Advice needed on buying an 85' 944
- Thread starter Bloooor
- Start date
edh
New member
+1 Fantastic - and with the right door cards as well (I've seen a few with just plain black door cards) that might be a fabric repair I suppose, but even so, the fabric is available so it is fixable. If that red one is still for sale in Scotland you could buy that as well for the Fuchs wheels [
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pauljmcnulty
Active member
Although the fabric is available, I imagine you'd need to re-trim the whole lot to match? Certainly both fronts. If it needs re-trimming, of course, as it doesn't look bad in the pic. That does look worth a trip to view.....[]
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GlennS
New member
So I've found the original advert (don't worry, I'm not looking to guzump you [] ) Things I like about the car: White with full Pascha interior including the door cards (he admits to there being a rip on the driver's seat back), seemingly un-cracked dash which is unusual on an early car, "toast-rack" rear valance - not common these days as everyone seems to be fitting S2/Turbo style ones, no obvious signs of rusty sills although hard to tell from photos. Things I am concerned about: The steering wheel leather is very worn which doesn't gel with the alleged 58, 585 miles. Mine is less worn than that at 150,000. I would certainly go and take a look.
] ) Things I like about the car: White with full Pascha interior including the door cards (he admits to there being a rip on the driver's seat back), seemingly un-cracked dash which is unusual on an early car, "toast-rack" rear valance - not common these days as everyone seems to be fitting S2/Turbo style ones, no obvious signs of rusty sills although hard to tell from photos. Things I am concerned about: The steering wheel leather is very worn which doesn't gel with the alleged 58, 585 miles. Mine is less worn than that at 150,000. I would certainly go and take a look.It's great to see people as excited as me about a car haha He has confirmed it's a rip but it's just what happens with age, I would love to get the entire interior re-trimmed in the future (when/if money allows) but for now, it is perfectly fine for me I'm trying to sort money as we speak [] Thanks for the reply Glenn, the only problem with just 'going for a look' is that it's unfortunately 4 hours away from me down south (the train would only cost £32 but that's for a single ticket, not a return so i'm trying to ask him as many things as possible before i go down) this is another reply from him about the car.. "Hi Bloooor The car has been garaged for the last 7 years and run up regularly until 1/2 way through last year when it failed to start,I bought the car as a non runner and had the ecu checked then replaced both crank sensors(not cheap)and had her back running. There is minor rust on the actual arch lips at the rear and a small kink visible in the o/s front skirt. Had a motor engineer friend with lots of letters after his name say on a good day with its mileage he could see it going £3500/£4000.I'm not that greedy and to stop the auction would take £3000. The car is a stunner and the guy that took it for the mot said it drives nicely. Regards Ian" The '7 years garaged' spooked me a little as things like to seize when left alone but with him saying he's had it running and moving and then got an MOT on the car, it can only be small things (if any!) that have seized.
I'm trying to sort money as we speak [] Thanks for the reply Glenn, the only problem with just 'going for a look' is that it's unfortunately 4 hours away from me down south (the train would only cost £32 but that's for a single ticket, not a return so i'm trying to ask him as many things as possible before i go down) this is another reply from him about the car.. "Hi Bloooor The car has been garaged for the last 7 years and run up regularly until 1/2 way through last year when it failed to start,I bought the car as a non runner and had the ecu checked then replaced both crank sensors(not cheap)and had her back running. There is minor rust on the actual arch lips at the rear and a small kink visible in the o/s front skirt. Had a motor engineer friend with lots of letters after his name say on a good day with its mileage he could see it going £3500/£4000.I'm not that greedy and to stop the auction would take £3000. The car is a stunner and the guy that took it for the mot said it drives nicely. Regards Ian" The '7 years garaged' spooked me a little as things like to seize when left alone but with him saying he's had it running and moving and then got an MOT on the car, it can only be small things (if any!) that have seized.
pauljmcnulty
Active member
If it's sat for that long it's absolutely essential the cambelt's been changed. Four years is the maximum. If there isn't evidence it's been done I wouldn't risk starting it, certainly not driving it. They have been known to fail at 5 years old, and sitting for 7 years isn't going to have done the rubber any good. Not a reason to discount it as a potential buy, but for that money it should have good recent history. If there's no evidence of a new belt, I'd allow for that plus waterpump, rollers and all the oil seals immediately.
