A Malaysian, Daily-Driven Porsche 944

It’s April 2023. I’m just about to graduate from university, and fresh off a course in ski instructing, I’m freshly certified, too. It’s been a good year, and it’s time to celebrate…but how? 

“A car would be nice.” That was my thought process, at the end of April 2023.

I grew up in Malaysia, where cars are always the main mode of transport, and they’ve always been a big part of my life as a result. I would take my Hotwheels with me on every car ride, and I’d imagine myself driving “my car” to the moving background. 

I always wanted to own a cool car.

On one of those nights, sitting in my friend’s apartment at 4am, scrolling through every car page in existence, an article popped up on Pistonheads. ‘Porsche 944 | The Brave Pill.’

I turned to my friend and said: “Bro, this is it.”

I felt it, one of those gut feeling moments in life where you just knew what the go was. I called the seller, lined up a visit to go see the car, and it was love at first sight. I bought the car on the spot, on the 21st of August 2023.

This is my only car. When I bought it, everyone told me that I was crazy, buying a 40 year old car, in the condition that it was, as a daily driver. I’ve driven 14,000 miles so far, and of course there were – and still are, 40-year old car problems.

The electrics are funky, the roof leaks, the engine idles at random RPMs because it just feels like it. Aside from that, the side sills were rotten, and the rear hatch latch decided to latch when it wanted to. Resolving these issues (or just living with them) are all part of the charm, right?

But what has happened over the last two years I could’ve never imagined. The 944 has been my entry into the world of cars. It gave me the opportunity to go to car meets, drives, and experience car culture at its fullest, especially within the Porsche community.

The number of incredible and interesting people I’ve met, some of whom I now call friends, is amazing. To learn so much about them and from them, and also connect on a human level, is one of the greatest things about this whole experience.

I’ve been able to learn so much about the brand, the history, Porsche cars themselves and what they represent. The opportunity to go and see some of the brand’s greatest hits from the first ever 911 Turbo to the L’Art de L’automobile 968 and everything in between, before and after, is still something that I can’t quite believe.

My 944 gave me a new understanding and appreciation towards the marque, and what it means to own a Porsche.

For me, all of this still feels like I’m only at the beginning, and there is so much more to learn and experience in this space, and I can’t wait to do more of it. The smiles and miles will keep going up, and to whoever is reading, I hope to see you on the road!