http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/3164955760.html


Hey gentlemen,I just got rid of my 944T and wasn't looking for a car when I came across this one...I've been a shark fan for a long time so I figured what the heck
atleast go look at it...Big mistake...as I was leaving I felt like I left my kid with some other parent...

Here's the story went to go see it guy said he's ownded it for 6-7 years and has only put 10k mile on it but when we started it there was a loud what I think would be lifter clanking on the passenger side...I know this sounds dumb but is this normal is it adjustable or just have to get replaced which I can only imagine must be a seriuos job..which I'm not affraid of...so I then drove it car ran real sluggish and just didn't feel tight in the front suspension..now I know I'm getting a used car w 103k miles on it and it's not perfect..but are these things that would worry you guys..plus he said the PO had No paper work and neither does he...but he sound willing to go down on price to an area that I felt comfortable with thinjking I'm going to have to put a couple grand into her to make her a runner..before I start mods of course....Gents opinions and advice please...

Thanks

Pete

 

If you can get it for 5K, and the interior is decent, you've got some room money wise. It shouldn't be clanging or banging, and 928's have solid suspension. It could be a bad steering rack. Get it on a lift, there should be someone on this forum in Chitown to help with a PPI. Otherwise walk away.

 

Thanks Polecat that was my number as well...really like the color and the interior is very solid..I'll keep you posted..

 

That is a nice color.

 

The main thing is interior and paint. Hard to say about the sound you were hearing. Lifter noise is pretty common on cars that have not been driven much. Normally it will go away with driving. The sluggish feeling could be anything from plug wires to a sensor to thrust bearing failure. You might want to think about checking or having checked the crank endplay before you commit to rule out thrust bearing failure. But then, even if it needed a motor that would set you back about half what a good paint job would.

 

If you get serious about the car, get a PPI done at a known-928-knowledgeable place so you have an idea what you are buying into. I also strongly recommend that you drive a few known-good cars so you can get a feel for what they drive like when they are OK.

-- Lifter noise will usually go away after some driving on a car that's been sitting long enough for oil to drain from the hydraulic lifters. In ten miles or so it should be gone.

-- Coming from your 944, the 928 front suspension will feel heavier at low speeds because the car is heavier. If you have clunks and bangs in the front suspension, your PPI should tell you what's causing it. Lots of cars in that mileage range still have original shocks and sagging springs, so plan on solving some problems like that if they are original.

-- That car has a 2.20:1 final drive, and starts off in second gear unless you seriously stab the throttle or manually pull it to a first-gear start. Your test-drive in the known good car should help you calibrate your expectations around launch thrills.

As others point out, interior and paint should be high on your deciding-factors list. Mechanical stuff can usually be solved with help from the list and our great parts suppliers.

All that said, I suggest you budget at least $5k for all the rubber and critical wear stuff on the car. Timing belt and tensioner, water pump, and some gears will easily chew up over $1k of your $5k initial-parts budget. Add in brakes, fuel, coolant hoses, AC hoses, fuel pump, fluids and filters, tires, shocks and maybe springs, battery, motor mounts, oil sump gasket, oxygen sensor, intake refresh parts, sensor for knock and crank position, ignition parts like plugs/rotors/caps/wires, and other miscellaneous mechanical stuff needed to make the car a reliable driver, and you can see that it will take a lot more than the $thousand or two that you will try to squeeze out of the seller. And that budget is just for parts, assumes that you will do the work yourself, or have a separate different budget for hired labor. Note that we haven't even brushed up against the inevitable need to add nicer wheels and other cosmetic upgrades; this is just to make it a reliable driver. A 928 sage coined a phrase: "It's ten thousand dollars away from being a five thousand dollar car!" This is no more applicable to any car than a 928. The return on your after-purchase investment is in driving enjoyment. There are stories of folks who have purchased cars that they have invested little in after purchase, and seem to serve them OK. There are similar stories of folks who have purchased pretty good cars yet still managed to put $10-20k in them the first year or two bringing their toy back from all the abuse and missed maintenance that a previous owner ignored. The same folks who bought them cheap and "never had to do anything to it!" Decide in advance what you want it to be like when you are done, get clearance from your family now to invest in the car over the next few years, and all will be well. Otherwise, there can be friction when your child's college fund starts getting mysteriously depleted so the toys can be kept up. Just sayin'.

