Thoughts on Salvage title 968

david944 · 10-22-2003, 06:03 PM

Hey guys here is my dilemma. A friend of mine recently puchased a 94' 968 (107,000 miles) with a salvage title for bascically dirt cheap because the syncros were bad in the transmission. He had that fixed and I think it came to about $1800.00 to fix it. I went through the glove box with him and this thing has every service documented in very good detail.

New timing belt and major service done at 90k, the clutch is very strong, the paint is "ok" (it has been repainted due to an accident) but over all looks very well. It is the 6 speed. He basically told me I could have it for around $7500 (this way he is turning around and making a quick 500 bucks. Do you think it is worth it. Is this a fair price, (I don't have any knowledge of the 968, I think today is the first time I've ever seen one in person) I would love to have it and get back in the Porsche family.

Nabeel · 10-22-2003, 08:13 PM

In addition to finding out why it ws salvaged, find out WHEN the salvage title was issued. If it was issued reletively recently, the car may not be in that bad shape. However, if the title was issued in say, 1995, when the car was only a year or two old, then RUN. If the cost of repairing the car back then was anywhere near what the car was worth, the vehicle must have had some pretty severe problems.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Change the chain and pressure pad.

Dantilla · 10-23-2003, 08:12 AM

OTOH, a car that was issued a salvage title years ago has been back on the road long enough to have any bugs worked out. If someone bought the car to turn a quick profit, it may not have been put back together as carefully as a guy who built the car to keep for himself.

For $7500, go get a PPI and if it checks out okay, enjoy a great car.

I have bought cars from an insurance auction before, and have no problem driving a car with previous damage, as long as it was rebuilt correctly.

Verruckt · 10-23-2003, 01:35 PM

Here is the kicker: Do you really like the car? Are you going to keep it for a long, long time? If you are just going to sell it a few years down the road, it is not going to be a good investment. If you plan to own this car forever, it might be a great investment. The only problem will always be re-sale of this vehicle with a salvage title.

david944 · 10-24-2003, 10:09 AM

Sorry for the late response. Yes, I know insurance co's do not issue salvage titles for bad syncros. Sorry, I should have mentioned that yes it has been wrecked in the front. Not all that bad, but yes it has been wrecked. This is actually a car that I am helping him work on. I know the car. I believe the salvage title was issed in around 1998? Anyway it has been driven around 50-60k miles since it was issued. I have ridden in it a couple of times and I really like the car overall. It is a lot more "refined" than my old 944. I'm going to sell the Honda pay it off and just take what is left and buy the 968, that way I'll have a car I actually love and eliminate my car payment.

Anyone want to buy a 00' civic si? (BONE STOCK)

david944 · 10-24-2003, 04:21 PM

Another question. I know the 968's are very rare but how reliable are they. Are they more problematic than the 944 because I rarely had any problems with the 944 and these cars are 10 years newer. So is it something that I can trust as a daily driver?

I've never heard of any 968 with over 200,000 miles as you do with the 944.

VT944 · 10-24-2003, 04:44 PM

Verruckt is right on - Salvage vehicles are not investments, but you can get one hell of a driver for the money if you know what you are looking at.

Run away from flood cars as drivers, but beside that a GOOD check out by a GOOD body shop and a Carfax check should give you an idea as to the "real" condition of the car.

All salvages are different. My girlfriend wanted a Quattro Coupe - a rare, 2-door Audi - only 1500 in the US from '90 - '91. We found a '90 last year with 80K and got it for $2800 because of a salvage title. The car was salvaged because the bumper cover was cracked, the left marker light broken, anda crease down the fender and drivers door. (and the guy included a PERFECR drivers door, the only "coupe specific" part!

On another note, I saw a 1985 928s totaled because the bumper cover was cracked and the rim bent (Porsche gets $2,000 for one of those ugly Porsche 928 rims).

So, not all slavage vehicles are murders, all circumstances are different and cost of parts can really determine how much damage it takes to "total" a vehivle. Remember, insurance companys must go by OEM new parts costs, not used or aftermarket.

As always, do your homework and have the car checked out by a GOOD shop.

Good Luck,

gioregino · 11-19-2003, 12:23 PM

I've never heard of any 968 with over 200,000 miles as you do with the 944.
I have a 93 968 and it has 368000 miles on it, their pretty reliable, as long as you maintain it properly, especially lots of oil..

mike944 · 11-19-2003, 12:43 PM

A 968 with 368K on it??????? Damn!

I just bought a 968 (in need of some bent valve repair) and i was wondering what kinds of significant problems come up on the 968, and at what mileages. I already know the chain tensioner can be a problem, that's why i got mine cheap, broken chain tensioner (with subsequent damage) What else?

Mike

gioregino · 11-19-2003, 01:14 PM

A 968 with 368K on it??????? Damn!

chain tensioner problem? it depends on how you use your car, if you abuse it, it will give up on you, never change mine yet,, the only problenm that i have is the rattling sound at 2950 rpm, specialist said it was a loose heat shield.. minor cosmetics, such as gear for sunroof tend to loose, cluth plate . anything than that , its a pretty good car , powerfull engine... smooth shifting..