I test drove a 944 today, but want to talk to an expert

[Evenloder]

Hi Hartlandcarr
Beautiful S2 - it looks very much like the Black S2 I used to have a couple of years ago - gorgeous! Well done, I'm sure it will be loads of fun and your kids will love it too.
Puzzled you are a bit unimpressed with the performance - perhaps just needs a good service? If engine in good nick still should do 0-60 in circa 7 seconds - which surely easily sees off almost any turbo diesel?
My S2 used to fly when you held it in 2nd!

[hartlandcarr]

Yes, I do hope that it can be pepped up a little bit after some attention, but to be fair, my 2.0l turbodiesel probably has more torque and is probably not a dissimilar weight overall.

I've blogged about buying the car: http://justthesam.com/2016/04/hooking-up-with-a-be... and I expect to blog more as I get further to grips with it.

[skinny]

Use the revs. my S2 is not snap your head back quick but if you use all the engine it does spin up ok

[NJH]

Back when mine was a normal weight road car I did a load of 0-60 and 60-0 runs with a data logger. I managed to get a 5.9 out of the car but it was really difficult getting the launch just right. Mid to high 6s was easy peasy though. My tuned Megane R26 for example will be no quicker as once over the stock 230 Bhp traction problems rear their head.

The engine might have over 200 lb/ft if in good health but the power is still all up between 4.5k and a bit over 6k. I graphed torque against speed once for my race car based on dyno plots and all the gear ratios + final drive. It showed that contrary to what a lot of people think you have to rev it out over 6k rpm in every gear to make best progress.

[J4CKO]

The 944 will be quicker, assuming a 140 tdi, it has 68 bhp on paper, but the vag diesels can dyno higher and a 944 can have lost a few, mine felt pretty quick but it had been through a top end rebuild, but those diesels are very punchy in gear so it may be only a bit faster, the s2 does 100 mph in 16 seconds, doubt the skoda is under 20.

[Hallsy01]

A lovely looking S2 there, as blade says, at this age you have to expect a few minor issues - and your list of niggles is very minor imo, just have a proper look inside the sills and around rear suspension mounts to be sure

Even then, all is not lost - sill repairs need not be too costly if caught early enough.

I'd echo the performance comments, maybe it doesn't feel as quick as your tdi, but once you hold the gears I would expect it to be pulling better than your smoker!

I had a 190bhp S a few years back, was a bit slow off the mark, but went well enough once in the go. Have a Turbo now though!

Enjoy

[hartlandcarr]

It's currently at a local Porsche independent having a few things done. I went over the car with a very nice chap who knew his 944s and decided to address the following.

- Cam belt change
- Balance belt change
- Power steering belt change
- Investigate power steering fluid leak - hopefully just new clips needed on a pipe
- Investigate coolant leak - may involve a new pipe
- New brake fluid
- New clutch fluid
- Fix leak on gearbox from side plate
- Test boot release cabin switch to see if it is faulty
- Get new carpet clips for the boot to tidy it up

I have also discovered a lot of rainwater is coming in through the rear hatch latches. The drains work fine on them, but it seems the water goes past the big fat squishy rubber seal, through the closed-over metal panel of the body and then out out of the panel seams internally. The rubber things are in decent condition so a bit hard to see how to prevent it, but I have been recommended to use RTV sealant in there to try to stop the problem. Any thoughts welcome!

[hartlandcarr]

There is some rust in the ends of the sills, but still in unimportant areas. It will need attention at some point in the not too distant future mind you.

[mollytherocker]

None of that is major and it certainly wouldnt worry me.

Good luck!

[Hallsy01]

There are many ways that water can enter a 944, but at the rear, if it's not the latch seals then it could be the light cluster seals.

Both of my 944's suffered with this.

You can test this with a watering can or hose to isolate.

If it is the light clusters, then you will need to remove the clusters, clean them and the rear panel up and refit with new 8mm butyl sealant tape.

