2k 944 - am I gonna regret it?
Discussion
Hi, I am getting massively tempted by a 944, either an early lux or a later S2. I want a white one though and the white S2's are really expensive.
I've seen a '83 Lux for just over 2k, and the seller reckons it's in fantastic condition. Is it reasonable to expect that I could find a decent bargain car in good condition for that amount, or am i going to be buying into a world of pain...?
I've seen a '83 Lux for just over 2k, and the seller reckons it's in fantastic condition. Is it reasonable to expect that I could find a decent bargain car in good condition for that amount, or am i going to be buying into a world of pain...?
skinny said:
Hi, I am getting massively tempted by a 944, either an early lux or a later S2. I want a white one though and the white S2's are really expensive.
I've seen a '83 Lux for just over 2k, and the seller reckons it's in fantastic condition. Is it reasonable to expect that I could find a decent bargain car in good condition for that amount, or am i going to be buying into a world of pain...?
You can pick up S2's for £3k, if you think that's really expensive running an old Porsche may not be for you.I've seen a '83 Lux for just over 2k, and the seller reckons it's in fantastic condition. Is it reasonable to expect that I could find a decent bargain car in good condition for that amount, or am i going to be buying into a world of pain...?
Go across to www.tipec.net sign up & you'll find lots of people running 944s at this level. A considerable amount of people on there spanner their own cars as well. Here is a buyers guide http://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5... whhich is worth a read & I'd strongly suggest getting to a local TIPEC regional meet & having a chat & a look over a few 944s BEFORE you buy.
blade7 said:
You can pick up S2's for £3k, if you think that's really expensive running an old Porsche may not be for you.
I kind of have my heart set (rightly or wrongly!) on a white car to match my mx5, and i've not seen an S2 for less than about 5.5k in that colour, which compared to other S2's as you say are typically around 3k do seem fairly expensive...tr7v8 said:
Go across to www.tipec.net sign up & you'll find lots of people running 944s at this level. A considerable amount of people on there spanner their own cars as well. Here is a buyers guide http://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5... whhich is worth a read & I'd strongly suggest getting to a local TIPEC regional meet & having a chat & a look over a few 944s BEFORE you buy.
thanks for the buyers guide, hadn't come across tipec before - i'm not afraid of a bit of spannering 
Bear in mind that that cheap S2 could need a clutch doing £300ish, Belts & idlers £300ish, Chain & tensioners £100ish, Water pump £250ish, Brake calliper plate lift £100ish & that is just parts prices at least double the above if you have to pay someone.
This is why it is essential to get a feel from a good car from someone who knows them. This is why there is a huge disparity in prices & some of the cheaper cars will always be dogs.
This is why it is essential to get a feel from a good car from someone who knows them. This is why there is a huge disparity in prices & some of the cheaper cars will always be dogs.
I had a high mile 944 about 10 years ago. It was a great car but it did take a lot of looking after. I was doing quite high miles but the car averaged £200 in servicing and repairs with a local indy. I remember the number becuase I chose to buy a new car (Civic type R) becuase the repayments were hardly anymore than the Porsche was costing. It wasn't unreliable, its just that lots of bits wore out and the parts are expensive and take longer to take off and put on than on normal cars so the costs mount up. Great car though and I sold it for the same as I bought it for 2 years previously so that was a saving.
I've been running 944s as my only car for quite a few years (13, now I come to think of it), and have never regretted it, my 944S cost £1k about 3 years ago and has been brilliant fun. Naturaly there's the odd gremlin on any 23 year old car, but it very rarely lets me down and consumables are pretty cheap.
Common opinion is that budgeting about £1k a year for normal maintenance (through an independent) is sensible and probably not unreasonable, although I've managed on a fair bit less than that for many of them. So if that doesn't frighten you then I'd say go for it.
Common opinion is that budgeting about £1k a year for normal maintenance (through an independent) is sensible and probably not unreasonable, although I've managed on a fair bit less than that for many of them. So if that doesn't frighten you then I'd say go for it.
cool, thanks for the replies. i think if it's not rusty, the engine has had a recent service, and the clutch and box seem in good order, then i'll go for it - a high miler won't put me off too badly as long as it's been looked after. a grand a year is not too bad, and if i decide i can't cope with two cars then if i choose well, i'll always be able to get back what i paid for it.
skinny said:
cool, thanks for the replies. i think if it's not rusty, the engine has had a recent service, and the clutch and box seem in good order, then i'll go for it - a high miler won't put me off too badly as long as it's been looked after. a grand a year is not too bad, and if i decide i can't cope with two cars then if i choose well, i'll always be able to get back what i paid for it.
what about this onehttp://www.portiacraft.com/cardetail.asp?make=88_P...
I know you wanted white but........
ok, been to see the car - it looks pretty tidy, just two areas of concern...
