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buying advice- 87 944s, s2

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Old 04-30-2017, 06:45 PM
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wannaB1987
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Default buying advice- 87 944s, s2

Test drove a 1987 Porsche 944S w 119,000 odometer miles for sale for $5500. FUN ride. like butter. great roads for a test drive too. limited/lacking service records, the seller had "a porsche guy." engine replaced with an S2 engine (50,000 miles on the engine vs. 119,000 on the body) he forgot to mention this engine replacement in the ad. some panels replaced, new tires, clutch, brakes, blower fans, fuel pump, shock and front struts. Quick online vin report "vehiclehistory.com" shows conflicting mileage info- 95,000 in '02 and 125,000 in '08, exceeding odometer reading of 119,000. tachometer needs replacing or rewiring. oil coated oil pan
is this a shady deal? or worth it? i want something cheap, cosmetics i dont care about, i understand i'll have to put a few hundo into it every year or so in upkeep and repairs, but is this likely a money pit? i'm thinking of offering maybe $700 below asking and going from there... should i offer less? he mentioned ther's little interest so far and im the first to drive.
any advice greatly appreciated.
Old 04-30-2017, 07:01 PM
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phast930
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If it feels shady walk away. If the car checks out (bring it in for a thorough inspection to a trusted 944 mechanic) and go from there.
Old 04-30-2017, 07:01 PM
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SloMo228
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Hard to say if it's shady, but there's nothing you described there that's all that unusual.

Having the S2 motor is a nice upgrade, although that probably doesn't add a ton of value in and of itself, since you're not also getting the nicer brakes of the S2, the sleeker bodywork, or the "originality," which is important to some.

The oily pan is very common, as there are multiple places where old oil seals can weep. Consider it a feature to prevent underbody rust and check the oil level regularly until you have a more pressing reason to change the seals. Broken odometer is also super common, usually the culprit is a small plastic gear that breaks. Replacements are available and the process isn't too bad.

Mileage isn't much of a concern on these cars, honestly. They hold up incredibly well to long use, but only if the maintenance is kept up on.

IMO, assuming that the car isn't trashed in terms of paint and interior and with the S2 engine and new parts listed, $5500 seems pretty reasonable. That's about what you could expect to pay just for a fair-condition S.
Old 04-30-2017, 08:28 PM
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i944
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You will have to address the shady issues or it might affect a sale or return on your money if you ever sold it in the future. More have mileage issues than not with those odometers. Pre-purchase inspection is best if unsure.
Old 05-01-2017, 02:25 AM
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dionphaneuf
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I'd get a PPI done if it felt solid. $250 that'll end all mechanical questions and give you negotiating points if the car is solid, or will tell you to walk away if it's a basket case.
Old 05-01-2017, 11:41 AM
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KVDR
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The longer I own one of these cars the less scary all those things sound. As others have mentioned, S2 engine is an upgrade, and since it's no longer 'original', don't worry about the mileage - condition of the exterior and interior is now more important.

"A few hundred" a year in maintenance sounds optimistic though, especially as a new owner. Find out how long ago the timing & balance belts and water pump were done.

Having the clutch already replaced is great.

Unless you have records, be prepared to spend a few thousand in the first year or two.
Old 05-01-2017, 12:14 PM
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V2Rocket
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there's not a whole lot about 944s that can't be "fixed" or simply "undone" if they've been previously neglected.

for the most part they are easy to work on.

mileage discrepancy may be a swapped out odometer...they can fail sometimes. they're old cars...mileage could be all over the place, but 944 cars have proven to be very long-lived when kept "happy"...

odometer could say 120k but chassis might have 220 or 320 or maybe more.
even 300,000 miles wouldn't be a deal-breaker if the rest of the car is in good shape.



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