MPH '06

[pauljmcnulty]

Evenin' all,

If you're not yet aware, there will be a PCGB stand at the Earls Court MPH'06 event this November. This will have a trio of red 944s on display, and will need volunteers to man the stand.

For full details give me a call. In short, we need cars that can be left at exhibition for the duration and as many willing helpers as possible. There is money to cover limited expenses, but obviously people and cars with easy access to London would be preferable!

This is a fantastic event, and for once it is the cars rather than the Club that will be being promoted. The idea is to show the tremendous value of '80s cars at the moment, and hopefully will drive the values up again. As VJ is a significant part of my pension fund, this is of major interest to me [&:]

So, anyone with a suitable car, or who wants to have a fun day out on the stand, let me know!

 

[Guest]

"The idea is to show the tremendous value of '80s cars at the moment, and hopefully will drive the values up again."

Mmm. I don't want to sound negative but ... I quite like the prices remaining affordable. If the value of the cars go up isn't it likely that the cost of maintenance, parts and insurance will be pushed up too? I can only see the value going up as a positive thing should I wish to trade out of the Porsche marque.

Just my 2 pence.

 

[Fen]

High value makes repairing the cars more worthwhile. It therefore keeps them on the road. It also encourages people to buy as residuals will remain high and will ultimately get the cars to true classic status. Low values means they will become cheap sheds that don't get maintained and most will be gone from the roads in 3-5 years.

 

[Guest]

"High value makes repairing the cars more worthwhile. It therefore keeps them on the road. It also encourages people to buy as residuals will remain high and will ultimately get the cars to true classic status. Low values means they will become cheap sheds that don't get maintained and most will be gone from the roads in 3-5 years. "

I'm not sure I agree. I recently bought mine for £1950 and I've already spent well over that in restoration costs. Not because I thought it was a good financial investment but because it's just such a wonderful driving experience that I want to enjoy as long as possible. In the fifteen years I've owned 944's they've always been a very affordable price and yet, rather than regarded as sheds they tended to be bought by enthusiasts who generally spend way more on them than had they been your average Foxaul in the same price range. Judging by those I saw at Eynsham Hall they're in little danger of becoming unloved. I don't think I saw one tatty car on site.

And if they become classics won't they just end up getting tucked away, off the road, by investors anyway? Denying those on more modest means the pleasure of driving them?

And aren't they already regarded as true classics by those that own and appreciate them? WE know how great they are - why should we care how they are regarded by the ruperts?

 

[idwoodvale]

"If the value of the cars go up isn't it likely that the cost of maintenance, parts and insurance will be pushed up too?......Judging by those I saw at Eynsham Hall they're in little danger of becoming unloved. I don't think I saw one tatty car on site."

"High value makes repairing the cars more worthwhile. It therefore keeps them on the road."

I think you both make a point. Maybe we should all just keep smugly quiet knowing we have a perhaps undervalued and cheap(ish) to maintain cracking motor that we as the enthusiasts are never going to let become cheap sheds?

 

[Fen]

I think you make a valid point Mr Skies, but I guess I was thinking more about the situation now the tin-worm is eating away at even the cherished examples with the owners blissfully unaware in the belief their invisible cloak of galvanizing is protecting them. When those people get a rude awakening and discover the extent of the damage is well into 4 figures per side to repair correctly they will in the main do a cost/benefit analysis and many will decide to move the rusty car on rather than spend it's market value to get it through an MoT. Those that survive the next few years will be true classics, but right now the 944 is at the bottom of the bell curve in value and perceived worth.

In real terms they hold up well though; I paid £8,000 for my Turbo over 5 years ago and if it were in the same state today (by that I mean in terms of modification; it is pretty much the same or better in terms of condition) I'd not consider £6,500 to be too much for it. I flatter the figures slightly though as I think I bought quite well and 5 years ago £8k was equivalent to today's £5k in Turbo prices given than many, many cars were in the £11-£12k range back then and there was only the very bottom end of the market sub-£7k.

Maybe I just want the values to rally for purely selfish reasons (I already have one) and to make me feel better about spending money on mine. Personally I'm already well over 3 times the purchase costs on post-purchase expenditure and I don't even have an engine at the moment.

 

[333pg333]

So Fen you could have your car towed to the event and leave it there as it's not doing much atm[][][] Sorry couldn't resist.
But are you saying after paying $8k and then modifying it that you would be happy with $6.5k?

 

[Fen]

No, absolutely not. What I'm saying is that after paying £8k for it and spending more like £32k more on it I will never sell it, ever, but that after I paid £8k for it had I just used and maintained it I would expect it to be worth £6.5k if I wanted to sell it now.

 

[John Sims]

And a higher value will mean insurers are less likely to write the car off after a parking ding which is certainly the case at the moment.

As an owner I'm more than happy for my car to appreciate in value. It's like house prices, once you are on the ladder, it's great if your car is worth as much or more than you paid for it.

The 944 is a great car. Like Fen (and no doubt most long term owners) I have spent far more on the car than its original purchase price but it remains irreplaceable. There is next to nothing under £80K which would encourage me to get rid of it so, to me, it is still worth a great deal more than I paid for it.

That said, I did rather like the 964RS I had a go in and then there is a DB7 to consider, and also a 2nd hand S Type R and 2nd hand XJR's are outrageous value for money now as well. - The Jaguar Owners Clubs are filled with such a bunch of bearded weirdies though. [8|]

 

[Fen]

The 964RS has a significant omission in the engine department. That's >50% facetious as I've never driven one and I'm sure it doesn't feel like anything is missing.

That said having driven a few normally aspirated 964 models and then strapping into the Turbo it became clear in about 3 milliseconds that I wasn't going to waste my time looking at any more NA cars.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Having sorted through the replies for both volunteers and cars for the HUGELY exciting and prestige event at Earls Court........

Does anyone have a Guards Red Lux, S2 or Turbo that could be reasonably got to London for Wednesday 1st November though to the Sunday evening? This is not an event suitable for concourse cars, or modified cars (within reason), as the point is to demonstrate the sort of car that is realistically available on the market, with a view to pointing out the faults to look for in an honest car. Even if you think your car might not be right, call me.

The London region boys have got a load of volunteers to help at the event already. It's a bit disappointing that so far not one 944 owner has come forward to help! Reasonable expenses are paid, it will be a great event to be a part of, so is it worth giving a day to?

 

[John Sims]

Assuming I'm not working, I'm more than happy to join the throng and take on the mantle of resident Grumpy Old Man. []

 

[Diver944]

Beaky is black (currently []) and as it looks like we are following another colour theme I don't think she'll fit in

......and she's not exactly standard either []

Paul - did you get the request in time to put anything in for the massive readership of PP

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Diver944

Beaky is black (currently []) and as it looks like we are following another colour theme I don't think she'll fit in

......and she's not exactly standard either []......

I know that! (He's only slightly modified)

The offer was for the services of my goodself, not to put Beaky in a position where people can pull things off him. Nobody takes a car to London if they can avoid it.

I've had cars in indoor displays before and, to be honest, it's a right pain. You have to empty the fuel tank for one. Obviously everybody does, that's why we could start our cars and drive them out at the end of the show [8|]. Take it from me, you've not lived untill you've laid 20 feet of black rubber wheel spinning across a carpet

 

[John Sims]

Can't go anyway. I'm kicking off a project that weekend.