Can I tell from the Vin, I tried a search and couldn't find anything?
Also any idea on what a nice Black/Black 88S with records and 95K is worth?
Still trying to get back in the game

LINK to pictures:

http://www.carad.com/status/Showroom...9675#mainImage

 

Look for the option code M758 under the carpet between the tail lights. The engine ID stamp should also say M44/52.

 

Throw up some pictures or a link to the car.

-Darwin

 

Look for a welded on triangular shaped plate next to/underneath the power steering reservoir.

 

Classified add, no pictures, has tbelts & water pump last year, clean car fax,
2 owners, $9500, nice original paint, nice interior, minimal dash cracks.
Clutch by previous owner, no receipt.

 

Go check it out, and look for the following:

Two vacuum ports between intake runners 3 and 4:


Adjustable shocks and frame strengthening:


Other things to look for would be larger brakes (had the "big blacks" that came on the 928 S4), ABS, it might have split rear seats, forged club sport wheels (see pic below), there is also a way to peer down between the intake and brake booster heat shield and see if the turbo is a K26/6 or k26/8. I also believe there is a slight difference in the VIN. PM me the VIN and I can see if I can help.



-Darwin

 

Looking for two vacuum ports is not a good idea, my '88 951 (non S) has two. I think this was a late or mid year thing.

Best ways to tell are the larger calipers upfront, looking at the option code sticker in the back, gusset plates on the front frame rails, and the engine code by the #4 exhaust runner (M44.52).

If your still really unsure and the car isnt to far out, i can go take a look at it with you.

 

Funny, I always thought the 88.5 S was a Silver Rose so I am skeptical about any that aren't.

 

Yeah I'm from NY so I don't trust many people, anybody can throw on club sport wheels and upgrade rotors/calipers, but swapping the engine takes a real effort.
I think I have enough info to go by now.

Thanks everybody, I love this site and people.

 

Mid way thru 88 they offered the Turbo S option package with multiple colors. Unless the intake manifold was switched out for some reason an 88 non-S car shouldn't have the two intake ports. I personally have never seen an 88 non-S with two, only one.

-Darwin

 

The first 3-400 were all Silver Rose, the rest were whatever people wanted.

The intake manifold isn't a good reference, as I've seen several Non-S cars with the dual port manifold.

Also the adjustable struts, if you aren't paying attention you could be looking at Koni's or even a set of swapped in M030 struts.

Look for the frame stiffeners and ask for the list of option codes.

I gave up searching for my S, figured the money I saved by buying my '86 could be put into the '86 to make it better than an S.

 

Well now you've seen it all .

 

it doesn't really matter if it was born a turbo s if it doesn't have all the turbo s parts. so i would verify all the S parts are there. it's easy to check the brakes, shocks, wheels and engine code. it's a little more difficult to check the tranny. if you can verify that stuff, it's as good as an S and if it's not a collector car, it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference.

 

Tranny code is AOR. TD, just out of curiousity can you verify that is the original manifold that came with the car? This just got me curious so I've been looking up 88 non-S cars and they all seem to have single port manifolds.

-Darwin

 

I hope to check it out tomorrow, I will let you know about the 2 port manifold.
Thanks again for the info. My main concern is the LSD, less concerned about
a non S tranny. I'll post pics even if I don't get it.