I've owned several of each and I vote Miata. The Porsche is frustratingly slow and frustratingly expensive to repair and maintain ($200 ignition wire sets, for example). Every 944 part comes with the shiny happy person tax that comes with anything you buy for a Porsche. Conversely, the Miata was always fun to drive, had great steering and was laughably inexpensive to repair and maintain (complete clutch kit for $129 for example)
Yeah, the $100 Miata clutch is a lot easier to stomach than the $600 944 clutch... and way easier to replace, or so I've read.
Well the 944 is up to date on maintenance stuff (including the clutch, yay), with the exception of the timing belt. The owner hasn't done it in his two years of ownership and he didn't know when it was done previously. The PS pump is dead and disconnected but that's not a huge deal. Aside from that it seems like the biggest issues are indeed the paint and the seats.
I'm a little more worried about the Miata not having much of a history now... since it turned up in a wrecker lot I have no idea how long it's been driven with a bad headgasket, and I don't know what else might need attention because of it. It also doesn't look like that big dent is the kind that will just pop out. I'll try to go see it next week, but I may still be leaning towards the 944...
Okay, the Miata headgasket is indeed blown. The owner got it at auction last month, and according to the paperwork the previous owner parked it when the headgasket failed... three years ago.
Well the 944 followed me home yesterday, and though it cranked and drove around just fine hot and cold, it now refuses to start. So it begins...
Stay tuned for the build thread which will be titled something like, "How to Buy a Porsche the Wrong Way: Get the Cheapest One You Can Find and Don't Bother With a PPI."
Edit: Starts now, had to re-splice the wiring for the reference sensor (I think). Now it's good to go again.
oh how I miss my old 944S...
a no start can also be caused by a bad oxygen sensor fyi. It took us a LONG ass time to figure that one out thanks to a shorting wire in the o2 sensor harness.
That was my first car and I miss it so much but other than a turbo you'll never find me owning one again. parts were hard to find in 1999... cannot imagine finding sunroof gears or a power steering pump rebuild kit today. (only place we could find was in canada...)
most parts can be found in the audi/vw catalog for half what porsche wants for them. at least that was the case back then.
bluescooby wrote: Hmmm, also just found that the Miata was purchased at auction from a wrecker yard last month...
I have a 1984 Porsche 944 I am parting out..hit me up if you need anything.
BBC
Billy_Bottle_Caps wrote: I have a 1984 Porsche 944 I am parting out..hit me up if you need anything.
You don't say? I am actually in need of a few random items... How are the seats?
Mad_Ratel wrote: oh how I miss my old 944S... a no start can also be caused by a bad oxygen sensor fyi. It took us a LONG ass time to figure that one out thanks to a shorting wire in the o2 sensor harness. That was my first car and I miss it so much but other than a turbo you'll never find me owning one again. parts were hard to find in 1999... cannot imagine finding sunroof gears or a power steering pump rebuild kit today. (only place we could find was in canada...) most parts can be found in the audi/vw catalog for half what porsche wants for them. at least that was the case back then.
Yeah the O2 sensor wiring is frayed as well, that's high on the list to get fixed.
And Rockauto has a PS pump for $90, and I wanna say 944Online sells a seal kit for about $25...
Having owned a highly customized 924 and a modified 944 turbo, I'd vote for the Miata.
The Porsche is not as enjoyable as a DD or as a track car, IMO. The hatch is nice or hauling things but the 944 just feels large and ponderous in comparison and the 944's engine is pretty well maxed from the factory without rolling your own supercharger or turbocharger solution, unless you do an engine swap (but then why own a Porsche?).
The 944 will nickle and dime you with small broken stuff, all the time.
The suspension in the 944 is strut in front, which sucks mightily in comparison to the Miata's.
Parts aren't too bad for either with smart shopping.
bluescooby wrote:Billy_Bottle_Caps wrote: I have a 1984 Porsche 944 I am parting out..hit me up if you need anything.You don't say? I am actually in need of a few random items... How are the seats?
pre 1984.5 and post parts are fairly different. interiors were vastly different. (not sure on the seats though.)
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turboswede wrote: Having owned a highly customized 924 and a modified 944 turbo, I'd vote for the Miata. The Porsche is not as enjoyable as a DD or as a track car, IMO. The hatch is nice or hauling things but the 944 just feels large and ponderous in comparison and the 944's engine is pretty well maxed from the factory without rolling your own supercharger or turbocharger solution, unless you do an engine swap (but then why own a Porsche?). The 944 will nickle and dime you with small broken stuff, all the time. The suspension in the 944 is strut in front, which sucks mightily in comparison to the Miata's. Parts aren't too bad for either with smart shopping.
Thanks for the info, I'll probably get it titled and start fixing things here and there. If it's just not gonna work out I can try to sell it off later and not be out too much money...
I can tell you to stay away from Auto Atlanta for parts. Rock auto and Pelican are my two primary go to's for parts.
Bottom line if you enjoy the car, more power to ya. If it becomes a drain or you don't enjoy driving it, then it's probably best to move on.
www.partsheaven.com in cali. Dude was legit back then and I hear he still is now. (dismantler that'll sell you used parts.)
pelican and rock auto are good too.
if getting the urge for nicer stuff, EBS racing in nevada do good work...
The Porshe is going to treat you like a Heroin Hooked Super-model treats a Sugar Daddy. Only you can tell if the ride is worth it.
While the late post indicates that THIS might not be the Miata to buy, do buy a Miata if these are the choices.
Ha, thanks for all the advice guys. A little part of me wonders how much of a mistake I've made, but we'll see how it goes. Like I said, at least if I have to bail I won't have all that much money in it.
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