Rally Guy

I've been in this situation - a car you REALLY want for (what appears to be) less than all the others. In my case it was a 911 C4 and it too was a "project". Largely due to advice received here on Rennlist - I passed and I'm glad I did. In retrospect, I was blinded by passion. Right colour - right seats etc. But the engine was a mess and the body was rusting badly - which is a bad sign.

Do whatever it takes to walk away from this deal - it seems like a total false ecomony and you'll live to regret buying it. BTW, at 400k miles - you won't be replacing the timing belt for $300 - you'll be doing a full set of belts AND rollers AND seals AND water pump. The front-end rebuild will prolly set you back the value of the car again - and then you are pretty close to the cost of a MUCH better car. Let alone trying to revive a clearly abused interior. These are all indicatoins that the car HAS NOT been cared for - and you will spend the cost of a nice 993 keeping the thing on the road.

And it's not just the money - it'll be the heartbreak of the car stranding you places when it breaks, spending half the time in the shop and generally spoiling your impression of this fanatastic marque.

Hold out - you'll find the perfect car soon.

RK

jonnybgood

Spend the extra for the 5k to 6k cars. New interior is going to be a grand. Take it from one who knows, spend the extra up front on a good example rather than spend cheap and fix. Even with the better condition cars you must spend time to keep everything running.

Are you watching eBay? When I was looking it seemed there were many cars from your area. 120Kmiles good example with service history should be around 2.5k to 3.5k

Hostile 17

After considering it and all I've read here, I called the dealership and passed. I'm disappointed, but all I was looking for was a cheap car that would be fun. This one was too over-priced for all the miles and interior damage.

Oh well, at least I saved the money, even if I am disappointed.

Thanks again, everybody.

Douglas_T

Figures at a dealer...Really keep looking, keep learning...Find one from a private owner you can fall in "love" with...Not one that the "lust" will quickly pass...

I know, I made that mistake once when I had to have a old 87 Conquest TSI...I knew she was all wrong for me, but yet I had to have her... ha ha...

schlag

I paid way too much (about the price of a half-decent Turbo) for a salvage 944NA "project" that I'm now three years into, because I was overly eager.

Run, don't walk, away from cars like the one you described. The novelty of a "project" car wears off fast; you don't want to drive around in something like that. Take it from someone who does.

Devildog2067

Go back to the dealership and get your fifty bucks back. I wouldn't keep it.

Mike C.

Smart move. Unless a car like that had a lot of documented new/rebuilt parts in it, even parting it out would be shameful.....

joseywhales

Pay a little more now and save a whole lot $$$ latter. But that's just my O !

Boobers

Nothing more expensive than a cheap Porsche.

Peckster

I said it before and I'll say it yet again...

Few things are more expensive than a cheap Porsche.

If you can't afford a better one, it's not the car for you.

Devia

There is such a thing as a cheap Porsche - IF you are willing to do most of the work yourself, or with help of friends!

Well, I got my Porsche "cheap" but that was with the knowledge that I was saving a car from being chopped up for parts! So far, it's cost me to re-upholster and rebuild the driver's seat (thanks, Legoland951!), a new clutch, miscellaneous little things, including replace the whole fuel rail last week, after we accidentally bent a pipe from the fuel regulator to the rail, eeps!

I have to now replace the Master brake cylinder, and a few other doo-dads.

The only reason I went with Kijo is because she was:

A) '83
B) Black/Black
C) Low mileage for it's age (131K to 141K; odometer froze), ran Carfax, well taken care of, most of it's life. Odometer only froze 2 years ago, and spent most of it's time sitting in an insurance yard.
D) A car I can mostly keep running while I fix it.
E) Needs a paint job

Oh, did I mention that it's a factory black/black, the color combo I had hunted for, for months!?

But most of all, I have the help from the people on Rennlist to help me trouble shoot it fast, so I can get the right parts for it!

Between used and new parts, and doing okay. Just need to get some new tires, and things will be better.

Been scavenging parts for her, so that's been good.

Also, the car has been fairly reliable, and does appear to give warning before it breaks completely, lol!

I have to replace the camshaft seal next, so I'll hit the rear and front seals while I'm in there, and see what condition the camshaft is in.

- Julie

hotshoe911

Dude, I just bought a '86 944 N/A with 85K and a new port & Polish job, for $2400.

I agree with the others, .....RUN AWAY from that car.

Check the web for your local PCA for available cars. At least a club member will take care of his pride and joy, and generally not try to screw you on price.

Mighty Shilling

GET A 924S!!! 944 without the fat-***! really pretty. see?

Devia

Heeeeey, who you saying has a fat ***, Porschephile? You talking about ME!? See my white, shiny teeth? I'll skin OPHELIA alive, heheheheehh!

Ooops, sorry, my car Kijo, she does have a temper! Down, girl, down! You've already had enough fan boys to crunch up today.

- Julie

Mighty Shilling

Devia, put a muzzle on that thing! maybe some slim-fast too

Yeah, I'm just playin...cuz I wanna get a 951 soon too. that way I have a fat-*** car and a supermodel who doesn't eat.