Pamela

Okay, so my 88 944s was on the resale lot for one week - only ONE person phoned to enquire. Took person for test drive, loved the car, wanted to take it home. Just now had call from person enquiring on price of timing belt change - think they may be interested in purchasing and I am surely interested in selling car as I am moving from Hawaii to NY (in 6 weeks) and don't want to pay $2000+ to ship it there. Anyway, my question is, do I drop price of vehicle ($6,500) to reflect timing belt change/water pump replacement to sell my car? Any suggestions/opinions are appreciated at this point in time as they are calling back in a couple of hours to take for test drive. BTW, how expensive is timing belt change?

Tabor

I say drop the price of your car, but that is just me. I have no idea how much a timing belt change costs, let alone in Hawaii. I would call a few trusted local shops.

Pamela

Thanks Tabor for your words of advice. I am by no means desperate to sell my car, but will be put in a difficult situation if I do not sell. I am debating whether $5,500 is too low but this will give prospective new owner $1000 extra to change timing belts/water pump. Fingers crossed that this may be the incentive to buy.

Operator

whoa whoa .. why?!
whens the last time they were changed?
dont drop it a grand
just tell them its firm
i doubt it needs the change for a while anyway?
if they seem uneasy then maybe offer to drop 500.. come on

triscadek

My mech. quoted me about $300 to do the belts and another $100 or so to do a water pump at the same time.

I would drop maybe $500 tops.

icat

I just had mine done on my 86 951. The labor was $250 for the belts and rollers. Parts were right at $100. Water pump, had I done it, would have added $200 or so for the part and maybe $50 in labor. So the max should be in the range of $600.

If your car is in good shape, then the price your asking is fair. Keep in mind that your on an island and there are a limited number of these cars available. If they found a cheaper example on the mainland, they'd have to have it shipped in. I'd tell them the price is firm.

Tabor

While I advocate dropping the price, it is just my opinion. Also, it shouldn't take $1000 to change the timing belt and water pump unless you are really hard up for Porsche mechanics.

Micah

Tabor,

I ended up spending $920 last week... some rollers needed taken care of, a few seals, etc. I bet $1k is a pretty safe bet to deal with something you might run in to.

I wouldn't drop the price of the car. Just wait for the buyer to try and argue that point - then you can see how much they want to offer. It wouldn't hurt to get some idea of the cost of a standard belt/pump change from a few mechs in your area to find out how much you consider a fair drop in price to be.

Micah

Pamela

So, just got back from taking prospective owner for a test drive. He had a few queries, and then gives me the speech about the Kelley blue book price...I tried to explain to him that the KBB price is not a good guide for Porsches, but he thought he was being taken for a ride so to speak. Anyway, I advised him to ring around Porsche dealership, mechanics etc, to get more opinions. I think I am the one being taken for a ride......he stated "the KBB has private party price of only $4300, which is much more than the $6500 you are asking for" - My question is, is the KBB good for pricing porsches? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Tabor

$4,300 is too low for an '88. KBB is okay for their dealer prices, but I think thier private party sale prices are too low. I don't think I would sell your car for anything less than $5,500. I would only go that low because I know you have to move soon.

Pamela

Just as I thought Tabor. Thanks, you are a wealth of knowledge. The guy said he would call back after labor day when he has had time to call around and do some pricing homework. I don't think I could let it go for under $5000, or else I am just throwing my money away. Who does he think he is anyway? Think he is trying to pull the wool over my eyes - he said "I have used KBB for years when pricing vehicles" but I tried to explain to him that they are not good prices for Porsche. I don't have any experience in selling cars, this is my first time and I am scared I am going to get stepped on just because I really need to sell this car - it is either that or pay $2000 to ship it.

CPTdooberhead

If he really wants it, he'll pay exactly what your asking. Dont lower your price too much... it's not always easy finding a 944 in good shape. You just dont go by KBB when buying a Porsche. I've been through that spiel myself

Micah

You outta ask him if he knows how much it would cost to have another 944 in the same condition as yours shipped from the mainland <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> That might make him reconsider his options... there can't be THAT many on the island

Micah

Olli Snellman

Don't drop the price.It's not stupid to ask a decent price of your car.Let see how much they are willing to pay for it.
Belt change price seems to be hot issue on the list.I cost $50 last (parts) time i changed them myself.
You guys should learn how to do belt change by yourselves.It's not difficult at all.I have seen that mechanics usually overprice belt change.

Olli
'88 951

icat

You've got a rare car, that's not made anymore, in good condition, on a small island (sorry - no offense - I live in Texas, everything else is small except for Alaska and it's mostly frozen ).

KBB is NOT a definitive pricing guide for ANY collector car. Do they even go back to 1988? As I mentioned earlier and Micah also, the cost of bringing another one in from the mainland would drastically increase his price. Your final price should bear this in mind. I don't think KBB was intended for "island" based cars.