I'm thinking of buying a Porsche 944

Hi, I'm looking at a 1985 Porsche 944 S1; it has 77,000 miles on the clock. What should I be looking out for? Thanks

Ruairi Mc Carthy (Mullagh Co Cavan)

Jun 2013 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi Ruairi,

OK, the good news: that model of 944 is probably the cheapest to run and maintain. The bad news: 944s are not cheap to run and maintain. 

Essentially, as with almost all Porsches, 944s are very much over-engineered and built to last. Which is great, and mileages of over 200,000 miles on these cars are not uncommon. But to keep them in fettle, you've got to maintain them carefully and use correct original, or at least very high quality pattern, parts. The problem is that many previous owners have tried to run one on the cheap, and the results can be disastrous.

More good news though is that these early model 944s had the indestructible cast brake calipers, which give much less trouble than the later alloy ones. 

The main mechanical weak point is the tensioner for the camshaft chain, which can snap without warning and the subsequent engine rebuild bill can often be far more than the value of the car.

It would be a good idea to get in touch with the Irish Porsche owners' club, www.porsche-club-ireland.ie, as its members will be able to point you in the  direction of a good one and will be more than happy to offer more detailed technical advice. 

Other than that, best of luck and send us a photo of your pride and joy when you get it!

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe