Spoiler colour question

[Sandspider]

Hi all.

I have a quick spoiler colour question. I always wanted to get a 944 (posted a bit about it a year or so ago), but I was a bit put off by the tacky black plastic spoiler. Then, the other day, I saw a nice white one with a lovely white spoiler. Is this likely to have been an aftermarket modification, or do some 944s have body colour spoilers? How hard is it to paint / replace the spoiler? My financial situation has changed, and a 944 looks to be doable again!

(Oooh, also, does anyone know roughly how many 944s come with air con, and how hard / expensive this is to fit retrospectively?)

Many thanks,

Giles

 

[xenon]

There are two spoilers; the rubber spoiler and the bridge spoiler. Both were black originally but it's possible to paint either. The rubber spoiler would probably look a bit iffy, body-coloured.

Many turbo models had A/C, very few others. Retrofitting would be so difficult as to not be worth it, I suspect.

 

[Sandspider]

Thanks Ian.

Do you know what the bridge spoiler is made of, if not rubber?

Cheers

 

[xenon]

Not personally (someone will) but it's a rigid item, probably ABS. Paintable nowadays with acrylic paints, assuming you can get a colour match. Don't use cellulose paints on plastic though, but you probably knew that. [8D]

 

[Alpine]

the bridge spoiler is not rubber/plastic - more like a metal, maybe aluminium

 

[xenon]

There you go then - if it's metal (presumably powder-coated) it will be easy to paint.

 

[poprock]

I'm no expert on this, but I think the bridge spoiler was standard on later model Turbos and S2s, whilst air-con was standard on the Turbos and an option on S2s. That would point to your best best being a late-model 944 Turbo, I reckon. You'll be looking at around £5""7.5K I think.

The cheaper option would be to look for a nice Lux and fit the bridge spoiler yourself (they're usually easy to source on eBay), but that won't help you with the air-con.

 

[Sandspider]

Many thanks one and all.

I fear that insurance and maintenance costs will put a turbo out of my league for now, and I don't really feel the need for one anyway (yet!). Looks like a late model S2 would be the one. Does anyone know what insurance group these are, and whether they would be damaged by prolonged running on standard 95 RON petrol rather than 98 Optimax? (I would search, but the forum search doesn't seem to be working...)

Cheers,

G

 

[xenon]

I have a late-model S2 but it doesn't have the bridge spoiler - I'm not sure it was ever standard on the S2 at all. Anyway, you can run perfectly alright on 95 octane, the engine has a knock-sensor and can run on 95 OK.

The insurance Gp is 20 - costs £428 for me with Sainsbury's, fully comp, with no mileage limit -i.e. as a primary car,

 

[mik_ok]

Some would argue that an S2 isn't much cheaper to maintain than the Turbo (no turbo, but you do have twin cams / 16V and the potential-weakpoint camchain).

S2 is mapped for 95RON. Optimax (or similar) will do nothing for you unless you've installed a (very cheap and worthwhile) remap.

 

[mik_ok]

ORIGINAL: xenon
I have a late-model S2 but it doesn't have the bridge spoiler - I'm not sure it was ever standard on the S2 at all.

Ours was an H-Plate and had the rubber spoiler. Later cars did come with the bridge, but there aint a lot of them about.

 

[xenon]

Yeah, Mine's a '91 "H" and has the rubber spoiler.

 

[Sandspider]

Thanks muchly one and all.

Veering away from the original spoiler question now, but how do people think maintenance costs compare for S2 / Lux? I'd prefer the S2 as it's a bit newer, nicer shape, more nippy, but if the S2 is hugely more to maintain (and of course a bit more to buy) then perhaps I'll have to settle for a Lux. Is there that much difference in driving feel / experience between the S2 and the Lux, besides the faster acceleration (and higher fuel consumption!) of the S2?

Cheers,

Giles

 

[xenon]

The S2 is not "hugely" more expensive to maintain as such but you do have the issue with the cam chain which the 8v models don't have. If you get a car that has had the chain inspected and / or changed then there's really no difference. With either, you'll be looking at an untenable bill should the cam belt snap so make sure it's changed.

Mine will be up for sale soon, as mentioned on http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=344714

 

[Sandspider]

Thanks Ian.

If you could e-mail me the pics of your car to baconjunky<<at>>gmail.com, I'd be interested to have a look.

G

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Be careful with being too choosy over small details. Air con, yes, if you need it buy a car that has it working. Spoiler, if the old shape is so offensive £400 or so will buy a 968 tailgate and bridge spoiler. Spending £400 on a bit of plastic in a different shape seems mad to me, but then mine was fitted with teardrops by a previous owner and I'd hate to go back! [&:]

If you're looking for an S2, buy the best bodywork you can find, and with loads of history over the last few years to show belts, chain, water pump all new, hopefully a clutch, fuel lines, brake caliper re-furb etc. If you have two cars that are really this good, THEN think about little details like colour, spoiler shape or wheel type.

And, always, keep at least £1k back for the first year's maintenance on a lux, £1.5k for an S2 or Turbo. Unless you can do all the work yourself! Then, you'll have one of the most affordable classic sports cars ever made without the worry of running a money-pit, and the biggest grin on your face every time you get in it!

 

[NeilW]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

If you're looking for an S2, buy the best bodywork you can find, and with loads of history over the last few years to show belts, chain, water pump all new, hopefully a clutch, fuel lines, brake caliper re-furb etc. If you have two cars that are really this good, THEN think about little details like colour, spoiler shape or wheel type.

I think paul is quite correctly hinting that bodywork condition may be a more important consideration for an S2 than a lux. This seems to be because the plastic sill (cill?) trims of the S2/turbo bodywork act as a water/dirt trap, which promotes rust long term. I'd certainly agree with that based on my two cars, i.e. both 88 models but the turbo has had repair work along the sills whereas the S is still sound.

 

[TTM]

The bridge spoiler was standard equipment on 90/91 944 turbo, 91 S2 and 968. It's made of very hard plastic.

 

[bennyboy]

So has anybody painted the rubber spoiler? Surely with the right prep it would be OK? I'm assuming that all 3 parts of the tailgate spoiler are rubber if the main part is? Do they come off easily enough for painting? I've posted a picture of the spolier I like on here before, but I forgot that I'd have to paint the other parts also!

 

[Peter Empson]

I've seen a few painted rubber spoilers and really didn't like them, the textured finish just doesn't look right, plus the paint seems to flake off on a few I've seen.

The spoiler can be a pain to remove as the threads are bound to have rusted, mine certainly had and needed to be drilled out, which would make refitting it nigh on impossible.