My first 944

[Andy H]

Hi all ,
New to the forum and although ive read through many of the posts regarding the various 944 issues, ive waited to 'announce' myself until I had the car safely in my possesion.

The car:
Dec 1992 (K) 944 S2 3.0 SE. in white
2 Owners from new, full Porsche service history and 90k miles.
New engine (from Porsche) fitted < 20k miles ago due to driving through a flood and knackering the original unit (a costly exercise seemingly £9k from Porsche []).
I was told it was 1 of only 2 cars originally imported into Scotland at the time and has a few 968 features hence the SE badging, I dont know , but hope some of you can help me with tracing its true roots and enlighten me here.

Just spent the weekend cleaning it and replacing a dodgy sunroof seal , couple of very minor bodywork issues to attend to, (small dents and some stone chipings) which I will sort out later in the year, I just want to drive it now!!!.
It has all the original equipment ie pump for spare wheel, tyre guage etc etc, most of which has never been used.
Original Blaupunkt stereo system (I will change this , I like my CD player too much).


Some of the questions I would appreciate help with is:
How does the rear cover thing work ????, ive tried all sorts of combinations and it doesnt 'look 'right !.am I doing something wrong?or is it just a funny shaped cover??
And what is the best recommendation for oil at service intervals, (last owner used Mobil 1 0/40 fully synthetic, is this the best choice ?)

Look forward to meeting some of the more local folk (well initially anyway), is there any dates when the meets are in Glasgow area.

Regards

Andy.

 

[944 man]

Hello. The SE was a Porsche Cars GB runout edition, designed to make the remaining stocks of unsold cars more attractive as the 968 was introduced. Id take the comments youve received so far with a pinch of salt. Simon

 

[xenon]

Sounds a nice car all the same. I'd change the belts now for piece of mind and you know they've been done.

 

[Andy H]

Thanks xenon, its one of the first things I always do with any car, as you say , peace of mind. Id like to take the big SE decals off the sides (personally I think they look tacky) but was prepared to leave them on if it was something significant to the model. Cant find a lot of information yet thats specific to the car, and what upgrades if any the SE had, . Funny how the kids talk to you again when youve got something a bit tasty to drop them off in.(well better than a megane or the Volvo)

 

[xenon]

As far as I remember, the SE upgrades consisted of the bridge spoiler and a different map which liberated a few more horses (220 up from 211 I think)

 

[Alpine]

It must certainly be one of the very last S2s as an S2 on a K plate is pretty rare I think

 

[John Sims]

Welcome to the Forum Andy. Despite the reason behind it, a real SE is very unusual - I don't think I've seen one yet. The badging is part of its heritage and I would keep it myself. If ever you came to sell the car it could give you a slight edge over another similar but less exclusive example.

 

[xenon]

^^ +1

 

[Andy H]

[quote :John Sims] Despite the reason behind it, a real SE is very unusual - I don't think I've seen one yet. The badging is part of its heritage and I would keep it myself. If ever you came to sell the car it could give you a slight edge over another similar but less exclusive example.

Thanks again for the comments guys, this is exactly the kind of information im looking for . Why is it so unusual to see a 'real' SE ?, these are the points I would like to find out. I trust the previous owner explicitly and have absolutely no reason to dismiss his comments on it being quite rare, im open to comments as the more info I get the better. thanks Andy.

 

[944Turbo]

I have seen a couple (with/without the stickers) both have had a 968 style 3 spoke steering wheel rather than the 4 spoke 944 wheel. I think I would remove the stickers, I would get some good side on photos first just in case you wanted to recreate them but I always thought they looked very early eighties aftermarket, like someone had used a roll of black insulating tape and a set square after designing them on a BBC micro Welcome to the world of 944! Tony

 

[944Turbo]

There was a guy with a smart red one with stickers who used to attend the national events, I think it was on display at Brands, I saw a blue one for sale near bath around 3 or 4 years ago - wonder if it was the same as the top trumps one (pictured)? It was without its stickers when I saw it for sale Tony

 

[ocallen]

In Peter Morgan's ORIGINAL PORSCHE 924/944/968 he writes the SE was offered at a price premium of £2k over the standard S2 and had full Sport suspension, ride height lowered by 30mm, power increased to 225bhp and finished off with Porsche Sport steering wheel from the Exclusiv programme, rear colour coded spoiler and custom SE decals on the flanks. Doesn't say how many or what colours.

