Buying and service records question

[85.5classic]

So Im in the market again for a 944. My question is, are 944's getting more money with complete service records or am i gonna pay 4-5grand regardless for a well maintained car? I would love to find a car with original dealer sale papers. Are there enough people out there that took care of these cars or is it all crazy kids racing them.

[cvriv.charles]

You should see the stack of records I got with my car! i want to go through it about but damn,... it's as thick as a dictionary. Everything is in there. I believe the original purchase documents are in there somewhere. The original owner purchased the car in europe and had it boated to the USA. The shipping documents are in there too I got a european emergency kit too Along with years and years or maintenance records, upgrades,... any and everything. Its retarded, LOL.

I would say yes that maybe a car that was well maintained WITH records is worth more than a car that was maintained WITHOUT records. Your paying for the proof And there are a bunch of kids out there drag racing these cars. But there are also a lot of enthusiasts out there too

You just have to keep your eyes open

[John_AZ]

If I were to purchase another 924S/944/S/968 (I left out the 951 intentionally), I would go to the best Porsche shop, dealer or independent in town and pay for a PPI. I would look a the records and receipts provided but I want professional eyes to overcome my emotion. I would check the VIN for recorded records.

Even after all of this, I would expect to spend an additonal $2000 to $4000 just to get it "right".

GL
John_AZ
1988 924S 60K + 1987 94S 113K

[Dave L]

22 years of records is nice but not really necessary, I would look for the last 3 - 5 years so you can see if the regular maintenance, brakes, coolant, timing belt etc were changed. I wouldnt really care if in 1991 the brakes were done. Fun to have "all" the records but at the end of the day it probably doesnt mean much and I doubt anyone (other than the really hard core enthusiast) would care at all.

[cvriv.charles]

Originally Posted by Dave L

22 years of records is nice but not really necessary, I would look for the last 3 - 5 years so you can see if the regular maintenance, brakes, coolant, timing belt etc were changed. I wouldnt really care if in 1991 the brakes were done. Fun to have "all" the records but at the end of the day it probably doesnt mean much and I doubt anyone (other than the really hard core enthusiast) would care at all.

Thats true but it is good to know that there was a clutch job done 2001. There the engine was rebuilt sever years ago. That there is a k26-8 under the hood. Brakes, oil, plugs, etc 5 years ago,... still good to know but still a bit excessive.

22 - 23 years of records is pretty my a stock pile. A folder they just kept adding too. It gives you a good idea about the PO too. Someone who deosnt care about the car wouldnt do that. The first 3 owners of my car actually its just 2 owners. They kept selling the car back and forth to each other. Father and son. Had the records all orgainized in order picture perfect. Thats what the 3rd PO said. he said he just kept stick ing receipts in there front to back. so evreything years is by date.

He made summaries of everything that was done. noted part numbers and option codes,.... totally insane. I was like damn. I presonally wont go as far as to organized everything like that,... but I will do my part to add to this pile. LOL.

[85.5classic]

That would be awesome to be able to look back on the life of your car like that...

[strath44]

+1 on DaveL's comments......................I have a ton of receipts with mine but really the last 5 or so years is what matters. Really irrelevant of mileage the majority of the consumable and worrying parts such as belts and water pump should have been replaced within that time frame.

On that note I would almost pay slightly less for a car in good general condition with less s/h and then spend the 2k on making sure everything is right??!!

[85.5classic]

Thats a good point strath....save money on the initial purchase because your bound to replace things like the belt and pumps and stuff anyways. I still think im gonna wait for the best example i can but not spend more than 3500-4000 for a NA. After that i just dont think there worth it due to the money i will have to put in after purchase.

[John_AZ]

Originally Posted by John_AZ

If I were to purchase another 924S/944/S/968 (I left out the 951 intentionally), I would go to the best Porsche shop, dealer or independent in town and pay for a PPI. I would look a the records and receipts provided but I want professional eyes to overcome my emotion. I would check the VIN for recorded records.

Even after all of this, I would expect to spend an additonal $2000 to $4000 just to get it "right".

GL
John_AZ
1988 924S 60K + 1987 94S 113K

Originally Posted by strath44

On that note I would almost pay slightly less for a car in good general condition with less s/h and then spend the 2k on making sure everything is right??!!

strath44,

I think you may have misunderstood my post or I did a bad job of explaining.

AFTER the purchase of any car, I expect to spend $2000 to $4000 on getting it "right" for my taste.

I definately want a car to begin with that has no immediate skeletons to work on like the feared clutch, torque tube bearing vibration, deterioated head gasket, bad rod bearings, crank end play slop (bad main bearings), ring and pinion or anything in or around the transaxle like metal shavings from the gears or syncros.
I want a borescope to show me the inside of the cylinder walls and be certain the cylinder walls do not have deep scratches or other damage from valves due to cam belt failure.

I want a car in sound mechanical condition that I can drive for a few years and in this time upgrade the basics like shocks to Koni, the tires to Michelin Pilot, replace all the vacuum hoses and tubing under the manifold and replace the injectors.
In this time I expect to flush the brake fluid, replace the gear box with synthetic fluid, and changeover the AC to R134a---GO GREEN!
I will have the normal nicky nackey annoying things go wrong like hood shocks, rubber suspension bushings, interior window switches and required wax.

These little items are what I consider when I say " I want to get it right" and I am just at the beginning stage of what to expect with a 20 to 26 year old vehicle.

GL
John_AZ
1988 924S 60K + 1987 924S 113K

[cvriv.charles]

Originally Posted by John_AZ

strath44,

I think you may have misunderstood my post or I did a bad job of explaining.

AFTER the purchase of any car, I expect to spend $2000 to $4000 on getting it "right" for my taste.

I definately want a car to begin with that has no immediate skeletons to work on like the feared clutch, torque tube bearing vibration, deterioated head gasket, bad rod bearings, crank end play slop (bad main bearings), ring and pinion or anything in or around the transaxle like metal shavings from the gears or syncros.
I want a borescope to show me the inside of the cylinder walls and be certain the cylinder walls do not have deep scratches or other damage from valves due to cam belt failure.

I want a car in sound mechanical condition that I can drive for a few years and in this time upgrade the basics like shocks to Koni, the tires to Michelin Pilot, replace all the vacuum hoses and tubing under the manifold and replace the injectors.
In this time I expect to flush the brake fluid, replace the gear box with synthetic fluid, and changeover the AC to R134a---GO GREEN!
I will have the normal nicky nackey annoying things go wrong like hood shocks, rubber suspension bushings, interior window switches and required wax.

These little items are what I consider when I say " I want to get it right" and I am just at the beginning stage of what to expect with a 20 to 26 year old vehicle.

GL
John_AZ
1988 924S 60K + 1987 924S 113K

I agree. Just havent had a lot fo time to check things over yet on my car. im dying to seriously get a good look at my car.

[strath44]

I see I didn't pick up on that right I thought you were speaking in generally and not on your own personal preferences.

And I'm not being obtuse here.............

(and I guess I'm now maybe speaking more for the UK market here) but unless you are willing to pay real top dollar over here ie concours I think you would struggle to find a '44 without one of the problems you mentioned. I know this is starting to go a bit OT but I think a backup fund of at least 1 - 2k is needed just to keep any '44 on the road from date of purchase before going near what you would want to do on a personal level?