Gonna buy me a 944S2 I think...

[POORCARDEALER]

As stated earlier the trick is with 944s is buy the best you can for your budget.....a good tight car will jump out at you, as lots of them feel loose....I have owned lots over the years, IMO the S2 is quick and sure footed and reasonably easy to maintain....make sure the clutch is good with no judder on take off, as its quite an expensive time consuming job, and as stated earlier, belts and followers etc.also haggle hard there are plenty to choose from.

[jaseb]

For me it's not about absolute performance in a straight line (had 2 E30 M3's prior), I need to strike a balance and sort me a fun commute that'll do what I ask it and not break the bank (£2k a year I can handle).

I have to admit that in my head (quite a simple place to be sometimes) the older turbo car has got an degree of complexity that I'm not convinced about - under 10k miles a year and maybe Bob would be my mothers brother but 20k+ and the n/a S2 or a 968 seems like a simpler solution - I don't have the techy back up for that necessarily but that's just the way it sits with me.

I've another to look at tonight and one more on saturday both in the sub £10k bracket and these two at least are enthusiast owned so I'm hoping for better things - if they're both nails I'll work on a plan 'b'.

Thanks for all your comments though guys - keep 'em coming

[jaseb]

Hi Fesuvious

I have to admit it's a fine car but for over £10k I can get one with a warranty, nothing personal you understand.

As my insurance is squiffy due to an outstanding claim I think a mod'd motor might cause issues too - good luck with the sale though

[williamp]

AJLintern said:

(not actually driven a turbo, just what I understand to be true from what people have said in the past)

Well why didnt you say, Andy?? Next time we meet up we could swap for a few miles...

Will
944 Turbo. Now with 302 bhp

[Thom]

williamp said:

Will 944 Turbo. Now with 302 bhp

Another satisfied Guru Racing customer I guess ?
Might be even better to get Andy to drive a stock turbo 250 though, just he could make himself an idea on how slow they are with the stock set up compared to when with the Guru stuff.

>> Edited by Thom on Wednesday 21st April 12:39

[diver944]

Jaseb, you're doing the best thing. Test plenty before you commit. When you find a good one it will feel so much better than the dogs (and there are plenty of those now ).

For your use I would agree the S2 is the better buy (usual proviso re the cam chain). Check my profile for my running costs over the past 5 years. I only bought a Turbo because I became hooked on trackdays and wanted to get more power out of it

[jaseb]

I've found a 49k miler on autotrader for £9k, and am having it inspected by Strasse in Leeds as I write...

Looks jubbly from the pics and I'll see it in the flesh on saturday morning

Any comments on Strasse?!

Could be an S2 owner by saturday afternoon at this rate!

I've a Caterham for trackdays so this car should be just right for me.

[domster]

Isn't 9k 968 money? Get you a left hooker, surely? A 49k mile 944 may not have been used ENOUGH; good idea on the inspection. May have garage queen symptoms if not careful.

[jaseb]

Is it nice 968 money though?! Having looked on Autotrader £10k or less would get one (100k miles plus or worse tiptronic) and £12k (75k miles plus) for a nice one and then £15k+ for a real doozy - am only a beginner though so could have it all wrong

I'm with you on the lack of use though, hence the pre purchase inspection and buying with a warranty.

I'm just waiting for the report, if it's good I'm there and maybe get a 968 next time...

>> Edited by jaseb on Thursday 22 April 15:27

[steve 944t]

ditto on the lack of use concerns. I have had to replace a few items on my turbo S (steering rack, clutch master cylinder, etc) as it only did a few k miles per annum prior to me buying it. But I think you are correct in buying a good car to start off with, particularly if it comes with a good warranty. At that price the car should be (needs to be) an absolute cracker.
Assuming you do end up joining the 944 flock, there is an email mailing list - go to www.titanic.co.uk and follow the links for everything you may want to know about the little beauties.

Steve

[domster]

You could get a LHD one for that, surely.

I just feel a 9k 944 will depreciate quite steeply as you can pick up a doggy S2 for as little as 3k these days. 6k is a big premium for a nice one

Why not get a nice E36 M3 for 9k (Evos are down to less than 7k in the trade these days) and use the Caterham on track?

Cheers
Dom

[jaseb]

I've thought about E36 M3's, bit concerned about vanos issues, having had a couple E30 M3's I guess I just fancied a change but as a result a left hooker wouldn't worry me greatly. E36's don't do a lot for me to be fair.

Not sure, will have to spend the rest of the afternoon drinking coffee and pondering the 968 vs 944 quandry! 968's cost considerably more to insure for some reason?!

high miler s2's still hover at £7k+ for a half decent one though

>> Edited by jaseb on Thursday 22 April 15:49

[domster]

E36 M3s don't do much for me either, but neither does a 944S2.

A 968CS is a different matter.

If you have a Caterham, why bother with a fancy second car? I'd get something practical and cheap, like a Golf GTi Mk2.

[jaseb]

I'm not very good at practical and cheap...

It's always been one of those things that's a really really good idea but I can't quite bring myself to do it.

That and I've always fancied a 944, this one I can have with no finance attached, I think if I were to buy a 968 it would prolly be a right hooker and a nice one and more than like 4 or 5 grand more ergo back to cahoot and so it goes on. And a 968 hasn't even got proper pop up headlights or anything...

[domster]

OK, how about getting a tow hook for the Caterham and two extra seats welded to a trailer?

Et voila... a practical four seater when you need it

[POORCARDEALER]

Dom..I think a under £7K BMW M3 EVO would be pretty ropey......ive just traded a 99K miles 96 P coupe in Estoril blue for 8400.

Strasse Leeds..............I wouldnt use them.

[iguana]

Yeh think £7k for a nice E36 EVO is lower than id expect, get a nice non EVO for that sort of cash tho, HPI clear sub 100k miles fsh examples start at that area, to say £8k, infact maybe £6k if you are lucky, highmilers or hpi cars obiously less.

968 avail for £9k if you willing to sit on the left less if its high miles & tatty, even for CS's. (got to be a bit carefull with cars at that £ level tho)


Been pondering about an E36 non evo M3 myself (don't think even if i could afford it id risk an evo with the vanos grief) must admit I drove an M3 non evo when I had my V8 & wasnt that impressed with the grunt-or rather lack of, but then that was hardly the fairest comparison! think an M3 is a good alternative to an S2, although insurance is a fair bit higher which is a bit of a pain.

I don't see nice S2s starting at £7k either, been looking for a mate lately & some sweet ones about from £5k, £6k can get a really nice example (private sales) & yes tatty ones a lot less. £9k is a bit steep for a private sale.

[jaseb]

I've heard non evo M3's (single vanos) are potentially worser?!

But there again £9k S2 thru a specialist (Gmundo in Knaresborough - stoopid name but any comments gratefully recieved?!) mit warranty sounds top dollar but there again is top dollar for a sound car a bad thing?!

Bottom line, I want an S2 and a nice one but you chasps are enlightening me.

Please continue...

[AJLintern]

There are bargains out there - I bought mine for £6500 a couple of years ago with 86k miles. You'd have to buy privately though - if you want to see a pricey 944 look here That's cheaper than it was a couple of months ago - I'm sure it used to be £18k!

[domster]

POORCARDEALER said:

Dom..I think a under £7K BMW M3 EVO would be pretty ropey......ive just traded a 99K miles 96 P coupe in Estoril blue for 8400. Strasse Leeds..............I wouldnt use them.

High miles, techno violet, no-one would touch it. Went for 6900 at auction IIRC.