Whats it worth ??

flmont · 06-25-2010, 02:10 PM

Looking at a 1988 944 NA with 155K real miles (no broken odometer) nice Int,1 crack in dash 1 small rip in driver seat,..will need paint in a couple of years,..all timing belt issues completed in 08' and only driven 3K since.The service paperwork reflects a bill of 4200.00 ...what should I pay....Thanks FM

flmont · 06-25-2010, 02:10 PM

Opp's AC does not work blows warm...

racer · 06-25-2010, 03:05 PM

Is AC important to you? Sounds like it will need to be converted over. Not sure how much $$ that is.

Sure its had $4K worth of work done.. its a 944.. These cars suck up money. That said, it doesn't mean its a 8K car.. just a $4k car with lots of recent work.

Depending on who you speak with , some folks say do belts every 3 years.. some every 5 years.. others do a mileage interval (say 30K miles). What I am saying is, even though they were done 2 years ago, it will soon be time to do them again

paint? That can be $500 MAACO or $5K glass out job. Ripped seats? $10 in thread and needle, or a used seat,(maybe $100) or a seat cover.. your call.

'88s are prized for their better 5th gear, gearing and their higher compression/higher hp (158hp) engines.

Hows the sunroof? Hows the clutch? Besides AC, what doesn't work?

How will you be using the car? DD? Weekender? Track car/race car?

What do you think its worth? What is the asking price? No pics of the car?

flmont · 06-25-2010, 03:12 PM

Hmm,..I thought 944 were pretty tough and they were not a money pit,...wants 3K they said that all things work on the car,but I didnt ask about roof,..basically a toy /DD for the wife ?? I could paint the car myself clutch reported to be OK..??? FM

racer · 06-25-2010, 03:29 PM

I ask about the clutch because its approx a 10-12hr job.. so if done by a shop, consider it a $2k proposition. A 20+ year old car, with 155k miles on the original clutch? only a matter of time before the rubber centered clutch fails on you.

John_AZ · 03:33 PM

Not knowing the repair history, $4k to $5500------IF the clutch and head gasket have been changed and the transaxle is sound.

He must have gotten tired of repairs after the last bill of $4200 and did not drive it much for the last 3 years.. $4200 is about what a "full service Porsche Dealership" would charge for a snapped cam belt--replacing the head, rollers, belts, WP and front engine seals.

BUT, not much to choose from in Tucson.

I would guess the tires need replacing and maybe the shocks== $1200
The engine mileage is at a critical stage for rod bearings.

Get a PPI done and it will pay for itself in what you should offer.

EDIT: $3000 is a very good asking price if the car is sound. Offer $2600

GL
John

jbuck · jbuck's Garage

I just purchased my 1988 NA 3 months ago. Guy had it listed for $3500. I traded my 85 Gold Wing for it. I did the WP/Belts rollers myself. Small dent in middle panel between headlight from hitting dear. He had part. I replaced and painted section. Everything on my car worked as it should. 107K on mine. I love it. $3000 seem reasonable but again don't be fooled by the $4700 bill. If you are not a DIY person they will cost you money. But man what a joy to drive. Check the buyer guide on Clark's Garage. Good luck.

flmont · 06-25-2010, 04:11 PM

Hey,...Thanks Guys I shall ck it out,..Iam from the 911 world,..and they dont seem to have to that many issues like these cars,. but all cars are unique and Iam looking forward to driving a 944 with the perfect balance reputation....do they have a good driving position I trust they do ??

tayloray · 06-25-2010, 04:17 PM

maybe 4k, i'de say honestly try for 3000-3500 or so. that's a beyond fair price. I've seen turbos in that condition go for 4500.

John_AZ · 06-25-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flmont

Hey,...Thanks Guys I shall ck it out,..Iam from the 911 world,..and they dont seem to have to that many issues like these cars,. but all cars are unique and Iam looking forward to driving a 944 with the perfect balance reputation....do they have a good driving position I trust they do ??

Honestly,

You will get used to the "Back on the garage floor Position" many times.

