Potential 944 Purchase

Potential 944 Purchase

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BREMBOV6

Original Poster:

496 posts

148 months

Sunday 16th January 2022
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Afternoon all,

Not long back at looking at a red E plate 944S. Its done just over 100k mileage and had a fair amount on the lower body work (c£2k) looks to have done been very well, no filler etc, great paint match etc.

Rest of the car appears to be very solid and in great condition for its age. Current owner since 2014 and stacks of history which was nice. Nice and standard minus the headunit/cd player.

It will need four tyres, down to age.
Rear boot and driver rear carpet appeared to have some water on the floor.
Sunroof does not clip back in properly, one of the clips appears to work, the other doesn't
Passenger window does not work - no noise or anything when operated.

I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the above? I fancied a 'usable' classic and this seems a good fit.

Looks like I could get it for £5k but need to take in the above.

Any thoughts or help would be appreciated on the fixes and the current cost to buy.

Many thanks

julian987R

6,840 posts

59 months

Sunday 16th January 2022
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Will you be keeping it in a garage or outside?

BREMBOV6

Original Poster:

496 posts

148 months

Sunday 16th January 2022
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julian987R said:
Will you be keeping it in a garage or outside?
Outside most likely, underneath has been given treatment I believe. MOT history does not give any concern for rust and rear arches were very clean which I believe have not been touched.

julian987R

6,840 posts

59 months

Sunday 16th January 2022
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BREMBOV6 said:
julian987R said:
Will you be keeping it in a garage or outside?
Outside most likely, underneath has been given treatment I believe. MOT history does not give any concern for rust and rear arches were very clean which I believe have not been touched.
Ah. forget it. Trust me, 944's vs Mother Nature, no matter the protection, its game over. They disintegrate left outside, seriously disintegrate and fast. it already sounds like a money pit too. Skip it.

DKL

4,489 posts

222 months

Sunday 16th January 2022
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It's an old classic so keeping it outside will need a degree of dedication to keep it in one piece. And it will need using.
I'm not quite as pessimistic as Julian about the situation, you'll need to make sure the sunroof is watertight mind.
Mine lives in a carport all year round, so covered but no doors and is used a couple of times a week in all weathers. I spent a lot of money on the rear of the bodywork last year but it's just part of keeping them if you are going to use them.
The S is the unloved child of the range and will never really appreciate. I had one prior to the current car and it wasn't a bad drive.
Make sure it really is in good shape , keep it clean (especially underneath and the wheelarches), well waxed and use it and it won't be too bad. I think I'd look at a good quality breathable cover too and live with any paintwork issues caused.
Best of luck.

james.a.c.911

231 posts

68 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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Had a car cover for my 944 turbo which was parked outside in london. It damaged the paint on the roof and was then stolen.
Just sayin’

Car was water tight and never had wet carpets. I’d be wary of that.


julian987R

6,840 posts

59 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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james.a.c.911 said:
Had a car cover for my 944 turbo which was parked outside in london. It damaged the paint on the roof and was then stolen.
Just sayin’

Car was water tight and never had wet carpets. I’d be wary of that.
Me too on my 944T. A car cover did more harm than good. mine was water tight too but they'll become rust buckets in no time.

BREMBOV6

Original Poster:

496 posts

148 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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Thanks for comments, surprised at the requirement for it to be garaged, aware its an older car but didn't realise they were quote so bad. The owner had mentioned it lived under a cover for a while but would never do it again due to condensation, better letting it air I guess.

supersport

4,058 posts

227 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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It doesn't need to be garaged. Obviously it would be the best for it, but it won't wash away in the rain. I also wouldn't be putting it under a cover.

Although if you are not planning on driving it all year round, then I am not sure it being sat there all winter wouldn't be best for it. Like all cars regular driving is best for it.

Many people keep them outside all year, ours was for about five years and there are plenty of others around.

You would want to know why it is wet inside, ours never did that.

Clearly being a Porsche some parts are expensive, so if you can do bits yourself you are better off unless you can find a decent local garage that can work on them. They are just cars after all.

I always thought ours was built like a tank, amazing thing that we had from 180K miles to 230K miles.

Rust though, can be the kill so you want to make sure it's been done as they will all rust eventually.

