Part it, or sell it?
 

I'm at a crossroads. In an attempt to solve the dropped valve/destroyed engine situation with my S2, an intriguing opportunity has popped up. In looking for a good used engine or a parts car, I have uncovered another S2 in a rare color combination that I really like. It has only 80K on it, and is in amazing condition, all but for the fact that it has suffered a front end collision. I want to fix it and put it back on the road as my next driver.

I could pull the bumper, hood and front fenders off my current car, and part the rest of it. Or I could sell it whole, as is, and use that money to put the new one back together. The current car Has 130K, three owners, full records, some recent paint work, an A/C system that I converted to 134a, good interior except for a split seam in the drivers seat, and generally is a really nice car, except that the engine is now a boat anchor. What do y'all think it's worth as is? What do you think I could get for all of the parts if I went that route?

On one hand there's the moral dilemma of taking a car off the road forever, on the other is the plus of having some spares for myself. What would you do?

if the engine is good in the wrecked car, why not just swap it with your engine, and part out what ever is left

The wrecked car is velvet red, with a perfect linen interior. I dig it. Plus it only has 80K on the clock. That's why.

But it's still a wrecked car whereas your other hasn't been right? I just bought an engine from a wrecked S2 and put it in mine.

It's basically a "bolt on body panels and paint them" kind of a situation. No damage to the core support, radiator or condenser.

Heads up, assuming no damage your 3.0 crank is NOT a boat anchor.

Idk about that, I have a boat anchor and a brand new 3.0 crank, honestly don't know which is heavier

I'm a big fan of having extra parts around. My vote is to use the parts you already have.
That makes more sense to me than to sell the parts you need just to start hunting for them.

Sometime the herd has to be thinned to insure the survival of the species.

Is it going to be cheaper to replace your engine, or purchase, repair and paint the other car? Once you remove your good front end, with the blown engine and no front bodywork the car won't be worth much at all, except as a parts car (trans, suspension, brakes, etc).

Though I am not one to just part out a car, sometimes you have to weigh the costs....how about getting the front end damaged car, repairing it AND getting an engine for your existing car?

If you decide to get the Velvet Red car, you can keep things that fail on a somewhat regular basis like the DME, Climate Control Module, Ignition Module, switches, if the clutch is good (measure the thickness of the disc) keep it and the pressure plate...basically things that will sideline the car while you wait for new parts or $$$$ parts to arrive.

Good Luck in your decision.

lol

I almost bought a 944 that had the whole broken timing belt/bent valves issue for $2200 it was that nice. It was an 89 with a 2.7L motor....not an S model. I figured for about $1000, I could get a different head and do all the belts, rollers, and WP myself and have a damn nice car, but I found a really clean and mechanically up to date 85.5 944 for what I would have had into the 89 car so I bought and am driving it instead.

My point is, there are people out there that will buy the motor damaged car and fix it as long as the price is decent without having to part it out.

You can buy replacement fenders/hood that are already painted in the factory original color of your choice, that the company then fades the paint by 20-25 years old (however old your car is) so it is a perfect match to what is on the car. I did this with my wife's car after a large deer launched itself onto the hood, and when I was done, the panels fit properly, and were just the right color, and much cheaper than buying panels and then having them painted professionally.

Don't get me wrong, the 89 944 is a good car (I had one as my first 944), but with the 2.7 engine being produced only for the 1 year, some of the parts are horrendously more expensive.

944 2.5 Intake valve $15.75 ea
951 2.5 Intake valve $41.75 ea
944 2.7 Intake valve $209.50 ea

944 2.5 Exhaust valve $33.00 ea
951 2.5 Exhaust valve $45.50 ea
944 2.7 Exhaust valve $139.00 ea

Rings, Head gaskets, etc are also more $$$

The correct 2.7 head is harder to come by also, so you did yourself a favor by getting the more common 2.5 powered car