Ahh ... the Sulzer bit!
Mike
Mike
944 Turbo in classic cars.
- Thread starter dj.brian
- Start date
Crumbs - amazing what you learn!
It strikes me that the world of 944's is going down two different paths. There are those who are driving their cars a lot, racking up the miles and replacing parts as they go. Then there are those who are worried about mileages and service histories. I guess it depends upon why you have the car.
I have an S2 which isn't immaculate but is better than some. (Most, perhaps.) It's kept mechanically in tip-top condition by me (recent incidents excepted [
] ) and I use it as an only car. It is approaching 160k miles - having done a little over 40k in my ownership in the last 4 1/2 years. It lives outside, on the road, in East London. I own it because I love it. I drive it because I love it. I don't own anything else 'cos I don't need anything else. When I come to sell it, I'll take whatever I can get for it and put the loss down to depreciation; depreciation that can only be a maximum of £4k, as that is what I paid for it. In terms of bang for buck there is little (if anything) to touch it. Will it cross 200,000 miles in my ownership? Quite possibly. Do I care? As long as it continues to go like a homesick angel, look half-decent and be more fun to drive than anything this side of a Caterfield - no, I don't. Its a number on the dashboard, and that's about all. I know that I am at one end of a spectrum on here. There are people who are more careful with their cars, keep them inside, only drive them in the dry, have other 'daily drivers', who are more worried about value and milage. Fair enough 'tis a different approach to owning a car.
I have to say I was most impressed when I met Tref last year. He had a superbly battered old S2, which didn't have a straight panel and the interior was far from matching. He was half-way through fitting an LPG kit, and had put a fair number of the astronomical miles on the car himself. The car was very clearly far from cossetted, and driven as the maker intended.
I suspect that he had a lot more fun from his car than I had from mine, and I think I have more fun with my car than some others on here.
Each, as they say, to their own.
Oli,
Diver944
Active member
Our own unofficial poll stickied at the top of the forum currenty has 3 cars over 250k miles and 19 over the 200k marker. My own S2 is now at 197k miles so should hit the double ton in the next few months []
She also sailed through her MOT again today with just an advisory that the front tyres are getting low []. From memory she has only failed one MOT in the past 12 years and that was when the front shocks had play in them
Gotta love these cars [8D]
That £3k car would be a great basis to copy MarkK's lightweight blue beasty []
]She also sailed through her MOT again today with just an advisory that the front tyres are getting low [
]. From memory she has only failed one MOT in the past 12 years and that was when the front shocks had play in themGotta love these cars [8D]
That £3k car would be a great basis to copy MarkK's lightweight blue beasty [
]I am not one for cleaning my cars every day or polishing them to within an inch of their life, they will all be spot on mechanically though. My daily driver is a Mk4 Golf GT TDI that has 177,000 miles on the clock. It drives like it has 50K on it, engine is a bit rattly from cold but a new set of hydraulic tappets will sort that when I do the next timing belt change at 188,000 miles. Also time for another set of brakes all round again! Has cruise control, comfy seats and I can get a pallet in the back when I need to and 50 mpg.....
I don't bother about service history at all, have bought plenty of cars with nothing in the glovebox. You get a feel for whats good and what to walk past. You also get money off as it is a good haggling point.
The Sulzer bit Mike has been my e-mail address for nearly 20 years so use it as my username on all the forums I frequent! Quality Swiss made engines and turbos.
Alasdair
I don't bother about service history at all, have bought plenty of cars with nothing in the glovebox. You get a feel for whats good and what to walk past. You also get money off as it is a good haggling point.
The Sulzer bit Mike has been my e-mail address for nearly 20 years so use it as my username on all the forums I frequent! Quality Swiss made engines and turbos.
Alasdair
DavidL
Active member
Oli,
If you had the right model of our great car then you and I would see eye to eye exactly!!
Personally the car is great. On the first of March it will be 20 and has 150 miles to go to see 230K. If it breaks I'll fix it - none of these are new anymore. It has had a 4.5K top end rebuild at about 200 (not paid for by me fortunately).
Its quick, comfortable and usable. I will look and ask very carefully if I choose a stage 2 kit because of the mileage but I'll be very surprised if it causes any issues.
Would I like it to be 130 not 230 - well I suppose so but I can't think of an actual reason why. It might sell better but it isn't for sale, things might go wrong less often but my first 944, an S, had just turned 100K when I sold it and it needed similar amounts spending over the 2 years I had it. I liked that too.
