944 S2 - Possible Purchase

[Stone Cold]

Evening all, first time poster in the Porsche sub forum so be gentle.

I’ve been looking for a sensibly priced 2 seater (sub £20k) for w/e’s and retirement fettling and I’ve found a 92 plate 944 S2, 110k miles, 3 owners and a full lever arch file of history and receipts. It looks (from pics) and I’ve been told it’s immaculate (viewing Saturday) and it’s priced at £17k.

So questions are is that a fair price and what should I look for when viewing

All help appreciated, thanks in advance

[julian987R]

Stone Cold said:

Evening all, first time poster in the Porsche sub forum so be gentle.

I’ve been looking for a sensibly priced 2 seater (sub £20k) for w/e’s and retirement fettling and I’ve found a 92 plate 944 S2, 110k miles, 3 owners and a full lever arch file of history and receipts. It looks (from pics) and I’ve been told it’s immaculate (viewing Saturday) and it’s priced at £17k.

So questions are is that a fair price and what should I look for when viewing

All help appreciated, thanks in advance

have you considered the Cayman 987 considering you want a 2 seater (which....errr, a 944 isn't). I had a 944 Turbo for decade, not far removed from the S2. If you have indoor parking, fine, if not then don't bother as they disintegrate in the open air. 944's of that age all have a lever arch full of paperwork, basically all the receipts of rust repair through its 30+ years.

Cayman 987's can be had for sensible prices.

anyhow - here is a good guide on what to look out for from the Porsche Owners club

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/regions-registers/re...

[tonycordon]

Hi, great cars! In terms of model specific checks, try to find out if the chain linking the cam shafts has been replaced, along with it's tensioner. Most people seem to know about the timing belts, but some forget that only the exhaust cam is belt driven with the inlet cam driven by the chain in the middle of the cam shafts. The difficult can arise, when a worn chain causes extra wear on the cam shaft sprockets. These sprockets are integral to the cam shafts, so, if worn the whole cam shaft has to be replaced!

[julian987R]

blade7 said:

Never been a fan of the S2, most of the running expense of a turbo, but without the performance. They're 30 years old, and unless it's had a sheltered life or someone has already done an expensive resto, potentially a money pit.

This

[john_1983]

If £17k is what they're worth, you can have my 1992 S2 with 144k on it! I paid £10k 2 years ago, and mine is in excellent condition. I would have thought at that mileage even £15k was toppy, I would certainly be happy if I sold mine and got £15k.

I love it, it's quick enough and a bit different from the usual modern stuff. Seems to get a great reception from the general public and car people who maybe aren't that into Porsche. Modern enough to not have to constantly fiddle with it every weekend, but old enough to be a bit retro

[Stone Cold]

Thanks for all the replies, appreciated

1. I did think the price was on the high side
2. It would be kept outside, under a top of the range made to measure cover
3. The appeal is that is a little different from the norm
4. I have no interest in the Cayman/Boxster, I know they’re great cars but my dream car has always been a 911, which is currently unattainable as a 2nd car

[john_1983]

Stone Cold said:

Thanks for all the replies, appreciated

1. I did think the price was on the high side
2. It would be kept outside, under a top of the range made to measure cover
3. The appeal is that is a little different from the norm
4. I have no interest in the Cayman/Boxster, I know they’re great cars but my dream car has always been a 911, which is currently unattainable as a 2nd car

Point 3 is what I like, I've got other cars for driving like a loon. They're more-or-less as quick as an original 2.7 Cayman or 2.5 Boxster, which is enough for a weekend toy IMO, and just look so good to my eyes

[julian987R]

Stone Cold said:

Thanks for all the replies, appreciated

1. I did think the price was on the high side
2. It would be kept outside, under a top of the range made to measure cover
3. The appeal is that is a little different from the norm
4. I have no interest in the Cayman/Boxster, I know they’re great cars but my dream car has always been a 911, which is currently unattainable as a 2nd car

Point 2 = game over.
I had a top of the range cover, from SpecialisedCovers.com
All fancy pants claims of protection, NASA’esque materials etc..top of the range but they sweat and do way more damage than good. Give it a few years under an outdoor cover and it’ll start becoming a money pit.

