New Member needs 944 buying advice.

[Guest]

Hi guys, I've just viewed a 1985 porsche 944 so thought I would register on this site as I have loads of questions. I was after a project car to work on over the summer and saw a local guy selling his 944 Lux for £1000. He said it needed work done and was a project hence the price. I did a check on the car and it revealed it was a cat C write off in 1991. I decided to walk away. He then said since I was local he would give me it for £700 as he doesn't have time for it and he is working on two other cars. The car has done 207000 miles, engine started first time but sounded bit rough, very tappety. One main concern is hole underneath the cill near the front of the car. Would this be reparable or is it stuctural? Also quite a few other scabby bits around the car been filled and not painted well etc. Couln't drive the car either as it has been declared sorn.
Basically just after some advice if it sounds like too much of a lemon and not worth it even as a project. I know its hard to tell without seeing the car but any advice welcome, thanks.

 

[nick3814]

Hi Mark, personally I would leave it well alone, sounds more bother than its worth!! An 85' will be the old style interior and I don't think theres a great market for these now, you should be able to get a one in good condition that runs well with a lot less mileage for around £1200 to £1500 mark of even an oval dash model (1986 onwards) for a little more, a much nicer proposal IMO .
944s of this vintage will alwalys need some work doing on them but I think you can do better than the one you describe and I know Cat 'C' right offs are not that bad but the car will always have that label and will be difficult to move on later. Sounds like its only fit for the scrap heap to be honest!!

Anyway welcome, your in the right place for some sound advice and one of us may know of a decent one for sale!!

Good luck with the search[]

 

[edh]

It doesn't sound too promising - although I guess it depends what sort of work you want to do?

bodywork or mechanicals, or both?

If there's evidence of major rust in the sills, you can bet it's in some serious structural areas, like towards the rear suspension mounts. They rust from the inside usually (you can see inside the sills & rear quarters)

 

[tref]

If there is rust in the front of the cills, chances are it has already been repaired at the back... the question is, to what standard?
You can choose early or late dash for that kind of money "fixer-upper", I happen to prefer the early dash, so take no notice of the "got to be a late dash" arguements, work out which you prefer.
I usually reckon a car has to have two out of three things to make it a valid "fixer-upper" - Good body-work, an MOT and sound mechanics, and a good engine. If it has two out of three, it is worth doing the third. If two out of three need work, its not usually worth it, unless it is something particularly unusual...and be prepared to loose money...

As examples, the 924 Turbo cab I am working on has been over 12 months in the body shop (and it didn't look that bad to start with), had a seized engine, and had been stood in a field for 6 years... The money it will cost could have bought a tidy Boxster, and it hasn't been driven in the mean time.

My last daily car was bought for £600 with no MOT. Tidy-ish bodywork, and a very sound engine. It went on the road in a couple of weeks for less than £1k, including new tyres on the front. An early dash car, very reliable, and it had air too.

I'd look further.

Tref.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the quick reply guys. Yes thats what I thought I think I just needed someone else to confirm that for me. I have general mechanical skills but I think I would be taking on too much with this project. The high mileage and rust in the sill has really put me off. I have got a liking for the 944 now though and will be looking about!! Thanks for the constructive advice too, much better than other forums I've been on!

 

[edh]

Almost any 944 (or 924S) will keep you busy []

Even the good ones will need looking after - there are still plenty out there without rust problems & I'd make that a priority. Belts/tensioners/rollers/water pump are important, but might be worth doing on any new 944 you buy

Make sure the clutch is good - that's an expensive job! (or a major one if you're doing it yourself).

Where in the UK are you?

 

[poprock]

ORIGINAL: Mark080

I have got a liking for the 944  now though and will be looking about!!

If you fancy doubling your budget for a later model with the majority of work already done, I have a nice one for sale here. It's already had the clutch replaced with new!

 

[morris944s2john]

I agree, it doesn't sound much of a prospect, but then again if the car was local to me and I could get it for even cheaper (under £500), I too would be tempted to feel sorry for it and as I can weld, do mechanical work and paint, would find it hard to resist![] Good job my 944 is the only one I know of locally, it needs enough work as it is.

But £700 sounds far too much for a 944 with the problems stated and no MOT, cat C. rust etc. The rattly engine might be just because it has not run for a while and the hydraulic tappets have drained of oil. If the guy can't sell it he may break it for parts.