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Low Mileage Porsche 944 Turbo Review - Your Feedback Is Appreciated
I have archived the last 11 years of maintenance on a 944 Turbo with less than 60k miles I'm interested in on a Google Spreadsheet. Outside of a couple years of missing receipts, the maintenance record confirms the story I was given by the seller. When first purchased, several thousand dollars were spent correcting well-meaning but incorrect "self maintenance" by the previous owner. Thereafter the car had regular and preventative maintenance performed by a well known Porsche shop (whose name I did not include in the interest of privacy).
Some key questions I've gotten answered are:
Timing Belt Replaced | 58,264 miles [4/17/2018]
Cam Belt Replaced | 58,264 miles [4/17/2018]
Gauges Replaced | VDO Gauges [2017]
Cam Belt Replaced | 56,413 miles [6/26/2015]
Tires Replaced | 56,413 miles [6/26/2015] - Currently have about 4,000 miles on them.
Battery Replaced | 54,000 miles [7/5/2012]
Cam Belt Replaced | 51,246 miles [10/12/2011]
Timing Belt Replaced | 51,246 miles [10/12/2011]
Exhaust Manifold | Cracked exhaust manifold replaced with racing headers | 47,510 miles [5/22/2009]
Air Conditioning | A/C converted to R-134 A [06/2008]
Trunk | All trunk items are with the car and a car cover is included
Aftermarket Items | Headers, Wastegate, Performance Chip, Boost Enhancer, Stereo [original unit is included in sale]
All in all, this 944 Turbo looks like the owner spared no expense to get it up to snuff and running well; the interior is all original and looks phenomenal. In addition, this color interior is relatively rare as almost all Guards Red models I've seen have either black or tan, but rarely this Cashmere color. Any feedback is appreciated.
Best, 944Armadillo!
Last edited by 944armadillo; 09-04-2019 at 10:27 PM.
Its above collector mileage for the big bucks, plus the color, lack of options and being an 86 go against that. But it’s still an original, well-maintained early 951 which would make a great driver. Do you have the original radio?
@Chap3748 , thanks for the feedback. I agree on the price range, but that's still a big range dependent on originality and maintenance. Is there anything else you see I should be asking about when I see this car in person? I'm trying to do my due diligence before I see the car. I appreciate the owner's transparency and efforts to straighten out someone else's mistakes - a costly endeavor. Best, 944Armadillo!
PS - I've been following BAT auctions for over a year and you're right on in terms of price range.
@MAGK944 ,I understand this has a replacement stereo installed and the original radio is included. I'll be seeing this car in a couple of days, so I'm running down everything I can so I can do business if it all looks as good in person as it does in pictures.
There's nothing special about it in terms of options, but I'm less concerned with whether it has a rear hatch wiper (that I'll never use on a weekend driver anyway) and I'm more concerned with originality and condition. And believe it or not, I'm sold on the interior color - I only see that cashmere color on 911s it seems as most of these have black or tan which are both rather blah, but of course YMMV. The only other option I might like better is triple black, but then again I've already had three cars like that and my wife has a triple black Audi Q3. At least the Guards Red is truly classic if not unique.
Like you said, this is above true collector car mileage, but that would be out of my price range anyway. I still believe that should I put 2,000 miles per year on this car and maintain it that it'll hold most of it's value over the next decade if not appreciate.
Looks like you've got a 951 as well. Care to share any pics or experience? Best, 944Armadillo
I recently purchased an 86. Best year BTW: Totally analog with no abs and airbags. My vehicle had just under 50k and it was stored for 30 years with original tires.. So I towed it over 250 miles knowing the t belt would probably explode if I started it. Good thing because the treads were coming out when I replaced it.
This car at least has some documentation. if its original paint and the interior is a 9 to 9.5 I would guess around 20k. If it has options like sport suspension, lsd. Around 22k. Thats a good deal. They can run up a little higher these days.
The best indicator on condition is the dashboard. If it has no or very little cracking. Its a winner in my book.
Even with that said. You will still need to invest over time. Clutch which next to the engine is probably the biggest job on the car will probably need replacement. Brake pads and fluids, The power steering is also prone to leakage and the rack isn't cheap.
Also little annoying leaks.
