Menu toggle

944 s2

C

ccampbell84

New member
Alright folks,

You may remember about a month or so go I posted about buying a Maraschino Red 944 Turbo S and after taking advice on whether or not to buy the car, I completely ignored the majority of you and put a deposit on it. After I paid the deposit and before I paid the balance, the gearbox capitulated! Something about the selector not working and would cost alot to put right.

Anyway after that disappointment I'm looking at an 89' S2 from the same seller. It's a nice low mileage example and feels tighter and in nicer nick than the rather more leggy turbo, not as nicely damped though without the M030 package.

I have a few questions though. If anyone could help me out I'd greatly appreciate it.

The previous MOT highlighted the following:



Nearside Front Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn shock absorber pivot (2.7.4)

Offside Front Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn shock absorber pivot (2.7.4)

Nearside Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)

Offside Rear Brake disc(s) slightly scored (3.5.1h)


All rear been greesed Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Anything there out the ordinary and costly to fix?

It has been fitted with a twin tailpipe ripspeed exhaust. At first I didn't like the look of it as the twin pipe seems out of place on a 944, but its now growing on me. Good exhaust?

The previous owner has put 'MOMO' door sill badges, and '16V Ventilier' badges on the doors. I'd like to source and fit the originals, is this easy?

The bootlid need someone to lift in synchro with someone pushing the release button. Easy to fix?

Also I recall seeing some Porsche web sticker on the rear screen, can't remember the website. Previous owner might have been on this site? Reg: G818 FSD

Apologies for the long post but I'm excited at the prospect of owning a 944 at last!

Cheers
 
Ruddy hell, forgot to ask the main question! The HPI through up a colour change alert, and the data held for the car in the V5 etc. is Gold. The car is Zermatt Silver. In 1993 the previous owner recorded the car as Gold which has been thrown up in the HPI check. I'm confident it hasn't been resprayed as the Porsche option sticker is intact in the usual place. But is this an unusual/dodgy situation? also in the V5 the car is a '944 / S2 Cabrio' but 'Body style: Coupe'. Is this normal with S2s? Thanks again
 
Is it this one? [link=http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/770120.htm]http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/770120.htm[/link] Zermatt is a funny colour and may well have been described as gold. It depends how clued up the person filling in the forms was! There are Zermatt cars on here - in fact there is a colour thread somewhere - sticky 3rd from top. Have a hunt through. This may not be a problem. Discs, ARB bushes and brake pipe are not expensive to fix. Dampers rather depends on what needs to be changed. It sounds as though it is not the damper unit per se which may be easier. Why you would put S badges on an S2 baffles me. Take them off. There aren't S2 ones except on the boot. I think Ripspeed tend to be a bit MAxpower but I could be wrong. It depends who makes and designs their exhausts. It may actually reduce power not enhance it. Is it just the rear box or the whole system. Boot lid may need a bit of adjustment - pins or hatch seal may help pop it up. Don't be surprised if it only unlatches and you need to lift it. Lots don't spring up as the literature suggests. I think it was a bit of a design malady. Neither of mine do/did. If in any doubt walk away as there are lots of good cars going at good prices privately. He is a dealer so will want/need to be making something out of it. David
 
