are old, really really old. It would be a project car you work on and sometimes drive. Like, if your parents split up and started dating people as old as a 944, it would be sad and weird but it wouldn’t even be disgusting. You would be like ”fine, I GUESS, whatever makes you happy mom, just don’t expect me to call him ‘dad’ or ask his advice on anything, except tennis since he’s a tennis coach.”
A better idea would be something Japanese and newer, a car that’s the age of ”Ewww! Mom, NO! You CAN’T date him, we played LACROSSE together! GROSS!”
TealSapphire@reddit
I have a difficult time getting parts for 1996 Toyota. Just imagine getting parts for a 1984 Porsche. Don’t be dumb
Puzzleheaded_You4586@reddit
I feel like you should start with something less complicated and expensive to learn on. I get it, you want to be the young guy with a sports car, but jumping into a Porsche as your first project is not a good idea.
I wanted to restore a 67 Mustang when I was about your age, but dad said no. Took me another two years to move out into an apartment, then I was 32 before I could afford an old car to restore.
Car restoration is an expensive hobby - especially a Porsche model that you don't often find in salvage yards. The car I chose to restore was a 1958 Metropolitan that I paid $4500 for. After everything was done - and mind you, I did most if it myself - my receipts totaled over $12K.
I would highly recommend you finding an American car you like that has a healthy aftermarket parts presence.
Rough-Transition-954@reddit
If you plan to use it to get somewhere RELIABLY, look elsewhere.
Total-Improvement535@reddit
terrible idea tbh
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
ok lol thanks
51line_baccer@reddit
Get an old avalon and you wont be disappointed and save some money
Cyberdink@reddit
How to fix old cars
KeanuIsACat@reddit
Good news! Most are easier to fix. I have two cars in the driveway, an old Tundra I basically rebuilt, and a newish Kia Kona EV that for the life of me I can't get to run.
Jumpy_Childhood7548@reddit
Really poor choice as a first car, and if you don’t know how to drive a stick, even worse. Will cost you more to own it than to buy it, parts are getting hard to find, service is expensive, not as safe as newer cars, and not even that fast. Get something newer, that is Japanese.
2ndharrybhole@reddit
Ideally you’d have done some research before making any purchase like this…
Exciting_Weight2610@reddit
Serious idea: check mechanical shops nearby if they can service your car. There is nothing worse than getting your car on 50-100 miles trip every few weeks because something doesn’t sound right.
3Green1974@reddit
I own two older Porsches. An 89 911 and a 74 914. There is a ton of information available online from owners that cover most of the things that you’ll need to know. There are also a ton of YouTube videos that will walk you through basic maintenance. That’s what I’ve done for my cars.
As for parts, some things will be expensive, some won’t. The 944 was an evolution of the 924 which was in partnership with VW. So, there could be some generic/basic parts shared with VW. But I mean generic.
Two main websites to check are autoatlanta.com and pelicanparts.com. Pelican has instructional videos that are very helpful. Also, get a Hanes manual ( https://us.haynes.com/products/porsche-944-4-cylinder-83-89-haynes-repair-manual?srsltid=AfmBOorvLjncp9YJLtT_ujEyGXxfrnoEH17MLv9DsfUkJPEDupb04yv0 ). They’re not always the best at explaining things, but they help with part numbers and things like that.
Finally, have fun with it. It’s old enough that it should be fairly easy to work on, and modern enough 5at you won’t need to worry too much about frame rust. The first couple years of the 944 could out handle the 911, so it’s a very capable car to learn how to drive in.
One other thing, my first job was working at a full service gas station. I worked there for 3 years in high school and learned a lot of basic maintenance (fluid changes, belt replacement, etc). But one thing I specifically learned about the 944 is that you have to be careful jacking it up. I was eager to get to change a tire (because Porsche) and went to jack it up like a normal car. I ended up crunching some of the fiberglass.
badhoopty@reddit
if you dont know anything about cars but want a project car, a 944 is not a good choice unless your fam is rich as shit and you can farm the work out.
JEMColorado@reddit
There’s a saying that there’s nothing more expensive than cheap Porsche.
Cool-Bunch6645@reddit
Sadly you’ll never find the parts this is gonna need. I have a 30 year old Nissan with vast aftermarket support and it’s still not good enough
Aggravating-Food3368@reddit
If you can't afford a new one you can't afford to run an old one, that's why it's cheap it's bankrupted owner
UltimateTankOwl@reddit
do it man!!! you will learn valuable skills from working on your first car and you will really enjoy having something unique and raw
VeeDubDave81@reddit
I have rescued several old cheap Volkswagens. If this is something you are serious about buying understand that you are going to be buying a BOAT not a car. Bust Out Another Thousand. This is also a vehicle that you are going to need a good mechanic to work on. Modern people do not particularly like working on old things. That being said if this is your passion then go for it but understand what you are getting into.
