wanting to buy 924/944 need help?!

[gordon0310]

Hi Guys

Just joined tonight and wish everyone a merry christmas. Since I was a kid I loved both the 924 and 944 and I still do but sadly lack any great knowledge of them. I am looking to buy one of the models but I am limited in a number of ways. I am a student in Glasgow and can only part with a max of around £1400, I have seen a fair amount of both models on sale for less than 1k. Given the age of the cars is this a normal price or worth staying away from?

What would you all recommend the 924 or the 944? What are the insurance groups? I have read that the turbo models can be drastically more expensive for parts than the lesser models is this true? What should I look out for when looking at a specific car? If anyone knows of any for sale please dont hesitate to tell me although I am looking to later january to buy.


Think thats about it.

Thanks, Gordon

This is also up in the general area so please excuse the double message.

For the record I have recieved insurance quotes for the Lux 924 and they are around £350 mark.

 

[robwright]

At that price you probably won't pick up a decent turbo or S2 but you should manage to pick up a decent base model that will drive and be safe. Have a good look round though and don't buy the first one you see (unless it is a goodun). Like you said there are plenty out there to choose from.

 

[scam75]

Hi Gordon

I am near Glasgow and would be willing to help if you want a look at mine or a hand to look some over. I wouldn't confess to being an expert but know my way around them enough to spot a bargain or a potential money pit!

Stuart

 

[gordon0310]

Hi Stuart

That would be amazing of you. It will probably be nearer the end of January when I could buy it spent to much on christmas haha. But I would appreciate your help and assistance. Do you know of any good sites to look other than gumtree, ebay and autotrader? Same with insurance sites?

Very nice car btw

Gordon

 

[Frenchy]

Look for a 924 S, comes fitted with the same 2.5 engine as fitted to the 944 Lux, very underated car and should be affordable.....................happy hunting, buy the best you can !

 

[944 man]

+1. Look for a 1988 model year 924S, whichll have a more powerful engine and easily be within budget. A Le Mans would be nicer still; with 7" rear wheels and sports seats.

 

[scam75]

ORIGINAL: gordon0310

Hi Stuart

That would be amazing of you. It will probably be nearer the end of January when I could buy it spent to much on christmas haha. But I would appreciate your help and assistance. Do you know of any good sites to look other than gumtree, ebay and autotrader? Same with insurance sites?

Very nice car btw

Gordon

You've also got ad trader (the yellow paper and website), motor market weekly and keep an eye on here and the tipec forum in case a member's car comes up.

You never know where a good one may turn up! Insurance depends a lot on your circumstances and it pays to shop about depending on what cover you need.

Give me a shout if you want to meet up in January at some point.

Stuart

 

[Suffolk944]

Hello and welcome !

Yes another +1 for a 924S with your budget or maybe, just maybe an early 944 Lux. For specifics - recent service history, interval since last belts change (ideally no more than three years and certainly not more than four max). Finding out if the clutch has been change is also a good idea and do check for corrosion of course though both models in your price bracket stand up well in that regard.

 

[hotblack944]

Hi Gordon,

ORIGINAL: gordon0310
Do you know of any good sites to look other than gumtree, ebay and autotrader?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/index.asp?c=41

 

[Lowtimer]

Avoid anything that looks as if efforts have been made to hide the condition of the sills.

 

[Northern924]

The Porsche community is smaller than you think for these cars, and there will always be someone close by, and you'll find that there are more than enough of us willing to lend a hand.
Seems to be a lot of people in the Glasgow area looking for a Porsche at the minute, just had someone from that area asking about mine LOL

It really depends on what work you are wanting to carry out yourself, a 2.0l 924 is a great starting point if you are looking to get your hands dirty as they are much easier to work on and you can't really kill the as the 2.0l engine is non-interf' whereas the 2.5l despite being a tough old lump will break if you do something wrong.

For the money you mention you should find a clean 944 2.5, even one with an oval dash, that needs some work.

You could buy an very good 924 for that money though that will probably need nothing more that a polish and probably just has a tired interior.

