Need help wth a problem - Lux or S?

Elliot · Apr 20, 2009

I have owned a nauttic metallic 944 1988 lux for the past three years and in that time it has had new sills, rear bearings, driveshafts and cv joints, refurbed interior in black leather, private 944 plate and numerous other bits and bobs and it has never let me down. It curently has 116K miles and the belts were done at 95K.

I love the colour so much i even brought an SC to match.

A little while ago i picked up a 1988 944S in white with burgundy pinstripe cloth interior, no dents, very little evidence of rot on the sills etc and 37K on the clock that had been dry stored for 8 years and i got it for £600 with an idleing problem. Any way took it out last week, cleaned it up, steam cleaned the entire car, stripped beneath the car and i can find no evidence of any impending problems. Changed the pipework and valve and the idleing problem is sorted. Brought a set of turbo forged alloys and it looks the nuts.

Had a probe into history and the car had speedo change at 52K by colchester so it has done approx 89K. It looks mint with immaculate rubbers and as far as i can tell is original.

Here is the quandry

DO I sell the nauttic with all the problems sorted but knowing that it has had substantial work carried out and drive the S with the problems associated with the tensioners or DO I sell the white S and keep the devil you know.

trying to sort out file size to upload pictures but please provide your opinion on what i should do - either way one will be for sale as i cant keep both an SC and a rover cooper project.

cheers

pauljmcnulty · Apr 20, 2009

Personally, I'd keep the car that you've spent money on. Assuming that you spent the money doing jobs in a way that they'll last. I'm also in two minds about the S, having been very kindly allowed to do an extended road test in Peter Empsons. Details in next month's PP.

Tam Lin · Apr 21, 2009

ORIGINAL: Elliot

I have owned a nauttic metallic 944 1988 lux for

Greetings from another member of the Nautikblau Appreciation Society [

]
For that price, I'd keep the 944S as a spare engine donor for the blue lux, if needed. The body is the bit that seems to cost to get right on these cars, so I'd definitely hold on to the car you've invested in...

xenon · Apr 21, 2009

I'd keep the blue one too, but do something about that dreadful numberplate.

John Sims · Apr 21, 2009

Keep which ever one has the least rust.

Body condition is paramount everything else is just parts.

Obviously, you would swap all the best condition bits on to the keeper before disposal of the other one.

Peter Empson · Apr 21, 2009

Personaly I'd keep the blue one, simply as you know the important jobs are done. You should also be able to get a good return on the S now it's running well.
I have to admit I don't see the tensioner as a problem with the 944S however, it's just an extra part of the maintenance schedule, that's all.