[Mark944na86]

And since no-one has mentioned it (at least not in this thread), if you get serious about a particular car, *make sure* to get a pre-purchase inspection and report from a shop that knows Porsches (and 944s in particular, if possible). There are lots of expensive maintenance items that may be due on one car but not the next -- impossible to tell unless you know what you're looking for. Service records are a big plus in this regard. I'd pay more for a car with a complete service history -- it's quite valuable in itself.

Great cars, but the art in buying one is to buy one that's been properly maintained. A reason many people sell is because there's a big job on the horizon (clutch, belts etc.) they don't want to deal with. OTOH, buying one with up-to-date service records and a relatively clean PPI (you always have to expect to find something, otherwise the shop really hasn't done the job properly) may cost a bit more up front, but will be far cheaper to own overall within a short period of time. Also, of course, anything that shows on the PPI can be used to negotiate the price down a bit (or a lot, depending on what it is).