924Board.org

[Jakkq]

I need to get rid of my current Daily Driver, which is a POS 1997 Chevrolet Blazer. Just paid $1650 for Transmission rebuild, and already has Transmission Slip, so it has to go back in. I am really just tired of it. Everything that needs fixed on it is costing me big.

I am currently in the process of big decision making, whether to keep both my 924 and 928 and continue to fix them up, or sell them both for a much nicer 928. Being the obsessed Porsche Enthusiast that I am, my life cannot go on without owning a Porsche. I'm sure most of you can relate.

My friend is currently looking for a 2006 Hyundai Tiburon, and would sell his 2001 Mazda MP3 to me for a nice $4,000. I would take this offer straight forward but he hasn't been looking for a Tiburon for awhile now, so I'm sure he is going to stick with the Mazda for awhile now.


Do you guys have suggestions on a Daily Driver that would be good for a $5,000 (or below) price tag?

I have heard 944's are pretty reliable if regular maintenance is done, especially Timing Belt etc. and that these can go for a long time without suffering issues if, as stated above, maintained.


In any case, shoot any suggestions!




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1979 Porsche 924- Snailshell
http://porsche924workblog.blogspot.com/

[CorsePerVita]

Speaking from the experience of owning one that "needed a lot" if you get a 944 get the best example you can. There's a lot to look out for on them.

- Original clutch had rubber center, proned to crack. Make sure it's been replaced.
- make sure timing belt and balance shaft belt is done (I wouldn't drive the car till it is)
- Inspect master and slave cyl on clutch for seeping. They go out, a lot. Especially if it's the original. Can't tell you how many times I've read "Why is my clutch pedal stuck to the floor?"
- The power steering systems are usually leaking like a crazy sob by now, make sure the hose to the reservoir isn't leaking, inspect the lower hoses to also check for leaking. I wouldn't worry about a little. But when it's a lot it gets over EVERYTHING and makes a damn mess!
- Just like the 924, the 944 wiper (at least the early ones) are prone to water, if the wipers are noisy, regrease it so it doesn't go bad.
- Remember these are NOT a cis car so there are various sensors responsible for fuel mixture. AFM - potentiometer, and a primitive one and when they go bad you'll get flat spots in your acceleration. IF you drive it and you feel this keep in mind a new AFM is $200-600. Make sure it idles fine, if it doesn't it could be your idle air control valve. There are ways to fix/help them but they're still a pita and hard to find and spendy. Also the O2 sensors on the late models are spendy, 944/1 O2 sensors are cheap (like $20).
- These cars suffer from the same shifter slop, see if it's firm or not
- Very common on the early 944 transmissions to have the pinion gears to whine like a banshee at highway speeds. Get it out for a drive on the highway and listen for high pitched whining. Also listen for grinding on decel, grinding on decel could be a potential dif issue. The biggest issues I've read from owners were the pinion gear (it just whines a little when it gets old, sounds like a damn BANSHEE on it's way out, ask me how i know), and the dif which can be heard if you get it at about 3k and let off. It'll sound like bbs rattling in a can.
- Fuel lines, on some of them they routed them up and over the top, sort of pointing towards the exhaust. Some of them when they fail have caused INSANE engine fires. Check to see IF they were replaced, if so, when. Worth a couple $$$ to replace them for peace of mind if they're old.
- Old brake lines, check these as well
- Temperature - on an early 944/1 the temp should run at about half, little below depending on the thermostat. If someone put a crappy aftermarket stat they'll sometimes run upwards of the 3rd bar. Normal operation is fans in low speed, stat opens at a bit before or at half and the temp will start to drop and then once it is open it'll stay close to that temp. The later 944s have a different temp gauge. So if it runs to a different temp, be wary something is "not normal".
- Make sure the fusebox looks good. The grounds that go up in the fusebox are a headache to get to and cause all kinds of off the wall issues.
- Lookout for any odd idling problems or fluctuating power when it's cold. The DMEs if they were exposed to any issues with the wiring have been known to have soldering issues where it'll run like crap when cold and when they heat up they'll run normal. The guys at 944online can also test them for free.


That said.... if you keep on top of your maintenance items (Belts, water pump, rollers and checking your sensors one a season or so and check clutch wear every 15k or so) they are fantastic. Loved my 944. I hated working on it. Like nothing else. But that car was insanely fun. I drove that thing in every weather condition at all times of the year. I had dunlop sport winters on it and it never batted an eyelash. They are fantastic cars.