Once you get the car in shape you will enjoy the car as much as we all do.

There is not much you can do to improve the HP. Suspension improvements will give you the "perfect balance reputation".

944 HP Questions/Answers - Porsche Forum - Porsche Enthusiast Forums

John

cjpacitto · 06-25-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flmont

Hey,...Thanks Guys I shall ck it out,..Iam from the 911 world,..and they dont seem to have to that many issues like these cars,. but all cars are unique and Iam looking forward to driving a 944 with the perfect balance reputation....do they have a good driving position I trust they do ??

There are just more 944's out there that haven't received proper upkeep than there are 911's. Seems the 911 owners tend to have more disposable income to spend on upkeep

flmont · 06-25-2010, 05:43 PM

DAMN !!!! after reading the clark's garage article's I should ran as fast as I can from any 944

they cant be that bad of a car...can they ?? rethinking my purchase now.

racer · 06-25-2010, 06:20 PM

The fact is, because of their low purchase price, many 944's you come across have suffered greatly from differed maintenance. Many 2nd-4th owners wanted the car.. but few were (are?) willing to pay modern shop rates (figure $100/hr) on a car that only cost them a few thousand dollars.

Unlike the 914 predecessors, they don't have the same ability to simply "rust away" so more 944s are still around than the 914s (total build numbers were quite similar in the 120K cars built range)

Add in the stigma of not being a 911 and well, you can see why they are often overlooked.

Take your time. Find a well maintained example that is in good condition, since the entry price point between "nice" and "a project" is relatively small, if you consider how much time/money it will take to "fix" the project.

There is a saying that 911s ('74-89) are all $20K cars... to me, all 944s are $10k cars. Either spend it upfront or spend it as you earn it

That said, I've enjoyed my 944 experience so far (after years of aircoolers and 1 boxster). Don't let clarks-garage scare you. Heck, its such a tremendous resource. There isn't a problem with a 944 that hasn't been discovered or fixed at this point!

flmont · 06-25-2010, 07:28 PM

racer,..how long have you owned the 944,..and have you ever done the clutch...plus which car out of all you have driven,.. do you like the most ??? FM

flmont · 06-25-2010, 07:58 PM

well if I get the car for 3K and something major is wrong with it,...tranny or trans axel could I part it out and get my money back or almost back,..its advertized as a daily driver so it will need a few things Iam sure....FM

89-944NA · 89-944NA's Garage

flmont...I am on my third 944 in the past ten years, and haven't really had any "terible" issues with any of them. Look for an S2 or a turbo (preferably a turbo s)....with the S2 you can't beat the bottom end torque of the 3.0L 16v motor, and well a turbo is always fun. I am looking for another 944S2, to become my daily driver when the turbo restoration is complete.

racer · 06-26-2010, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flmont

racer,..how long have you owned the 944,..and have you ever done the clutch...plus which car out of all you have driven,.. do you like the most ??? FM

I bought my 944 last september. Its an '87 with, now, only 40,400 miles. I bought it with 38,000 miles. I DID have a new clutch.

My brother had an S2 for a couple of years and loved it. But.. he was my personal experience of the clutch job. A PITA job, as he told me, moreso because it failed in winter, and the S2 was his daily driver. Parts are maybe $500-700 but the labor kills you.. either the time you do it yourself, or the $1200-1500 you spend for shop labor.

I would only consider a 944 without a recent clutch, if its cheap enough.

Well, I've really liked all the ones I've owned, in part because they were the right car to own at the time.

I loved the 914s.. simple.. fun and reminiscent of my youth. Loved the SC because of its power and ease to make oversteer (I like flinging the car around). The Boxster was such a contrast.. amazingly competant.. but at the same time, a bit dull.. perhaps because it seemed so polished compared to the 914 and 911 I had before it.

The 944 is a nice balanced car too.. plus it allows me to bring my kids with me which wasn't an option in the other cars (911 had a rollcage in it, 914s only seat 2). I do worry about the maintenance more with the 944 than I did with the aircooled cars. I do like its looks quite a bit.