Thoughts on this 944 Turbo S

[andrew_churcher]

Hi Guys,

Some knowledge required from anyone out there who knows these cars inside out.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2135525.htm

Am thinking to go have a sticky beak. Its a good 2 hr drive each way so if anyone has seen it already or can raise any red flags then let me know it will save me a drive.

Any views on price (given current 944 market)? things to look out for on this model? I would get someone like Promax to give it a full going over if i decided i wanted it.

Info ascsertained to date (apart from what is already in the add):
- remap was done just over 2 years ago Promax has done abit of work on
the car, I have been using a local Porsche specialist more recently which I have found has been the best
Garage I have used.
Belts, Rollers etc was replaced 8000miles ago, the car has just had a full service including gearbox oil
and brake fluid change and also full brake overhaul, the car wants for nothing if any thing has need doing
it has been done
- Air con works- it`s not brilliant but effective, everything works as it should.
- car is taxed until end of Jan / MOT until Feb

As always - your guidance and thoughts are always appreciated.

Rgds,

 

[david924s]

Looks like a good price if it is as good as it says it is, not sure about the tinted front indicators and cant tell if the front side lights are tinted or replaced with brake ducts. Got an aftermarket gearstick and the rear looks lowered, best way to tell is go an have a look I suppose need to check when the belts and rollers were done not just mileage as they are replaced on age as well as mileage around 4 years or 40+K miles, also check if the waterpump was changed at the same time or it may be due next change suggested every other change. Take the door frame vent covers out and have a look at the inner sills for rust as well as under the plastic trim under the sills, they have a habit of rotting also the wing bottoms at the front are prone to rot. Also red is prone to bad fading so check it hasn't just been mopped to cover up some bad paintwork as a re-spray is expensive. M030 suspension etc was good but likely to be worn out by now so should have been upgraded or changed.

 

[Suffolk944]

As above really. Just to add two things - the M030 suspension will be rock hard (remember following my car down in Kent when it was so equipped and seeing how jiggly it was ?) and possibly worn out so don't get too excited about that.

Also this remap - if its just a chip and doesn't involve any change to the boost, a new DP wastegate etc then I would suggest that the claimed 300 horses may be rather optimistic if it were dyno'd on an accurate rolling road....

 

[Suffolk944]

As for the price - always hard to call that one. I hope its about right as that would mean I could ask rather more for mine...

 

[GPF]

Looks like it has had some bodywork at the rear as the Porsche decal just above the rear bumper is missing and the black rubbing strip on the bumper has been sprayed over. May be just for cosmetic reasons of course, or may have had a little shunt up the backside?

You could do with finding out what supporting mods have been done to allow the 300bhp remap to be done safely. (fueling and boost control etc)

Obviously not on it's original CS wheels.

Looks in good nick though. 140,000 isn't exactly low, but needn't be a problem - mine is also 140k and compression & leakdown are fine as is everything else.

 

[Lowtimer]

If its genuinely corrosion-free then it could be a good deal, and David is right about where to look for any rot. He is also right about the belts service - you need to know when it was, as well as how many miles ago. Three years is as long as I want to go.
Find out when it had a clutch, if possible, as it is unlikely to be the original at 140,000 miles.
The suspension, if original, is bound to be well worn. Budget for new dampers and a rebush and geo update if it has not been done in the last few years.
I don;t know this company "Pro-sport" who did the remap. It is possible to tune these cars well, and badly. Was this an off the shelf chip upgrade, and if so, whose? Or was it a custom remap? Personally I would want to find out more about the remap. What sort of air-fuel ratios is it set to? How much boost is it running? Are there any rolling road records? The names I would buy with confidence in modifying these cars are Promax, JMG and Hartech - that's not to say that others are no good, just that I don;t know anything about them.

The other usual biggie on these cars is the brakes. If the calipers are suffering "plate lift" then it costs a lot to recondition them. I suggest you read Barry Hart's guide to these cars, if you haven't already - it is in Part Two of the files on this page:
http://hartech.org/buyers.html

 

[Diver944]

Not the most descriptive of adverts, but the follow up information is promising and if the body work is as good as described I'd say it's worth a look. Check the recent invoices carefully and do make sure the belts are within time. One thing I would always like when buying a car is a full years MOT and I always wonder why someone would sell it with only 4 months left on the current.

 

[andrew_churcher]

Thnks for comments guys.

Here I was thinking i was a detailed guy...when I read "pro sport" i read it as "promax"....agree would need to confirm exactly what that involved re: the bhp upgrade

Jon - yep - i did see your car move around and am not too excited by Mo30. I will get to the bottom of the mods.
David - agree...all key 944 pts to cover off re: rust etc
GPF - thnks for the spot re: body work - i will investigate.
Lowtimer - thnks...yes agree...re: time rather than mileage and the other big ticket items to look out for.

As said - I would get some like Promax to give it a thorough going over if i decided to move fwd on it.

Thanks All

Rgds,

 

[andrew_churcher]

Diver 44 - i would look to get the full year MOT as condition of sale. Thnks for the feedback

 

[edh]

+1 on the rear end work. No sports seats or 10 speaker sound which is a shame.

This car has obviously been "fettled" at some stage, so it's well worth looking into what's non-standard. It looks like it sits a fair bit lower than standard.

There's nothing all that special about a Turbo S spec compared to the other 250 cars ('89 & '90) If anything I'd prefer a sunroof on a road car, as long as it's still in good shape. Good aircon is a must with no sunroof & a black interior.

 

[swervedriver]

Theres a white one on pistonheads, same price, but less mileage. I didnt see this red one on my search. With the possible paint work at the back, ask if the build sticker is still in place, inside the boot. Sports seats would be nice, so would the original wheels. By the way, your PM box needs emptying.
Cheers
Craig.

 

[MarkK]

Turbo S is a brilliant if you want a track day car,it does feel different to drive (shell does feel stiffer) and i think the roof panel is a nicer curved shape.For a road car the sunroof is a nice thing to have.The good turbos advertised here and there i think value wise seem to be getting a bit stronger than they were also???

 

[J.C944TurboMan]

Nice car with a lot of trick bits , those seats look like they are from a 964 . If you look at the stiching it is diffrent from 944 seats and the 944T S had bigger bolsters . I would as some have already mentioned , change those front lights back to normal or clear indicators look well , I like the fact it has no sunroof and the colour is good too .

 

[Porkie1664]

Hi Andrew
Not getting bored with the 964 already are you.
Or are you buying it as little track toy []

 

[Frenchy]

Andrew,
Every Turbo S i have seen has the 10 pack speaker option, the seats are 996 by the look of it, i suspect something has been done with the interior, wheels are not suited to the car IMO.
But if it is a good straight rot free car then worth a look.
I have a lovely black Turbo S with fresh M030, CS seats,Genuine cup 1 wheels and original forged, Tial wastgate, Bailey DV30, 3 Bar FPR, Cometic HG, Lindsay chipset, strut brace, braided brakelines yadda yadda massive history if you are looking to tradeyour 964 ?

PM if that is what you are looking to do.

 

[GPF]

Yes, I believe that all genuine Turbo S cars had the 10 speaker system - it's part of the "S" standard spec I think.

 

[andrew_churcher]

Thanks for all the feedback. In no rush but always interested in a nice 944. Realistically wont be able to view it this weekend and the vendor has a few people lined up to see it so come what may. Frenchy I am going to send you PM. Am keeping the 964 for now its great fun. []

 

[JM1962]

Not original seats, similar to those fitted to the last 968's or 993's. Not a problem if originality is not your thing.