 

[Diver944]

Welcome aboard Andy, we'd love to see pictures as soon as you've taken some. I've seen a couple of S2 SE's over the years, but only one still had the big decals on the side intact. The guys have covered the main points but for the definitive story you need to speak to Steve Kevlin who works for the club and runs our Track days and Motorsport events. He worked for Porsche UK in the early 90's and was involved in the UK market limited edition SE. Rumour, conjecture, gossip has it there were around 15 all on the K plate

 

[Fen]

Everything said above paints the right picture. It's rare as in there aren't many about, but then if you painted any S2 dayglo orange it would be rarer still. It isn't a real special edition so much as a standard car with a few bits painted and some dealer-fit options added to try to make it more saleable. Don't get me wrong; some of the changes are quite nice additions, but it's just a late S2 with a different steering wheel and painted spoiler these days (the suspension will be baggy and they never would have made 225bhp in a million years just from a chip change). It sounds like a nice car, but if you don't like the stickers then take them off and like it better.

 

[Andy H]

thanks for all the info, I want to keep the car as original as possible even if it means living with the big SE on the doors!,maybe it'll grow on me eventually. As for the drive, its well up there with some of the best cars ive driven ,tight and positive, no funny noises etc, very impressive for a 16 yr old car. Some of the invoices from Porsche were nothing short of obscene, but proves it has been maintained regardless of cost I only hope I can keep it as well as the previous owner.(wheres the secret bank book !!) thanks again, i will get some pics up soon ! Andy

 

[ocallen]

Hope you enjoy the car and stick with it. I had a number of occasions where I sold on my 944s and regretted it. Had special Lancias and Alfas but the one I regret more than anything was the '85 LHD Crystal Green 944 Lux on Fuchs from new with something like 30k from new for £4k in 1994. I turned up and the guy who had it from new was desperate to sell but I dithered ! It was beautiful and if I had bought that car I would still be in the garage polishing it and winning concours. I would still have to have my road car that I see as a project so I'm still lucky. Enjoy 944s as they are brilliant cars.

 

[924nutter]

ORIGINAL: Andy H ...................... Original Blaupunkt stereo system (I will change this , I like my CD player too much).

Andy if that is a Blaupunkt Toronto that still plays tapes then I might be interested if the price is right, as I want to keep my cab original. The belt has gone on mine so I can't use my Ipod cassette adaptor

 

[Andy H]

Hi, 924 Nutter, Cant remember the Exact model , but its all whistles and bells (well for an old radio cassette it is), loads of buttons etc, tape deck works fine, well if you call Matt Munroe "fine" music [:'(], tape left in the unit by the last owner,,, honestly![:-]. I will check the model tonight when I get back home and let you know via P.M. Cheers Andy.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

tape deck works fine, well if you call Matt Munroe "fine" music , tape left in the unit by the last owner,,, honestly!.

Mine came with Frank Sinatra left in the CD player. ( No, not him, just a CD! ) Is this telling us something about the demographic of 944 ownership? [8|]

 

[Andy H]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

tape deck works fine, well if you call Matt Munroe "fine" music , tape left in the unit by the last owner,,, honestly!.

Mine came with Frank Sinatra left in the CD player. ( No, not him, just a CD! ) Is this telling us something about the demographic of 944 ownership? [8|]

Ohh dear, does this mean I have to become a "mature" driver ?? wheres that Shania Twain album dear ?? LOL