Used 944 purchase advise!~
10-18-2002, 03:15 PM
#16
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Thanks for great advise ya'all! what about the oil/coolent mix on these cars. I hear that is a problem on these cars and expensive to fix. Is that true? I also heard that clutch replacement on these cars are like $1500 bucks! is that true?
10-18-2002, 03:35 PM
#17
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good to look on rennlist and also on the classified sections of your regional PCA club.... like, for example: <a href="http://www.pca.org/regions/index.html" target="_blank">PCA regional sites</a> you would be either zone 7 or 8.
Someone's selling something all the time....<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=012437" target="_blank">My 944 is for sale</a>
Someone's selling something all the time....<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=012437" target="_blank">My 944 is for sale</a>
10-18-2002, 03:53 PM
#18
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Jason-
The coolant/oil mix is a problem that was probably addressed by a previous owner at this point. When I bought my car, the records showed a coolant flush, seal replacement due to a mix happening. Fixed, and done before I bought it.
That's why you need a car with maint. records. Otherwise, you can be hit with ALL of the minor problems that can pop up at once, resulting in a big cash expenditure!
The coolant/oil mix is a problem that was probably addressed by a previous owner at this point. When I bought my car, the records showed a coolant flush, seal replacement due to a mix happening. Fixed, and done before I bought it.
That's why you need a car with maint. records. Otherwise, you can be hit with ALL of the minor problems that can pop up at once, resulting in a big cash expenditure!
10-18-2002, 04:20 PM
#19
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FWIW-
My 1984 944 with 144K miles.
Paid $4000 two years ago.
Does not burn or leak a drop of oil.
Not a show car but looks good and runs fine.
Just took it on a 200 mile road trip with no problem.
A guy in San Diego has a 1989 944S2 I want to buy.
I'm selling my car for $3000 that I need to buy that car.
With 944's it is a buyers market right now.
My 1984 944 with 144K miles.
Paid $4000 two years ago.
Does not burn or leak a drop of oil.
Not a show car but looks good and runs fine.
Just took it on a 200 mile road trip with no problem.
A guy in San Diego has a 1989 944S2 I want to buy.
I'm selling my car for $3000 that I need to buy that car.
With 944's it is a buyers market right now.
10-18-2002, 04:30 PM
#20
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Don't get discouraged.
My First P-Car, a 1984 944 with at that time 97K on the clock, cost me $4250.00
The guy had maintenance records for everything he did while he owned it (7 years), and the car has run fine, with the exception of a leaking Camtower gasket, which I had fixed a few months ago. I know I'll have to do the clutch in the next year or so, but, man, you're looking for a Porsche, be prepared to give it what it needs.
BTW, I drove my 100K mile plus car from Minnesota to DC last Christmas and it ran like a champ the whole time.
Be picky, don't buy the first one you see and you will come out ahead.
Congrats on being shrewd enough to stop here before buying one, you're 100% better off than most first time 944 owners.
Paul
84 944 (110K) Gemini Grey Metallic
87 944 (42K) Guards Red
My First P-Car, a 1984 944 with at that time 97K on the clock, cost me $4250.00
The guy had maintenance records for everything he did while he owned it (7 years), and the car has run fine, with the exception of a leaking Camtower gasket, which I had fixed a few months ago. I know I'll have to do the clutch in the next year or so, but, man, you're looking for a Porsche, be prepared to give it what it needs.
BTW, I drove my 100K mile plus car from Minnesota to DC last Christmas and it ran like a champ the whole time.
Be picky, don't buy the first one you see and you will come out ahead.
Congrats on being shrewd enough to stop here before buying one, you're 100% better off than most first time 944 owners.
Paul
84 944 (110K) Gemini Grey Metallic
87 944 (42K) Guards Red
10-19-2002, 08:26 AM
#21
Race Director
Be prepared to look at and test drive MANY cars before you make a purchase. I looked for almost 4 months (constantly, driving and looking at cars every weekend) before I bought mine. Don't buy the first one that you fall in love with. I must have looked at close to 30 cars (including 911's and 912's) that ranged in price from 4K to 8K. The 911's in that range were all dogs and needed lots of work, the 912's all were very "primitive" (even though they are cool). Conditions of the 944's in that range were all over the place. I NEVER saw one for 4K that didn't look like it would be a total money pit. Almost all cars (at least around where I live) below 6K had little to no records, and had some sort of "issue" that was never mentioned by the seller but became apparent during the test drive (bad clutch center, grinding trans, scary brakes, broken balance shaft belt, etc.). One even backfired on every shift and threw flames out the back (?).
