porsche 944 S2 cabriolet for sale full resto needed, worth buying?

[bobsjohnson]

I'm new to the boards so I apologize for any stuff I'm suppose to include but did not.

It is for sale for $2000. black ext / black int / black top. It will need some serious restoration as well as an engine obviously. There is no information as to what year it is.

I am considering simply because it's unique (at least to me); I don't think I've ever seen a 944 cabrio before (well also because I think the 944 is a damn well built porsche lol). Is it worth the full resto? Does this have collector quality potential after a full resto?

Also I don't know what year it is. Would highly doubt it's the '89 with only 16 cars having been built but that would be crazy.

[Gawernator]

I wouldn't pay $2k for that.

[VOTS89]

IMO, I think you'll spend a small fortune bringing this one back to life. It might not even make a good parts car.

Was there an engine fire?

Take your time and find the right one, you'll be glad you did.

Bruce

[Gawernator]

For comparison, I paid $2,200 for my '83 944, which was in okay running condition. Needed cosmetic work mostly and new brakes. It was a good deal but still.

[89-944NA]

engine (3.0L), paint, body, interior, trans (can't tell if one is in there), tires, and who knows what else until you get in there....you're looking a throwing a WHOLE bunch of money into that car, JUST to get it running decently....IMO PASS!!!!

Quick check, found 2 16v 3.0L S2 engines for sale...$3000 (each + shipping)
DECENT paint job............................................... .......$2000 (quality paint $3000 and up)
Interior, depending on what it needs, upwards of....$1000+
Recover cabrio top............................................$80 0-$1000 (guessing at this)

Your at $9000 (including the $2000 you pay for the POS)....Not a wise deal when you can get a nice one for $8400 - $10,000 (search Porsche 944 1989 -1991 on autotrader) that is ready to enjoy.

Again......BIG PASS!!!!!

And I will assume that it is a salvage title car, which would automatically DESTROY any possible collector value (unfortunately, there really isn't one for any 944 series car) and also make the car harder to sell down the road (not to mention finding insurance for it....most insurers will charge big $$$ for insrance on salvage titles). Even if it isn't a salvage title, you don't have the original matching numbers engine....again killing possible collector value.

[xsbank]

Its not worth dick.

[mhr]

you should easily be able to pick up a decent 90 cab needing not much more than TLC for 10K. In my experience it will cost much more to restore this one. If you wanted to part this one out if the roof and all of the roof bows and seals are decent that is probably worth $1200. You also would be able to sell most of the other cab specific parts quite easily. So in summary if you can purchase it for $500 and then sell off the parts you may be able to make $2000 or more to finance a better one.

[racer]

As mentioned, you will spend more time/money working on this than you could have spent on a nice, working example.

Now, if you want a project and have endless time and money, then go for it.

I imagine 944's are still another 10 years away from being able to consider a "profitable" restoration" project... Guess not being able to rust out quick enough has kept too many around

[Cocacolakidd]

Then there is the old saying - A cheap Porsche is the most expensive car you can buy - TRUE Story.

Plus someone forgot to mention the wiring and all of the odds and ends - Will need a new clutch, timing belts and water pump - oh on and on - Porsche parts are more expensive than a Honda or a Chevy.

I doubt you will be less than $12K to $15K before the car is presentable, and running

[Slam]

Absolutely not. Offer to haul it away if they pay YOU!

[djantlive]

it's a parts car at best.

i bought an S2 cab that is in excellent condition for $6k. putting in another $1k to make it perfect. IMO, that's a better way to go.

S2 seems to drive better than 86-88 turbos I test drove. i was very surprised. always like the turbo look and the S2 does not disappoint in corning.

[CHICKS]

Didnt Jackson sell his RUNNING cab for $2000? Run away Bob.

[Jrboulder]

Originally Posted by CHICKS

Didnt Jackson sell his RUNNING cab for $2000? Run away Bob.

I sure did.



Everything worked except the cruise control.

Oh, wait a second...

The clear coat was coming up in a few places and it had dents and some scuffs and scratches. It needed a bare metal respray.

The cab top had 2 long rips.

No history before me.

The seats were hard and shrunken. The carpet had seen better days.

The AC wasn't that cold. R134a

The sound system was in bad shape.

Sachs on the front and KYB on the rear.

It was at a point where I wasn't using it because I was at school in Arizona, and any money put into it would give a really poor return. After a few months of trying to sell it I decided to just dump it. S2 parts are very expensive. Cab parts are very expensive (if not NLA). To use it as a nice regular DD without it being broken all the time it would have needed seriously 10k or more in work. It just needed a cosmetic restoration and a through mechanical inspection.

I went from a fresh, light and nimble '84 N/A with konis and a chip to this pig. They were about as fast with the cab being a lot less fun.

My advice to anyone wanting a cab is to make sure you really want a cab before you buy one. The cab top is a poor afterthought and you loose a lot practicality that makes the 944 attractive in the first place.

There are plenty of nice cabs for sale for 8-14k but they never sell. The ones on cars.com have been there a year or more. When they do sell good ones change hands for 4k and nice ones sell for 6 or 7.

[mhr]

On the other hand, If you are buying it for a toy car and not a dd the cab is fantastice. In my opinion nothing beats top down motoring on a beautiful day or evening and. A well tuned and set up cab is a hoot to drive.

[Damian in NJ]

Run away.