puzzledeagle

Hello guys, new member here. I've just come across this 85 Porsche 944 being sold for only $1500 and would like some advice on it. Already talked to the seller and he says it works great aside from the issues mentioned. What do you think, anything else to watch out for? Too good to be true?

The odometer stopped at 140,000. I bought the car that way. I have been driving to work for about a year now with no problems. It runs great and shifts smooth. It's registered till Jul . 2012.. it does need some work , body has a few dents. Interior also needs work.. tires are good, tinted windows, decent stereo also

dontnow

Ask about maint records..ie timing belt, water pump and clutch. Then look for a 944 specialist in your area (where are you?) to do a pre-purchase inspection. The main logic here is a NA car will cost $5k to make roadworthy, a turbo $10k.

Drive it and get addicted.

haydenlewis

Everybody will say it, but we cant stress it enough timming belt and water pump..

M758

what do you want to do with the car? Do you have $2000 laying around to cover maintenance items that the PO may have skipped?

944Ross

According to every seller, everything works great and only a fool would pass this one up! Don't believe a word of it!

I've owned two $1200 944's, an Early and my present Late model, both NA's. Doing all the work myself, it took a minimum of $2k to get them really drivable, although $500 of that on each was tires. If that car's tires are less than 6 years old, you can use them. You can ignore the bodywork as long as you want, in fact I would until you know what else the car needs.

Nothing is a substitute for a test drive. A PPI is a good idea, but for this kind of money you may want to roll the dice after looking it over yourself. Press him for receipts, especially for clutch work.

River

I'm going to make it REALLY easy for you. Ready? Now? How bout now?!


1. What's more important to you, your time or money?

2. Do you like spending time on your back?

3. Do you have close to 4k to dump?


If you answered no to even one of these, move on. There are way way wayyyyy too many 944's out there. With prices dropping like they are, you're much better off finding an example with current records, with an owner as ocd as us, and you'll thank us for it.

On the flipside, I did buy one on the cheap, but with the INTENTION of wrenching. It built my relationship with her intimately, and, ultimately gave me a working knowledge on these cars to diagnose, fix and be able to graduate to buying a turbo.

p.s. if I had to do it over again, I'd only buy through the PCA, Rennlist, 944online. Period. No other way...peace of mind is priceless

Butters944

For $1500 you can get a 944 with:

Lower miles.
No body damage.
Current and history of records.

Like others said, if THIS is the one you want, a pre-purchase inspection is the way to go, unless you know everything about Porsche and the 944 series

Of course, mine was a gamble. $1600 got me a seized water pump, NO records, sitting for years, bad paint, shredded interior. I probably should have waited for a nicer example. But hey, I LOVE my car. I've gained priceless experience. It's a blast to fix up, and drive. And so far I'm not much over $4k total budget. I'd expect $5k total investment to get any 944 up to the point where you have to sit and think a little, like "hmm wonder what I can do next..."

odurandina

don't buy this particular example. there's too much damage, making it an extremely upside down P-car. and that fact is the reason it is for sale... it's no more than a parts car-- and in my home state of Massachusetts it's worth no more than about 6~800 dollars.... about the cars in general, i think of the 944 the same as a 968; as base kit cars for long-term ownership..... they handle spectacular with the factory wheels and suspension. and there's room for improvement... they're also underpowered, but i don't think people should get too much in a huff about that because, when you ask any 4 cylinder engine to do what it needs to do, the eventual result is that it will blow it up. you can think of the engine as somewhat temporary. enjoy it..... even beat the crap out of it while you restore/mod/upgrade the car.... after 25 years, there's going to be some things to do... when you're done doing all that you can turn back and rebuild or do an upgrade with the engine as there's room to go bigger and better w/ like a 968 engine or even Goodwrench V8..... but while you get the car ready for daily driving, there are three areas of concern.

1. timing system/H20 pump/basic tune up. needs to be done soon. the belts and H20 pump get old just sitting still.

2. electrical. the cars are subject to no-start gremlins.

3. clutch. it could come up at some point and it's a labor-intensive pain in the ***.

keep the boogieman away and everything else is negotiable (to deal with when you choose as you go along).



/

Hollywood D

I would not buy it because of the body damage. That rear fender is one large piece and would need to be done by a body shop unless you are competent to do it enough yourself. Maybe that bid dent above the door handle can be pulled out but it looks pretty deep. A new front fender can be found at a junkyard but then you need paint too.

I personally would not buy it just based on the body damage.

mytrplseven

Pass on it, please! These may not be popular opinions, especially when you're in the "buy" mode but you did come here for good advice and you've gotten exactly that. A $1500 car that'll cost you 3 times that to get road worthy is not a good investment and will take the fun out of the purchase. With that many miles you should be convinced that if there's one oil leak, all the rubber seals (about a dozen) in the car either are or will soon be leaking oil. It'll look like your oil pan has turned into a colander. Keep looking, be patient, and it'll happen. Do your best to check for maintenance history and a solid body.

gtroth

Definately pass on that one. Chances are it's going to need all the usual things, AND add in body work...some interior stuff you don't like...you should try for a better experience.
Be patient and enjoy the hunt.
Of course another way to go is offer half and just beat the living daylights out of it and do minimal work on it. That good be fun.
Good luck, and welcome aboard.

River

You know, I'll add this:

buy it.

strip it.

make it a track car.

been told countless times from instructors that teach that underpowered 5 speed cars like our are PERFECT for learning how to drive. And drive well.

and, being a track car, who cares what the body looks like. You could even part out all the interior stuff/extras and recoup some of that cost and break even or even turn a profit turning into a track set up.

just food for though is all...

puzzledeagle

Thanks for the advice guys. I got to check out the 944 yesterday and it was bad. There is a rough, disturbing vibration with the car's engine while it idles that cycles every 10 seconds, but the worst part it there is no power steering pump! He's driving the car without any power steering at all!

944Ross

Lots of trackers do that. Sounds like one to pass on, tho..

racer

Sounds to me like you found a "parts car".. now you need one you can drive