list of problems with potential purchase

colin smith · Jun 14, 2008

I'm looking at a 1991 cab S2

Here are it's problems

1. Fuel line is leaking
2.Central locking doesn't work
3.LCD clock doesn't work
4 Mileomiter doesn't work
5.Fan knob only works when turned to 4
6. Needs service and MOT in the next couple of months
7. Has a water leak into the cabin
8. Boot opening switch doesn't work

Apart from that it appears in not to bad nick, can't see any major rust etc.

Am I mad even thinking of it , any ideas on the cost of fixing all the above

THanks for the help

Alexw · Jun 14, 2008

Every one of those seems to be common problems ive read about here. ive also had 1, 3 (only the light) and 8. Ive still not fixed the boot opening jobby, simply because i use the keys more anyway, plus im lazy [

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pauljmcnulty · Jun 14, 2008

Apart from that it appears in not to bad nick, can't see any major rust etc.

Am I mad even thinking of it , any ideas on the cost of fixing all the above

As always, budget £1500 for an S2 over the first year for servicing. If the sills are sound (look down inside them through the black grill in the door jamb, it pops out easily and you can shine a torch down) and the cams are ok (should have evidence of belts, tensioners, water pump etc in last couple of years at least) then the little problems are no more than niggles. As Alex says, we've all had most of your list at some time!

zcacogp · Jun 14, 2008

ORIGINAL: colin smith
1. Fuel line is leaking - COST: Dunno. Couple of hundred. Is there another thread on here about this at the mo?
2.Central locking doesn't work - COST: All depends. Unlikely to ptop £50 if done DIY.
3.LCD clock doesn't work - COST: Replacements seem to be about £50. Or live with it.
4 Mileomiter doesn't work - COST: Limited mileage insurance policy beckons! Or a new instrument cluster. dunno the cost of this, sorry.
5.Fan knob only works when turned to 4 - COST: Resistor pack? £30-£50? Ish? DIY.
6. Needs service and MOT in the next couple of months - COST: - How long is a piece of string.
7. Has a water leak into the cabin - COST: ?
8. Boot opening switch doesn't work - COST: Why not? New switch may be about a tenner, maybe twenty from a breakers. Or could be wiring.

I've tried to put some costs in above, but as said before they aren't biggies. They could all be good points to knock a few quid off the asking price tho'.

I can't really add to Paul's advice.

Oli.

tescophil · Jun 15, 2008

While agreeing for the most part with the previous posts...

- Do you like the car enough to spend approx £1000 on small 'niggles' to get the the car together ?
- What do these problems tell you about the current owner ? I believe you buy a car on the basis of the condition of the vehicle AND the attitude of the (private) person you are buying it off.
- Is there any way to verify the approximate milage of the vehicle since the mileometer isn't working ?

At the end of the day, there are plenty of good examples around, and it depends upon the price you can get it for to make it worth while doing the work.

Personally I would walk away and find one where everything works as it should and has just been serviced etc....

Phil.

colin smith · Jun 15, 2008

Thanks for the info above, I've had a 944 turbo and a 911 before and , it's right to think you have to budget £1500 in the first year. My 944 turbo had about £6k spent on it in the pervious few years and it still cost about £2k in year one.

It would seem to be when buying a S2 at the moment it's a guess if it's good value or not, is it me or do prices seem to be all over the place!!!!

pauljmcnulty · Jun 15, 2008

t would seem to be when buying a S2 at the moment it's a guess if it's good value or not, is it me or do prices seem to be all over the place!!!!

I think people need to look differently at the cars now. If you want a few months of cheap motoring then a 944 can be bought for very little money. You only have to look at some of the people who've appeared here with e-bay cars who've got rid of them almost immediately to see that it can be a very expensive money-pit.

If, however, you want a repliable classic car to keep for years then an S2 is perfect. I'd say buy well but don't get too hung up on finding perfection as it ain't out there with a 20-year old car. If the basics, such as good recent history and sound bodywork, are there then as long as the value reflects any work needed they are a bargain.

I guess that a lot of people really do believe that values are higher than they should be, or have been thinking about selling for a while and forget that all values have taken a substantial hit in the last few months. With this in mind haggle like mad, but don't forget that if it's the right car for you then it's a shame to lose it for the sake of a few hundred extra!

Wigeon Incognito · Jun 16, 2008

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

I guess that a lot of people really do believe that values are higher than they should be, or have been thinking about selling for a while and forget that all values have taken a substantial hit in the last few months. With this in mind haggle like mad, but don't forget that if it's the right car for you then it's a shame to lose it for the sake of a few hundred extra!

They really have taken a hit, and unfortunately for me I bought just before it happened! Ahh well, you win some you lose some - and I'm planning on keeping the car for some time.

To the OP - you mention 'no major rust' which implies there looks to be some minor rust. Don't underestimate the cost of bodywork!

Mine had 'minor rust' that I could have left for a couple of years but I was too embarrassed to leave it. Of course it'll only spread, although at least the cost of repair doesn't generally seem to rise exponentially with the size of the problem (unless it's really taken hold of course).

peanut · Jun 16, 2008

Don't listen to these doom-mongers Colin [

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I bought two 922S2 from ebay both for under £4000 and spent nothing on either of them.

Prices are all over the place at the moment because there are many cars that have had an absolute fortune spent on them and been pampered. Then there are many cars around that folk are trying to shift on before they need to spend megabucks restoring them
Many sellers are very unrealistic in valuing their 944's others need to shift quickly to raise urgent cash.

Prices are so low right now that it makes no sense at all to buy cheap to `do up' Right now you can buy cars for around £4k that have probably had nearly that spent on them in the past 2-3 years for Belts, clutch, waterpump, etc .

Take along another 944S2 owner when you view . I'm sure that any of the forum members on here would be more than happy to view a car with you and `keep your feet on the ground '!

The car you mention is obviously for sale because its going to cost the owner lots of money to get it through the next MOT .The fuel pipe is an absolute bitch of a job .£££
the other bits are minor in themselves but the way I look at it is ....if the owner can't be bothered to see to the little minor DIY jobs himself how well do you think he has looked after the rest of the car ?!