What do i do now?

ALZ 1933 · Oct 6, 2014

Where about in the country are you? I live up in Central Scotland and I'm about to put my 2.5 Lux on the market due to recently buying a 968 Sport. I've been there and had the sills replaced, all suspect looking bits cut out and new metal installed, a full glass out re-spray and all new seals fitted. This isn't an attempt to sell you my car! It's an invite to come and view it and see what's available for Â£4000. The last belt change had all the front engine seals replaced along with the tensioners and water pump at the OPC. The reality is 944s should sell for much more than Â£3500-Â£4000 if there in excellent condition as the cost involved in making a bad one a good one is way more than its worth. There's too many scrappers out there selling for sub Â£2k that makes everybody believe that's their true value. I've got my own car insured for an agreed value of Â£7000 as I know I'd easily have to pay that to replace it should the worst happen and yes its only a 2.5 Lux!!!

Hallsy · Oct 6, 2014

ORIGINAL: charlesm17x Thats essentially what im going to do only the shell is costing me alot less than 2-2.5k and looks to be in similar condition, drop my engine into the car scrap the white one keep a collections of spare and have the rust taken care of full respray and car should be one the road for next summer some time. Have spoken to local Porsche indie and they said the same it will cost the earth to do potentially but i will do alot of the mech work myself and have retro restorer do the bodywork, but atleast ill know the car is 100% rather than spending 3.5k on a car similar to the guards red one on sale on here only to find out in 3 months that the sills are rusting and its gonna cost 1000 per side to fix.

That is my 944 S in the classifieds. It has now been found that there is a small hole at the bottom of the nearside rear sill - and I have offered the car at a reduced price to account for this, otherwise it will be repaired and advertised at Â£3500 firm again . However, from the pictures you have posted I would not consider mine to be similar condition. As mentioned, the welding wire in the sill cavity is not a good sign, not to mention the rust on the rear panel. Doesn't seem like a worthwhile donor to me, even if very cheap.

charlesm17x · Oct 7, 2014

I take on board what your saying but I'm my eyes I'm better off sinking 3k into that shell and having it sound than spending 3k on a good looking car that might need a fair amount of work down the line away

Masher · Oct 7, 2014

Without a shadow of doubt in my mind, spending the money up front on buying a good car that has never hit the pits of deterioration is always going to be the most economic thing to do. If you love a project and are really going to go to town stripping and dipping the body shell to create what is effectively a new car and keep it for life, then go for it. Patching up a basket case 'on the move' will lead to un reliability and eventually dissatisfaction to the extent you will quit. Just an opinion but I guess that is what you want having posted on the subject [

] Cheers Mick

Hallsy · Oct 7, 2014

Me personally, I think best money spent is on one that has had the work already attended to by a reputable restorer, with pics. One that has not yet suffered deterioration still has a good chance failing, even the ones that look good on the outside. I think the reality is, if you buy a 944 that has never been repaired, you have to expect it to be needing the work at some point in the future, imo.

pauljmcnulty · Oct 7, 2014

It's an interesting discussion. Do you buy the very best? If so, you'll be in to at least Â£10K for a Lux in true concourse condition: never out in the wet, low-miles and comprehensive history, immaculate original condition, not a spot of corrosion. The downside is you could never drive it without worrying about ruining it, and it could also have issues like the clutch, that affect even low-mileage cars. Do you buy a good car, that's had the common work done to a good standard? Letting someone else take the hit on the big bills is nice, and buying a cherished car, with a file of receipts for many thousands, is always the recommended way to go. The downside here is that people assume they've bough a great car, so nothing will ever need attention: it's still an old Porsche, and there will still be bills every year. One option, particularly if you DIY, is to run a shed for a year or two. Get to know the car, and enjoy it, but treat it as a throw-away when something major breaks or the MOT fails on something serious. The last option is to fully restore a car yourself. You already know what I'm going to say here: you will lose time, money, or both on it. That's fine if it's a keeper, but don't expect to make a "wheeler-dealers" profit. If you choose to start from scratch and restore a 944, I'd again advise the right car to begin with. You will spend pretty much the same amount on restoring a series one Lux, later Lux if you prefer the interior, or a more powerful 944. There's no point spending two years and Â£5K on a lux, only to ask "how can I make it faster"! One other thought. If you're after a cheap 944, or you love the early interior, what about a 924S? It's a series one Lux, just without the flared arches, and they are very cheap to buy. Nimble little things, lighter than the 944 but identical engine etc.

edh · Oct 7, 2014

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty One other thought. If you're after a cheap 944, or you love the early interior, what about a 924S? It's a series one Lux, just without the flared arches, and they are very cheap to buy. Nimble little things, lighter than the 944 but identical engine etc.

not much cheaper though lovely cars nonetheless. I wouldn't go anywhere near that purple one - you haven't even had a camera into the sills yet... Look for one with a sound body (probably with evidence of good repairs). You also said that car had been stored for years - well that's a whole heap of potential problems as well.

charlesm17x · Oct 7, 2014

Decided to take everyones advice and have left the red car and will just run this white one till it pops and save up for a nice lux or whatever is around within budget at that time, big thanks to everyone that commented

really appreciate it guys thank you no doubt saved me a fortune.