OT - 944 as daily driver, How reliable are they?? Options

[rhcb914]

I'm looking for something more fun as a daily beater...umm commuter.

I have a commute of about 100 miles round trip and my daily driver is starting to have transmission issues 04 mazda 6 wagon.

I can go 1 of 2 ways

1) Late model Toyota or Honda...boring ride

or spend the same $$ and

2) mid 80's 944 and maybe a late 90's jeep cherokee

If I have to drive this much I may as well enjoy the ride. How reliable are the mid 80's 944? If I get a realitively low milage one that has been maintained.

[mittelmotor]

I had an S2 that ran like a train. Great handling car!

With rear transaxle, clutch job is about $1500 parts and labor, but you can usually find a smoking deal on one with a bad clutch. Oil change is messy...filter is inverted. Always good to make sure the car has fresh belts for timing and balance shafts. Sometimes the latter can skip a tooth and make the car run really rough.

Also, check the rear hatch glass, as it tends to de-bond itself from the frame. Front control-arm balljoints are another concern, as arm and joint are sold as a unit. I bought some remanufactured assemblies for about $150 a side (core exchange basis).