internet 'know it alls' suck

mih0001 · 05-08-2007, 10:35 AM

This is partially a rant, and partially shameless self promotion.

I recently had to go through the sad prcess of posted my 944 for sale on craigslist because I am moving out of state.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/326774348.html (shameless promotion)

I got lots of responses, but one in particular sounded really promising, he wanted to meet up with cash and purchase the car. I told him I would hold it so that he could take a look at it because he was really interested. When he looked at it yesterday, it turned out to be a younger guy who was, it seems like, looking basically for a joy ride. After he drove it around a bit, he told me he was looking for something faster.
Then he proceeded to tell me that the engine in the car had been deemed by Porsche to be underpowered and that is why it was discontinued after only three years for a turbo and then a six cylinder!!!! I nearly lost it right then and there. Apparently he found this out on the internet, and was not to be convinced that he was wrong. Anyhow, thought I would share this little tidbit with the group in case you were unaware of the existance of six cylinder 944s, now you know. And knowing is half the battle

mr. dude · 05-08-2007, 11:09 AM

lol... you've got to laugh at those kind of people! I've gotten tired of people telling me that my 944 is the one with the audi engine. I've also heard the 6 cylinder bit as well as my car being front wheel drive. My favorite of all time though is when my friend asked me if it was one of those 5 cylinder Porsches....

onZedge · 05-08-2007, 11:14 AM

Maybe you nedd to put "You must be at least 21 years of age to be eligible to purchace this vehicle" in your ad. Maybe it will AT LEAST weed out SOME of the fools.

Eric 951 · 05-08-2007, 11:25 AM

I feel your pain. I have had my car and my 79 Jeep wagoneer for sale for a few months now, and while there have been some knowledgable persons interested, there have also been a fair number of tire-kickers. Best example--some 50ish clown with a Jag XJ, came to look at the car--started asking some standrad questions, is this stock, is this an option, etc. questions got more and more bizarre finally when he asked "what is a turbo"? I thanked him and left.
Then all the clowns who expect a 28-year old 800 dollar Jeep to be a perfect candidate for a trouble-free family daily driver. or (noting that this is a full-size V-8 full-time 4 wheel drive Jeep) does it get good gas mileage?....

mih0001 · 05-08-2007, 11:27 AM

yeah, thats not a bad idea. I think this car does have an age limit. people see Porsche and think its fast

mih0001 · 05-08-2007, 11:38 AM

Yeah I feel your pain Eric. I would tell them that it gets about 100 mpg, the more cylinders the higher the gas mileage. Your V-10 probably gets about 200 mpg right? I have had a lot of interest from places that are four hours away (austing, houston, shreveport) and they all want to know if it will make it there. to which I have to respond 'I have no idea.' I cant event gaurantee a new car will make it trouble free

AaronM · 05-08-2007, 12:17 PM

That's exactly why when I "got practical" and decided to get rid of the Mustang I traded it in to a dealer instead of selling it myself. (I still came out even on the deal, got everything I owed on it.)

I just wasn't going to deal with having every 16-21 year old kid in the county wanting to take a joyride.

p-talk · p-talk's Garage

I feel your pain. Before I sold my '91 Audi 200 Turbo Quattro I showed it to two kids who enjoyed it, but you just KNEW they had NO intention of buying it. They of course were VERY interested, but I never heard from them again.

But sometimes that "internet mis-information" can work to your advantage. I won a bet with a buddy on automotive top speed - he'd read somewhere that VW Corrado G60s could do 155mph stock. A little research on reputable sources and I had some extra Porsche parts cash!

p.s That's a nice 944, if my 924S was sold I'd be giving you a call. Good luck with the sale!

mih0001 · 05-08-2007, 01:09 PM

Congrats on winning the bet, mis-information can be just as important as real information

BrianT · 05-08-2007, 05:36 PM

I feel your pain, I am tring to sale one of my wreckers, it is listed as a 2001 International 4700 with a 14 ton Jerr Dan body. I had a fellow e-mail me and ask what brand body it has. I have had every question under the sun asked. I had a Toyota pick up for sale back a few years ago, a fellow came to my house to look at it. After he picked it apart he told me that a Toyota did not hold it's resale very good and I should take 2,000.00 less than I was asking. I promptly threw him off my property. He later called me and made me another offer, I hung up on him. I later found out he was a used car dealer.