1) gearbox / diff makes a slight gear-y lash-y type noise when you decellerate in gear, is this normal? (my mx5 does it and has done since i bought it, and nothing has fallen off yet)
2) there is a strange metal plate thing that looks home-made (it's a bit lumpy) in the engine bay, covering the an inner chassis member on the offside - almost like a heat shield but just shielding the chassis - again, is this normal?
there are other bits like a wing mirror needs replacing and bits of dash and boot / bonnet struts but they aren't deal breakers. few minor 50p size spots of rust on the sills but overall pretty rust free it seems.
if anyone can advise on the top two points, if they sound normal or common then i'll grab it!
cheers
1) gearbox / diff makes a slight gear-y lash-y type noise when you decellerate in gear, is this normal? (my mx5 does it and has done since i bought it, and nothing has fallen off yet)
2) there is a strange metal plate thing that looks home-made (it's a bit lumpy) in the engine bay, covering the an inner chassis member on the offside - almost like a heat shield but just shielding the chassis - again, is this normal?
there are other bits like a wing mirror needs replacing and bits of dash and boot / bonnet struts but they aren't deal breakers. few minor 50p size spots of rust on the sills but overall pretty rust free it seems.
if anyone can advise on the top two points, if they sound normal or common then i'll grab it!
cheers
skinny said:
ok, been to see the car - it looks pretty tidy, just two areas of concern...
1) gearbox / diff makes a slight gear-y lash-y type noise when you decellerate in gear, is this normal? (my mx5 does it and has done since i bought it, and nothing has fallen off yet)
Yup they all do it! Change the gearbox oil with something decent & it'll quieten it a tad & make the shift better but they're all noisy. I think the torque tube echoes it up the car.
2) there is a strange metal plate thing that looks home-made (it's a bit lumpy) in the engine bay, covering the an inner chassis member on the offside - almost like a heat shield but just shielding the chassis - again, is this normal?
Yup original German engineering! Vor Sprung f
king durch technic!
there are other bits like a wing mirror needs replacing and bits of dash and boot / bonnet struts but they aren't deal breakers. few minor 50p size spots of rust on the sills but overall pretty rust free it seems.
Struts are £12 each or so & 20 minutes to change, common issue especially when cold. Get the rust sorted ASAP if you buy it, check it is minimal by pulling the grille out of the B Post & shine torch down to see what the sills are like inside. Check the front of the rear arches aren't perforated.
This is all on the buyers guide on the TIPEC site
if anyone can advise on the top two points, if they sound normal or common then i'll grab it!
cheers
1) gearbox / diff makes a slight gear-y lash-y type noise when you decellerate in gear, is this normal? (my mx5 does it and has done since i bought it, and nothing has fallen off yet)
Yup they all do it! Change the gearbox oil with something decent & it'll quieten it a tad & make the shift better but they're all noisy. I think the torque tube echoes it up the car.
2) there is a strange metal plate thing that looks home-made (it's a bit lumpy) in the engine bay, covering the an inner chassis member on the offside - almost like a heat shield but just shielding the chassis - again, is this normal?
Yup original German engineering! Vor Sprung f
king durch technic!there are other bits like a wing mirror needs replacing and bits of dash and boot / bonnet struts but they aren't deal breakers. few minor 50p size spots of rust on the sills but overall pretty rust free it seems.
Struts are £12 each or so & 20 minutes to change, common issue especially when cold. Get the rust sorted ASAP if you buy it, check it is minimal by pulling the grille out of the B Post & shine torch down to see what the sills are like inside. Check the front of the rear arches aren't perforated.
This is all on the buyers guide on the TIPEC site
if anyone can advise on the top two points, if they sound normal or common then i'll grab it!
cheers
bertelli_1 said:
A sight noise from the box isn't unusual & shouldn't concern you, neither should the heatsheild.
What would concern me is 50p sized rusty bits - it WILL be a lot worse under the paint. I'd budget around £1000 to fix that - yes, really! Thats a lot of your £2k budget isn't it?
No reason why you cant get a cracking' good 944 for £2k. Loads to chose from (less so in white obviously).What would concern me is 50p sized rusty bits - it WILL be a lot worse under the paint. I'd budget around £1000 to fix that - yes, really! Thats a lot of your £2k budget isn't it?
There is so much crap written about rust on 944's sills - yes most have some rusty patches on them by now, but its not difficult to look more closely underneath and see how bad the rust is before buying.
Most have scabby bits on the rear sill where it sweeps up towards the rear arch - if thats all its nothing to worry about, easy repair and not structural.
The last one I had needed a bit of welding on the sills, after reading all the horror stories on the net and looking at horrible photos of rusty inner sills on p/h I though it was going to be a big bill.
But guess what? the MOT garage had a good look on the ramp and said dont be an idiot it only needs a couple of small patches (this was after we had priced up replacing the sills at £500 per side - not including paint).
Try and get one that drives nicely and is still nice and fresh inside, with good recent history (ie on a 25 yr old £2k car its only the recent history that matters) and check underneath for rust.
Look out for slow elec windows, tailgate not opening, wet carpets in rear, tired PAS, cracked dash, rusty sills. Lots of good ones even at £2k. If you are lucky you will find a 944S which gives you 190 bhp and decent performance.
£2k will also find you a big mileage 3.0 model which if well looked after will have years of life left in it.
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