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Old 11-28-2018, 09:46 AM
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Default 944 S2 as a daily driver?

I currently drive a Ford Mustang GT manual. I like the Mustang, but I have the opportunity to get a 90 944 S2 for a good price and turn it into my daily. Being a Porsche nut and a model I've never owned I'm considering it. Also, I need 4 seats for that rare time when I have to take the whole family with me somewhere, which is why I don't just have a Boxster/Cayman as my daily.

I know with any 944 that the timing belt, water pump, and hoses need to be replaced ASAP if there are no records for them, and I'm planning for that should I purchase the car. Anything else?

Is the 3.0 really the best of the best for the 944? Well besides Rothaus' "hybrid" that he finished.

Thanks
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Old 11-28-2018, 09:55 AM
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The rear seat is a joke. Unless the kids are short. Or you're short.

Other than that, they are great cars.
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Old 11-28-2018, 10:19 AM
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Sitting sideways, 1 adult can make do in the back seat.

The S2's 3.0 also has a small chain between the 2 cams. It's tensioner sits atop a plastic pad/shim. With age, the tensioning pad can break, and if it slips out, can wreak havoc.


Highly recommend replacing the tensioner pad if the car is new to you.
http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/cam-04.htm

FWIW, Clarks Garage is a great source of 944 info.
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Currently
- 1984 944 SP2 racer
- 1977 911 KM Special vintage racer
- 2012 Cayman R (also the wife's)
- 2000 Boxster S (now mine)

- 1995 993 (garage queen)
- 2007 Cayman S (wife's track beast)
- 2017 F350 (tow monster)
- 2018 Jeep Wrangler

Gone but not forgotten
- 1989 944S2
- 1979 RX7
- 1986 944
- 1991 944S2 (in car heaven...)
- 2001 Chevy Suburban 2500 (FIL's beast now)
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Old 11-28-2018, 10:21 AM
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S2 is a great car, and the 3.0 L is a just fine when you maintain it properly.

What is amazing is the cargo space in the back, no problem loading the turkey and all the trimming, plus luggage for the trip to grandma's.

Back seat has more room than 911s of the same period, but do not expect comfort on a long drive.
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There are 3 sides to every story. Mine, yours, and the truth.

91 944 S2 - Mine, Sold
7? 914-6 Vintage racer - Mine
93 964 - Not mine
95 993 - Hers - Sold and will be missed
04 GT3 - ours? Doing double duties at DE, anyway
06 987 - Hers - plan to let son use for DE - My DIY
A few others
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Old 11-28-2018, 11:08 AM
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The Mustang backseat is fairly tiny too. I'm 5'11", and luckily my kids are still small. I usually only have my whole family in the car for short trips around town. Or those odd occasions where I have to pick up both kids for some reason.

Thanks for the Clarks page. I assume they are fairly DIY friendly?
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Old 11-28-2018, 11:12 AM
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I've always liked them, at least the idea of them. Backseat is for a gym bag, not a person. Not nearly as DIY friendly as a Honda, but I guess its all relative.
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Old 11-28-2018, 11:50 AM
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FWIW, if it does become a dedicated track car, and you intend to upgrade to a full harness setup, you'll need to install a roll-bar, which still allows gym bags, but requires actual back seat riders to be small contortionists. Unless maybe if they climb in through the hatch.

If harness setup is the eventual goal, I happen to have a bolt-in roll bar and 5-point seat available.
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- Tony P.

Currently
- 1984 944 SP2 racer
- 1977 911 KM Special vintage racer
- 2012 Cayman R (also the wife's)
- 2000 Boxster S (now mine)

- 1995 993 (garage queen)
- 2007 Cayman S (wife's track beast)
- 2017 F350 (tow monster)
- 2018 Jeep Wrangler

Gone but not forgotten
- 1989 944S2
- 1979 RX7
- 1986 944
- 1991 944S2 (in car heaven...)
- 2001 Chevy Suburban 2500 (FIL's beast now)
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Old 11-28-2018, 12:05 PM
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DIY is all relative. It's not hard...some projects suck a bit. I've done every project so maybe I'm a bad reference for it. Taking the engine out is much harder than a 911 but you probbaly don't need to do that.
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Old 11-28-2018, 12:21 PM
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Check the paperwork. I wouldn't buy one if the clutch hasn't been done recently (they area severe time and effort suck to replace). I would make sure the AC is at least currently working as well.

Sunroofs can be annoying, especially when they slip a gear tooth.
Odometer gears fail/strip fairly easy
Check for the (usual) power steering leaks
As mentioned, timing belts/water pump services are needed and don't forget Tony's recollection of the tensioner pads failing.

Like any nearly 30 year old german car, the plastics can become brittle. Same with electronics - repalcement steros, alarms etc that have been wired in over the years.

Check the battery tray - known to collect water

May have rear 3pt belts depending on the year.

if you can find one, consider a 968 as well.. more hp and tq, 6spd and other upgrades.

While I never "loved" my 944, coming from a large aircooled bias, I did really like it.. Fantastic "touring" car.. Still very analog in feel as well. S2 would have, over my base car, ABS and Airbags which also make it feel a bit more modern.
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Old 11-28-2018, 01:23 PM
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I read the list here and the stuff on Clark's page for checking, are there any additional tips if it is a cabriolet? The one that started my post is a coupe, but then I started looking and I see some cabs for sale as well.
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