Looking at a few 944s this weekend what do you recon?

[kevinyearley]

Hello all,

As it seems no one on the forum has a Lux or S2 for sale for under £5000, (I have put 2 wanted adds up and no replys (really wanted to buy through a club recomendation [])) I've had to look else where. I've found these 2 on pistonheads and was wondering what anyone else reconed?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1272184.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1262010.htm

I initially thought the S2 would be the best bet but the more I look around I'm thinking a 2.7 Lux might be better due to it's lower running cost, being able to get a neater version for less and what with this being my first porsche (I can always upgrade later on).

Is there anyone who has owned both and could help me with my choice?
Also has anyone actually experienced a cam chain snapping?

You guys have been a great help so far and any help is greatly appreciated.

cheers!!![]

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Is there anyone who has owned both and could help me with my choice?
Also has anyone actually experienced a cam chain snapping?

1st point, yes. Happy to have a chat if you give me a call!

2nd question, we've all seen what happens when a cam chain snaps. It's very unlikely though, and all 944s have a belt which is more likely to be overdue for attention. Check it, but don't get hung up on the 16-valve being less reliable, as that's just not true.

 

[DavidL]

Kevin,
For your budget a good S2 is easily an option. The one you suggest seems alot for a CatC. Remember you have to sell it too and your market will be really small for a catC car.
Chains aren't too expensive to change - 300ish? so worth doing for peace of mind. It seems you have to look hard at the cams themselves and these are a lot of money.
I'm sure someone will be along to tell you what and why re cams.
I think I'd want an S2 if I were you but go look at both and decide for yourself.

 

[sawood12]

No 944 is unreliable. It is a myth. They are all bullet proof - if properly maintained. Almost all stories of 944 unreliability will have stemmed from some form of neglect with respect to the usual servicing schedule. They don't have weak head gaskets, they don't have weak timing belts and don't have weak anything. That's not to say you should buy without care - far from it - you should be every bit as fastidious as you would any other car, but at the very least make sure you are 100% certain (or as close to as possible) as to when the last timing belt change was and on a 16valver - when the last time the chain tensioner slipper was replaced.

Buying a car with a full service history (or at least a full recent history including a belt change), preferably with recognised specialists, is worth a premium in my view - especially if you're not looking for a project car. These are old cars and always carry risk and certainly wont be 100% perfect no matter how well looked after it has been, however what you're looking at doing here is looking to minimise risk.

Other than that check for all the usual 944 things - corroded sills, wing bottoms and wheel arches etc.

I wouldn't dare suggest which model you should go for. I've been hanging around this forum too long to kick that one off again! so i'll be diplomatic and say go for the one in the best condition. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[ChasR]

I wouldn't get too hung up on the Cat C bit if you do your homework and look for anything damaged. There is a very good buyer's guide on Cannel's site for the S2 telling you what to look out for (via a Porsche bodyshop, I reckon the hire car charges would come close to write off a 944 especially today).

As said drive a few and decide what you want. Maybe I drove the wrong ones but the 2.5s simply didn't have the go that I wanted whereas the S2 did. Yes it's a bit silly going like that but when my previous cars were pretty pokey relatively speaking it was something I had got used to. As for parts prices, I wouldn't say a 2.7 is much cheaper to run (lower arms are still £200 each, brake discs are still pricey and are clutches etc.. Brakes I admit can be pricey on an S2). If you want an S2 but cannot afford to buy one (but I think you will be fine) then I'd look elsewhere for a similar type of car (I had a chance many years ago to buy a lesser model of my last car. When I drove one a year ago I was glad that I waited). If I was looking again I'd probably go for an S2 or a 2.7.

Hmmm, that S2 had the rare feature of having no sunroof, some who might say is quite desirable these days.

If it's been maintained well and is continued to be so, the car should last quite a while.

 

[Suffolk944]

Worth bearing in mind is that the 2.7 had a limited production run and has some parts unique to it (in particular valves) which are far more expensive than the 2.5 equivalents.

