Yummybud924

I'm thinking of buying a 944 n/a in vancouver within the next few months and I'm not sure what to pay. I've seen 944s from 3000 up to over 10,000 for 944s.

Also are the early cars less reliable than the later cars? I don't really care about whih interior the car has. I like the post 85.5 interior better but I don't want to pay more just for the interior. I was told the earlier cars are also cheaper to maintain and parts are cheaper, not sure about that.

I'm not sure if i'm going ot attempt to do the water pump/ timing belt job myself as I'm not very mechanical but I'd like to learn. If I decide to have a qualified shop do the full front end tuneup how much would this cost?

lastly, what things should I check when looking at a potential car to buy. Do you guys always take the car to a mechanic to have it inspected? Also can I take it to any mechanic to have it checked out. I ask this because there aren't too many porsche shops around so it's not always possible to have the car checked out by a porsche mechanic.

what are common failures with these car?

ok sorry one more question, should I worry about milliage? what milliage is too high? I believe the early cars like the 924 roll over after 99k so how would you even know the real milliage?

also do you guys think you should stay away from the cheaper 944s? I just saw one that was sold for 3000 and looked like a nice car. I want to spend 4000-5000 so I've money left to do all the maintenance.

thanks!

Friendan

Hey man, welcome to rennlist! You'll find quite a few 944 owners here in Vancouver, and on rennlist.

It's funny, reading your post, I encountered some of the same questions and concerns you have.

Generally, the later the year, the more desirable the car. The newer interior was such an improvement on these cars, they are much more valuable. I've owned both, I had an 83 first, but I love my 86 alot more.

944's in Vancouver tend to go for alot more than in the States. People might say you're crazy for wanting to pay 5000 for a 944 NA on here, but alot of the US folks don't realize that 944's are alot more money up here, because they are less common. In fact, if you want a really nice 944, unless you search and wait forever, you will want to pay more than 5000.

If I were you, I wouldn't attempt the belts and water pump if you aren't very experienced. Too much can go wrong, and you'll end up with a big paper weight. I had my pump and belts done 2.5 years ago at my mechanic, and the bill was around $1400. It was well worth it too for peace of mind.

The other big thing with these cars is the clutch. Because of the rear transaxle design, labour on a 944 clutch is around 10 hours.

Here is a saying you should engrain in your head, and you will hear it over and over on rennlist: THERE'S NOTHING MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A CHEAP PORSCHE. Don't buy a cheap one; you'll end up paying for it in the long run! High mileage is generally a concern unless it was very well maintained.

But believe me, I LOVE my car, it's a blast to drive and looks fantastic.

I recommend doing some searches in this forum, and reading the 944 Newbie thread for infos.

Try SCAN Automotive in North Van, that's where I take my car. They know 944's inside and out, and they will do inspections. Talk to James, and tell him Brendan sent you!

Yummybud924

thanks a lot. I only knew of Weissach, I have bought 924 parts off of them before and I assume they would charge much more.

$1400 doesn't sound too bad for the water pump/ belts/ seals.

I've wanted a 944 for a long time but I'm a colllege student so I'm not sure if I can afford the maintenance. Also the 944 would have to be very reliable.

hopefully I can find one in excellent condition to start with, with only 6000.

todzilla

Everything he said! I'm now on my 3rd 944 and I too had the 'older' interior'd '85 and another '86 and the update does wonders to the quality 'feel' you get - it just stands the test of time better, and the 85.5 update changed the suspension a bit and a few other enhancements were added here and there. I'd hold out fot the later models....as new as you can afford.

I bought my '86 needing the timing belts/water pump job as well as a new rad and related hoses and a few other fixes to make it 'right' - the car cost $4500 and I've put about $3000 into it bringing me to $7500 Cdn. for a very tight, very nice conditioned and hopefully reliable daily driver...everything major has been updated so aside from occasional quirks along the way, I know the car's good for a long time (230000 kms so far!)

If you meant the $3000 red '86 that was listed a month or so ago, I saw it and it did need a paint job and some serious ssuspension work but that can be addressed for probably $3000-4000 so you're right in the 'Vancouver' price point, or so it seems. They are few and far between in any kind of really good shape but they do pop up now and then...patience and much looking will find a nice car.

