Need help, buying a 944!
 

Hello,

I am buying a 1986 944 with 65,000 miles. It is being sold for $8000.

It has no rust and it needs two new calipers and tires. The paint is also not in the best condition, it has some rock chips and swirl marks all over. I am hesitant to purchase it because it has been sitting for 5 years.

My questions are:

1) Is $8000 a good price? What is it realistically worth/could easily sell for?

2) Is it a bad idea to buy one that has sat for 5 years? What is likely to break as a result?

3) What maintenance/repairs NEEDS to be done? Approximate cost and difficulty?

4) What maintenance/repairs is a good precaution to be done? Approximate cost and difficulty?





Thanks so much guys!

$8000 is way too much for a 944 N/A that needs work. If it needs work I wouldnt offer anymore than $2000-$2500. The only way that car is worth $8000 is if it had ZERO issues and a long list of maintenace records, Most importantly a recent timing belt change. $8000 really is wishful thinking on the sellers part. For a couple more thousand youd be able to buy the much more desirable 944 turbo. Offer the person $2000 if they dont accept it come up to $2500, if they balk let them sit on it a few months and they may have come to terms with reality by that time

Why does it need calipers at 65K miles? Does the odometer work? 65K is low mileage car and a 5 yr sit is not necessarily bad but the engine would want a top to bottom refresh, new belts, waterpump, oil seals. I agree with the last poster that $8K is too much. $8K maybe if the engine is freshened, brakes fixed and paint corrected. You can get a real nice 944 NA for $8K that needs nothing.

Hard to tell. I like to go on eBay and search for 944's and toggle the 'Sold Items' list on the left side of the page under the classic web browser. (It's hard to find it on a mobile unless you know eBay very good) . Anyways that will give you pictures and comparables. Unless you live near the area where the car is being sold it could cost you up to $2000 to ship one across the country unless you fly and drive a 30 year old car that may break down on the trip. Not sure if these eBay links will work but here are some recently sold cars near that price.

86' 944 Turbo 86,000 miles although rebuilt title: 944 Turbo Sold $7300

87' 944S 121,000 miles - Sold for $2,900

84' Porsche 944 N/A 61,000 Miles - Sold for $4,550

87' Porsche 944 N/A 68,600 Miles - Sold for $4,150

Very Clean 86' Porsche 944 N/A 31,750 Miles - Sold for 16,500

84' Porsche 944 N/A 84,500 Miles - Sold for $4000

Hope that helps, if I was in the market at the $8000 dollar price I would try to find the best Turbo for the money or an S2. But you could definitely get a really clean N/A if you really wanted to. Not sure how the one you looked at compares to what you can buy on Ebay for 4-5k but the last one I posted although older dash looks like a good price to me.

Edit: Some of the links may redirect you saying that this item has ended and will show you a 'Similar' just click the ' See original listing ' at the top or whatever it says

Hi there. I am a long time owner of a 1988 944 turbo S (27 years). I agree that a NA 944 priced at 8K may be high...it would need to be in really good shape. The calipers may need to be rebuilt because of age.

Let me forewarn you though...944 turbos are complex, parts are much more expensive and if you don’t do your own wrenching the pool is pretty deep. Normally aspirated 944s are pretty simple in comparison. Look up an oil pan gasket change for instance and you’ll see what I mean.

I’ve driven both and a turbo is an amazing machine, but unless you wrench, be prepared to find a mechanic who knows these cars (they are 30 years old) and keep a maintenance account on hand...