I'm at work and don't have any of my Porsche books - how is the VIN for an S different from a N/A or turbo of the same year? A friends looking at a 944 (the copycat) and I think the car's an S; the seller's ad has a lower-case S after it. My friend blames poor grammar. I figure the VIN will show it.

Emanuel

 

Check this FAQ website Click for FAQ

They have the complete VIN history there. Have your friend read the other information at that website as well.

 

Pop the hood and it's obvious.

 

Thanks - I've read the FAQ there but focused only on the regular 944; never occurred to me it covered other models. The car Paul's looking at is a 1988 944S, Guards Red over Black, 92,000 miles. It looks nice, CarFax is clean, and the seller's asking $5500. In the e-mail he forwarded me, the seller claims he's had the belts inspected every year but never changed them as they didn't need it. He's owned the car 3 years, hasn't driven it much, no winters.

Personally, there's another 944 I think he should look at. Same color scheme, an '86 with 67k miles, all records, recent belt change, 2nd owner and a garage queen. He's asking $6000 for it. This one seems less iffy to me, but it's farther away and I can't convince Paul that the fact that it's older but more expensive isn't necessarily a bad thing. :-) The first car's owner strikes me as less hands-on, while the 2nd car is a cherished garage queen.

Emanuel

 

I think people are off of them for the following reasons, all the 16V problems without the looks (if you prefer them and most do) or power of the S2. As stated numerous times, they are not that much faster than the 8V, they cost a boatload more to repair if there is any problem with the engine, and heaven forbid it need a head.

It is not uncommon for the 2.7NA head to sell for more than a complete 2.7L motor! Occasionally, I have seen them sell for $1500 dollars or more.

Take a look at the numerous 4K dollar piston to valve slaps on the 16V S models and then you will know why the rest of the group is not high on them.

I think it would be kinda neat to have (they are pretty rare). There are no less than 5 within 300 miles, 4 have "bad motors" :>)
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Right now the car is a few counties away. Both of these cars popped up during an Autotrader search this past Sunday. We're trying to decide which one to go see over the 3-day weekend.

Emanuel