Looking for 1st 944

[Taxidermy Collector]

Hi
I am looking for a reasonable classic car and have been draw to a TR6 but silly money and generally full of rust. So I decided a 944 was a good idea.
Need advice on what to look for, pricing etc.
I'm looking at mid 80's and don't mind tinkering a bit.
On ebay they seem to be between £1300 and £2500.
Just looking for any help anybody can give.
Many thanks
Adrian

 

[ChasR]

Below £2k buys you a basket case. I've seen some advertised for £2k with 'solid sills' only to turn up and find patches on the sills, with filler carefully put in too. If it were me, I'd say £2.5k + for a 2.5/S car, with over £3k+ for the start of a semi decent S2. Buy cheap and you will definately buy more than twice with a 944.

Buy a half decent car from the off and you will certainly enjoy it.

IMO, look out cambelt changes, recent signs of work being done to it and servicing etc. Yes I know a OPC history can be desirable but as some have said, a number of specialists out there know the cars better than the dealers these days. Clutches are expensive to replace and can be spotted if they are failing (shuddering when warm in traffic).

Sills can look great but look out for signs of waving (possibly filler in the sills) and the rear corners of the sill (they tend to cumble from the front of the rear arch, with the inner panel going first (putting your fingers here and squeezing both sides of the sill will confirm if they are shot). Wings can also get rusty from the bottom, which can be repaired but I would look out for rot tbh as the front wings are not cheap.

A good car will be a joy to drive and own and provide trouble free work.

The buyers guides will cover more IMO.

If you want a car for the budget above, I would say get a 924. At the expense of getting birched, whilst they may not have the pace of a 944 they are still quite fun to drive (maybe a little more fun).

 

[Frenchy]

A 924 S has a Porsche Designed 2.5 unlike the early 924's which are based on the VW engine (nowt wrong with them though),always buy on condition and look for proof of servicing.
The rusty bits mentioned previously are best avoided there are some real good ones out there but they are getting harder to find.
Get a good one and enjoy,they can be run on Mondeo money.

 

[Suffolk944]

What Chas says really. Belts should be changed every four years max and ideally no more than three years regardless of mileage. Sills and bottoms of wings are the general corrosion hotspots, the sills rot from the inside out so by the time they start to bubble on the outside its already a problem. To check their internals you can remove the air vents set into the door frames and lower a torch/mobile phone down into the sills themselves.

Allow a budget of £1k over and above the purchase price for first year fettling and sorting. I would avoid ebay specials and get a car from an enthusiast who knows the car properly. If your budegt is as you suggest then you may get a good Lux/S for the top end of it with some careful looking. Anything less and the risk will increase exponetially. A 924S will offer very similar performance to a 944 Lux for less outlay and are great little cars in their own right.

What sort of budget are you looking at ?

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Just to add, read the forum over the last year to learn everything you'll ever need, but don't get put off. These cars really are about as cheap to run as any modern car, let alone rusty old '80s Alfa or BMW. Just that they have a few areas that can throw big bills, and if you buy badly you might hit a "perfect storm", where all the once-in-20-year bills all fall at once.

Get to an event where lots of cars will be, see the events listing above, and there will be plenty of owners willing to bore you for hours with buying advice! []

 

[zcacogp]

Don't bother. They're rubbish.

And all their owners are gits as well.


Oli.

P.S. Only kidding. They're ace. Follow the advice above and it will put you in a good position. If you find one you like the look of then ask about it on here - it's a small world and there is a fair chance that one or other of us will know the car. If you aren't familiar with 944's then either take someone with you to look at it who does know them, or pay for a pre-purchase inspection at a good indie (independent specialist.) It'll cost a couple of hundred quid but could save thousands. Oh, and if you are handy with spanners then you can save a fortune in running costs - they are very DIY friendly.

 

[zcacogp]

Oh yes, and stick around and let us know how you get on. We welcome new forum members (and new club members as well. * )


Oli.

* - Was that the sound of a can of worms being opened?

