I've had a LHD 944 and LHD 968 - both sold to buyers from continental Europe (944 to France, 968 to Germany), and both went for decent money.
Mick
Mick
buying a 944 part 2
- Thread starter soli
- Start date
pauljmcnulty
Active member
Well said! I'm probably the most cautious person on here, as I've seen too many people buy badly and then ask the questions on the forum...[&o]
My S2 seemed a bargain at about £4.5K, but in the first two years cost me £7K in servicing. Plus, it then had the (non-existent) rust show through, so has had the corrosion dealt with and a respray. So, in reality, it's a £14K S2. [&o]
Honestly, and I'm not talking here to you guys who DIY so don't factor in your time and expertise (you'd need to say at least £40 per hour for what you DIY on your cars to be fair here), what decent 944 isn't either a £10K car, or potentially a £10K car!
If this is as good as described, it's worth the asking price IMO.
That said, there are plenty of things to consider. Firstly, all parts clearly aren't original, as the seller states. Does that matter? Not at all, as a carefully improved turbo is a better car than an original one. You need to check the mileage and history with a fine-toothed comb, and see cetailed photos of the respray to see what was done, and what was underneath.
It says "rust-free". Unless a car is sealed from new in a vacuum, it will have corrosion somewhere. It might LOOK rust free, but inside the sills and behind the front wing liners will be some corrosion at least. If a 944 is trully rust-free then buy it, whatever the price! What you're looking for is the best for the money, which might mean someone has restored it properly, with pictures, or buying cheap and budgeting to do a full restoration and respray yourself.
As with any car, you need to look at what might be about to rear it's head: a low-mileage 944 can be a real money-pit. This one's done 79K miles according to the ad, so that immediately points to problems you need to ask about. For instance, the clutch has a rubber centre that breaks up over time, so has it been replaced? If not, that's a grand. The brake calipers corrode, and the lines need replacing. At least a grand. The fuel lines fail, to replace properly expect nearly a grand. All the rubbers will need replacing, and with door, hatch, sunroof etc. that's £500 in parts. Are the tyres legal, but out of date and need changing?
Full history sounds great, but what's actually been done? We hear of cars being sold with belts only 5K miles ago, but neglect to mention that they are ten years overdue. A belt service might well need a water pump, oil seals etc., and could easily be (you guessed it) a grand! Does it need gearbox oil, brake fluid, coolant, it all adds up.
I'm not trying to be negative here. The 944 really does have no real competition if you want a 1980s/90s coupe with proper peformance, incredible build quality and great parts availability. You just need to go in with a proper budget, and buy the best as they are so undervalued. Ask all the questions, get pictures of the inside of the sills. Get scans of the history and look at the last few years only: who cares that it had wiper blades in 1988, you want to see belts and a clutch recently if possible, along with brakes overhauled, fuel lines dealt with, even little things like new HT leads that cause so many problems.
Hope that helps. You need to go in armed with all the right questions, listen to the answers and then decide if the car's the right one for you, and your budget. [
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ChasR
New member
Maybe I have lost the plot here, but I would be considering DavidL's 951. Sure it has been the to the moon, but it has also wanted for nothing with the car also having many aspects dealt with that 'original' 944s could potentially very much do with (suspension in the form of KW v3s, good tyres etc.)). I would have said to look at Richard's Silver Rose, but that of course has already been sold.
McNulters is not kidding on the price! My second 944 has a much higher mileage than my first S2. Granted it was a potentially more desirable car given its history and the spec (M030 bits and a factory LSD with cooler) but in part down to the car having a small fortune spent on it over the years it has been a far nicer car to drive, and is in better condition in almost every way. My S2 had a small fortune spent on it over the years prior to me owning it via the previous owner (engine, belts, engine mounts, battery, discs and pads, alignment (that part I question what the garage actually did (a receipt is there for the work) and seats (it was converted from Sports script seats to Linen leather seats with heaters and 8 way adjustables)) etc.).
I have still had to spend a small amount of cash on it, but it has been small potatoes in comparison to what was spent on the S2. Of course if the current car did not have quite as many new parts fitted the story may have been quite different (it seems to have new clocks, possibly a dash, hoses, cylinder head, brakes, radiator, engine mounts, exhaust etc. etc.).
McNulters is not kidding on the price! My second 944 has a much higher mileage than my first S2. Granted it was a potentially more desirable car given its history and the spec (M030 bits and a factory LSD with cooler) but in part down to the car having a small fortune spent on it over the years it has been a far nicer car to drive, and is in better condition in almost every way. My S2 had a small fortune spent on it over the years prior to me owning it via the previous owner (engine, belts, engine mounts, battery, discs and pads, alignment (that part I question what the garage actually did (a receipt is there for the work) and seats (it was converted from Sports script seats to Linen leather seats with heaters and 8 way adjustables)) etc.).