Finally when I was ready to give up I found one on the other side of the state that had low miles (70K), almost all records since day one, and basically un-molested. I paid around 7K for it at that time (Some people will say that was too much, but I would disagree). It was Red (not my first color choice at the time), but after a day of owning it red became my favorite color...
Now, even though I bought a fine example, I still have dumped a load of cash into it over the last 2 years. But, for the most part, it has been on things that I "wanted" and didn't necessarily "need" (wheels, suspension, brakes, exterior/interior upgrades, etc.). This is the addictive part of owning one of these cars. THe few problems I have had can be attributed to the fact that it is 17 years old and should be considered as the cost of ownership (balance shaft belt, seals, and now transmission).
So, pardon my long-winded reply here. What I'm trying to say, I guess, is to be carefull for looking for one in the lower end of the price range. I think more often than not, you will be buying one that will end up costing you more money than you would have spent to just buy a good example in the first place.I know some on this board have bought ones that have been cheap and bullet-proof, but that is the exception rather than the norm, IMHO. Remember that you are buying a Porsche, and parts and labor cost the same whether it is an 83 944 or a late model 993.
IF you are moderately mechanically inclined, that will go a long way toward keeping some $ in your bank account. Join Rennlist if you haven't already, that will save you some cash in the long run as well. And, don't forget to get a PPI on the one that you finally decide to lay money down on....
Tifo
Finally when I was ready to give up I found one on the other side of the state that had low miles (70K), almost all records since day one, and basically un-molested. I paid around 7K for it at that time (Some people will say that was too much, but I would disagree). It was Red (not my first color choice at the time), but after a day of owning it red became my favorite color...
Now, even though I bought a fine example, I still have dumped a load of cash into it over the last 2 years. But, for the most part, it has been on things that I "wanted" and didn't necessarily "need" (wheels, suspension, brakes, exterior/interior upgrades, etc.). This is the addictive part of owning one of these cars. THe few problems I have had can be attributed to the fact that it is 17 years old and should be considered as the cost of ownership (balance shaft belt, seals, and now transmission).
So, pardon my long-winded reply here. What I'm trying to say, I guess, is to be carefull for looking for one in the lower end of the price range. I think more often than not, you will be buying one that will end up costing you more money than you would have spent to just buy a good example in the first place.I know some on this board have bought ones that have been cheap and bullet-proof, but that is the exception rather than the norm, IMHO. Remember that you are buying a Porsche, and parts and labor cost the same whether it is an 83 944 or a late model 993.
IF you are moderately mechanically inclined, that will go a long way toward keeping some $ in your bank account. Join Rennlist if you haven't already, that will save you some cash in the long run as well. And, don't forget to get a PPI on the one that you finally decide to lay money down on....
Tifo
10-19-2002, 09:47 AM
#22
Jason,
The condition of these cars varies widely. It depends on how the car was used in the past--if it was an autocross car, I'd run. But I agree with the advice from the guy who said make sure the previous owner has owned it at least two years.
Yes, these cars are reliable, but maintenance is a b*tch. I've put over $7 grand into my car in the past year, though it is a track car. Yes, my clutch was $1500 and I'm still paying for that. I paid $7K for my car seven years ago, that was high book at the time but it was in excellent shape.
Parts will eat you alive. I just found the cheapest spark plug wires for $90 at Auto Zone online, but I had purchased a set at my local foreign parts dealer for $190 that I had to return. Distributor cap $40. You get the picture.
If you're not willing to work on the car, learn all kinds of stuff, and can't afford parts, don't buy a P-car.
Kerry
The condition of these cars varies widely. It depends on how the car was used in the past--if it was an autocross car, I'd run. But I agree with the advice from the guy who said make sure the previous owner has owned it at least two years.
Yes, these cars are reliable, but maintenance is a b*tch. I've put over $7 grand into my car in the past year, though it is a track car. Yes, my clutch was $1500 and I'm still paying for that. I paid $7K for my car seven years ago, that was high book at the time but it was in excellent shape.
Parts will eat you alive. I just found the cheapest spark plug wires for $90 at Auto Zone online, but I had purchased a set at my local foreign parts dealer for $190 that I had to return. Distributor cap $40. You get the picture.
If you're not willing to work on the car, learn all kinds of stuff, and can't afford parts, don't buy a P-car.
Kerry
10-25-2002, 11:41 PM
#23
Nerd Herder
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I bought mine for 4 grand.. three years in have spent another 2500.. still cheap compared to a 14 Y/O honda.... and the looks.. try that in a civic.. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />