1984 Porsche 944 Reviews

Oil cooler seals have started to leak.

Pinion gear is starting to growl.

The key to appreciating almost any 944, is understanding that in order to keep it roadworthy and running as it was meant to perform, it needs to become your new girlfriend.

This is a car that you cannot simply put gasoline into and drive about. It requires constant detailed inspection and attention.

However, there is such an abundance of parts available on the Internet, I honestly believe that you could build one just by ordering all the necessary parts. Unlike most older sports cars, 944 parts can be readily found.

Its design still draws looks. Not that many older sport cars do. Mine was repainted Porsche Guards Red and refitted with 16" Fuchs wheels, and it draws a crowd wherever it is parked.

It can be smoked off the stoplight by just about everything on the road, as it is not a turbo - until the first set of tight curves, and then it shines.

Coming down the steep mountain roads; it just sets itself up; all you have to do is just hang on.

Plus, I am 6'3" and it is very roomy.

Still, after all these years - a sharp looking, road car that is a joy to drive.

The clutch rubber center is on its way out, and that will be an expensive fix.

The dash is cracked badly.

944's are great everyday cars. They are a blast to drive. They have an enormous (for a sports car) trunk that is quite useful. Don't think of them as a 4 seat car, even though they do have rear seats. Yes, you can get people back there, but is is tiny and cramped.

Only buy one of these cars if you know how to turn a wrench, because they are getting old and the maintenance is expensive. The best thing you can do when buying one is to get a pre-purchase inspection done. Also, DO NOT buy the cheapest one. The odds are that even if it was free, it would still cost you more than buying a good one in the long run.

Don't let the potential problems scare you away from 944's. They are great cars for the money, and can be used everyday.

Happy motoring!

Car started in gear with clutch engaged.

Odometer failed.

Radiator fan failed.

Tachometer worked intermittently.

Lighting over the fuel gauge and temperature gauge failed.

Emergency brake light came on when disengaged.

Water pump failed.

Windshield wash failed.

Wiper arm came loose.

Engine hood and rear hatch would not stay open.

Transmission bearings seemed to be worn.

Harsh rumbling/vibrating at idle.

Pinhole leak in gas line, which sprayed fuel on engine (resulted in intense gas fumes in the cabin)

Blown fuel line, which resulted in the car's demise.

I only owned the 944 for less than a month, but in spite of all the reliability issues, failed systems, less than adequate power delivery, poor fuel consumption, etc. it was an absolute hoot to drive - the chassis was amazing, with perfect weight distribution and a low centre of gravity.

I own a 1998 M3, which has outstanding performance, but the 944, even with its narrower and taller tires, still out-cornered the M3 with little to no drama.

The 2.5L non-turbo I-4 really had to be pushed hard just to keep up with traffic, but once at highway cruising speeds and above, it handled like a dream!

The seating position is very low and awkward to settle into, thanks to the low-set and nonadjustable steering wheel, but once seated, it was surprisingly comfortable for long trips. The seats aren't nearly supportive enough for lateral g-forces, but felt extremely luxurious compared to the M3's very firm sporty seats. Controls were rather heavy and notchy, but it was a welcome touch.

In the short month or so that I owned the 944, I had to get about $1500-$2000 worth of repairs done - none of which seemed to address the running issues. The broken radiator fan wasn't much of a problem, provided the heater was cranked and stop-and-go/idling traffic was avoided. There were however more than a few occasions when I was unfortunate enough to be caught on the QEW towards Hamilton, where the engine would overheat, and the only thing I could do to fix the problem was hope for traffic to hum along, and air-cool the engine.

The 944 met its demise shortly after some 1/4 mile runs, when the staff informed me of an oil/gas leak, and sent me to the pits to investigate the problem. They later brought me what looked like a broken fuel line, which they assumed had come off of my car. While parked, I could find no evidence of leaking oil or fuel, though the gas smell, which I had gotten taken care of a couple weeks earlier, had suddenly reappeared. I drove carefully to the nearest gas station, and about a block away - while stopped - something blew up near the front of the engine compartment, and the engine caught fire. By the time the fire was put out, there was so much fire damage - the paint on the hood was burnt off, all the belts and hoses had melted, the radiator fan was hanging on by a thread, and some charred lump was resting on the pavement after the 944 was towed to the scrapyard.

I had plans to swap the underpowered I-4 with an LS2 Corvette engine, which I'd heard are cheap, small and light - only 70 lbs heavier than the four banger. It's too bad the 944 came to such an untimely end - with a strong, healthy powerplant, it would have made a truly thrilling track car!

I would like to own a Porsche again, but I would have to save a lot of money, to either find one in very good running condition, or to spend the money to get it fixed up.