TweeksTurbos@reddit
Well a sachs clutch kit for it is about $550 on rock auto but the same kit for a 900 turbo that same year is $156. The sachs kit for an ‘84 camaro is $105
tads73@reddit
"Know" a good mechanic. Maybe marry one.
HojonPark4077@reddit
A 944 does not use air cooled VW or air cooled Porsche engine parts. You need to learn how to change oil and filter first and buy a floor jack, an oil change kit, and some jack stands. All this can be bought used. Learn all of this on youtube. Also, join the local 944 club. Old timers love teaching young guys about cars. A 944 is a good car to learn about cars. It is a simple liquid cooled 4 cylinder engine and a 5 speed manual transmission. My 16 year old nephew just bought a 1985 944 as his first car. He is a sophomore in HS. He paid around $14k for his 944 in Boulder.
There is something you can do before buying a car that you know nothing about…especially if you know nothing about cars.
Arrange a PPI. When buying a car, you can request and pay for a “pre purchase inspection.” Porsche guys like to do this. You arrange with the seller for the car to be inspected and tested by an impartial mechanic (you have to pay for the PPI) around $300. Then the car gets tested by a professional and they give you a report that tells you what the car needs and anything that is abnormal or broken.
They perform a leak down test to see if the engine has good compression in all cylinders. The lift the car up on a hoist and check the underside of the car. They check the wheel bearings, brakes, brake pads, brake lines, exhaust, shocks, handling, tire life, ….just about everything on the car and they give you the report. Then you are in a better position to negotiate the sale price of the car.
One other thing I noticed when looking at Marketplace for information about used 944 cars (for my nephew), there are a ton of used 944 parts available.
Go for it.
Rando5558@reddit
whatever you do, make sure you have a reliable backup car for when your project inevitably breaks down.
Calendar-Careless@reddit
Buy a service manual and learn to do things yourself.
Old-guy64@reddit
The 924/944 were pretty bulletproof back in the day. Now, they need a fair amount of love and attention. Best use as a second car/toy.
You will need to research prices for parts. That will be part of the budget.
You will need to find a Haynes manual or equivalent. And hopefully YouTube will also be able to show you how to complete some of the work.
If you have a nearby Porsche mechanic, you might want to befriend that person and start sweeping up his shop and cleaning and running errands in exchange for him teaching you how to work on the car.
And you’re going to become pretty popular at the Parts store for specialized tools to work on the car.
espressocycle@reddit
944 was a mainstream car so the parts aret't as expensive. They appear to be widely available. The car is well balanced and not too fast. I think this is a GREAT first car to learn how to work on cars with. You certainly can't use parts from VW vans on it though.
biggunzcdb1@reddit
How old is old to you? My first car was a 69 skylark
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
im 16 so anything older than that lol
biggunzcdb1@reddit
I've seen a lot of these porches turned into track cars as they don't hold value as well as rear engine porches but do handle well.
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
16
Disastrous-Group3390@reddit
How deep are your pockets? Do you posssess (or know the possessor of) maintenance and repair knowledge and skill regarding ‘80s Porches? For the first question, go online and price things like cap/rotor/wires, clutch kit, pads/rotors…be aware you’re one failure away from a ornament.
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
I know a man who owns a older mustang and he works on it 24/7 and he thinks he would be able to teach me/ know some things about it.
B-RapShoeStrap@reddit
I think this is a clue, he's working on it "24/7"
If you're ok working on your car 24/7, go for it
TealSapphire@reddit
Wrong answer.
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
what's the right one?
dosko1panda@reddit
Having some know how isn't enough. 944s are notorious money pits, even among German cars. If you need parts, praying might be the right answer.
Training_Arm_5610@reddit
I own 2 old BMW m3s have restored 3 older BMW and built my own car. I own a machine shop and I am not poor. And I would run away from a 944 Though they drive wonderful
Duukt@reddit
My first car was an '83 944! It was given to me by my relative so it was well maintained. I drove it from mid 95 to late 99.
It's a front engine RWD and did about 20mpg. It's a bit underpowered but will still do 90+ easy without realizing.
Very reliable drivetrain that never gave me a probably in the 4.5 years that I had it. I was pretty sloppy with oil changes back then too but it didn't have any issues.
Very stable in snow despite being RWD but keep the speeds low. Back then, I had "radial" tires so I don't know if they're the all-season equivalent.