The colour thing is just because Zermatt silver is in fact a pale gold so nothing to worry about. The cabrio/coupe thing is a bit more of a concern. DVLC (at the time) would have registered the car as a Porsche 944 Noddy Special had the dealer written that on the form, but coupe/cabrio is a bit of a mistake to make but I'm also unsure if it hints at something dodgy. 16 Ventilier is more typically a badge from a 944S, but I think it may have been an option on the S2 also - as I'm sure you know it just means 16 valves so it is applicable. That's all assuming it's the Porsche one that is embossed on the side bump strip? Momo sill sticker - you mean in the door shut. Yeuk! There was no standard sticker or protector plate in there at all however, so just taking it off and cleaning up the adhesive would put it back to standard. To my mind nothing of any value has a Ripspeed badge. It's just Halfords chavving range. Throw it away and put a Danske on in its place. Rear disks are not major, though they have the drum for the handbrake in the middle so not as cheap as some disks. I honestly couldn't tell you how much, but don't buy Zimmermann, get literally any other brand. Rear brake pipes are a bit of a pain as they go over the axle. More of a concern is that if they are going then probably the fuel line is as well and your choice there is quite an expensive repair or a patch up (some would say a lash up). By expensive I mean £200 for parts plus labour to drop the axle. Call it £400-£600 I'd guess, especially including the brake lines. ARB bush is nothing. I'm guessing by the other two advisories they mean top mounts (shame MoT testers can't use the same names for things everyone else does). Top mounts are stupid expensive from Porsche (circa £200 each) plus fitting and alignment afterwards. You can get alternatives but you need to make sure the ones you get have the same 2" bowl in them as OE as falt ones will jack the front of the car up in a most unappealing way. You still need to fit them (reasonably easy DIY with spring compressors) and get it all aligned (pro job I'd say if you want it done right). It's a "while you're in there" repair though in that you might want to replace a lot of other suspension bits while it's apart to save redoing the alignment and it could easily get over a bag of sand if you do the whole thing. Two other comments - an S2 is a totally different animal to a Turbo. Ask yourself what you want the 944 for. As a road car to drive as standard the S2 will be better but if you think you might want to modify then a Turbo is the way to go. Check S2 buying info, specifically relating to the cams before you commit. Over on the TiPEC forum the car you were originally going to buy has a thread and someone posted very negative experience of the dealer in it. I know you were advised against before and went ahead, but I'd seriously consider looking for an enthusuast owned car from a private seller if I were you. I had thought it bode badly that you hadn't posted since saying you'd decided to buy the Turbo and I think you had a lucky escape. I'd fear the S2 might end badly also.
 
Oh, tailgate! Replace the struts and adjust the catches and it should spring open on the button - a new rubber seal to give it a push would help as well. You might need to replace the pins if they are worn, but that is ususally to resolve opening when you don't want it to, not staying closed when you want it open. None of that is especially costly.
 
Having seen the ad I'd say 16 Ventilier will definitely have been because it was an early S2 and apparently a press or promo car. Non-functioning air-con. The guy is a dealer, if it was an easy fix he'd fix it. Expect ££££. It's a pig of a system to get working on modern gas and that just goes double if it's been broken for a long time. It looks nice enough, but the rear badge is on wrong so it's been replaced for some reason. Why would a 76k genuine miles nice car have had the rear badge replaced? I can't think of any reasons that are good... A 'Ring sticker is always a bonus on a used car. Not. I have one on my Mini, but it would be taken off before trying to sell it in the UK, just as the ones on my 964 were. Is 76k realsitsic? They are super-easy cars to clock. Even if it is that isn't a good thing necessarily and the mistake on the HPI data could knock any value the low miles might add in the eyes of people who think mileage is the be-all and end-all. The car is all the money. Find a realistic and motivated private enthusiast seller and you'd get any S2 in the country for £4,500 these days. It might be worth a punt with a sticker starting with a 2, but at that price I think you should keep looking.
 
Thanks guys, for the swift responses. That is indeed the car in question. The old MOTs verify the miles so I'm confident it's not been clocked. Whats wrong with the S2 badge? I know most S2s have the horizontal type, but I have seen that 'vertical' type before, just assumed it was an early S2 thing. Momo door entry sills look like they've been screwed on!
 
What Fen said.....[&:] There's either a really good car there, worth every penny and being sold by a muppet. Or, there's a truly average S2 with some real question marks being sold for a huge profit. As always, check (there's no mention) the following: Cills, front wing bottom edges for rust. Clutch? With that mileage it's either due or been done. Belts? 4k miles, but when? Time is as important as mileage. I don't know. I'd not rule out making an offer if everything else stacks up but I'd be wary of thinking this is a better car just because it's from a car dealer. [8|]
 
CC, I agree the resp' above, and would add that IMO the Turbo S was a nicer car even if it needed a gearbox. The price for either of them starts with a 2 in Autumn 2008. They are like chalk and cheese, you can explain what a good car the S2 is, but you won't be grinning. With the 951 S you will be unable to find words because in a way there are'nt any to express what these old nails can do so well. I will even say I really like the old S, even the colour is unusual/nice/different, but I accept I have not seen it. Good luck with your search, - dont come home without an intercooler...! [;)] George 944t 964
 
The badge should be: 944 S 2 The key being that the 2 is both below and to the right of the S. They were never any different to that in any examples or photos from launch I have seen.
 
