The day has come. S2 for sale.

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

I write this with a heavy heart. The forthcoming ULEZ charge in Central London means it will be uneconomic for me to carry on running my much-loved S2 and hence I have three options:

1. Stand for London Mayor and cancel the ULEZ when elected
2. Sell my car and buy something else
3. Store the car for the next 10 years until I move out of London

(Option 4 is to take out a contract on Sadiq Khan's life but this isn't in keeping with the spirit of love, joy and peace that is infusing this Brexit-obsessed world. However I'd be lying if I said I wasn't considering it*. I am fairly good friends with a relative of the Kray twins so I think it could be arranged quite easily.)

Option 1 is a non-starter as I have always hated the architecture of City Hall and couldn't stand living there.

Option 2 is the one I am trying for now. I have put down a deposit on a 987 Cayman (but am struggling to get excited about it) and hence I've just put my S2 up for sale. This is a car which I have owned for 13 years** and intended to own for most of the rest of my life. I've maintained it very carefully and it is one of the better known 944's out there. Most of the trials and tribulations of ownership have been written about on this forum so have a look at my posting history to learn more. The advert is on Pistonheads, here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/944/porsche-944-s2--------------------1989/9650894


Option 3 is the fall-back option. I won't live in London for ever and I'd like to think I will own a 944 again, so if this one doesn't sell for the right price then I'll mothball*** it in a barn somewhere nice and dry and drag it out when I move to the country. Therefore if this forum is still in operation in 10 or more years time then expect to see a post from me asking about how to get a seized up S2 engine going.

If anyone is interested then please do contact me on 07879 820967, or pass my number to people who may be. Thanks,


Oli.


* - If you are a mod then that was a joke. Honest guv.
** - 13 years to the day! I've checked the registration document and I took ownership on the 27th April 2006!)
*** - I know, I know, mothballs won't keep my immaculate sills from rusting nor will they stop the engine from gumming up or the interior from drying out - it's just a figure of speech you miserable pedants. Liberal amounts of cavity wax smeared over the bodywork and some preservation oil for the engine will do a much better job. Happy now? Good.

 

[Waylander]

Oli

i really feel for you and every other classic owner in the ridiculous new tax zone

If I had the space I would keep it here for you so you could use it when you want

I can’t imagine how your feeling, other than heartbroken

 

[Dan944t]

I’m really sorry to hear that your having to sell your 944 ?? I really hope things work out

atb
daniel

 

[MickHudson]

Mothball it mate. Im sure there will be someone somewhere that will look after it for you. If not, then there are various lock ups around the country that are cheap enough and that's got to be worth more than getting shut of your lovely car.

Good luck either way buddy.

 

[Dan944t]

All Just for some inspiration ...... I bought my first car when I was 17 and before I passed my test too, and failed my first attempt and had the car waiting for me ?? It was a alpine white 1986 944 lux. When I was 26 I decided I wanted a 944 turbo which I have today. I mothballed that 944 lux in a council garage at the top of my dads road with brand new mot, brake lines, tires shocks brakes, discs and more.........not having even done 5 miles after fitting alol of those items at such a young age.

It still sits in that very garage in that very position I left it and closed the door all these years later and I am now 38 years old with a family of 3 kids and a wife, and im still renting that garage to this day Just to keep hold of it .......

I long for the day I get to go and retrieve that car and bring it to my home and reguvenate it will bring me back many many joyous fond memories that got me through a real bad time in my life when all I felt I had to keep me happy was that car , especially the ages of 17-21.

I dread to think how much its cost me over over these years .....and my wife doesn’t approve of me havin two 944’s but to me that car is very speacial and I long for the day to get back in touch with it ??

Daniel

 

[kalsi997]

Just purchased my first 997 Targa S4 - X51 and was hoping to find out if anyone knows the procedures for replacing the retracting cables for targa roof please as my cables seem to be worn. Also can recommend a good handsfree Apple [FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]iPhone PCM kit please? [8D]

Kul

 

[John Sims]

Just purchased my first 997 Targa S4 - X51 and was hoping to find out if anyone knows the procedures for replacing the retracting cables for targa roof please as my cables seem to be worn. Also can recommend a good handsfree Apple [FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]iPhone PCM kit please? [8D]

Kul

Asking this question in the 997 section might provide more answers than asking 944 owners. I'd move it but a) I'm too tired and b) You wont learn if I do. ;-)

 

[John Sims]

Oil ;-) mate this is desperate and I feel for you. With 944's on the up and up you must be able to come up with some financial model/lie that says keeping it is an investment.

 

[TTM]

A few weeks ago I sold my S2 which I had owned for 19 years. Unlike you though I was not using it anymore and thought it better kept going in caring hands than gather dust in a pricey parking spot. Selling it to a very good 944-minded friend who already owns about 5 924/944/968 soothed the pain as it will be very well taken care of and I will have the chance to drive it from time to time.

I would suggest you to find a place to store it and drive it from time to time. I believe they are too good cars to be wasted as daily drivers.

 

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Thanks for the answers. Keeping it may be a viable option. If it is then I will only sell it if someone offers me the right money for it. While laying it up would be a bit of work then it would be more work to get it out again, although I think it would be worth it. Will they continue to appreciate at the rate they have done for the last few years? What will spares availability be like for them in 10 years time? I don't know the answers to these but it's a gamble I'm very happy to take. I'd like to think that I'll own another 944 in the future and I will struggle to get hold of one as good as mine.

Dan, that's a good story - and very encouraging. Thanks!


Oli.

