ok folks. i have always wanted a porsche since i was 15. now im 36. my driving style has been described as granny with people in th car. if im alone i like to juice it on low basis. i only make about 50 grnd a year. im a semi mechanic, tractor trailers. i want a car that will zip along but dont have to be super fast. i like the 928 lines and the 944,but can only have 1. it will not be a daily driver just summer fun...please help.

 

Well sir if you're lookin for a nice car to cruise around in and have a bit of fun in, you've definitely come to the right place.
I have a 1988 944. There are a few things in this life I love and my car is one of them. Now I haven't had much experience with the 928, but I will tell you the 944 is a great car. The thing about the 944 is it's incredible 50/50 balance between the front and back, meaning you can take turns significantly faster than most cars. The 944 gets between 24mpg and 30mpg, depending on how hard or light you drive it. As far as repairs go I would definitely recommend doing most stuff yourself and since you're a 'semi-mechanic' you shouldn't have any problem doing most if not all of the upkeep and smaller repairs yourself. The only downside that I can think of about my 944 is it chews through some oil (even though this isn't that big of a deal), about a quart every 2-3 months at least, depending on how much you drive it obviously (I have a very small leak and the older engines like to burn a tad of oil here and there sometimes). The other downside would be rust. Make sure you get a rust free car, I didn't take that into account and now its gonna be quite a bit of a hassle to fix. As far as the 944 verses the 928, the 944 is much more available and overall cheaper. So if it were me I would grab a 1989 944 2.7L, a 944 S2, or even a 944 Turbo. Buying a 944 would probably give you a little more leeway with your funds so you could actually do stuff to your 944, such as being able to return the car to showroom condition or upgrading and stuff.
My favorite times with my 944 is rolling down the windows, taking out the sunroof, crankin some tunes, and finding a good stretch of mountain road to conquer, good times.....
If you have any specific questions feel free to ask them and I along with the rest of us on here will do our best to answer them. Good luck in your decision and car searching.

Landen
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1988 Porsche 944

 

It is really hard to compare the two, as they are in two completely different price ranges. You can afford a lot of different Porsches before you can afford a 928. Yes, you can find cheap 928's out there, and you will dump thousands in to them getting and keeping them on the road. They are incredibly hard to work on, and the parts are not cheap. They make a great cruising car though. The 944 is going to be a lot cheaper and easier to work on, though you can dump a lot of money into them as well if you are not careful. You could afford a boxster or 996 before a 928 IMHO when including purchase price and maintenance costs.

 

I posted over on the 928 forum, but since the discussion is here I thought I would contribute.

928vs 944? depends on what you are looking for. They are both very different: the 944 is a quick 4 cyl, well balanced, and handles well, gets good gas mileage (this is based on what I've read, as I have not driven one). The 928 is a powerful V-8 with a nice grumble sans the rear muffler, well balanced, handles well for a 3400 lbs automobile, and gets decent gas mileage (about 17.5-24). It is not that fast 0-60 but respectable. 40-140 is a white-knuckle experience!

As with any p-car, there is no such thing as a cheap one. Do your diligence when researching, PPI for sure. The 928 is like a supermodel, if the only attention you give her is whenyou want tojump in and go, you will have problems. They are high maintenance, so do not neglect her and she won't let you down. The problem with cheap 928s is deferred maint. That can add up quick!

I am not a mechanic, but I do all the work myself. There are enough resources on line, that ANYTHING can be accomplished with regards to working on the 928. I find it more difficult to work on my accord. Parts are kind of high, but not bad or unexpected. I have kept up with the maint on my 86.5 and it has been just as reliable as my accord, expedition, explorer, etc. I have never been stranded or embarrassed. I put about 9000 miles a year. Also, I have put about $2000 in my car over the past 3 yrs, including1 sets of tires, stereo equipment, and other various upgrades. Not bad for a 23 yr old super car I purchased cheaper than a new Toyota. Original sticker around $58000.

I love my 928 and would not give anything for it.

 

thanks guys. im thinking a 944 is what i need.

 

I'm with Doc:

If you can afford to keep a 928 on the road, you can keep 2 944's on the road.

928 = Nasty to work on, expensive parts