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Advice needed on buying an 85' 944

B

Bloooor

New member
I have seen, what looks like, a very smart 944 for sale down south (i'm from Manchester) so want to be sure i've asked the seller as much as possible before i take a trip down, this is the description from the Ad - long MOT,taxed,original stamped service wallet &handbook,just had full service&ht leads,head gasket done 88,000.all old mot's and history file,refurbed alloys,excellent condition,ready for show season.

It's up for £2400, pictures look clean and interior is smart too, does it seem to cheap or over priced? (Also i've tried having a good look through the different buyers guides posted but a few are a little outdated and don't seem to work, I have got a few helpful tips from them though like checking the sills for rust and inner arches, see if it's had a clutch change from the rubber centered disc to the newer type, timing belt and balance shaft belt replaced within last 4 years or 40k and listen out for clicking/tapping lifters. (most other things like bearings, bushes etc i will also check when i go down)

Any other helpful bits of advice would be greatly appreciated, i will hopefully be taking a mechanic with me as for the extra set of eyes and ears

Thanks,
Adam
 
Hi Adam, Sounds like a good deal, price wise depends on which model it is you don't say, if it is a lux or S then prices really do vary as some don't realise the true value of these cars, if a Turbo I would be wary. The belts need to be changed every 4 years regardless of mileage covered, other than that you seem to have done your homework so good luck and keep us posted. Where about s is the car? there maybe someone on here able to give it the once over for you before a long drive.
 
Armed with the info you clearly have plus a mechanic , if you cant spot a dreggy 944 you do have problems :) I suspect at that money its a lux , if its an s or even a 2.7 its a bit more rare but similar , though slightly higher value. As quite rightly said too cheap for a turbo of that description and im sure theyd have said. Also i assume youve had decent pictures so would spot if it were a possible turbo. 2400 if it matches that description is bang on id have said. Colour effects value for me but thats just my view. Some rare colours are plus 400 in my eyes and some troublesome ones i wouldnt touch. Best of luck to you Mas
 
I believe it to be the Lux model, I didn't want to directly post up the link as i've seen it done on other forums with parts for sale and people are quick to snap up a good bargain ha The colour is white for anyone that wanted to know (and i've heard they are the more common colour but i love the retro look of 80s cars in white) Another thing that has got me thinking is I did a HPI check last night and it says last keep check was 28 August 2012... now the ad has been up since 4th June 2012.. which has completely scrambled my brains a bit, it hasn't been written off and has had 14 registered keepers which again is slightly worrying (I think the cars that have only had a few owners will be up for mega bucks so i guess it's all down to what you want to pay) Cheers for the comments so far, Adam
 
Hi Adam White is good for a 944, although white seems to be the new black for many cars I don't think it ever goes out of fashion on these. The number of owners I don't think is unusual, if it's been advertised since June last year does that mean it's a trader? Personally I wouldn't buy off a trader at that price - chances are it's a £1500 car, not a £2400 but I could be wrong! [:)] As Andy mentioned, perhaps mention the general area it is in as I'm sure if anyone is local to the car they will happily take a look and save you the potential of wasting your time. Cheers Andy
 
I do think that you should post a link, providing that it has pictures. This is a small closed forum and to the best of my knowledge, no one has been looking for a car like this for a good while, so theres very little chance that you will be gazumped. On the positive side theres a very good chance that we will be able to offer us2ful advice after seeing it. I suspect that Andy is right though and that its nothing special, being talked up by a trader who knows little about them. Simon
 
Number of owners isn't all that unusual. My Lux had 8, I think, but in it's first few years it was company-owned, bought out by the director, then passed to his wife, and had several private plates. There is always dispute here, but I think it's accepted that at least some private plate changes resulted in an owner being added in those days. I also think purchase price is pretty irrelevant nowday; with any one of a number of regular jobs costing around a grand at a specialist you could be in for a lot of money if you buy badly or are unlucky, as with any other old performance car. Buy on condition and recent history, don't get too hung up on the "perfect" history file (nice to see though, and points to a careful owner). I was talking to someone recently who has a 200K-plus miles Lux with rust, and generally tatty condition, and that could cost many thousands to restore. And will still be a leggy Lux, never a low-mileage classic. The difference £1500 or £2500 isn't going to break the bank, but bill after bill in the first few years might! Other than the obvious checks on condition, I'd say the only thing would be absolutely certain whether you want the early or late interior. They do split opinion; some like the "retro" early cars, others wouldn't be able to live with it and want the slightly soul-less series 2 interior. Oh, and if it is an "s", with the "Ventiler" badges on the wings and the 16V engine, again make sure you like driving it. They are the polar opposite of the Lux, one being a torquey, relaxed engine, and the other a high-revving design that needs a lot more gear shifting. Both have their merits, just a case of which you prefer. They're as different as an auto and a manual in character, I guess is the best way to describe them.
 
Adam, It is a lux, and a square dash I would say price is about right and defiantly worth a look, must be one of the last square dash cars on a C plate Hairyarse will give you the lowdown on the differences he has nearly owned every different model of 944 produced [:D][:D]
 
Early cars (square dash and '85 oval dash) have a more go kart feel to the steering, whereas the later '86 cars have a slightly more GT feel, none are like a modern FWD drive car however!
 
This is the car i've been looking at, main things i'm looking for are the old style yellows dials, brown pinstripe/black leather interior or similar and exterior paint in white, budget is around £2000 but I don't know whether the cars that are going for that money are just rot boxes.. http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-page/170203/1986-porsche-944/
 
If you can ask the guy if he travels or is planning on travelling to west cornwall at any point soon I might be able to have a quick gander at it for you. Unfortunately plymouth is otherwise a 135mile round trip for me and ive got an exceptionally horrible week/s of night shifts coming up.
 
That's a tidy looking 944 Lux. If it is as described and there are no major problems with it then the price is fair. Worth taking a look at.
 
have you noticed it says 88000 miles on the top of the ad, and later on it states 92000? only a thought SWS
 
Think they mean head gasket was done at 88000. Bear in mind that square dash mileage resets at 100000 so make sure history adds up.
 
That doesn't look bad at all Adam. FYI it's got aftermarket bezels fitted around the gauges (silver) or the originals have been painted. No problem, just a personal taste thing. Trying to be uber picky not sure if carpet has mold on it at the edges of floor or just dust? Check for damp carpets but with no sunroof that's one less place for it to leak! [:D] Overall looks tidy, well worth a look and the money if as described.
 
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