 

Before you buy one look into the ..." that I felt comfortable with thinjking I'm going to have to put a couple grand into her to make her a runner..before I start mods of course..." There are few "mods" for a 928 most people struggle just to keep it running right. Your $2,000 is more like every year and those cars where money was not spent for 2-3-4 years usually need thousands of dollars just to get current on repairs.
Great car in many ways but you are trying to keep a $100,000 plus car on the road in spite of the fact that you can buy one for $5,000 or so.

 

Repeating what others have already said, but I'll say it anyway.

I like the wheels. Any scrapes?

Any engine photos available?

If the body and interior are in great shape.... (and it looks like it)

...And a PPI confirms no thrust bearing failure and good compression, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet for value. If there are no records, you are probably going to need fuel lines, timing belt, a new water pump, and if it were me, absolutely install a Pksn'r...

(about a grand so far with consumables)

If it's acting slugish, you will probably want to look into the MAF (make sure there is no K&N air filter.. they foul the MAF hot wire), flappy valve bearings, and general tune-up. Leaking oil? Oil pan gasket and motor mounts wyait...

Clunky steering could be a bad rack, worn suspension components or it could simply need new steering rack bushings... Call Roger at 928sRus for these...

Then, after the engine is running correctly, you get to decide if the transmission is shifting properly. I've seen 928s that were very lathargic when purchased and only needed the bowden cable properly adjusted to wake them up. The cables stretch over time and cause the transmission to react slower to inputs from the gas pedal... If the transmission shifts hard, sometimes it is the vacuum connector tube that is located right at the front top of the torque tube. This often deteriorates due to the heat of the exhaust and can only be accessed when the torque tube is out of the car. Some have put in a temporary tube to serve the purpose until the next time the torque tube is removed.

Speaking of torque tube, listen for whirring sounds coming from the tunnel... You'll eventually be putting in new bearings here too.. (nothing new for a 944 owner though)

How does it idle?

Does the AC work?

Cruise control work?

Sunroof operable?

I don't know how you left her there all alone.... I am weak when looking at potential 928 purchases. The last car I bought, I was very fortunate to happen across a lot of very ratty cars before coming across the one I finally purchased. If I had the funds, I'd probably act alot like James... One of every year please!

 

Thanks guys... Yea I really liked the color... And it was very clean... I imeidititly thought ok I pay 5k I'm going to budget 10 k to put into it... I'm sick that way... He said not sure if AC needed to be charged but no it did not work . Roof worked , useless sound a little high to me but he did say he hadn't driven her in a year.. Car e's dusty and it checked that he was only the 2nd owner so I'm going to move forward today and I'm going to make a offer and hopefully bring her home tonight.. In driving the car for about 10 minutes the noise Lestened a bit and when I punched it the shift had more kick to it...Guys thanks so much for feedback .. Pete

 

"I imeidititly thought ok I pay 5k I'm going to budget 10 k to put into it... I'm sick that way"
---
10k into a 5k S4 is..a minimum.

My 88 cost me $4k..drove it home 2yrs ago. Required hard maintenance plus "nice stuff"...maybe..15k more added to it?

 

Update... Got the price I wanted will be picking up on Friday... Excited as all heck... But nervous as well... I'll be reading over the threads to learn more about this awesome machine.... Truly one of my favorite cars since I was a kid.. I liked my 951 but I'm stoked to have a shark now, thanks for the direction so far guys... I'll post pics when I get home. Pete

 

Congrats.

I've had mine since April. Had to iron a couple things out but I love it.

 

Good luck Pete. You Win!!!

 

Woot!

Now you've done it.

Welcome to the affliction!

Looking forward to the photos and the adventure!

 

1st pics new project...can't wait to get her home...to start tinkering...I'm not a fan of these wheels..thinking of doing the 996 Carrera 5 spoke