Test drive: High miles 88 951...

[Dougster]

Hey guys,
I just got back from test driving a 1988 944 Turbo...
The owner of the last 12 years says its odometer has been out for quite some time, he estimates it to have 250,000 miles!
WOW!
He has alot of service records...But he isn't sure when the last timing belt service was done...

However, it had newish paint and you know what?
The thing ran really well!

Now it did have some other issues, mostly minor but...
I am wondering how far these things can go with good service. He thinks its also the orig. Turbo...

The clutch, brakes even the A/C all were very good...
The pw.steering leaked of course...
Sounded like perhaps wheel bearings were going...
IT needed rear tires...
But it ran so strong, I might want to make an offer...

Any imput is great, thanks guys.
Happy motoring!

[nize]

i've got an '88 i bought brand new and maintained to the best of my ability.

it's my daily driver, still all-stock, and currently has over 168,000 miles on it.

it still runs like new and still outruns most anything on the road today.

i believe that most low-mile 951's with problems are due to owner negligence. i think these cars love to be driven and should be driven regularly, not parked away in a garage collecting dust.

[Dougster]

Thanks for the imput.
I use to own a 89 951 but it only had 63k miles on her...

I was almost suprised at how well this one performed...
Still I know with that many miles and the other items that need to be done, it could quickly become expensive to maintain...

I have one main issue that needs to be checked out, it sounded like a wheel bearing or something along those lines was making a noise and some slight vibration...He said he thought it was the rear tires, (that need to be replaced)

I don't think he is close to where I would buy the car at his current price...

[nize]

how much? vin number? sounds like it could be the cv joint, they're not that hard to replace, and pretty cheap.

[Ebs]

Personally, unless it was very cheap or you are cashed up, it is hard logically justfiy a car with so many miles. My Porsche mechanic says the turbo and engine are usually good for 150k miles, and thereafter trouble is not out of the question, unless the car has been impecably maintained and not thrashed to death. This is from a man who has more 951 experience than anyone I have ever come across - an official Porsche center apprenticed mechanic who went on to work for a professional racing team campaiging 951s.

Good luck with your purchase.

[Streckfu's951]

If he doesn't know when the belts were changed and doesn't have records of it, walk away. There are enough 951s that are lower milage and come with records that you don't have to make an offer on this one.

Flip side: If everything else on the car seems to be in good shape and you don't mind changing the belts or doing a front end seal, then go for it; just offer a price accordingly.

[rucool]

Ebs, who does your work?
Russell.