I know I have a habit of posting crazy opinions on PH but on this subject I am 100% experienced in. Others on PH have a similar opinion with outdoor covers no matter how top of the range they are.

[Red9zero]

julian987R said:

Point 2 = game over.
I had a top of the range cover, from SpecialisedCovers.com
All fancy pants claims of protection, NASA’esque materials etc..top of the range but they sweat and do way more damage than good. Give it a few years under an outdoor cover and it’ll start becoming a money pit.

I know I have a habit of posting crazy opinions on PH but on this subject I am 100% experienced in. Others on PH have a similar opinion with outdoor covers no matter how top of the range they are.

I kept a New Beetle cab under a car cover for 4 years, with only occasional use and still managed to win a few concours awards, so they can't all be bad.

[julian987R]

Red9zero said:

I kept a New Beetle cab under a car cover for 4 years, with only occasional use and still managed to win a few concours awards, so they can't all be bad.

A new beetle cab or a oldie?

[Red9zero]

julian987R said:

Red9zero said:

I kept a New Beetle cab under a car cover for 4 years, with only occasional use and still managed to win a few concours awards, so they can't all be bad.

A new beetle cab or a oldie?

2005 New Beetle, aka a Golf in a frock.

[julian987R]

Red9zero said:

julian987R said:

Red9zero said:

I kept a New Beetle cab under a car cover for 4 years, with only occasional use and still managed to win a few concours awards, so they can't all be bad.

A new beetle cab or a oldie?

2005 New Beetle, aka a Golf in a frock.

It's not 30+ years old for starters nor a platform that is inherently a money pit and susceptible to rust. Totally apples and oranges by comparison.

[DKL]

Stone Cold said:

Thanks for all the replies, appreciated

1. I did think the price was on the high side
2. It would be kept outside, under a top of the range made to measure cover
3. The appeal is that is a little different from the norm
4. I have no interest in the Cayman/Boxster, I know they’re great cars but my dream car has always been a 911, which is currently unattainable as a 2nd car

1. Prices are all over the place and what they are up for and what they sell for could be rather different. They rust, alot, everywhere, I've got the bills to prove it. Look very carefully, maybe a PPI at Jon Mitchells as you're that way.
2. It will need far more attention to reduce (note not prevent) moneypitness if it's outside. I don't think I'd want to but not quite as much as Julian.
3. They are quite a rare sight now.
4. If you want a 911 get a 911. I doubt it will cost more to run. A 3.4/3.6 996 would be in budget if you are looking at a £17k 944. A 911 isn't nearly as useful/practical mind. I had a 911, bought to replace my 944, but it didn't live up to billing and was sold!

S2s drive nicely but, as has been said, will cost almost as much as a turbo but with far less go. Mind turbo prices are a whole heap more now too.

[Red9zero]

julian987R said:

Red9zero said:

julian987R said:

Red9zero said:

I kept a New Beetle cab under a car cover for 4 years, with only occasional use and still managed to win a few concours awards, so they can't all be bad.

A new beetle cab or a oldie?

2005 New Beetle, aka a Golf in a frock.

It's not 30+ years old for starters nor a platform that is inherently a money pit and susceptible to rust. Totally apples and oranges by comparison.

Still a car under a cover. It was a money pit too

[Craigybaby69]

Had my S2 coming up to 10 years in October. Use it about 250 days a year, mainly very short trips, and about 4- 5k miles a year. I've spent about £5k on top of normal servicing on things like bodywork, brakes, belts/water pump and other bits and bobs. It let me down once when a clutch power spring snapped(but was still driveable) and once when the battery needed replacing, but other than that 100% reliable. It lives outside all year. If there's salt on the road I sometimes try and wash it off. I paid £3800 which included £600 for the 968 mirrors, door handles and club sport steering wheel which the previous owner fitted. It's plenty fast enough for me, 3rd gear from 2-6k rpm is a joy. Insurance £145/year. 30mpg. I reckon id get my £3800 back if I ever decided to sell, so nil depreciation. I don't regret a single thing about owning it, so I say get one... Better to regret doing it than not doing it.

[Craigybaby69]

Any luck finding one yet?