 

[gordon0310]

Thanks for all your help so far gentlemen, very kind of you and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later before I get to share some of your experiences

 

[loc944]

Hi Gordon, I have been following your thread (In all three areas) and you have had plenty of replies and even offers of cars. The Black 944 S2 might be a bit too much for insurance, although you don't say what age you are or whether you will use the car every day. The white 924s looks a very nice car although a bit out your price range, You may be better waiting until more funds available. Do you have a car at the moment?

On the insurance you should try the specialists advertising in 911&PORSCHE WORLD or GT PORSCHE mags (WH Smith).Limited mileage and garage help.

I am also in Glasgow(Neilston) and go to meeting at Sherbrooke Hotel 1st Tuesday of month. Are you from Glasgow or just studying here?

Good luck ALAN.

 

[gordon0310]

Hi Alan

Im from Glasgow and currently live in Kelvindale just off Great Western road(near Anniesland). I'm 26 with 4 years no claims, would be looking to use the car everyday, and my mileage would probably be around the 6,000 mark with the car garaged at home.

I have taken up quite a bit of space on here but I simply love hoovering up any information I can. Im going to try to get some insurance quotes tomorrow and if they are £80 a month or less ill be happy. I've emailed helen and hopefully the last minute hijack attempt on the other thread doesn't blow me out of the water. I actually saw a pic of the 944 a couple days ago on another post and thought it was gorgeous so I was a bit blown away when i checked today.

Im not driving at the moment as I was in for surgery to lengthen my achilles a few months ago which made no sense have a car sitting for a few months. I have heard about the meet but don't know where it is actually. If it is outskirts I wouldn't really have a way of getting there.

Gordon

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I don't know, students posting at four in the morning instead of working! [][]

Helen's is a nice car. To give you an idea of costs the wing is around £500 new plus fitting/painting, and the fuel lines used to cost nearly £1K to replace until the specialists came up with cheaper ways of doing it. Waiting to find a decent used wing and getting the cheaper fuel line fix makes this a very cheap S2, but do check the insurance again as they are quite a bit higher than a lux. Goes to show exactly how running costs on an S2, it cost well over £30K 20 years ago remember, are far more important than purchase price. It's easy for a service with a few extras to cost more than a grand.

 

[loc944]

Hi Gordon, meeting place is just up the road from Dumbreck train station. Next meet should be on 4th Jan, but check on Scotland part of forum to see if many are going as it's often quiet at start of year ( I won't be there as off on holiday tomorrow)

My car is currently off the road for winter and Cill repairs. This and bottom of front wings are the areas of bodywork to pay close attention to on 944 (not sure about 924)

I have just renewed my insurance with Mayfair ( Advertise as Performance Insurance) for the 4th year on a classic car policy, garaged with 5000 miles. no commuting for £178.
Some give discount for PCGB members ( tell them you are about to join and send membership no. when you get it.)

All the best ALAN.

 

[gordon0310]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

I don't know, students posting at four in the morning instead of working! [][]

Helen's is a nice car. To give you an idea of costs the wing is around £500 new plus fitting/painting, and the fuel lines used to cost nearly £1K to replace until the specialists came up with cheaper ways of doing it. Waiting to find a decent used wing and getting the cheaper fuel line fix makes this a very cheap S2, but do check the insurance again as they are quite a bit higher than a lux. Goes to show exactly how running costs on an S2, it cost well over £30K 20 years ago remember, are far more important than purchase price. It's easy for a service with a few extras to cost more than a grand.

Thanks Paul

Good advice from a grounded point of view. I have been looking through a few forums with regards to the fuel lines and have seen people pay substantially more than £400 and others saying that it can be done with some patience and a lot less money by ones self. I was hoping to learn to work on my own car from here on out but obviously some things would be too tricky etc. >£1k services would floor me at the moment but I do have little over a year left of studying and then "hopefully" my situation will be far rosier. I do also realise that I could continue to look and then find another car within budget that perhaps hasn't been quite as well looked after potentially costing me far more in the future.

If you were in my shoes what would you do? Thanks for the honest advice.

PS I was actually just back from picking my parents up. My dad put me on his insurance for his and my mum's party week so I can be their chauffeur. []