No power steering so you're going to build some muscle turning at low speeds. Be careful going over bumps or potholes as the steering will turn pretty hard. Easy to lose control if you try to one-hand it so be careful when shifting.
The stereo was a nightmare that I ended up disabling as it was draining the battery. If you have vampiric draw, that should be your first suspect.
The locking mechanism seemed to freeze every winter. I had to spray a defrosting chemical into the key slot a lot.
The car is very low. I tried to drive through a flooded street and it sucked in water and killed the engine. Avoid flooded roads at all costs.
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
thank you so much!
GeneWorried9228@reddit
The Porsche 944s are not hard to work on , I also wanted to buy one for many years, I’ve done research on maintaining them, parts are a bit more expensive than a regular kind of car of that age, but not too crazy, when I checked last the timing belts were a couple hundred bucks and clutch was like 4-500$ so not like super cheap but not 10s of thousands like some guys are saying. You can definitely learn on this car and it’ll be fine, you really need to start studying about these kinds of ignition systems and fuel systems and timing belts since most cars have more advanced technology they aren’t around much and they require a lot more finesse. But I think if you’re getting a good deal on it and you have the will to learn then yes buy it and don’t worry about the haters. 944s aren’t like the rear engine Porsches that everyone is scared of. Buy it and let us know how it goes
GeneWorried9228@reddit
I should say if you don’t plan on working on this car yourself then the labor for a shop to continue maintaining it will probably run you into the 10a of thousands.
Rastus77@reddit
That maintenance on a Porche is expensive. So is insurance. Gas. Parts. Try a VW Beetle. Much cheaper to own and operate. You can also make it very fast.
WorkerEquivalent4278@reddit
Especially if you’re somewhere where this car needs to pass emissions, you’re in way over your head. Porsche has overly complicated everything, parts are expensive, and unless you do all the work yourself it will cost you 5 figures to get it to safe driving condition. If you want something cool and fast, get American iron muscle car because at least the parts are cheap, with the same marginal safety, terrible fuel economy, etc. My Trans Am is an example of this, no AC, 4 speed, 6.6 litre engine, 13-19 mpg (20 if I really baby it).
eldredo_M@reddit
Go over to the Porsche subreddit and ask people with specific knowledge of the 944 they can tell you about pitfalls and what to look out for. At $8500 the car obviously isn’t junk (or they are asking too much).
Overall, I like your attitude and willingness to go on this adventure. You’ll learn a bunch and if you’re lucky, you’ll end up with a decent classic and a bunch of great stories. 😃
sentrygentry@reddit
I love this. As long as you have another car to actually drive reliably while you work on it, I say go for it. There are certainly worse things you could be spending your time on as a teenager.
Longjumping-Log1591@reddit
High school is for learning, you're about to learn alot buying a 944, Had one and they are fun to drive and fun to work on. Find a junkyard with some corpses nearby is my suggestion. I like the way you spelled anchient btw!
Axxsrr@reddit (OP)
dyslexia will be the end of me
xxInsanex@reddit
The makings of a good project car is
Cheap upfront cost for the car itself
Cheap and widespread parts support with a healthy aftermarket selection
Mechanically simple and easy to work on requiring as little specialty tools as possible...this is a big deal if you're learning from scratch
From that sounds of it that car you're looking at only checks 1 of those boxes
Rare-Bet-870@reddit
Germans are notorious for being expensive and high maintenance
cormack_gv@reddit
Do you want transportation or a project? Unless you have money and time to burn, stay away from the Porsche.
Randomperson25764@reddit
Personally id go with something else. Do you have or make a good amount of money, or do your parents at least? If not I’d probably get something that you’ll have an easier time sourcing parts for maintenance and mods. But that’s just me, if you want the Porsche and have the financial backing then send it. Hope you make it badass.
You learn maintenance on forums and your cars manual. Everything you’ll need is in there. I’d find people with the same car and lean on them for some guidance. Watch YouTube videos to get a visual, hopefully there are some for that Porsche.
The problem with this Porsche isn’t the “get in” cost. It’s the price for the maintenance cost, even if you’re doing it yourself. Also at that mileage and that age you’re gonna have to sink a good amount of money into it right away if you want it to be semi reliable. Figure out what has been done like a timing chain or any major high mileage maintenance. If none have been done then you’re probably looking at another 5k-10k in maintenance. That’s just a rough guess cause idk how expensive some stuff will be for a Porsche that old.
Good luck
EuroCanadian2@reddit
You will need to know how to get around without using your cheaply bought but expensively broken Porsche.