Not one time did the car EVER leave me on the side of the road. But I had mostly gone through the car to quite an extent. But it also cost a lot to do so. I really wished I had bought one that was a good example instead of the first one I fell in love with at first sight. Take your time if you get one and find one that is worth dropping the money on.

I still enjoy my 924 more due to all the lack of creature comforts. But with a loud stereo, good tires, and a nice day out, the 944 is fun to drive around.
_________________
- 1977 Porsche 924 2.0 N/A (Trackday Project)
- 1979 Porsche 924 2.0 N/A (The other daily)
- 1980 Porsche 931 (Daily)
- 1987 Lamborghini Jalpa
- 1999 Ducati 900SS

[CorsePerVita]

Any updates Jakkq?
_________________
- 1977 Porsche 924 2.0 N/A (Trackday Project)
- 1979 Porsche 924 2.0 N/A (The other daily)
- 1980 Porsche 931 (Daily)
- 1987 Lamborghini Jalpa
- 1999 Ducati 900SS

[the_mad_electrician]

My wife has a 2001 Blazer it has been nothing but a headache. Blown head gasket, timing chain, fuel pump and caliper all within a few months...
_________________
81 924 N/A

2004 Ranger "Edge"

2005 Mazda 6

[joejax]

Get a Honda, any year, any model, they are marvels of engineering.
_________________
I got nothin'
Uhhh...you got any pics?

[thirdgenbird]

here is my current stable:

87 924s
09 ford fusion
95 ford bronco

the 924s (944) is a great car but i am very happy that it is not my daily driver. it runs and drives great but at the end of the day it is an old sports car, things break, things wear out, nothing is available locally, and parts are expensive.

i bought the 2009 ford fusion several months ago (traded a 2005 f150) because i am getting married this summer and wanted a safe, reliable, and fuel efficient car for my fiancee to drive. i am very impressed with how composed the car is for a fwd car with so much room inside. (it is a stretched mazda platform) the car also rides very well and i was able to achieve 36.2 mpg (@ 68mph average) on my last highway trip. it is a great sedan but out of your current price range. if you decide to spend more, i highly recommend looking at one:




next up id the bronco. this was bought recently to function as my daily driver. i absolutely LOVE it and my fiancee seems to really like it too.

cons:
bouncy ride
not very fuel friendly (but neither is your blazer)

pros:
cheap ($2300)
cheap insurance
4wd (snow)
trailer hitch
easy to park (makes very tight turns)
parts are cheap
proven and reliable platform (f150)
cheap parts
everything is available locally

here is a quick comparison biased on a small (10k) town in iowa. local means on the shelf.

water pump
-bronco $30, available locally
-924s/944 $300, order only

brake master cylinder
-bronco $50, available locally
-924s/944 $200, order only

rear wheel bearings
-bronco $20, available locally
-924s/944 $57, have not asked locally

i was debating getting a second (more street friendly) porsche as my daily driver but the bronco's pros outweigh the cons by a mile in my opinion. the bouncy ride is till not as rough as my modified 924 and the fuel costs are offset by utility.

a little salt belt rust

comrortable (for an older truck) cabin


excellent utility (currently holding 944/951 parts)


_________________
17in caymans, koni yellow coilovers, hypercoil springs, kla solid upper mounts, 968 sway bars, kla drop links, kla strut brace, fidanza flywheel, dansk catback, wilwood front calipers, ss brake lines, e-codes, 944 duckbill, manual rack,momo steering wheel

[Jakkq]

It is a lot of decision making. I am very bad at coming up with decisions in the first place.

I think I will keep all 3 vehicles for now. Even if I were going to sell the 924 and 928, they still need some work before I would actually consider putting a price tag on them. The blazer may not be the greatest car to have right now, but I think I am going to wait until my friend sells his Mazda, and keep that in place of the blazer.
_________________
1979 Porsche 924- Snailshell
http://porsche924workblog.blogspot.com/

[joecitizennn]

Sounds like you have made up your mind, but if you ever get the wild hair to come il way I would sell you my 87 944 auto. Is is mechanically quite sound with fresh front engine service. In my experience the autos are quite reliable, the only weakness being the flex plate. My car shows no signs of problem, but the flex plate fix can be done by installing a cheap used pressurre plate, disc and flywheel from a manual resulting in a permenant fix.
_________________
87 924s
88 924SE gone
447 hp cgt clone
87 924S gone
84 944 sold
83 944 sold
89 turbo S LSD, ABS etc
86 951 white rocket
85 944 sport everything.
84 944 sold.
87 944 sold