 

[DivineE]

It's so tempting to believe you can do better but TRUST me these guys are talking sense. Buy right the first time and you'll be astounded how robust and reliable these cars can be. Buy badly and you will be equally amazed how much money they can absorb. Either way you'll love the car, my first one was a dog but it didn't stop falling in love with the 944. Difference is whether it costs you £2.5k in the first year or £5k+

 

[Copperman05]

TBO most of these cars will have some amount of rust by now so it shouldnt put you off completely, check the plastic vent in the door shuts, they pull out and give you a good view of the inside of the cills, anything more than a little surface rust I would avoid. Yes front wings are expensive (£400+) but can be repaired by a good bodyshop without having to replace. (My S2 is having this done now) Also check rear wings for rust (more of an issue than the front IMO).

Considering there age these cars have stood the test of time extremely well, find a good one, look after it and you'll be sorted.

Edd

 

[DivineE]

ps you could save yourself time and money by buying a turbo now.. everyone ends up there eventually. It is the light. Some of the more stubborn members seem quite attached to their S2's but they'll come round[]

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: DivineE

ps you could save yourself time and money by buying a turbo now.. everyone ends up there eventually. It is the light. Some of the more stubborn members seem quite attached to their S2's but they'll come round[]

Mr Taxidermist,

Please, whatever you do, don't make the same mistake as this poor deluded fellow. He keeps on making the same mistake - he's now on his second turbo, and still keeps casting around for things to make it better.

Had he done the sensible thing in the first place (bought an S2), he's still have it, and be a very happy chappie.

So, kids. Don't make the same mistake as this bloke. Buy an S2. You know it makes sense. In fact, there is a thread on here from a chap selling his S2 at the moment - and it looks like a nice one, too. (Red, for those who care about such things ... )


Oli.

P.S. []

 

[edh]

It's not his second Oli []

 

[jenpot]

Don't forget, red ones are faster.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: edh

It's not his second Oli []

Third then. []

Or fourth. []

(Why let facts get in the way of a good argument, eh?)


Oli.

 

[DivineE]

One year in a lux, 2-3 months of a borrowed S, 7 years in three turbo (cars), Five turbo engines (2.5, 2.8, 3.2 in first car, 2.5 in 2nd 2.5 in the current) and counting.. [] but lets not let that get in the way of the pursuit for power, once your bitten by the 944 turbo nothing else can compare! Just look at the number of owners who've ended up keeping their turbos for 10 even 15+ years. S2 owners come and go.

Anyway back to topic Check function of headlights because dodgy wiring often means they wont dip, function of the electric roof, carpets for signs of leaks, gearbox for any whining noise when driving and clutch because its an expensive job many avoid doing.

Other than that if it has a good history from someone recognised here as a good garage and hasn't sat about too much it should be fine. Don't be put off by high mileage cars. There are plenty of well maintained 944's with over 200,000miles that I would happily buy tomorrow if I were in the market for one.

 

[Taxidermy Collector]

Hi
Thanks for all the advice guys. I guess I just need to take the plunge and see what happens.
Adrian

 

[Iain Cleghorn]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

ORIGINAL: DivineE

ps you could save yourself time and money by buying a turbo now.. everyone ends up there eventually. It is the light. Some of  the more stubborn members seem quite attached to their S2's but they'll come round[]

Mr Taxidermist,

Please, whatever you do, don't make the same mistake as this poor deluded fellow. He keeps on making the same mistake - he's now on his second turbo, and still keeps casting around for things to make it better.

Had he done the sensible thing in the first place (bought an S2), he's still have it, and be a very happy chappie.

So, kids. Don't make the same mistake as this bloke. Buy an S2. You know it makes sense. In fact, there is a thread on here from a chap selling his S2 at the moment - and it looks like a nice one, too. (Red, for those who care about such things ... )


Oli.

P.S. []

I went from an 86 turbo, to a 3.2 carrera, to a 968 CS, and now im in an S2. Lovin it, and for a 20 yr old car, it does seem faster than the turbo! I presume that is because it is RED! lol.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Iain Cleghorn
I went from an 86 turbo, to a 3.2 carrera, to a 968 CS, and now im in an S2. Lovin it, and for a 20 yr old car, it does seem faster than the turbo! I presume that is because it is RED! lol.

Way-Hey! GOOD lad!

See chaps, this feller pops us, only three posts to his name and he has already spotted that S2s are the superior waggon! []

Bravo Iain. You are clearly a gentleman of impeccable taste.


Oli.

 

[Suffolk944]

Clearly here the word "seem" is paramount to the truth of the situation. Many things "seem" to be the case when enough wishful thinking is applied. []

 

[zcacogp]

I seem to disagree with you Jon ... []


Oli.