What do i do now?

[pauljmcnulty]

Interesting dilemma, exactly what I faced after 5 years with my Lux. I had a long list of bills looming, and the offer of a really nice S2 for about the same as I'd have been spending on the Lux, it was a no-brainer. The trouble is, I loved the Lux, and have never enjoyed the S2 quite as much. The new owner (still on here) ended up spending less than I had estimated as it wasn't as bad as the "worst-case" I'd planned for. My S2 has needed many £000s spending on it, including the inevitable rust dealt with and a re-spray. In hindsight I made a bad call there. I guess my advice would be if the car's the right spec, and you plan to keep it, then that's the place to put the money. If you really want a turbo or S2, a cab, or are desperate for air con or something, get the right car then do it up. If you plan to recoup any money from restoring one, then things like most desirable model, lower miles etc. all come in to play, and I'd be looking for a low-miles turbo as a starting point.

 

[charlesm17x]

Hello Guys

I know i am still very new on this forum but thought i would ask a question, after buying my £900 1985 lux i have had her fully serviced, new slave clutch and coolant hoses.

But after she went off to the local specialist GT One Chertsey turns out the corrosion is just as bad as i thought, now i did know it was not just a small amount when i bought her but as i bought the car with every intention of keeping forever i though ahhhh ill get it done at some point i.e next year. The garage however have advised i get it done by a local body shop sooner rather than later as its quite bad and will only get worse especially with winter on the way.

So my dilemma is go i sell her for circa scrap - 500 / break her and attempt to access funds of 3-5k to buy a nice S2 or do i do just what i said i would and get her restored. The decision is harder than i expected because if i get the work done i then know that she is sweet & sorted but if i buy a newer lux / S2 i might just be buying into another money pit, i know all these cars are money pits but you get what i mean

If i could get your thoughts and advice that would be awesome, Thanks everyone

 

[sr.944man]

Hi Charles, I'd say get a quote for the work, ideally from a local shop you trust to do a proper job. If you don't know one, do the work asking around to find one. The cost of repair will inform your decision, and will depend on how bad the rust is, and where - you didn't say if its "just" sills and wings, or if the suspension mounts and floor are soft. Once you know what you're looking at, bear in mind that, as Paul says, if you've had the work done then you know what you've got, and that's better than throwing away some of what you've already spent and then going shopping for (possibly) more trouble... If it can be saved, keep it from the scrapper!

 

[PAUL RUDDY]

You'll be lucky to buy an S2 for £3-5k that still doesn't need money spending on it . The cheap cars are cheap for a reason, the majority are scrap come next MOT Notice how many £10k+ 944's are starting to come out of the woodwork on the various selling sites. Paul

 

[graham.webb]

Take the car to Specialised Paintwork at Calcot (they're round the back of OPC Reading). I took my S2 there and found that at the time Karl was doing 3 or 4 944s a month, he'd also been the owner of a high mileage 944. They cut out all rusted metal, welded in steel plate, finished sprayed and waxoyled both sides. Now 4 years or so later it's still good. While you're there drive along the A4 to Northway at Beenham they really know about 944s...my car's been looked after by them for 10 yrs +. If you're going to get into this you need friends who know what they're doing!!!

 

[andy watson]

Hi, Not a nice start to 944 ownership, but not the end? An S2 for the £3-£3.5k would need the same again stashed away in readiness to throw at it, have you seen how many Lux's are about? Not many. I would be finding out the amount of corrosion damage and obtaining a 2 or 3 quotes for repair from recommended bodyshops, ones that guys have used for 944 repair, if it comes within the budget you have set in my opinion that's where the money would go, in time a well sorted Lux will be worth owning 👍 Keep us posted, good luck Oh and we like a pic or 2 (but you knew that) 😀

 

[GlennS]

Specialised Paintwork are very good and also very expensive. I have used them (once) and was delighted by the work but not by the invoice. I'd advise Daytona Coachworx in Stevenage, very experienced in Porsche work, for an extremely high quality job at a much more realistic price (I've also used them, three times - twice on the 944 and once on another car).

 

[pauljmcnulty]

The other way to look at it is that 944s are only cars, and as easy/difficult to repair as any other car. The sills are simple: new sections from Porsche are cheap and weld straight in. Wings etc. are just metal, and you either splash out on new ones or a competant bodyshop can easily fabricate new metalwork. The rear suspension mounts are the difficult area, apparantly, and there were some good explanations why on a recent thread. It's still not beyond fixing, it's just how much you end up spending. My view is that it's not a lot more to deal with a bad case than a car with less rot. Not a complete shed, that is going to be silly money and points to a car that's not been loved in other ways, but replacing a sill is the same if it's got a few holes, or a few big holes! Once you're painting the sills and wings for minor rust, you'll probably be into a full spray as there are bound to be chips and dents on a 30-year-old car. Get some quotes, but make sure it's a proper repair they quote for.