Make sure the car has the 3 under covers. Use it as leverage if it doesn't.
I have to say though that even with its quirks. Its probably on the top 10 list of Porsches to own. That comes from someone who has driven just about all of them.
@jimbo1111 , thanks for the reply. The interior is the best I've seen so far and there are no cracks in the dash. The paint is original and the owner invested 16k in maintenance over the past 11 years although over half of that was to correct issues from the previous owner. I've had a few pony cars from the 70s and 80s, but now I want something that's fun to drive and doesn't cost me 12mpg in a state where gas costs $4+/gallon, LOL.
I grew up with these as I'm 53. I'm still amazed at how good the design has aged compared to everything else that was on the road in the late 70s (924) and 80s (944). I was really jonesing for a 928s4, but good examples are even more expensive and I've heard too many nightmare stories about maintaining them. And then I drove a couple of 944 turbos. They put a smile on your face when the turbo kicks in.
I don't need a rocket, I just want something that's fun to drive on the weekend that will hold most of it's value over the next decade or longer so I can justify the cost to maintain it. I think this fits the bill in every way! Best, 944Armadillo.
@jimbo1111 , thanks for the reply. The interior is the best I've seen so far and there are no cracks in the dash. The paint is original and the owner invested 16k in maintenance over the past 11 years although over half of that was to correct issues from the previous owner. I've had a few pony cars from the 70s and 80s, but now I want something that's fun to drive and doesn't cost me 12mpg in a state where gas costs $4+/gallon, LOL.
I grew up with these as I'm 53. I'm still amazed at how good the design has aged compared to everything else that was on the road in the late 70s (924) and 80s (944). I was really jonesing for a 928s4, but good examples are even more expensive and I've heard too many nightmare stories about maintaining them. And then I drove a couple of 944 turbos. They put a smile on your face when the turbo kicks in.
I don't need a rocket, I just want something that's fun to drive on the weekend that will hold most of it's value over the next decade or longer so I can justify the cost to maintain it. I think this fits the bill in every way! Best, 944Armadillo.
Sounds like you already decided and your looking for justification. if its a good example then buy it and enjoy. They truly are great cars. You won't be disappointed.
Turbos generally got better care than n/a 944s, but that is a nice list for maintenance. I'm sure you saw that last 1989 944T (MO30) that was unsold at just over $20k. Maybe not completely comparable because it was living in Canada, but I thought it was a similarly well-maintained car, mileage too high for the serious collectors, but would have been a fine driver's car...
...I still believe that should I put 2,000 miles per year on this car and maintain it that it'll hold most of it's value over the next decade if not appreciate..
Dont make that a motivating factor in your decision, enjoy and drive the thing when you want without keeping one eye on the odometer. Car market values do go down for a variety of reasons and the 951 doesn’t have a pass on that, plus you are likely buying at the top of a sellers market, so just have fun and make memories in the car rather than worrying about it being appreciating asset.
Im So used to looking at these cars that when I saw the picture something seemed "Off" about 5 seconds later I realized it does not have the Middle body molding. The paint looks awesome and this must have been ordered that way? Ive never seen one "Factory" without it... Amazingly Nice Car!
@MAGK944 , I appreciate that. I have an old BMW 3-series I've had for 19 years. It looks great for 240k miles, but it's got a book value of a couple thousand dollars and I promise you it costs much more to maintain, LOL. So it will feel better to have a car that will hold some value for the money invested to maintain it. Never the less, I plan on driving this car on the weekends as I'm currently taking a train to work and half of the weekend my wife is driving her Q3. This will be my fun car, my gym car, my out to dinner car, etc. And I'll get it out in the mountains on occasion too. I just want it to be a fun car and the few test drives I had were fun as I've had no manuals since my Mustang GT convertible, LOL. Hoping this one is as expected so I can join the 944 Turbo family. Best, 944Armadillo
@GPA951s , the pics had the same affect on me. The body side molding was a factory option. Although I like the idea of the molding, the car looks so clean without it. I'm a bit of a minimalist and love it this way. I also prefer the phone dials to the more classic Fuchs, although in a perfect world I'd have a set of BOTH!
08-26-2019 | 08:00 PM
Low Mileage Porsche 944 Turbo Review - Your Feedback Is Appreciated
