possible 951 purchase please help!
08-29-2002, 02:08 AM
#16
Burning Brakes
I would stay away from the car. I just graduated from college - I bought my 87 951 when I was 19 (after first year in school) for $11,000 (seller was asking $14K... out of his mind) with 65K miles.
Can you use the car at college? Yes, but dont expect to maintain that perfect finish after 4 years of being parked outside... and get ready to worry every Friday night that someone will vandalize it on their way home from the bar. I ended up buying a beater Jeep to take up to school and left the 951 at home - went home to get it and bring it up for a week or two if the whether was going to be nice, but I wouldnt keep it up their full time. (I also went to school in the Poconos, so obviously when it snowed the car stayed in the garage)
Personally I would stay away from the low milage cars, Ive learned not to trust them. The cars need to be driven. You can buy a low milage example if you plan on showing it, but if you plane to drive the car, dont be scred of one with 100,000 miles on it. If it feels good, it was taken care of - look on the boards, people here have 944/S/S2/Turbo's with 200K, some even 300K miles on them.
Hope this helps, but if you do decide to buy the car... I would offer him $12,000 and see where it goes.
Good luck.
Can you use the car at college? Yes, but dont expect to maintain that perfect finish after 4 years of being parked outside... and get ready to worry every Friday night that someone will vandalize it on their way home from the bar. I ended up buying a beater Jeep to take up to school and left the 951 at home - went home to get it and bring it up for a week or two if the whether was going to be nice, but I wouldnt keep it up their full time. (I also went to school in the Poconos, so obviously when it snowed the car stayed in the garage)
Personally I would stay away from the low milage cars, Ive learned not to trust them. The cars need to be driven. You can buy a low milage example if you plan on showing it, but if you plane to drive the car, dont be scred of one with 100,000 miles on it. If it feels good, it was taken care of - look on the boards, people here have 944/S/S2/Turbo's with 200K, some even 300K miles on them.
Hope this helps, but if you do decide to buy the car... I would offer him $12,000 and see where it goes.
Good luck.
08-29-2002, 02:21 AM
#17
[quote]Originally posted by Brian McCoy:
<strong>Are 911's really more reliable? I've never even researched them (not because I couldn't own one, but they're a LOT more common than the 944s and I like slightly unique things).
.</strong><hr></blockquote>
My mechanic routinely showed me 911's with 300K on them.... and always told me that labor times were less on 911's and things like belt failures were not destructive to the car....
Mods are more numerous....better resale value....
I used to put 1200 miles a week on my car and I saw my mechanic every month...every time I went in he would tell me to buy a 911.....
<strong>Are 911's really more reliable? I've never even researched them (not because I couldn't own one, but they're a LOT more common than the 944s and I like slightly unique things).
.</strong><hr></blockquote>
My mechanic routinely showed me 911's with 300K on them.... and always told me that labor times were less on 911's and things like belt failures were not destructive to the car....
Mods are more numerous....better resale value....
I used to put 1200 miles a week on my car and I saw my mechanic every month...every time I went in he would tell me to buy a 911.....
08-29-2002, 03:54 AM
#18
Race Director
Also don't forget that rear crank seal. Will probably need to be replaced before it kills off your clutch by leaking. Count on around $1000 in labor for that. Might as well inspect and replace the clutch if necessary.
"Are 911's really more reliable? I've never even researched them (not because I couldn't own one, but they're a LOT more common than the 944s and I like slightly unique things). "
I guess it depends upon which mechanic you ask. And you have to take the comparison as a whole group, because you can always find cherry 300K-miles examples of either group. Asked Joe Schneider who owns Schneider Autohaus in S.B. (one of the few shops I trust). Anyway, he knows the overall big picture, since none of his mechanics work on all the cars (some are 911-only specialists, others are 944, others BMW). Here's what he said.
- older 911s are the most unreliable as far as numbers of breakdowns per year or per mile driven. But they are also the easiest and fastest to repair.
- newer 911s are more reliable. But are tougher to repair and parts costs more.
- the 944-series are the most reliable with fewest breakdowns per year/per mile driven than any other Porsche. Tends to be about as difficult to repair as newer 911s, but parts cost less.
"Are 911's really more reliable? I've never even researched them (not because I couldn't own one, but they're a LOT more common than the 944s and I like slightly unique things). "
I guess it depends upon which mechanic you ask. And you have to take the comparison as a whole group, because you can always find cherry 300K-miles examples of either group. Asked Joe Schneider who owns Schneider Autohaus in S.B. (one of the few shops I trust). Anyway, he knows the overall big picture, since none of his mechanics work on all the cars (some are 911-only specialists, others are 944, others BMW). Here's what he said.
- older 911s are the most unreliable as far as numbers of breakdowns per year or per mile driven. But they are also the easiest and fastest to repair.
- newer 911s are more reliable. But are tougher to repair and parts costs more.
- the 944-series are the most reliable with fewest breakdowns per year/per mile driven than any other Porsche. Tends to be about as difficult to repair as newer 911s, but parts cost less.
08-29-2002, 04:29 AM
#19
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Well here is my take on this whole situation. Other than saying, my car only has 28k miles on it what is the real benefit of driving such a low mileage vehicle.
I don't know what your budget is, but it seems to me the smartest thing to do is to buy a the nicest example you can, say around $11,000 for one that has been taken care of and has around 90k miles, and then take the extra $4,000 or so and use it to either upgrade it, or for preventative maintenence.
