For our fourth and final pair of $2,000ish project cars, we’ve got a pair of non-functional European cars from the 1980s. They’re both four-cylinders with five-speed sticks and rear-wheel-drive, but that’s about where the similarities end. Which one is a better candidate to return to functionality? That’s what we aim to find out.
After yesterday’s Pontiac and Tuesday’s Lexus, one thing is abundantly clear: Y’all aren’t fans of good-running but banged-up cars. The gap yesterday wasn’t quite as big as it was for the Toyotas, but the Geo Storm still beat the Grand Prix by a huge margin. A couple of you who voted for the Grand Prix only wanted it for its engine, and I get that. Donating its engine to a less-abused car might be the best use of that thing.
In fact, I have an idea: Somebody buy the Grand Prix for its engine, transplant it into a Fiero or something, and then I’ll fly out and buy the Storm and drive it back, and stop and pick up the nice Grand Prix seats on the way to shoehorn into the Storm. It’s a win-win!
I know that the mere mention of European cars is enough to send some of you running for the hills. Their reputation for complexity and high maintenance precedes them, and the prevailing wisdom is that you have to really love them to put up with the hassle. But I cut my car-guy teeth on a Fiat and a small fleet of Volkswagens and Audis, and I’ve had a Saab and a BMW since then, and I’ve generally found the Europeans easy to work on. Reliability is hit or miss, and some parts can be expensive, but the actual wrenching isn’t hard at all. I wouldn’t hesitate to dig into either one of these two cars. But as always, it’s not my opinion that counts. Let’s check them out and you can tell me what you think.
1984 Porsche 944 – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Sammamish, WA
Odometer reading: 99,000 miles
Operational status: Was running, now has an electrical problem
It wasn’t that long ago that $2,500 bought a decent 944. I’ve checked out a couple myself over the years. But the entire used car market has gone insane, and now that same amount can only get you into a busted one like this. The seller bought this car last October and had it running for a while, but now the alarm goes off every time they hook up the battery. Whether or not it still starts and runs isn’t clear, but obviously it isn’t drivable in this state.
The Porsche 944’s drivetrain has a couple of cool things in common with a very different car: the original Pontiac Tempest. Both have a four-cylinder engine that was made from half of a V8, driving a rear-mounted transaxle – except, of course, that Pontiac did it first. Hardcore Porschephiles might not find that as interesting as I do, but that’s just tough. The fact that this car was running not too long ago is encouraging; it means that everything is basically there and intact. You just have to figure out what’s going on with that alarm.
Now, that’s not to say this is going to be easy. The interior is completely disassembled, though the seller swears it’s all there. The seller intended to revive the leather seats by painting them (apparently it’s a thing; I had no idea), so they’re taken apart and scuffed up. The good news is that since everything is already disassembled, accessing the wiring harness is easy, so figuring out the alarm problem should be a piece of cake. (Famous last words, I know.)
Outside, it’s classic Porsche 944: Guards Red paint and phone-dial wheels. It needs a polishing, but there’s no rust or damage. One taillight lens is cracked, but I bet you could find one without much trouble.
1985 Peugeot 505 STI – $2,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0-liter OHV inline-4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Portland, OR
Odometer reading: 200,000 miles
Operational status: Doesn’t run, has a bad fuel pump
Peugeot left the US market so long ago that a lot of enthusiasts don’t have any direct experience with them. The best way I can describe this car is that it’s a French Mercedes 300D (with a diesel engine) or a French BMW 5 Series (with a gas engine). It’s comfortable, decent-handling, and well-built. I’ve never driven a diesel 505, but I have driven an STI like this one, and I liked it a lot. Unfortunately, you can’t drive this one until you do some work.
This car’s engine is a 2.0-liter inline four, with an old-school overhead valve design. It’s fuel-injected, and sends 97 horsepower to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. Or at least it would, if the fuel pump worked. Just to dispel the myth of parts being unobtainable for French cars, I’d like to point out that RockAuto carries the fuel pump. It looks like it’s an inline electric unit, not an in-tank one, so replacing it shouldn’t even be all that hard. Of course, we don’t know how long it has been sitting, or what other problems you might uncover once you get it running. But that’s a tomorrow problem.
French cars are almost universally comfortable inside. Even the little Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 that I have rented in the past had nice seats. This 505 looks like it’s no exception, with leather seats in good condition, and all the comfort and convenience stuff you’d expect to find on a high-end car in 1985. Of course, you can’t really find out how much of it works until you get the thing running again.
It’s nice and straight outside, and the paint looks good, though it’s hard to tell through the dust. It has the original wheels, which I think are the weird Michelin TRX type, with metric rim diameters. Normal tires won’t fit. Luckily, however, you can still get TRX tires, too. They’re not cheap, but they’re out there.
These cars are nothing to be afraid of. They just go about things in a different way than what you might be used to. And as someone who has driven examples of both of these, I can tell you that the juice is very much worth the squeeze. One is an excellent-handling sports car legend, and the other is a supremely comfortable sedan that has been proven reliable in some of the roughest parts of the world. Sure, they need a little help right now, but get them sorted, and they’ll reward you. Which one would you take on?
There as LS swap kits for the 944, so it gets my vote.
Although a 430hp Peugeot would be interesting. More fabrication.
I have a rational hatred of these Peugeot’s in that the raised headlights remind me of a look my stepmother used to make with her lips. I fucking hate that bitch, and these cars unfortunately come along with the ride. Sorry not sorry.
Cheap, janky European cars? This seems like the start of a Top Gear episode. I’m waiting for Hammond to spectacularly crash one of these and for Clarkson to say something racist.
As for my vote, I went with the Porsche. Yeah, its a bad idea. Yeah, I know better. Yeah, I’m going to be on a first name basis with all tow truck drivers in my county. Still, the 944 is cool and this is a cheap-ish way to own one. This vehicle might be four wheeled regret, but it’ll look great propped up on cinder blocks in my yard. And I could finally say I have a Porsche.
Going with the 944. I know a local retired guy who restores Audis, Porsches and Corvettes, but doesn’t really advertise. He used to daily 944s and then tracked one for awhile. I’d be willing to bet he could get today’s example running in an afternoon. Either that, or a diagnosis of “nope”, thus saving myself a bunch of time.
For everyone (like me) who came of age during the 80’s, the 944 was an aspirational car. Even for die hard UhhhMurrican car guys of the time (me, once again), it got respect, even though it really wasn’t all that quick – it was just cool as hell. For that price, I’d dance with an electrical devil if it meant putting one that doesn’t look like trash in the garage – even now.
I’d be all over that 944 if it were closer.
Man I really like both of these. Plenty of SBSDs where “neither” is the obvious answer, but this one is “both”!
Out of the two, I think I’d take the Porsche, if the interior is a total mess you can cage it and throw some racing seats in and still have an amazing chassis for autocross or track days. The Peugeot is worth saving, but “just needs….” from a dealer is always a red flag.
Tough call. But the Peugeot is from the “look! we have rulers!” era of styling, and I always liked the looks of the transaxle Porsches.
I’d only really want a 944 to do a swap, anyway. This one has the right transmission and is half apart already. It’s my pick.
I’m not one of the Autopes that’s into Frenchies.
Was all set to vote “No scary Porsche. Yes, comfy, low-power, unique cruiser.” Except the Peugeot is being offered by a dealer. If they can’t be bothered to replace the fuel pump, then they might be worried about something else.
Still went with the intact car.
(Edit: Damn! I just broke a tie! This is a close one, albeit early in the morning.)