Kurt

Alright, ever since I sold my 944 NA in August I've been looking for a 951. Not having a Porsche is really bugging me (especially after test-driving a 993 C4S today, yikes!, but I digress...).

Regarding my 944, I really lucked out - got a great car that had been cared for and maintained regularly - an excellent low-mileage specimen. Now I've applied the same standards to my search for a 951 in terms of mechanical condition primarily. Additionally, I plan on keeping a 951 for a very long time when I buy one and plan on going up the modified ladder instead of upgrading to newer Porsches. So chassis and mechanical lifespan is an issue because of how long I intend to keep a 951.

What I'd like to know is some more information regarding people who have purchased a 951 with high-mileage (100k & up). Were the reasons for purchasing a high-mileage 951 its price and availability? If the proper and regular maintainence to a 951 has been done on schedule, how long is it truly reliable, driveable, and "modify-able"?

Basically, because of how long I intend to keep and modify a 951 once I get one, the idea of buying one with 100k+ miles on it does not seem enticing. Appreciate your thoughts

Sam Lin

If it's been maintained and you have perfect records, don't let mileage affect you. Mine's got 150k and I've heard of plenty of 250+k examples running strong. The only thing that might need attention on a higher mileage car compared to lower mileage is the turbo.

Sam

v944god

I'd like to know also..

How long do high mileage engines usually last on these cars?

I really dont mind paying for clutch jobs, timing belts, but fixing the engine scares the hell out of me especially since I can't do it myself.

Marc Gelefsky

Kurt,

I did not buy a high miles 951, mine had 43K when I bought it 6 years ago.
But I can tell you it now has 192K on it and is in amazing shape, mechanically and aesthetically.
Anyone buying my car would be happy. Looks like a low mileage car now that all the stone chips are gone.
If these cars are taken care of they really last, the car is tight and I look forward to getting into it every day.
I thought about selling it and getting one with less miles, than asked myself: why?

Just my .000951 cents

Type_LT

Thats a toughy, I bought mine from a caring owner with 86k, two years later it has 118k and is better than before (minus a bad tire problem). If you can buy it from a person and meet with them you should be able to tell a lot about the car's history. Mine didn't have full records but it had most of the important ones such as timing belt. Good luck with the search!

Rally Guy

Not a 951 but a an S2 - but very high milage... 254k kms - knock on wood still going strong!

Car feels rock solid and is still a total blast to drive. I was really hesitant about such a high-miler, but after a couple of weeks of daily driving - I've "learned" the car and am confident in it now.

Do all the usual, belts, pump etc and just make a list of all the "little things" that need fixing and keep at it. It'll give yoiu years of pleasure.

RK

Dave951M

I got mine with 135k on the clock, incomplete records from a PCA member. The price was a fair considering it did need some work- cracked headers, bad brakes, due for T belt, wp, seals & rolllers and needing rear shocks. I did the work myself, now the car runs very well, stops better than anything I've ever owned, gets 29mpg (not on the track!), and feels more stable and solid than many newer cars I've driven. I wouldn't be afraid of a higher mile car with incomplete documentation, just so long as you can do your own work and realize that there will be some mechanical issues during the first 6 months. After those issues are done, enjoy the car. I've seen cylinder walls of high mile cars with virtually no discernable wear, where other engines would have cylinder ridges, be out of round, blowing lots of oil, etc. The engineering on theses cars, 944na included, is amazing.

RSflared72e

It seems like ALL of the 944 series cars I've owned are "high" mileage (2 951s with over 150k each, 944S with 170k). Current 944S2 has 168k miles, feels rock solid. I say "high" miles because it's only high for non-Porsches; these cars will last forever if properly maintained. Like Dave said, the cylinder bores tell the story - you rarely see much wear regardless of miles.

Matt H

Mine had 186K, stock turbo, original clutch, and a original struts. I could have driven this car as it was. I am choosing to rebuild because I want it to be far more than stock. You can get them much cheaper with as good a body (they almost never rust) and that leaves the money you would have spent on the car to use for upgrades. If you are going to modify I see that as the only way to go.
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turbo944

I bought my 951 with 113K miles on the 13th of January this year (13 is my lucky number). The second owner had dynoed it at 101K miles and it made (stock) 201 RWHP, which is about 230 crank horsepower, or about 15 more than stock assuming the 15% drivetrain loss. The car is VERY strong and had a lot of the normal maintenance already done to it and a lot of preventative maintenance done to it from 98K to about 105K miles when it was sold to the person I bought it from who had just started a business and needed capital for it. He had already done most everything to prepare the car for a turbo upgrade, but I'm not happy with the Autothority chips in the car and am going to change those out for sure with Guru chips and am trying to swing getting into a MAP kit as well for my future growth. I don't have club racing on my mind for it nor do I have 450RWHP in mind for it, but I do want it to be significantly faster than stock and enjoyable on the road. The car has been really well taken care of and I constantly get compliments on it, even from other Porsche people. I trust it far more than my much newer POS and it drives, runs, and inspires confidence and control far more than almost any other car I've ever driven.

Ahmet

Bought my turbo at the high 170k range. I've done some stuff to it like rings, and some bearings, etc. Currently has 206k. Original block, pistons, rods, transaxle...
Ahmet

por944trs

Mileage doesn't mean as much with these cars as a good maintance schedule. On a tip I bought my first 951 from the second owner had all updates and history back to 88' (car was 86' model) with 105,000 on the clock. $600.00 dollars for a used MAF kit and she dynoed @ 258 rwhp. Sold it for another 86' with only 60,000 showing, incomplete records , and proceeded to spend the next year with it torn down to replace just about everthing, including a rusted out battery tray that I wasn't smart enough to look for. I bought from a so-called "trustworthy" parts dealer in south Fla. I have a nice car now , but only after a lot of time and money and I really miss my first one. Look for a well kept car, look for records , have a pdi done by a good mech/tech.

Peckster

In the three years I've had mine (I started at 124 K kilometers) I've had the bottom end (rod bearings and pan gasket), head (rebuild and gasket) and oil seals done, all at separate times.

The only big thing left to do some time in the future is the rings, the bore looks good.

It would probably have been cheaper to do it all at once, but the need wasn't there. It would probably have been too much money all at once anyway.

AndyK

Also, a 15-year old car with 100k is NOT a high milage car!!