As far as mechanics, I live in PoCo and go to Otto Eurocars out here and Otto is excellent and the best hourly rate of the few Porsche mechanics in the lower mainland. I've also used Scan in North Van. and they are excellent but a bit far for me....but highly recommended. There is a couple others out there and of course Weissach and MCL but you'd have to be **** as hell or loaded to service a 20 year old car there....though Weissachs' service manager (Stuart) is a really decent guy and excellent to deal with. Remember - the belts and water pump should - and I mean STRONGLY - be changed every 50000 miles and it'll run you from $1200-$1500.

Anyways, good luck and hopefully you'll find something out there that checks out (and DO get a full inspection before buying and 944 - they can surprise you if the to-do list is long!)

Cheers,
Todd

Rich Sandor

944 n/a's up here go for anywhere between $3000 to $10,000.

Expect utter crap for $3000 and a museum car for $10,000. If someone with an N/A wants $10k, it seriously better have a recent clutch, belts, pumps, and a stack of receipts 6 inches thick. Not to mention, it should be perfect 10/10 inside and out. High mileage is not a problem, as long as things have been replaced. If it's high miles, (150,000+miles) and everything is still original, you will have to replace or fix it soon! (Shocks, clutch, headgasket, seals, etc etc.)

A fair price for a decent car is anywhere between $6k and $7k.

If you only have $5000 to spend, I suggest you wait, save up some money. You'll need at least $6k or $7k to get a decent car. If you buy a $3k or $4k car, you will immediately have to spend $2k on it, and it'll probably be in worse cosmetic condition than a car you could have bought for $6k.

There is no such thing as a cheap Porsche..

Yummybud924

thanks for the info. Do yo think taking the car to a nearby mechanic shop to do a prebuy inspection would be okay? A regular mechanic should be able to check for common problems even if they don't know the 944 or am I wrong? Many sellers won't take the car to a shop that's too far away.

aren't repairs more pricey on the later cars? this is what I heard. I don't mind the early cars interior as long as it's in good condition and not with big dash cracks etc which is common.

todzilla

Ppi's are not an option on these cars - if the seller balks or refuses to let you get the car checked at the shop of your choice - walk! There are at least 5 good shops to do a check for anywhere from $90-200 and it will pinpoint any and all issues your potential car has....pretty much. Best money you can spend. Base the price of the car on the outcome of the inspection.

Anyone serious about Porsches knows the value of maintenance and will likely have kept records of any done. They should have no worries about inspections as long as they're being straight up with you...but if something looks to good to be true, it likely is.

Yummybud924

okay I'll wait and save up a little more money. Prices seem like they are all over the place. I see early cars listed for 8000.

yeah I'll get the car inspected for sure but depending on where the car is located I might have to take it to a regular mechanic shop preferably on that works on german cars and have it inspected.

where do you guys look for your cars? i just look in the buysell.

todzilla

Buy and sell's fine - I got my last 2 from craigslist. Of course there's the Auto Trader and even VW websites have one for sale every now and then.

I think those are your options....OH AND OF COURSE HERE!! In the classifieds!

(though they're almost always stateside)

Rich Sandor

Otto, Scan, and Weissach know these cars really well. They will spot common problems and tell you right away.

Early and late cars are mechanically the same, thus, costs are the same. The only differences are the interior, and rim offset, and antennae.

Please don't take the car to a shop that doesn't work on 944's often, just to try and save money. They will screw things up, and will wind up costing more than taking it to a 944 specialist like SCAN or Otto, or even Weissach.

Yummybud924

thanks for all the info. Maybe someone on this site in the van area can come with me when I go look at a 944. I'm going to save up some more and hopefully I can find a nice one by August.

Yummybud924

I wouldn't take the 944 to any shop to do repairs but I was thinking of maybe going to a shop that doesn't work on porsches just for a pre-purchase inspection. It's not always convenient to take a car you're looking at to weissach or Scan as someone mentioned, is located in North Van.