Also, in the boot area, worth checking the lock barrel seal and also the drain pipe that runs from the fuel filler area.

[Richair]

Sounds very much like the usual 944 stuff to me! They all leak ATF from the PAS system somewhere, but the pump and the lines from the reservoir are normally the culprit. A seal kit for the pump is only around £25 and its an easy job for a competent mechanic. Coolant leaks are also pretty common (more so on a turbo as there's more plumbing...). As long as any leaks are minimal I don't let them worry me too much, its a Porsche after all

Sounds like your ownership is going well so far though!

[rubystone]

Just for my own interest, does anyone know how much is the service going to be? And if the OP has to have the sills replaced in the near future, as he suggests he will, what does that cost?

I've seen a number of 130,000 miles S2s advertised recently for the £7k mark and am interested in what their value might be assuming that all are typically the same as the OP's....needing a service and belt change and with slightly scabby sills.

[DKL]

I paid about 2k for inner + outer sills, front wings off and rebuilt at the bottom and some work to the floor pans. All painted etc.
I was happy with that as I know its all metal now. I've seen less and more stated but that seemed ok.

[NJH]

Sounds about right to me all in, including paint. If done right should be good for another 20 years.

[tr7v8]

rubystone said:

Just for my own interest, does anyone know how much is the service going to be? And if the OP has to have the sills replaced in the near future, as he suggests he will, what does that cost?

I've seen a number of 130,000 miles S2s advertised recently for the £7k mark and am interested in what their value might be assuming that all are typically the same as the OP's....needing a service and belt change and with slightly scabby sills.

Belts are a bit open ended. The belts alone are <£70 & fitting is around 3-5 hours, but if it needs idlers or top hats & seals then it starts to get expensive. The idlers are around £35-£45 each, the top hats are £25 (from memory) and the seals about the same. My first belt change was £500 a few years ago. And if it needs a water pump then it is another chunk of cash.

[blade7]

On the S2 with 100k + the cam chain and pad is probably a good idea too.

[tr7v8]

blade7 said:

On the S2 with 100k + the cam chain and pad is probably a good idea too.

Well spotted

[rubystone]

So £2k to sort the sills and about a grand to do the belts, chain, idlers, water pump? So a £7k car with over 100k miles on it without paperwork to back up service and belts and with external rust on sills (which means the inside is going to be rotten) is a £10k car once done?

What's the going rate for s good 944 S2 with 100k plus miles on the clock with evidence of sills, belts, service? Is it £10k or do they appear for less?

Just trying to understand the economics. Is it better to pay closer to £12k for a lower mileage car with good history and original sills (once one has inspected the inside by pulling the vents off the doorshuts and using a flexible light at the least) ?

On s couple of cars I looked at, the outer sills didn't have the 'v' indentation that seems to be present on cars with original sills. Is there a pattern part that replaces the outer sills?

Thanks

[edh]

rubystone said:

So £2k to sort the sills and about a grand to do the belts, chain, idlers, water pump? So a £7k car with over 100k miles on it without paperwork to back up service and belts and with external rust on sills (which means the inside is going to be rotten) is a £10k car once done?

What's the going rate for s good 944 S2 with 100k plus miles on the clock with evidence of sills, belts, service? Is it £10k or do they appear for less?

Just trying to understand the economics. Is it better to pay closer to £12k for a lower mileage car with good history and original sills (once one has inspected the inside by pulling the vents off the doorshuts and using a flexible light at the least) ?

On s couple of cars I looked at, the outer sills didn't have the 'v' indentation that seems to be present on cars with original sills. Is there a pattern part that replaces the outer sills?

Thanks

Porsche replacement sills have the diamond AFAIK.

[Hallsy01]

Indeed they do - often the profile is slightly different on aftermarket sill panels as well.

There is one seller on ebay who makes an aftermarket sill panel and has added the jacking diamond, but to my eye, it looks a bit smaller than oe.