I could be wrong but it seems like most parts on a car give out because of old age, not because it has 100k miles. Other than wear items such as, pads and clutches and whatnot. Plus, my guess is every rubber part that has fluid in it, especially the brake lines are probably about dead maybe even moreso than a daily driver. Anyway that is my take on the situation...besides if you are taking it to college, don't get the garage queen...you will regret it.
Oh, and I guess I forgot to ask the most important question of all, Would this car be a daily driver or a weekend car?????
If it is going to be a daily driver then there really isn't a good reason to pay a lot more for a low mileage example...
Goodluck. <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />
I don't know what your budget is, but it seems to me the smartest thing to do is to buy a the nicest example you can, say around $11,000 for one that has been taken care of and has around 90k miles, and then take the extra $4,000 or so and use it to either upgrade it, or for preventative maintenence.
I could be wrong but it seems like most parts on a car give out because of old age, not because it has 100k miles. Other than wear items such as, pads and clutches and whatnot. Plus, my guess is every rubber part that has fluid in it, especially the brake lines are probably about dead maybe even moreso than a daily driver. Anyway that is my take on the situation...besides if you are taking it to college, don't get the garage queen...you will regret it.
Oh, and I guess I forgot to ask the most important question of all, Would this car be a daily driver or a weekend car?????
If it is going to be a daily driver then there really isn't a good reason to pay a lot more for a low mileage example...
Goodluck. <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />
08-29-2002, 09:44 AM
#20
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yes it would be driven every day. and probly see 10k a year. im seriously thinking about getting a 95 m3 now, thanks for being honest with me. i truly cant afford the repairs you guys are describing. im glad i can come to a place like this and realize that if i buy this car i am making a terrible mistake that will cost me thousands of dollars.
thanks.
thanks.
08-29-2002, 10:55 AM
#22
Race Director
To Jim968's most excellent list of things that need to be replaced/repaired, I would add these things to be done immediately, if you decide to get the car:
1. Coolant flush: old coolant can eat away at your engine. (should be replaced every 4 years or so anyway)
2. Tranny oil change: that's old stuff there, and you don't want those components to wear out fast. Swepco synthetic tranny fluid works great.
3. Power steering fluid: you'll probably need new seals/gaskets there too, so might as well get clean stuff.
4. Any seal/gasket/hose/belt that you can find should be replaced.
I would also suggest taking a close look at all suspension components, especially the front A-arms. These get stressed out over time and lots of driving: I don't think they get the same stress from sitting there, but ya never know.
A pre-purchase inspection of the car by a reputable Porsche mechanic would probably uncover lots of hidden problems with the car.
Bottom line: it may cost a lot of $$ to get the car back up to solid running order, but if you have the $$ and the desire, this car may be a good place to start. But at $17k, it's a lot of $$ for the amount of risk and future cost of ownership. In that price range, you can probably get a decent 968, if you look hard enough.
Just my $0.42.
-Zoltan.
1. Coolant flush: old coolant can eat away at your engine. (should be replaced every 4 years or so anyway)
2. Tranny oil change: that's old stuff there, and you don't want those components to wear out fast. Swepco synthetic tranny fluid works great.
3. Power steering fluid: you'll probably need new seals/gaskets there too, so might as well get clean stuff.
4. Any seal/gasket/hose/belt that you can find should be replaced.
I would also suggest taking a close look at all suspension components, especially the front A-arms. These get stressed out over time and lots of driving: I don't think they get the same stress from sitting there, but ya never know.
A pre-purchase inspection of the car by a reputable Porsche mechanic would probably uncover lots of hidden problems with the car.
Bottom line: it may cost a lot of $$ to get the car back up to solid running order, but if you have the $$ and the desire, this car may be a good place to start. But at $17k, it's a lot of $$ for the amount of risk and future cost of ownership. In that price range, you can probably get a decent 968, if you look hard enough.
Just my $0.42.
-Zoltan.
08-29-2002, 04:38 PM
#23
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well the car is here: <a href="http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/vdetail.jtmpl?car_id=101609256&dealer_id=&certified=n&max_price=&start_y ear=1982&end_year=2003&address=75019&search_type=used&make=POR&model=944 &" target="_blank">http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/vdetail.jtmpl?car_id=101609256&dealer_id=&certified=n&max_price=&start_y ear=1982&end_year=2003&address=75019&search_type=used&make=POR&model=944 &</a> min_price=&distance=25&advcd_on=n&advanced=n&color=&car_year=1987
the guy is located just north of dallas, tx. i have looked at this car and can say that for someone looking for a show car this is the one, it is perfect. if it were not for the extreme costs of making this car street worthy i would def. purchase it. maybe someone here at the list can give it a good home, it truely is a prime example of the 951. like i stated previously i may just get a 95 M3, im on my way to the bmw forum to find out any dirt on it. i thank you guys so very much for helping me out and good luck with all of your cars, they are wonderful cars, i only wish i could be the owner of one too.
thank you again,
robbie
the guy is located just north of dallas, tx. i have looked at this car and can say that for someone looking for a show car this is the one, it is perfect. if it were not for the extreme costs of making this car street worthy i would def. purchase it. maybe someone here at the list can give it a good home, it truely is a prime example of the 951. like i stated previously i may just get a 95 M3, im on my way to the bmw forum to find out any dirt on it. i thank you guys so very much for helping me out and good luck with all of your cars, they are wonderful cars, i only wish i could be the owner of one too.
thank you again,
robbie