Rich Sandor

We have a HUGE 944 club here in Van. Lots of enthusiastic owners... especially the turbo owners. We are happy to help out and give advice... kinda like a AA support group.

I suggest buying the car privately.. you avoid gst that way, and dont' have to pay a premium to the middle man. (the dealer)

I'd be happy to help you look over a car if you want... just email/pm me whenever you're ready to buy.

Erzengal

Check these out:
Clark's Garage Info Page
First Time Buyer FAQ
944 FAQ

Expect to pay around $5k for a 944. Anything less and your chances of having more issues rise. Personally, I spent a bit over $6k for mine after a few extras and tax, and I know I got an increadible deal. I am going to post Friendan's note again in bold: "THERE'S NOTHING MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A CHEAP PORSCHE."

The quality of the car is totally dependant on its past care and maintaince. It could have 20k miles, or 200k miles, both could still be in perfect condition, or lemons. ALWAYS! get a PPI (Pre-Purchase Inspection) from a quality Porsche Shop (It NEEDS to be a place that knows the issues of 944's!) Also run a Carfax on the VIN. This should tell you the actual mileage of the car, as well as confirm the status of the title. If you find a car you are serious about, you can ask for a local to come look at it with you.

Mileage on the car isn't too much of a problem as long as maintaince has been done at regular times. Most here will say 100k miles on a 944 is "just breaking in the car". There are several 250k 944's around here, I think there is a 400k+ owner here too.

Feel free to ask your seller lots of questions. If they are unfamiliar with the status of common 944 problem areas, walk away unless its a great deal and you know how to work on these cars.

I called up a seller once when looking, and asked simple questions any 944 owner would recognize. Whats the status of the Timing Belt, Water Pump, and Clutch. He had ZERO clue, he got ZERO interest in me.

Timing Belt and Water Pump change out is about $1500 +/- $200 I think total. Clutch is about the same price. These are the main issues of the 944. Every 30k-35k miles change the timing belt, retension 1500miles after change. Water Pump I think is good for ~50k miles or more? (Someone will prolly say what it realy is) Just keep an eye on it for any leaking. Clutch is good for 80-100k miles (Rubber Center = try not to abuse it too much)

Odometer Gears (Cheap to replace, but a PITA) go out easy. Late models break if you hit the reset while moving.

Check for leaks under the passenger footsill (under battery), sunroof, and rear hatch.

There are a few other things the clarks garage info will mention.

Parts cost should be about the same for both early and late. Though its a bit easier to find stuff for late models.

I personally didn't like the early dash design at first, but once I saw mine in person, I found I loved it. Its a much more "Sports Car" look to it, the late dash is too common looking for me.

Note, we will all prolly scare you with alot of talk about all the things that can go wrong with our cars, making them look like horridly designed cars (only the clutch location is :P), however, these are really well made cars, and so long as it isn't abused, and well maintained, will last quite a while.


Personally, I had been looking at 944's for a few years, I spent the last year learning the in's and out's, and searching for the right one. Found it only recently, and bought it!

I highly recommend just looking around here on Rennlist for one in your area. There are a few 951's in this area for ~10k, but I don't think N/A's atm, but give it some time. This is where I ultimately found one that met my high requirements, and I knew it was from someone who loved, and cared for these cars as they should be.

I've actively searched the Autotrader.com and Craigslist sites for over the last year for 944's within 100+miles of Seattle. 75% are <4k junk that need a fair chunk of work. Most others are overpriced from auto dealers at 6k+ for a 4k 944, that still has a weak history. I think I've seen 3-4 quality ones that I have considered buying show up there. (Though as I mentioned, I had extremely high requirements) They are still very good sources, but just make sure you follow all steps to know what you are buying.

Meh... sorry about the novel, hope some of it helps.

Rich Sandor

I strongly disagree. The whole point of a PPI is to spot problems with the car. Someone who is INTIMATE with 944's like Scan or Otto, will be able to instantly spot potential and imminent problems. A regular "german car" garage will not be familiar enough with these cars to spot every little problem and know exactly what the cause is and what the cheapest solution is.

Don't try to be cheap. It'll cost you more in the long run.