BREMBOV6

Original Poster:

496 posts

148 months

Monday 17th January 2022
quotequote all
supersport said:
It doesn't need to be garaged. Obviously it would be the best for it, but it won't wash away in the rain. I also wouldn't be putting it under a cover.

Although if you are not planning on driving it all year round, then I am not sure it being sat there all winter wouldn't be best for it. Like all cars regular driving is best for it.

Many people keep them outside all year, ours was for about five years and there are plenty of others around.

You would want to know why it is wet inside, ours never did that.

Clearly being a Porsche some parts are expensive, so if you can do bits yourself you are better off unless you can find a decent local garage that can work on them. They are just cars after all.

I always thought ours was built like a tank, amazing thing that we had from 180K miles to 230K miles.

Rust though, can be the kill so you want to make sure it's been done as they will all rust eventually.
Thanks for that, all taken on board.

Looking into things at the moment, car was very clean, no rust which was nice. Car will be used weekly, not every day but it will be used.

Water issue agree needs to be looked into, I recall the door trim had a small gap in the rubber but that is perhaps wishful thinking. Tyres also seem to be rather expensive!

williamp

19,255 posts

273 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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Watch out for parts on the S. They dudnt make many, and there are some specific parts. I had trouble finding an air filter box and that was 20 odd years ago...

S600BSB

4,609 posts

106 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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I have more cars than garages, so rent an additional one in the village where I love. Wouldn't want to keep a classic outside on the drive.

Magnum 475

3,535 posts

132 months

Monday 17th January 2022
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williamp said:
Watch out for parts on the S. They dudnt make many, and there are some specific parts. I had trouble finding an air filter box and that was 20 odd years ago...
The other one to watch is the 2.7. Fewer parts are unique to the 2.7, but some internal engine parts are crazy money if you can find them.


BREMBOV6

Original Poster:

496 posts

148 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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Can anyone help with the fog lights? the one I am looking at doesn't appear to have any (sit lower than the reg plate) however looking at similar ones online they all seem to have fog lights?

Was this an option?

dontlookdown

1,719 posts

93 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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I have never had a Porsche of any kind, but I have run a few 'modern classics' rhat have had to live outside over the years. I would be looking hard for a car that was watertight already, chasing water leaks in a car that you can never dry properly (because it's ourside) is utterly tedious.

Also +1 for no cover. Faff to use and don't do much good IME.

DKL

4,489 posts

222 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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BREMBOV6 said:
Can anyone help with the fog lights? the one I am looking at doesn't appear to have any (sit lower than the reg plate) however looking at similar ones online they all seem to have fog lights?

Was this an option?
The S is the "old" style body shell so there are usually foglights on ebay. They are smaller units than the turbo bodied cars. I don't think I've seen one without fog lights except racing cars.

BREMBOV6

Original Poster:

496 posts

148 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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Here is a picture, it doesn't appear they are missing or can be fitted. Some pictures do seem to share the same bumper but appear to have the lower fog lights.

DKL

4,489 posts

222 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
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I see what you mean, perhaps I've never looked that closely at that Lux style front end! Are there any switches for front fog lights - usually to the R of the ignition switch. I suppose the only option would be a new front valance and wire them in but I'm not sure I'd bother.
Maybe they were an option after all!

BREMBOV6

Original Poster:

496 posts

148 months

Thursday 20th January 2022
quotequote all
DKL said:
I see what you mean, perhaps I've never looked that closely at that Lux style front end! Are there any switches for front fog lights - usually to the R of the ignition switch. I suppose the only option would be a new front valance and wire them in but I'm not sure I'd bother.
Maybe they were an option after all!
This isn't a lux. I believe it's a 944 S Ventiler. 1988, E reg.

I sadly can't remember about the switches frown

944 Man

1,743 posts

132 months

Sunday 17th April 2022
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Fog lights were an option on all 944s apart from those using a Turbo body PU. Lux is not a model, it is a trim level. Ventiller is not a model name either, despite what people wish to believe. It is an S and S stands for Super. Sadly, it wasnt super.

Comments about 944s dissolving in the rain are ridiculous, but the prospect of a rusty (they all are, or were) 944 being properly repaired for £2,000 is equally unlikely.