Considering my first 944
 

I've had a 928, a 911, and still have a Boxster S but am considering my first 944.
Please help.

1. How do I find out if it's a 1985.5 and why would I care? It has cookie cutters on it.

2. Can someone post a link to a good PPI checklist?

3. Where can I find up to date values? Edmunds seems like it might not be as good as Carsthatmatter, but even that source might not be the best, or is it?

Thank You all and I hope to become an active contributor if I jump into this project.

Just being curious,
As a past owner of a 928, you must be skilled in some of the features and pitfalls of the 944.

Pelican has a checklist:
Pelican Technical Article: Prepurchase Inspection

Hagerty insurance has a value chart:

https://www.hagerty.com/valuationtools

If you buy a cheap 85.5 944 it will be less of a project than the 928, but still a lot of work.

Clarks-Garage is a good source.

J_AZ

85.5 will have an updated dash. There are several improvements on later cars like the 1 peice OPRV, oil level senders, improved transmission mount, etc. My favorite and probably the most profound improvement on the later engines is that the timing belt cover stands off the crankshaft seal instead of being flush against it. If you were to develop a minor crankshaft seal leak the oil flows down and drips on the garage floor rather than pooling in the bottom of the timing belt cover, contaminating the cam belt which can cause breakage.

I have an 85.5 944 and I love the updated dash (it is a wide oval shape with the gauges inset in it) compared to my 83 that I had previously that had 3 separate gauges which the dash followed the contour of. The heater controls were also updated. I also like the power sunroof over the manual one in the early cars.