 

[Monkeythree]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty The sills are simple: new sections from Porsche are cheap and weld straight in.

Yep. Once you've removed the doors, dremmelled out the braze behind the bottom door hinge, removed the wheel arch liners, ABS pump splash guard, carbon canister and front wings and drilled out eleventy-eight million spot welds, they just drop right on! [] My question to the OP is what car do you want? If you want a Lux, you already have one so your decision is whether to restore the one you already have or to sell/break it and try to get a better one. Either way, that's going to cost you some dollar. If you want an S2 then you're going to have to sell/break your lux AND find some dollar. My feeling is that the £3k-£5k market is shark infested waters right now. I have no doubt there are good cars in there but I also strongly believe that there are many many stinkers at this price point. My advice is to buy a cheap car and fix it up then you KNOW it is done to your satisfaction. If you want to end up with a nice Lux, you already have the starting point.

 

[Frenchy]

^^^^^^ What Monkey has said !

 

[VanhireBoys]

My advice to the OP is to do a tour of the bodyshops and get it right in your head what needs to be done to have a good solid car that will see many years of service. To buy a 944 to turn a quick buck on is unrealistic. Remember if you fix the car up to a good standard you will be looking at least £1k a year to keep on top of servicing and repair. If you get another you will be looking at the same again in repairs dont forget Its a decision that you make with your heart and not your head for if you thought about it at all you wouldnt have one about !![] I have mine 14 years now and despite my better halfs attempts - the 944 has stayed put ! Your car is now depending on you to make the correct choice - You now hold that cars future in your hands. If you decide to sell on she will not last long more. I feel like Jeremy Kyle now []

 

[charlesm17x]

Thanks for all the feedback guys i really appreciate it, The car body work wise is abit of a shed but as i am more than happy with my lux and actually prefer the earlier dash im going two keep her. I will be taking her round various body shops in the south of England to see what people say and as long as its not outside my budget ill get it done properly and or save more and get it done as i do plan to have the car for the long all and who knows even give her to my kids one day.

 

[Monkeythree]

Post up some pics of the snottiest bits and get a 3rd opinion from the forum collective. There are plenty of people on here who have seen some horrors and can give you a sounding board to compare against what the professionals tell you and against what you may have already concluded.

 

[charlesm17x]

Well i got phoned up today by the voice of bad news that basically said the sills need doing and the front wings need work, but worse of all are the rear wheel arches! which have big bubbles on the outside and a rotten on the inside basically i got told i would need a whole new rear end from a donor car and that i might as well scrap her and buy another car with less rust, no quote was given other than circa 2500 for the sills. Will post pics later today i got to collector at 5pm

 

[Paul190H]

Charles, pm'd you.

 

[charlesm17x]

Ok so the light outside is pretty bad for photos but here is the list of issues from GT One General oil leaks suspect crankshaft front and rear main seals, upper and lower balance shaft seals, camshaft front, camshaft end plate gasket and possible camshaft carrier. Ignition distributor dust cap and ht lead retaining clip missing. Suspect hot start problem. RH engine mounting appears partially collapsed and/or mounting bolts appear too long. Exhaust centre and rear silencer in poor condition PAS pump operation seems nosy Front anti roll bar inner bush swollen due to oil contamination Front suspension wishbone rear pivot bushes and front top strut mounts beginning to perish. o/s/f strut bump stop split. Front brake pads 75% worn, discs worn, disc backplates corroded. advise handbrake adjustment. Replace all tyres. RH number plate light not working Passenger window motor not working. Sunroof not working. Extensive corrosion in external panel and front wings, rear quarter panels and rear wheel arches and rear panel. Extensive corrosion in structural panels-floor plan LH chassis box section, rear axel pick up points and both inner and outer sill panels VIN number on firewall hard to read. Will take images tomorrow but general thoughts?

 

[pauljmcnulty]

general thoughts

Buy one that's had some money and love put in to it. This sounds like a project too far... []

 

[Monkeythree]

ORIGINAL: charlesm17x general thoughts?

Good that they have given it what seems like a very thorough going over. The list looks a bit daunting at first but there's not a massive parts bill in there and most of it is nadgery stuff that should be viewed as normal maintenance anyway. If you are handy then you could have quite a satisfying weekend working through some of the simple things on the list and striking them off as you go. I think everything hangs on how rusty it is. Show us some pics around the main rear suspension mounts, the inner rear wheel arches and the rear damper top mounts.

 

[Suffolk944]

That is quite a list, but I agree that it would probably be the state of the body work that would be the clincher for me one way or the other.

 

[charlesm17x]

Well i drove her to work today and this is what i could get a picture of.

]

So yeah what do people think? Its more is it doable than is it worth it however it its gonna cost more than 5k maybe it isnt worth it haha