 

[John Sims]

If the example of the Ferrari Dino is anything to go by (if only we had bought them when they were cheap) unless you are looking at making big money in the next 10 years if you want a 944 in 2029 you need to own it now. Spares will get harder to get and more expensive but that will only make cars that can be stripped more valuable again.

In relative terms the 944 was one of the last of the simple Super Cars - obviously I am talking Turbos not S2's

 

[zcacogp]

In relative terms the 944 was one of the last of the simple Super Cars - obviously I am talking Turbos not S2's

Did you say 'Supercars for simple people'? Your 'Turbo' comment means you must have done! []

Good point about the Dino. Nice example, thanks.


Oli.

 

[edh]

I guess the Dino wasn't a "proper" Ferrari, so there are some similarities..
(btw I'm not sure of the long term appreciation potential - I have a suspicion you won't be able to give away IC cars in 10 years time)
Find some dry storage in the country, go and visit it occasionally, enjoy your Cayman, especially the glorious sound it makes

 

[Briggy]

If you're not keen on mothballing it, I'm sure there maybe one or two club members, both here and on TIPEC that would be happy to put say 3,000 miles a year on it for you. Maybe someone who you've helped out in the past and owes you a small favour. I can think of someone that fits that bill.....

 

[blade7]

(btw I'm not sure of the long term appreciation potential - I have a suspicion you won't be able to give away IC cars in 10 years time)

The bubble will burst long before then. When interest rates rise investors will bale out of ordinary classics, and prices will crash.

 

[944Turbo]

Is electrifying it an option? or does ULEZ exclude aftermarket electric cars?

356s seem to be worth money and I can see analogue cars being worth something for a while - I was very tempted to purchase a manual audi r8 V10 or a manual Gallardo and put them into storage - when you can only buy a 2 or 3 cylinder hybrid new, classics will go up in value all the time fuel is available - and given that oil has many many uses beyond petrol/diesel I think it will be around for a long time yet.

Tony

 

[edh]

(btw I'm not sure of the long term appreciation potential - I have a suspicion you won't be able to give away IC cars in 10 years time)

The bubble will burst long before then. When interest rates rise investors will bale out of ordinary classics, and prices will crash.

Hope so - there's lots of cars I'd like to own for a while. A cheap 996 GT3 would be nice []

 

[zcacogp]

Is electrifying it an option? or does ULEZ exclude aftermarket electric cars?

I think that electrifying it would be an option but not one I'd consider; it would be expensive and would ruin the car. It would also present a problem with charging it (no guaranteed space outside my house, need to run a lead over the pavement etc) and would end up with an expensive car that is neither an original classic nor a car that is a properly-designed electric vehicle. In short, it's an interesting idea but not one I am fond of.

The car passed an MOT yesterday so it now has 12 months ticket as well.


Oli.

 

[John Sims]

... A cheap 996 GT3 would be nice []

Isn't that's what's known as an oxymoron?

 

[zcacogp]

Time has passed and I should add a coda to this thread - it's overdue.

I stored my S2. I realised that I have access to a house with an unused garage and came to an arrangement whereby I could use it for free for as long as I live in London. I therefore drove the old girl down there and parked her up. Here's a photo.

Only, as with everything in this life, it wasn't quite as simple as that. I did a lot of research and did the following before storing her:

- Cleaned her assiduously, inside and out.
- Wire brushed the couple of areas of rust that were on the body and treated them with Bilt Hamber Hydrate 80
- Generously applied Bilt Hamber Dynax S50 into the sills and all body cavities
- Removed all interior panels and sprayed more S50 onto all the metal that was thus exposed
- Applied Dynax UC to the exterior bodywork, pretty much everywhere. This meant that the car was a real mess to look and it will be a pig to clean off, but hopefully there will be sound metal underneath once cleaned
- Changed oil, gearbox oil and brake fluid
- Applied B-H Ferrusol liberally 'round the engine bay and to all suspension parts
- Ran the tank as dry as I dared and added a whole bottle of fuel preserver (which seemed to make it run immensely smoothly!)
- Removed the battery
- Over-filled the crankcase with oil
- Removed the spark plugs and filled the bores with oil, then span the engine over on the starter to distribute the oil over the inside of the cylinders (which also made some impressive fountains of oil out of the spark plug holes! Ho hum - a bit more oil over the engine will keep the rust at bay ....)
- Jacked the car up onto axle stands, removed the wheels, removed the brake pads and sprayed more Ferrusol over the brake disks and calipers
- Wedged the clutch pedal down with a piece of wood
- Bought a can of 'air conditioner bomb', set it off, threw it into the car and closed the doors and boot.

I also did quite a lot of research into other means of protection and came up with a Car Bag. An American product which is essentially a large plastic bag you put the car in, add a canister of desiccant and zip up for as long as necessary. You then change the desiccant every 6 months, drying out the used canisters in a warm oven. The product seems to have very good reviews wherever you look (and I've looked beyond the ones they publish on their website!) so I bought one of them and had it shipped over. Was it worth it? I don't know - ask me in 10 years time, but it looks good so far. More details here:

https://www.carbag.com/

What does it look like? Well here is the car in the Car Bag:

And .... that's it. As mentioned, I have bought another car which is objectively better in every singe way than the S2 but I don't love it. I've mentioned it earlier in this thread so there's no prizes for guessing what it is. Will I learn to love it? It's growing on me. What will happen to the S2? I don't know. I hope that the efforts put in will preserve it and it will come out of storage in the same condition it was in when it was laid up. I've stored cars before in a more haphazard way and never had a problem but never for as long as 10 years. Maybe I'll dig this thread up and update it when the day comes to drag it out!


Oli.