First ever classic car purchase! 944 it is!
Discussion
Hello All PHeads!
I come to you for friendly advice and probably a bit of an education with regards to buying and keeping a classic car. For as long as I can remember I've always wanted a black 944, and I am now at a stage where I can afford one (I think).
I went to see this car http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017... and it looked lovely. There are a couple of things I'd like to have your feedback on though;
1. The car has been in storage for the past 7 years. It has had 3 previous owners to the current one, and lots of service history is available.
2. The car is now on 154k miles, with the last service done on 134k miles.
3. As far as I can tell - the last 'camshaft belt check after replacement' was done at 136k miles. (Although does this guarantee that the belt has actually been replaced?)
4. The exterior body work looks (to me) impeccable. I checked the sills and around the edges of most panels and there was no sign of rust.
5. The car wouldn't start - which to me isn't a problem as I presume it would need a proper engine flush before anything else happens. But this also means I wasn't able to test drive it, nor hear it ticking over etc.
6. There is currently no MOT on it.
7. The last MOT was done in 2011 with only 2 tyre depth related advisories.
Here are some pictures of the service history + the car itself, including some various videos of the undercarriage that I manage to awkwardly do.
https://goo.gl/photos/qCbW3SwS3Wie1H248
I've done a fair bit of reading on what a car like this needs in order to be maintained - and none of it really scares me. (coolant pumps / steering pumps / camshaft and balance belts / breaks / fuel pump). (Should any of those scare me?)
Clearly after a certain time the engine will need a top end or full rebuild. I read that this would be due around 250k miles mark, which again I am comfortable with.
I have done an HPI check on it and it showed no issues, including VIN number confirmation.
Now to the questions;
1. The seller indicated that he would get the car up and running for me if I were to want it, which is very nice. Once it is up and running - can I expect a car like that to be able to be driven the 300 miles from where it is to where I live? Is it reasonable to be a bit cautious with doing that first off after 7 years of no driving?
2. What would be the bare minimum of things that the seller should do for me if I want a roadworthy car? (Oil change and engine flush are a given).
3. Is this too good to be true? I have seen lots of other similar cars on AT, most of which are a fair bit above this price. Is this something that I should be worried about?
Thank you in advance for any advice.
Humbly yours,
Ramo
I come to you for friendly advice and probably a bit of an education with regards to buying and keeping a classic car. For as long as I can remember I've always wanted a black 944, and I am now at a stage where I can afford one (I think).
I went to see this car http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017... and it looked lovely. There are a couple of things I'd like to have your feedback on though;
1. The car has been in storage for the past 7 years. It has had 3 previous owners to the current one, and lots of service history is available.
2. The car is now on 154k miles, with the last service done on 134k miles.
3. As far as I can tell - the last 'camshaft belt check after replacement' was done at 136k miles. (Although does this guarantee that the belt has actually been replaced?)
4. The exterior body work looks (to me) impeccable. I checked the sills and around the edges of most panels and there was no sign of rust.
5. The car wouldn't start - which to me isn't a problem as I presume it would need a proper engine flush before anything else happens. But this also means I wasn't able to test drive it, nor hear it ticking over etc.
6. There is currently no MOT on it.
7. The last MOT was done in 2011 with only 2 tyre depth related advisories.
Here are some pictures of the service history + the car itself, including some various videos of the undercarriage that I manage to awkwardly do.
https://goo.gl/photos/qCbW3SwS3Wie1H248
I've done a fair bit of reading on what a car like this needs in order to be maintained - and none of it really scares me. (coolant pumps / steering pumps / camshaft and balance belts / breaks / fuel pump). (Should any of those scare me?)
Clearly after a certain time the engine will need a top end or full rebuild. I read that this would be due around 250k miles mark, which again I am comfortable with.
I have done an HPI check on it and it showed no issues, including VIN number confirmation.
Now to the questions;
1. The seller indicated that he would get the car up and running for me if I were to want it, which is very nice. Once it is up and running - can I expect a car like that to be able to be driven the 300 miles from where it is to where I live? Is it reasonable to be a bit cautious with doing that first off after 7 years of no driving?
2. What would be the bare minimum of things that the seller should do for me if I want a roadworthy car? (Oil change and engine flush are a given).
3. Is this too good to be true? I have seen lots of other similar cars on AT, most of which are a fair bit above this price. Is this something that I should be worried about?
Thank you in advance for any advice.
Humbly yours,
Ramo
Asking £7k for a car that's not running is optimistic and embarrassing the seller hasn't recommisioned her already. Save a bit more and buy a good S2 if you can. It was always the best 944. I wouldn't worry about colour on old cars like this just buy the best car condition wise or they can become a money pit.
It is curious to have effectively gone straight into storage when acquired by the current owner... I wonder why? Reading between the lines of the MoT history did the current owner acquire it as an MoT failure, get what needing doing done, get it though an MoT and then never use it? If so, again, why?
Personally I would probably be budgeting to do the belts as a priority - if it hasn't been serviced since 134k its over 10 years without servicing.
I guess it depends what you are trying to achieve with this car - if the seller is prepared to effectively recommission the car, get it running, have it serviced (sans belts I would imagine) and get it MoT'd all within the asking price so you could drive it away, then I would think you would be doing well... assuming the car is as good as it looks in the (perennially flattering) internet pictures.
I would otherwise assume that it is priced to reflect the fact it basically needs recommissioning..... You could be lucky, find it has been well stored and a regular service is all that is needed to bring her back to full health... or you might be unlucky and find 7 years of storage has been unkind to every system, seal and component and the reason it won't start is down to 7 years of mouse habitation that has ruined the fusebox and wiring.... it's basically a gamble. Either way, you have to expect a car that has sat idle for some time to throw glitches when pressed into regular use. As for whether it would get you home 300 miles after purchase, I would work on the basis that it WON'T and plan accordingly (i.e. breakdown cover sorted, basic tools etc.) ... and then bask in the satisfaction when it does.
How lucky do you feel and what has the current owner agreed to?
Personally I would probably be budgeting to do the belts as a priority - if it hasn't been serviced since 134k its over 10 years without servicing.
I guess it depends what you are trying to achieve with this car - if the seller is prepared to effectively recommission the car, get it running, have it serviced (sans belts I would imagine) and get it MoT'd all within the asking price so you could drive it away, then I would think you would be doing well... assuming the car is as good as it looks in the (perennially flattering) internet pictures.
I would otherwise assume that it is priced to reflect the fact it basically needs recommissioning..... You could be lucky, find it has been well stored and a regular service is all that is needed to bring her back to full health... or you might be unlucky and find 7 years of storage has been unkind to every system, seal and component and the reason it won't start is down to 7 years of mouse habitation that has ruined the fusebox and wiring.... it's basically a gamble. Either way, you have to expect a car that has sat idle for some time to throw glitches when pressed into regular use. As for whether it would get you home 300 miles after purchase, I would work on the basis that it WON'T and plan accordingly (i.e. breakdown cover sorted, basic tools etc.) ... and then bask in the satisfaction when it does.
How lucky do you feel and what has the current owner agreed to?
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