944 S2. Is it actually a sound investment?

944 S2. Is it actually a sound investment?

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Discussion

Chicken_kev

Original Poster:

1 posts

81 months

Friday 30th June 2017
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Evening all,

I owned a 1987 944S about 15 years ago, and adored it. Sadly I got all sensible, had a kid, and had to sell it. So now I'm maybe in a position to buy again, and a lot of the adverts talk about how 944's are likely to be appreciating classics.

My preferred model would be an S2, but can it actually be a sound investment as well as a gorgeous car? And what specifically do I need to look for to ensure the 'investment' box is ticked?

Would love to hear the forum's thoughts,

Cheers!

supersport

4,040 posts

226 months

Saturday 1st July 2017
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
This really. Buy as a car to be driven.

That being said you are unlikely to lose on it because they are so cheap. Just buy one that isn't rotten and enjoy it.

Love mine, probably the best value car we have ever owned.

UberMeister

302 posts

151 months

Saturday 1st July 2017
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Didn't the investment ship sale around 5 years ago?

Whilst 944 prices have risen this looks to be broadly in line with the rest of the classic car market. They're fairly plentiful so wouldn't be my first choice as a pure investment.

g7jhp

6,958 posts

237 months

Saturday 1st July 2017
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944 S2 were £5k they are now circa £10k in the PH Classifieds.

They're not an investment as the price will never rise enough to cover running costs.

However they are depreciation proof and relatively affordable , so a great buy for an enthusiast!

NJH

3,021 posts

208 months

Saturday 1st July 2017
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As he says + strong and stable unlike Mrs May. I have spent the past 3 years toying with selling my S2 race car but this year been prepping her for an MoT again (not road driven since 2011), now seeing my Megane drop in value whilst simultaneously being a bit of a moneypit (very cheap parts that don't last) my love for the thing has been rekindled. There is a mechanical feel and weight to these that nobody does any more, and frankly 80s and early to mid 90s Pork were its zenith.

edh

3,498 posts

268 months

Sunday 2nd July 2017
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Great cars, I'd buy one if you want one but don't expect to make money on it.

Richair

1,021 posts

196 months

Sunday 2nd July 2017
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'Investment' is a dirty word around these parts when it comes to cars, particularly anything Porsche...

If you mean will your money be safe on one as a toy? Then sure. But don't expect to run one on buttons; parts come with a Porsche price tag as they're a very well engineered car. But they're built to last and most jobs only need doing once. An S2 (or in fact any 944) in fine fettle is a lovely thing indeed that's a world away from modern monotony.

Cash in the bank doing sod all, or a proper, usable and affordable Porsche in the garage? Now that's an easy call to me!!

NJH

3,021 posts

208 months

Sunday 2nd July 2017
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They are also unlike more recent cars fairly easy to work on. In my garage for example I jack up from behind under the gearbox or using drive on ramps under the front cross member. This means I can safely raise the car straight up onto stands at either end, rather than the very unsafe practice of raising on a trolley jack under the side at a funny angle. I have another 2 normal cars, both French hatchbacks which can only be lifted on a lift or from the sides, I have seen the pictures on the net of what happens when one of those cars slips off the trolley jack. You will also find that if you work on them yourself everything has a habit of just fitting together just right when you get it right, this breeds confidence when you're working on the car. You can tell it was designed by real engineers with some care and attention applied to all the mechanical basics. The only downside I can see to home spannering these cars is you need a lot of strength and patience, everything is over-engineered but its like having a good session down the gym you feel quite chuffed at the end albeit battered and bruised.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Sunday 2nd July 2017
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Chicken_kev said:
My preferred model would be an S2, but can it actually be a sound investment

Cheers!
If you buy a £10k one for £5k, don't spend anything on it, and sell it before it's a £5k one again. Maybe.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Sunday 2nd July 2017
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NJH said:
They are also unlike more recent cars fairly easy to work on.
eek

NJH

3,021 posts

208 months

Sunday 2nd July 2017
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I stand by that, easier and more straightforward than my Megane or any of the SAABs I had previously. Turbos though suffer from a lack of engine bay space and of course have all the typical complications associated with turbo cars in general.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Sunday 2nd July 2017
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Book time for the clutch ?

NJH

3,021 posts

208 months

Sunday 2nd July 2017
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6 hrs I believe. Its something you do once in the lifetime of the vehicle on an S2. Mine lasted till 160k miles. Contrast this with my Megane and whilst it was less book time the clutch lasts 30k to 70k miles at most and took 3 visits to finally bleed the crappy plastic slave cylinder.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
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NJH said:
6 hrs I believe. Its something you do once in the lifetime of the vehicle on an S2. Mine lasted till 160k miles.
More like 9 hrs, and around £500 for the parts on an S2.

rufusgti

2,528 posts

191 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
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blade7 said:
More like 9 hrs, and around £500 for the parts on an S2.
How could it possibly take 9 hours??

I'm not disputing, just amazed what seems like a fairly simple car could be designed in a way that it takes 9 hours to swap a clutch.
Having said that my garage were recently swapping a clutch on an Audi r8 and the labour alone was 3k.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
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rufusgti said:
blade7 said:
More like 9 hrs, and around £500 for the parts on an S2.
How could it possibly take 9 hours??

Even longer on a Turbo.

bonus99

91 posts

234 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
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2k for my turbo clutch but i did have a Muppet doing mine, although I did not know it at the start...

Car was 146k

Problem is getting everything off first and seized bolts etc, I would have expected to pay £1500.

The flywheel was skimmed at the same time.

Like most people say, better than cash in the bank with the added bonus smile

"better buy quick as they are going up daily"... biggrin

Richair

1,021 posts

196 months

Wednesday 5th July 2017
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I've been informed the book time for a clutch on a 951 is 24-30 hours due to said rusty bolts eek

I didn't even attempt to do mine in the car, as it's easier/quicker to just remove the engine IMO. But then of course that will often open Pandora's Box to a ton on 'whilst you're in there jobs'. Should be much more straight forwards on NA cars!! Still more complicated than most front-rear cars though due to the torque tube.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Wednesday 5th July 2017
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Richair said:
I've been informed the book time for a clutch on a 951 is 24-30 hours due to said rusty bolts eek
Ha, they obviously didn't want to do it. Did you get a quote to pull the engine ?

Richair

1,021 posts

196 months

Friday 7th July 2017
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A quote!?.. There's only one person I trust to work on my car, with exception to stuff I'm physically unable to do (like the roll cage, paint etc..). wink

Back to needing to sort out that build thread again!!! (No time, too busy working on the car...).