longrunner1

Hey, Karl if I hit Mega millions tonight I will give you my 1987 944S, as a xmas present. Just take your time and follow the good advise of the forum brothers here, Real Service records a must, buy one with the most up to date service as far as belts, water pump etc. I will keep my eyes and ears open for something in your budget. Hey check out Jason@maniacracing.net He is a great wrench and 944 restoration guy and can probably put a nice 944 in your hands with a guarantee. Good Luck with your search.

Intruder196

Sadly I read that entire thread. You say your budget is $4k, then you let yourself be talked out of getting your uncle's 944 without inspecting it in person. Then you browse CL, looking at 944's that are listed way above your stated budget. Most 944's you are likely to find will need alot of work, including your uncles car. Me, I would opt for the uncles car, because I would know where it has been and what repairs and fixes it has had or will need done. And there is no garantee that the repair work you will end up doing to the uncles 944 wont happen to any other you find. After all they arent getting any newer with each passing year.

Karl_W944

So, now what I'm trying to understand is that mileage shouldn't really be a primary factor in the car because at this point, these cars are nearing 30 and I shouldn't really worry about it, rather, I should just look at the mechanical wear and just repair and replace parts as the go?

Furthermore, what else I'm getting is that 300,000 miles isn't really important and that my craigslist searches, as thorough as they may be, are actually fruitless and pointless. And that regardless of the car I find, it'll most likely need work regardless of the papers and documents that say work has been done. This is what you're telling me correct?

And the budget could go up a little, time will tell but still as always, I'll have to wait until next year. I guess we can close this thread if it's better to just continue the other and set some sort of record with it

Dougs951S

Sorry, but this is bad advice. Nobody here should be telling Young Padawan Karl to buy a car with 300k on the clock when there are a million other cars out there with 1/3 the mileage for the same money or less. It isnt an issue of maintenance being up to date or not, so his ability to fix it is moot. The fact is, with 300k on the clock those rings and bores, not to mention the head is going to have a lot of mechanical wear no matter how well the belts, clutch, waterpump, ect were looked after. And please, nobody say "after 300k a 944 is just getting broken in" because no...porsche doesnt build magic engines now, and they sure didn't in the 80's. They wear like any other alusil engine..go ask a BMW owner how his motor is doing after 300k.

I'll also state again for the record that his uncle's car is NOT worth 4k. Half that would be much more realistic.

MAGK944

You are going to get a lot of differing advise, the one common thing is buy the best example you can afford and have money set aside for immediate and long-term maintenance.

A 300k car wouldn't bother me at the right price, but I've been around these cars a few years and know how to fix them myself. I'd be more cautious of a 50k car with a high price tag.

Really though, do your research, take heed of the advise here and make your own mind up. Either way we are here to help you through any issues you have.

Intruder196

He will end up making expensive repairs no matter what 944 he buys.

Cuda911

Exactly.

It's taken 300 posts, but we've nailed down the main problem, and it's Karl's uncle. Trying to screw some poor kid out of all his newspaper money. He should be ashamed.

Karl_W944

Ashamed? How can we know for sure? He's an awesome uncle and he would NOT try to "screw me over". someone did mention that maybe he's new to the 944 market and may not know that much about selling one beyond documentation and other such things. Also on a lighter note, I work in retail

lart951

has any of the posters on this thread have $ 20.00 bucks to spare?

bonus12

So bargain it to $3500, like you said you could. I assume your uncle is nice enough to talk about the car with you all the time, and maybe he'll make a trip out to see you and the car, from his home. This is an incredible bonding experience and it's worth $3500, but I'm still assuming you're going to get a memorable bonding experience.

Will you or will you not be talking with your uncle about the car, after you bought it? If NO, then bargain to $2500 like a smart nephew, and make the car yours.

Mileage is not the primary concern, it's CONDITION. How it runs, turns, stops, sounds, smells, looks, ... etc. CONDITION.

Do you really want to wait 6 months for a car that might not be any good? Your uncle's car sounds good. Why not give us more info about your uncle's car, such as way more pics of engine and interior, and recent maintenance.

Karl_W944

What for?

Karl_W944

What I meant to say is that he would NOT screw me over! Didn't see that for the longest time.

I mean if I can talk it down to $2500 that'd be sweet. But I know he loves the car as much as I do, maybe even more. I feeling that it isn't right to separate him from something he loves so much. My moral values even apply to cars. There really is an emotional connection/bond between a car and it's driver and I don't want to split it. It feels even worse if I were to do that to a family member. That's why I'll continue my searches elsewhere and if nothing, his will always be there.

Also in terms of waiting, the way I see it, since NY is closer than CA, I could(not sure yet) go up and see the car in March, whereas going to CA somehow became a family vacation and that will have to happen when I'm out of classes in July.

odurandina

you had a very good thread there, and massive amounts of help.

now we need a mod to do a thread combine.

Karl_W944

How do we do that?
Anybody good with PC programming or moderation on a forum??
If it's even possible.

Dougs951S

OD, put up a new avatar! I need a new pair to look at while I'm browsing