Advice on a 1989 944 n/a

[extort]

I am thinking about buying a 1989 944 n/a and have a few questions for anyone that can answer.

The car is has no visible damage and is white (original paint) with a black interior that is covered in carpet (1 small crack on the dash). There is two small (pencil eraser) holes in the passenger seat and the rear compartment cover is missing.
Otherwise, the car has 130K miles and been pampered for at least the last 2 years. New wheels, tires, brakes, drilled rotors, steel braided brake and fuel lines, exaust and battery. 5 speed transmission is smooth as silk and the water pump and timing belt were replaced about 10k miles ago.
I am receiving a yakima bike rack, bra, car cover, and any extra parts he has laying around (brake pads etc.) with the deal and the asking price is $5500.
I am having 2 pre-purchase inspections done, one by his mechanic, one by an independent mechanic.

Are there any serious maintenance issues that I need to look out for when looking at this car? What kind of cost am I looking at to maintain this car in its present condition? and lastly, do you think this is a good deal?

[Tishabet]

Assuming the PPI doesn't show anything bad, $5500 for that car is a good, but not great, deal. Does the car come with the phone dial wheels from pic 2 or the twists from pic 1?
I ahve a 1989 NA muyself, so naturally I prefer them
That said, they have advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
Last fo the NA line, so all previous problems ironed out
largest (non-s) NA engine, the 2.7 liter (other NAs from 83-88 had a 2.5)
ABS...Does the car have airbags?
Disadvantages:
A unique motor, so many parts for the 2.5 won't fit. Ask me how I know
More complex than the early NA cars, so more parts to break.

[Dave L]

If it checks out go for it, from what i have seen it is getting harder and harder to find decent 944's. Maintenance history going back a few years is always nice but it sounds like it has been all brought up todate. The only thing missing would be the clutch which is expensive and will need to be replaced at some point. The rubber centre will deteriorate over time. Other than that, its an old car, old cars need maintenance and things will break.

[carsontc]

this looks like a very nice 944.

yeah, the 89 was one of a kind. a 'big bore' block...same as the S2 and the 968 but with a very durable 8 valve head with BIGGER valves and the 2.5L crank. the head is very desirable and doesn't fit the 2.5L block.

yep, some engine parts are different compared to the 2.5L (like the water pump, but the WP is the same as the big bores). so if you have a garage full of 2.5L engine parts (pistons, valves...yadda, yadda) you shouldn't save them to use with the 2.7L some day

at 130k the engine is barely broken in. but as Dave says, changing a clutch is a time consuming PITA same as with all 944 cars. so if it is getting worn out, that's the thing I would be concerned about.

[Tishabet]

I believe that the rubber centered clutch was phased out in 87 for the 88 model year.

[extort]

The car has the twist wheels shown in picture # 1. I just wanted to show a seperate angle of the car by including picture # 2. Also, no airbags on the drivers side (steering wheel replaced), and I'll have to check on the passenger side.

I thank everyone for their responses so far. This information is very helpful to me!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hey Extort - I'll sell you my '87 one-family/two owner Guards Red car for only $500 more.

It had only 59,200 on it when I bought it in April 2001, now its got 107K miles. I immediately changed all fluids, filters, hoses, did a tuneup, timing belt and balance shaft belts, waterpump and battery. I have since done the belts and waterpump again in the last 5000 miles. I have also done the motor mounts, new clutch, the AC was swapped to R134a and blows COLD. Its got an FRWilk chip in it, fully polished 16" PD's with colored center caps from Al Reed, oh and I recently had the valves redone "while-I-was-in-there" as the headgasket sprung a leak. New coolant tank too - no, not the dreaded milk shake, just looked oldass and yellow.

Here's a picture or two of her. Let me know if you are interested. The white car is nice, but for almost the same money, mine is much better sorted in my opinion Oh, p.s. I've got all the receipts for all that stuff and much more! Good luck whatever you decide, but as my description shows, you can drop a lot of money into these cars, why not takeover my investment for a steal and build from there?!

[extort]

Dan, sounds like that car will make someone happy! I do not think that your car is for me as I specifically wanted to avoid the color red. I have no need for further interaction with any traffic police!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Not a problem and I hear you on the red. Good luck with your purchase, and my unsolictied advice (the worst kind, sorry) is consider a 951. I wish I would have known then what I know now. Love my car, but just wish to hell she had more power. Maintenance is definitely a trade-off, but personally I'd be okay with that. Again, good luck whatever you decide to do.

[extort]

The white one is all mine now!!!

And, yes... I do need to replace the clutch sometime soon, so we negotiated the price down to $4k. It has the rubber center and it has deteriorated. Only other item from the PPI was one rear CV needs replaced.
Hergisheimers (spelling?) did the PPI and they only work on Porsche's and generally just high end racing Porsche's. If you live in OC and want a solid mechanic I could not recommend a better place.

[carsontc]

excellent...best year 944 NA...great deal !

[SoCal Driver]

Extort,

Where in OC do you reside?

[extort]

I live in Irvine near Jamboree and Main.

Hergie is in Lake Forest, and I have started taking the car back to Chris at Newport Motor Sports, the mechanic that has worked on it for the last several years.

Chris told me to take my money and leave it in the bank until something happens. The CV joint and clutch are dying, but still a long way from dead...

I like a mechanic that refuses to take my money!