I've managed to source the money now, thanks for the info Paul, i've just messaged him to clarify whether it has or not.. Would you still say £3000 is in the right range if it's not had the cambelt/waterpump/seals etc done? I'm nervous now as he has said "You are the third actual contact interested in the car,I'm waiting for the guy in Bournemouth to arrange a viewing.I have over 30 watchers this morning.Its advertised locally and has a for sale notice where its parked. I hope you are lucky as I would like the car to go to someone who will cherish it. Regards Ian" Am i likely to find many more white lux 944s with Pasha interior for sale that seems to of been looked after and seems to be rust and problem free?
GlennS
New member
In all seriousness, you MUST see this car before you part with any money or commit to buying it. A good one is a joy, a bad one can be a nightmare. There was a chap on here recently who bought a '44 sight unseen which turned out to have major issues. It has now turned into a long-term and doubtless very expensive project.
Another reply about the belts.. "Hi the cam and balance belts and seals were replaced in 1994 at 24000 mls the car was run up regularly as I said earlier,I have only ever changed cambelts on mileage not age unless I had no history on the car." Does this then mean it's been stood for almost 20 years (starting regularly though) but not had the belts changed till this day? Surely the rubber would perish after that long (and if i went to pick it up, it's got a 4 hour drive back to my house, i would be a nervous wrekc driving it for that long when it's been stood for so long..) [&o]
I agree Glenn, it would be risky to drive (my friend has a flatbed which if i asked nicely, i'm sure he wouldn't mind the 8 hour round trip so there is always that option if i decide i really want to buy it) He is sending me another message tomorrow sometime after he has spoken to his mechanic (specialises in German cars) regarding the belts being stood for 19 years and what his opinion is about that. Also that is some expensive material! ha I did have another quick question which i've not been able to find, I read that the early 944 engine/car was built by VW and then it changed to being built by Porsche, is this true? If so what year did they change? It was something along those lines, could of been the 944 lux engine was vw and then when they started making the 944S then Porsche designed that, please correct me where wrong. Thanks
pauljmcnulty
Active member
I'll play "wikipedia"....[&:] The 924 was a project VW asked Porsche to design as a sports car for them. They pulled out, and built the Scirocco on the Golf platform instead. Porsche went ahead, and launched the 924 with many VW parts, including a 2.0l engine that was VW-based. The 924S was based around a new, entirely Porsche, engine built from, essentially, half the 928's V8. There are still lots of VW parts in a 924S. The early series-one 944 is basically a 924S with wider arches. That's why the 924S is the real bargain of the Porsche range, as it's the same as a 944 but seen as a "poor-mans VW", and sells for silly money. From the series two cars, they are less related to the 924 and it's VW roots. Much of the confusion about the models is down to Porsche's poor branding. The 944S has nothing to do with the 924S, it's a 16V version of the 944 Lux (as the base 944 2.5 is generally refered to), and shares the Lux bodywork. The S2 is the 944S with a 3.0l engine and turbo body changes to the front wingsa/PU. and the turbo rear valance. The cars changed from series one to series two, or the "square dash" to the "oval dash", in model year 1985. Porsche model years are September to July, the factory closed in August, so the oval-dash cars are September 1985-on. There are C-plate cars of both types. So. 924 2.0l is VW-derived, but that's not a criticism at all. 924S has the Porsche engine. All 944s have the Porsche engines, although there are plenty of parts that are common with VWs of the same era. That's why they last so well; the dizzy cap on my S2 is shared with a Volvo 740, that only inspires confidence personally. Look to TVR to see how trying to make every part yourself leads to unreliable cars and then bankruptcy!
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