I have still had to spend a small amount of cash on it, but it has been small potatoes in comparison to what was spent on the S2. Of course if the current car did not have quite as many new parts fitted the story may have been quite different (it seems to have new clocks, possibly a dash, hoses, cylinder head, brakes, radiator, engine mounts, exhaust etc. etc.).
ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty
Well said! I'm probably the most cautious person on here, as I've seen too many people buy badly and then ask the questions on the forum...[&o]
My S2 seemed a bargain at about £4.5K, but in the first two years cost me £7K in servicing. Plus, it then had the (non-existent) rust show through, so has had the corrosion dealt with and a respray. So, in reality, it's a £14K S2. [&o]
Honestly, and I'm not talking here to you guys who DIY so don't factor in your time and expertise (you'd need to say at least £40 per hour for what you DIY on your cars to be fair here), what decent 944 isn't either a £10K car, or potentially a £10K car!
If this is as good as described, it's worth the asking price IMO.
That said, there are plenty of things to consider. Firstly, all parts clearly aren't original, as the seller states. Does that matter? Not at all, as a carefully improved turbo is a better car than an original one. You need to check the mileage and history with a fine-toothed comb, and see cetailed photos of the respray to see what was done, and what was underneath.
It says "rust-free". Unless a car is sealed from new in a vacuum, it will have corrosion somewhere. It might LOOK rust free, but inside the sills and behind the front wing liners will be some corrosion at least. If a 944 is trully rust-free then buy it, whatever the price! What you're looking for is the best for the money, which might mean someone has restored it properly, with pictures, or buying cheap and budgeting to do a full restoration and respray yourself.
As with any car, you need to look at what might be about to rear it's head: a low-mileage 944 can be a real money-pit. This one's done 79K miles according to the ad, so that immediately points to problems you need to ask about. For instance, the clutch has a rubber centre that breaks up over time, so has it been replaced? If not, that's a grand. The brake calipers corrode, and the lines need replacing. At least a grand. The fuel lines fail, to replace properly expect nearly a grand. All the rubbers will need replacing, and with door, hatch, sunroof etc. that's £500 in parts. Are the tyres legal, but out of date and need changing?
Full history sounds great, but what's actually been done? We hear of cars being sold with belts only 5K miles ago, but neglect to mention that they are ten years overdue. A belt service might well need a water pump, oil seals etc., and could easily be (you guessed it) a grand! Does it need gearbox oil, brake fluid, coolant, it all adds up.
I'm not trying to be negative here. The 944 really does have no real competition if you want a 1980s/90s coupe with proper peformance, incredible build quality and great parts availability. You just need to go in with a proper budget, and buy the best as they are so undervalued. Ask all the questions, get pictures of the inside of the sills. Get scans of the history and look at the last few years only: who cares that it had wiper blades in 1988, you want to see belts and a clutch recently if possible, along with brakes overhauled, fuel lines dealt with, even little things like new HT leads that cause so many problems.
Hope that helps. You need to go in armed with all the right questions, listen to the answers and then decide if the car's the right one for you, and your budget. [
All top advice - except the turbo never had a clutch with a rubber centre - the springs can fail though eventually, they did on my coupe at around 150k miles and 18 years
Tony
fair enough!
just a further thought on LHD, a 944 probably isnt the easiest car to reach across to the other side for car park tickets/tolls etc. mine have sports seats which make it harder but you might have to get out and walk round. It is also relatively low for seeing around other cars for overtakes etc. - you should get a great view up the lhs side of a car in front though and it will be brilliant for tours of mainland Europe.Tony
MartinRS2K
Active member
This car is a bargain in every department except the mileage. But also as the mileage is high you expect that all the serviceable items have been replaced and mechanically it is in excellent condition.
Also having a set of CS alloys, Becker Head Unit and CS Steering Wheel are nice touches that add to the value.
I used to drive a Lhd 944 daily. Even without sports seats it was a PITA for the Dartford tunnel/bridge. You could at least just about lean across and throw money in the basket, but some carpark were definitely a get out and walk around. On overtaking I didn't really find it anymore of a handicap than the low height of the 944 is anyway (one piece if road in a Golf Gti I always wanted just a little more power to overtake... Fou d it in the 944, but also found a small crest I always could see over, I could see over no longer!). Lhd is in my opinion, slightly more comfortable - I can only assume it was designed without compromise that way, and also great fun watching other people's expressions when carrying a German Shepherd Dog in the passenger seat[]
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