I just had a look to see what else is available and the first was this [link=http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/768388.htm]http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/768388.htm[/link] I'm going a wee bit OT here, but are the photos and descriptions the same car? It supposedly has extended leather when I can't see any leather at all in that car bar the steering wheel and gear gaiter. It also claims 10 speaker stereo when I can clearly see an empty door pocket and standard front speakers. Do people just make up options their car supposedly has these days? To be fair it might be quite a nice one, but the description is massively incorrect. Once more I think the badge is wrong - this time too close to the seam in the body. Then we have this one [link=http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/637677.htm]http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/637677.htm[/link]. Nice to see Specialist Cars of Malton still have a sense of humour when it comes to valuations. Some things never change! Again the badge is wrong and I'd bet a fair wad of cash it's actually Alpine white, not GP. This one is a bit more realistically priced and at least has sports seats [link=http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/698036.htm]http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/698036.htm[/link]. possibly the mileage might not be correct though [;)] How about this one as it's local? [link=http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/697332.htm]http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/697332.htm[/link]
 
With regards to the 250 that needed a gearbox. Sticking in gear , usually described as a selector problem, is a common fault found in cars that have had a damned good crash, so you might have had a close call there. Its not actually that expensive to fix and it only needs a small part out of another scrap transaxle.
 
MOT's do not validate mileage, the car could have done 30k a year for the first 3 years and then had a severe "haircut".
 
My evil comment was not complimentary. It's mainly directed at the badging (for which there is little excuse) and the "living in the Eighties" interior. I agree with Pauly about the MoTs by the way. A savvy owner might give the car a trim once a year to keep apparent the mileage down and possibly to keep within a limited mileage insurance policy. Provided they aren't ham-fisted taking the dash apart or adjusting the rollers in the odometer then I'd suggest it's totally undetectable and could amount to quite a significant haircut. My first 911 was low miles and still new enough to be dealer serviced at the time. There was a blob of blu tack on the back of the speedo to hold the wire in a handy place while it was unplugged, which was (somewhat embarrassingly) found by a prospective buyer of the car. I pretty much ignore mileage these days because of things like that, and have a good chuckle when people put so much stock in it. Everything about cars and the motor trade is more often than not shonky in my experience, right from prestige marque main dealer down to bottom feeder. Anyway the bottom line is it's your money Mr OP, but my advice would be to avoid this dealer and treat anything they have for sale as suspect.
 
this seller was recently advertising an s2 on ebay, the oil press gauge was showing very low, I asked about it as it was not mentioned in the listing. "oh its nothing to worry about" was the reply. nuff said [;)]
 
whilst were on pistonhead cars, this is the one that was for sale in crich recently that sold for £2000 [;)] http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/768388.htm wonder if there is still a swimming pool in the boot? [:D]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Posts made and opinions expressed are those of the individual forum members

Use of the Forum is subject to the Terms and Conditions

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed on this site are not necessarily those of the Club, who shall have no liability in respect of them or the accuracy of the content. The Club assumes no responsibility for any effects arising from errors or omissions.

Porsche Club Great Britain gives no warranties, guarantees or assurances and makes no representations or recommendations regarding any goods or services advertised on this site. It is the responsibility of visitors to satisfy themselves that goods and/or services supplied by any advertiser are bona fide and in no instance can the Porsche Club Great Britain be held responsible.

When responding to advertisements please ensure that you satisfy yourself of any applicable call charges on numbers not prefixed by usual "landline" STD Codes. Information can be obtained from the operator or the white pages. Before giving out ANY information regarding cars, or any other items for sale, please satisfy yourself that any potential purchaser is bona fide.

Directors of the Board of Porsche Club GB, Club Office Staff, Register Secretaries and Regional Organisers are often requested by Club members to provide information on matters connected with their cars and other matters referred to in the Club Rules. Such information, advice and assistance provided by such persons is given in good faith and is based on the personal experience and knowledge of the individual concerned.

Neither Porsche Club GB, nor any of the aforementioned, shall be under any liability in respect of any such information, advice or assistance given to members. Members are advised to consult qualified specialists for information, advice and assistance on matters connected with their cars at all times.

Porsche
Lockton
Pirelli
Officially approved
Oracle Finance
WEX Esso
Collecting Cars
Archant Dialogue
Back
Top