Rrrockhound · Rrrockhound's Garage

Having both a 914 and a 944, I'm always getting people telling me (usually like they feel sorry for me and think they better break the news to me) that my car is really a VW or an Audi or something else. I also once had a knowledgeable car person tell me his 944 was a 6-cyl.

Aufgeladen944 · 05-08-2007, 07:02 PM

Hey now! Not all 21yr olds are just out to take cars for joyrides!

Well, not private sales anyways. Sometimes I whip by dealerships to try something new out, but I'm never, ever abusive. There's usually a reason behind it, such as I've been out test driving some Avalons and Azeras because my Dad is looking for a new car. I also like to be "prepared" because more than once I've needed a car *yesterday* and I like to know what is out there that I like.

That being said, I don't let anybody take my car(s) without me in them. I don't trust anyone.

mih0001 · 05-09-2007, 07:14 AM

I gotta get me one of those six cylinder 944s. Or even better, an Audi six cylinder 944!

Brando · Brando's Garage

Before I sold my '88 944, I had a few 'interested parties' as you had mentioned. My favorite response was "I'm no expert, I just work on these for a living..."

First question they all asked... "Is this a turbo? No? Oh... Okay..."

mih0001 · 05-09-2007, 09:05 AM

brando, what is a L-Jet engine? sounds intriguing

p-talk · p-talk's Garage

It's cool, I was exactly the same way when I was 21. But I've ALWAYS been a car guy, sounds like you are too. And you actually OWN one of these cars, you're not "reaching" as it were. We'd all like to own our dream cars, but you have to be realistic . . or at least somewhat

Quote:

Originally posted by Aufgeladen944
Hey now! Not all 21yr olds are just out to take cars for joyrides!

Well, not private sales anyways. Sometimes I whip by dealerships to try something new out, but I'm never, ever abusive. There's usually a reason behind it, such as I've been out test driving some Avalons and Azeras because my Dad is looking for a new car. I also like to be "prepared" because more than once I've needed a car *yesterday* and I like to know what is out there that I like.

That being said, I don't let anybody take my car(s) without me in them. I don't trust anyone.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

BeepBeep has a friend up north of Sweden (where winters are reaaaally dark and long ) that has a flat6 944

Brando · Brando's Garage

L-Jet is just a form of fuel injection... Predecessor to the Motronic which was on many european cars. Instead of a hall-effect sensor on the crank, it picks up ignition pulses from the coil to determine fuel timing and uses the air flow sensor to determine how much air is being taken in. It later turned into LH-Jetronic (uses an O2 sensor) and has an internal temperature sensor to better determine the 'volume' of air being taken in.

It's easier to modify this system than back-date and modify motronic from a 944...

Quote:

Originally posted by mih0001
brando, what is a L-Jet engine? sounds intriguing

Tidybuoy · 05-10-2007, 05:49 PM

Brando,

I noticed your signature says"Soon to get a sweet 2.1L L-Jet Engine".

I've got a '74 914 and I'm in the process of putting in a 2.0 with D-jet. It used to have a 1.8 with L-Jet.

I like the simplicity of L-Jet and I finally learned everything I need to know about L-Jet. Now that I'm switching to a 2.0 with D-Jet, I feel that I have to learn everything all over since they are pretty different.

What did you have to do to make your 2.1 run with an L-Jet setup?

(sorry for the hijack).

Vern

Brando · Brando's Garage

Um, for starters, sorry for the thread hijack...

Secon, all the 1.8 equipment, 2.0L intake runners. It isn't running yet. It's all bolt-on. Only thing I am doing away with is the oem rubber intake boot -- i'm going to find some silicon boots and either PVC or aluminum tubing and route it a bit differently.

You can bolt on the L-Jet injection onto a stock 2.0 engine (sans runners, you need the 3-bolt intake runners) and tune it... It'd be just as driveable. Appearantly with minor modifications it will flow well on up to a 2.3L engine.