What I saw today . . .

[noneil]

Hi all,

I viewed another 944 today and I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts about what I might do. This is the car: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201018358397257/sort/priceasc/usedcars/model/944/make/porsche/radius/60/postcode/le21xh/quicksearch/true/page/1?logcode=p

Good points:
Bodywork pretty sound - only some bubbling on the rear near-side arch.
Only 70,000 miles (really? - would MOT certs only reflect the odo despite that it rolls over?)
The engine seemed pretty sound, as did the gearbox; but the car didn't pull as well as expected, and the exhaust manifold looked too clean.
Boxster alloys (not my cup of tea, but are worth some money)
MOT as from 1st May (and a folder of other paperwork - not much recently though)

Bad points:
Despite a full MOT, there is an advisory note for general under body corrosion (although the only issues I could see were the sills which were a bit corroded but felt solid)
Turbo valance (a bit tacky and who knows what it's hiding)
Power steering felt very heavy.
Leaking sunroof (not secure on one of the arms) caused water to get in - wet carpet; mouldy seats.
Some work that was claimed to have done recently (belts, drive shafts, steering rack) had no receipts
Garage salesman - don't feel like I trust him particularly . . .

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Neil

 

[DavidL]

Doesn't sound as though you were particularly enamoured.
Rust is a major issue especially at that amount. With a full ticket it shouldn't be that bad but it will be without some help and unless you can DIY you will spend far more than the purchase price to get the next ticket.
Steering will feel heavy if you are used to modern cars. If it doesn't whine unduly, the fluid level is ok and a decent colour and isn't pouring out underneath then probably ok.
However if there is a problem then a recon rack from ZF is 500+ and some of the hoses reach 200. Ask me how I know..
Sunroof seals (2 of them) are relatively cheap and a DIY fit.

Ideally spend a grand more and save several by the sound of it.

 

[noneil]

It is probably the rust that put me off the most; I enjoy a bit of spannering, but I've never done any welding when it matters. I've no experience with working wit PAS, so I have to say that I wouldn't know what to look for, but I was concerned that was a problem with it - my previous car didn't have power steering and I don't ever remember it feeling that heavy.

The salesman was hilarious though - he helped me identify where the lot was by telling me it was the one with the burnt out portakabin (he'd left a battery charger on overnight, and his trick for making sure that the pneumatic struts stayed up was to bend them once they were extended . . .

 

[JM1962]

"Turbo valance (a bit tacky and who knows what it's hiding)"

Possibly rotten sills, take a torch and look inside the vents on the B pillars. If its rotten inside walk away, there are plenty more for that money. Sunroof seals are about £70 for the outer and £20 for the inner. Could be that the sunroof drain holes are blocked or even worse the drain tube has come off.

 

[ukmastiff]

I have a shorter answer , walk away , there are plenty of good 944s out there at cheap money especially lux best of luck Mas

 

[Suffolk944]

My gut instinct would be to walk away too, it is cheap but clearly is for a reason and I would be concerned at the potential outlay to put it right. If your budget is of that sort of order have you considered a 924S instead ? Would get a better example for your money and arguably just as (some may say more ?) capable than a scruffy Lux.

 

[noneil]

Thanks for your comments guys.

I did look isode the B pillars, and they looked sound; but I think I'm going to pass this one over. I'll just keep waiting for the right car to come up. Maybe I should start looking at 924Ss . . . ?

Cheers,

Neil

 

[zcacogp]

Ummm, don't want to be rude but you go looking at a 944 in Old Hill and come across the following:

ORIGINAL: noneil
Garage salesman - don't feel like I trust him particularly . . .

Mas was wrong. Don't walk away ... run, and fast!


Oli.

 

[Northern924]

Glad to hear that you walked away, if it had the old 924 style dash then unless there was service history to back it up it more likely that the cars done 170,000, and it sounds like the salesman knows all the right things say concerning belts etc.
For that money you can buy an honest early car thats been looked after if you can go to £1500 you'll find a very useable and clean car that you'll be able to do a little tidying on.

 

[zcacogp]

Another thought. If that was up for £1295 at a dealer, how much did the dealer give for it? A fair chunk less than a grand, for sure. By buying from a dealer you need to pay for his forecourt, wages, (tiny amount of) pre-sale work on the car and his profit margin, and you don't get to see the previous owner and get an idea of how the car may have been looked after. All of which is a bad thing.

That sort of money should get you a decent second-hand lux which will serve you well. Go to the private market (not traders), look carefully and ask on here for more advice if you need it. Best advice I can give is that nice people sell nice cars, and the owner, his house and the way he looks after other things will give a good idea of how well the car will have been looked after ...


Oli.

 

[jasonp]

hiya noneil, +1 for mas [uk mastiff], walk away from this one! lots of good 944s out there, where are you in the country? uk mastiff has a lovely turbo up for a steal, good luck with your search, regards jason p

 

[944 man]

The 'Turbo valence' is actually the slotted rear apron. This was an option and it almost always came with the ugly box sills. If the parts are original then I wouldnt be too worried, as the sills wont cause any corrosion on their own (theyre Sikaflexed on).

 

[MRGT]

There is a chap with a white 944 for sale for £1400 in the For Sale section. He is just north of Cheltenham.

No, I am not on commision [] but have seen his car and it looked fairly tidy to me.

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=546154

 

[noneil]

I did PM the guy in the for sale section, but I didn't hear back from him yet. Being the impatient type though I went and had a look at another car today near Coventry, and duly put a deposit it on it (pending MOT). Pretty exciting! Hoping to collect it on Wednesday.

Cheers,

Neil

 

[Northern924]

Look forward to seeing some pictures on Wednesday []

 

[DivineE]

No comments on 70,000miles old on a lux and in Birmingham? How many lux's have you known that have been considered so special for a quarter of a century that they have never been used as a daily? That's less than 3k a year since it was new! For an immaculate showroom example maybe but an average or below average car like this?? Seriously are you kidding me!