I think it isn't "special" enough to cosset it but that's a very personal opinion and I don't expect everyone to agree. If I had a xk120 or a miura then yes it would only come out when the weather and conditions were good. A 944 - get out and drive it!
ETA I do also wish Alasdair didn't live quite so far north as he would be a very useful chap to have around! I've been to his unit and there are bits and bobs everywhere and a few whole cars. Lots to be learn't me thinks.
If you had the right model of our great car then you and I would see eye to eye exactly!!
Personally the car is great. On the first of March it will be 20 and has 150 miles to go to see 230K. If it breaks I'll fix it - none of these are new anymore. It has had a 4.5K top end rebuild at about 200 (not paid for by me fortunately).
Its quick, comfortable and usable. I will look and ask very carefully if I choose a stage 2 kit because of the mileage but I'll be very surprised if it causes any issues.
Would I like it to be 130 not 230 - well I suppose so but I can't think of an actual reason why. It might sell better but it isn't for sale, things might go wrong less often but my first 944, an S, had just turned 100K when I sold it and it needed similar amounts spending over the 2 years I had it. I liked that too.
I think it isn't "special" enough to cosset it but that's a very personal opinion and I don't expect everyone to agree. If I had a xk120 or a miura then yes it would only come out when the weather and conditions were good. A 944 - get out and drive it!
ETA I do also wish Alasdair didn't live quite so far north as he would be a very useful chap to have around! I've been to his unit and there are bits and bobs everywhere and a few whole cars. Lots to be learn't me thinks.
Copperman05
New member
Maybe I'm strange but I love keeping my car looking good, its at its best clean and shiny, I got the wheels refurbed cos they were looking sh*t, now the wings are being done and its having a front end respray whilst we're at it, probably going to get some of that paint protextion film on it too, just to keep it looking how I like it, smart.
I love the idea that I have 20 year old car, done 100,000 miles, its like yours Oli kept on the street in London, but I also love to drive it, ok its not a daily driver but its an only car and we did 9,000 miles in it last year, including 1,500 mile trip to Scotland. This year we're spending 18 days touring Europe after the Classic Le Mans and probably going to rack up 3,000 odd miles and I cant wait!
Then it will get more stone chips, things will need sorting out, I'll spend a load more money on it and then I'll do it all again![]
Edd
I love the idea that I have 20 year old car, done 100,000 miles, its like yours Oli kept on the street in London, but I also love to drive it, ok its not a daily driver but its an only car and we did 9,000 miles in it last year, including 1,500 mile trip to Scotland. This year we're spending 18 days touring Europe after the Classic Le Mans and probably going to rack up 3,000 odd miles and I cant wait!
Then it will get more stone chips, things will need sorting out, I'll spend a load more money on it and then I'll do it all again![
]Edd
944 LIL
New member
Thought I'd chuck my tuppence worth in...
LIL isn't my only car as the BMW E39 thread bears testament.... but I have to agree with Oli on the VFM front - at £819.49 to buy, a grand for sills (big ooopps - the cost of buying on impulse from eBay) and £200 for leather seats I can't loose more than £2k total.... I've enjoyed driving it for 18 months and will do for a while to come. Strikes me I've put more than £2k of petrol in it in 18 months (don't get me started)
Alasdair - never really thought about Sulzer before, but googled it - I think I have one in my loft (Hornby Trainset owner - and proud)
And also as a bit of a plug for Alasdair - the price he has supplied a few parts to me is simply the best VFM around - add to that he drove my sunroof over 100 miles to a mates house so I could get it onward delivered to Surrey undamaged - great job
I haven't been on the forum for a while - I forgot how wide ranging the topics of conversation are...
LIL isn't my only car as the BMW E39 thread bears testament.... but I have to agree with Oli on the VFM front - at £819.49 to buy, a grand for sills (big ooopps - the cost of buying on impulse from eBay) and £200 for leather seats I can't loose more than £2k total.... I've enjoyed driving it for 18 months and will do for a while to come. Strikes me I've put more than £2k of petrol in it in 18 months (don't get me started)
Alasdair - never really thought about Sulzer before, but googled it - I think I have one in my loft (Hornby Trainset owner - and proud)
And also as a bit of a plug for Alasdair - the price he has supplied a few parts to me is simply the best VFM around - add to that he drove my sunroof over 100 miles to a mates house so I could get it onward delivered to Surrey undamaged - great job
I haven't been on the forum for a while - I forgot how wide ranging the topics of conversation are...
I remember Sulzer from the Type 44/45/46 (Peaks) that used to ply the Midland Mainline when I was a kid.
Mike
Mike
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