 

[Alpine]

the black S2 looks nice - last owner for 9 years so hopefully should have been looked after. As with any 944 you should have it checked out by an independant porsche garage before you buy, for peace of mind. Where are you located? They could check out the accident repair and confirm all is ok. The 2.7 looks nice but I do think the front end looks dated compared to the S2, particluarly in that light colour.

 

[MarkK]

The S2 looks great,late car aswell,thats the one i would like more

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I wouldn't get too hung up on the Cat C bit if you do your homework and look for anything damaged. There is a very good buyer's guide on Cannel's site for the S2 telling you what to look out for (via a Porsche bodyshop, I reckon the hire car charges would come close to write off a 944 especially today).

I'd agree, with the caveat that the repair was in 2002, when the car had a significantly higher value than today, so the repair must have been pretty substantial. Either way, it was within the present owner's time so he should have details of what was repaired, and why.

Yes, it's a lot of money for a cat-c, but if all else is as good as it looks and is described then it's worth paying a bit extra. If the car's going to be a keeper than it's less important anyway IMO, sure you have to appreciate that you'll be selling it again one day, but I'd say that every year from now on good 944s will become rarer. Whilst I can't see values increasing, I would imagine that demand for really good examples will remain strong.

 

[kevinyearley]

ORIGINAL: ChasR


Hmmm, that S2 had the rare feature of having no sunroof, some who might say is quite desirable these days.

 

[kevinyearley]

Well spotted, I hadn't actually noticed that... That is quite a down point.

Cheers guys I think you've put me back on the straight and narrow, an S2 it is.

I'll hopefully be doublely assured when I go try them this weekend.

There is another black S2 I'm looking at but I thought it not best to talk about it on the forum as the guy has it advertised on here.

If anyone hears of anyone selling a reasonable S2 that they'd recommend, don't hesitate to let me know

Cheers again, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[ashonen]

i don't have a sunroof but as always what you don't have you want []

 

[DavidL]

Kevin,
There's a Tipec RO selling an S2 over on the tipec 944 forum.
Sounds nice on the face of it and well in budget.

David

 

[kevinyearley]

Could you attach the link please...?

Do you need to become a member?

cheers

 

[Alpine]

ORIGINAL: kevinyearley

Well spotted, I hadn't actually noticed that... That is quite a down point.

I think what was meant was that not having a sunroof is a plus point ! A non-sunroof car can be more desirable for track use as the bodyshell is stiffer (I think..)

 

[kevinyearley]

I see....

Being more of a poser than a racer think it's going to have to be a sunroof for me[]

Also I've heard the darker 944s get quite warm in the summer

 

[Fat Albert]

Anybody thought of bringing these threads together?
seems a match made in heaven!

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=493931

 

[kevinyearley]

ORIGINAL: Fat Albert

Anybody thought of bringing these threads together?
seems a match made in heaven!

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=493931

I will admit that babyjack did inspire me to have a bit of a moan. People are having difficulty selling their 944s and i'm having trouble finding a convincing example.

I would love to take it off his hands only £5000-£6000 is a bit out of my range. Although I do get what you guys are saying about spending more money staright away will save me money in the long run.

Maybe I need to save my pennys a little longer, but my lump sum seems to be slowly deacreasing rather than increasing.

 

[DavidL]

ORIGINAL: kevinyearley

Could you attach the link please...?

Do you need to become a member?

cheers

http://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=6302

Hopefully that will work. You can view posts without logging in there.

 

[babyjack]

I'm probably going to get shot for this but since 1993 I've owned a 2.5, a 2.7 & currently have two S2's. In my opinion the S2 is the best.

Plus if you buy an 2.7 you will always say to yourself "I wish i'd got an S2". Again that is just my opinion & preference.

Then again its always better to buy on condition I suppose.

As Paul mentioned Cat C is fine if you intend on keeping it, definite inspection required though

BTW,As I just mentioned on my post, The lowest I can go is £5000, sorry mate.

Good luck with your search.

Apologies to the 2.7 owners, I did like mine!