Discounting lack of maintenance

[Kiantone]

A 1988 944 n/a with 103K is available for $3500. Owner has had it five years and put 5K on it . He has only changed the oil yearly. His dad was in the car business so he got it cheap on trade or auction I assume. It was repainted when he got it, mediocre job. No service records. It started right up with a low battery, idled fine, mo smoke, clutch and shifter seemed OK. No sign of rust underneath. Tires are cracked in the sidewall. It has a few small issues. He says he can hear a timing belt fray before it breaks. I'll give you time to stop laughing. Could it still be on the original belt? He claims it has been very reliable for him and he didn't need to do things to it. So if I buy it and change the belt and the normal things that every car of that age and miles needs, seems like it might be a good deal. Am I over looking something big? Can I get buy with just the belt and not the entire $250 kit? Thanks, this site is a great resource.

[VirginiaF1]

Howdy..
April 2011, My wife and I bought an '88 n/a with 228,000 miles on it.

20years of service records including its 6th timing belt, 2nd AC compressor, 2nd water pump and radiator, 2year old tires in great shape; good interior, new battery, state inspected, Rotella 15W-40 and ran quite well.

And has run well for 21,000 miles with us as our 4 seasons daily driver...

We paid $1,700 locally...
IMHO, don't feel bad about respectfully offering considerably less than $3,500..

(Parenthetically, I guess the advice is that these cars will run to the moon and back so long as regular maintenance service intervals were closely followed... and caveat emptor on those cars that weren't.)

[Kiantone]

Thanks, is there a contest for lowest cost per porsche mile? You must be in the running. Others seem to want to win the highest cost per mile.

[VirginiaF1]

They are amazing sportscars...
But Porsche brass under CEO Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking clearly decided in the 90's to build more profit into their cars.

As a result, the late 80's P-cars remain the best made ( and I would submit the least profitable per unit in Porsche history).

I understand why several forum members have multiple 944's in their stables..
Good luck and let us know your purchase progress mate!

[mikepellegrini]

Sounds like an okay car. 103K miles is decent. Congrats!

The clutch is probably original and with luck, oughta last another 50K miles or so.

At over 100K, the belts should have been done many times. The maintenance interval is 45K miles and/or 5 years (or less) Camshaft / Balance Shaft Belt Information. Many people will change them at 30K miles and/or 3 years.

With a car where the maintenance history is unkown, the most prudent way is to replace the belts and rollers as well as the waterpump (which is probably oririginal and due).

However, if there's no end play in the waterpump pulley and it turns freely and there's no sign of weeping, you might skip that. All while knowing of course, that you'll have to pull the whole thing apart again if it goes bad.

The rollers can be re-used if they spin freely without noise, and have no end play. A new roller spins easily but with some light resistence; as they age, they spin more and more easily until they start making noise and start to wobble (have end play).

But like I said, the most prudent course is to replace everything.

The kits I've seen tend to include things I never end up using.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/repair-procedure-index4.htm

[kfanazini]

Unless you have documents, replace the belts and pump and rollers.

[89-944NA]

Originally Posted by kfanazini

Unless you have documents, replace the belts and pump and rollers.

+1, and tell the guy your buying it from, many people have heard the belt before it breaks.....makes a sound like SNAP! then Oh S**T!

[VirginiaF1]

Originally Posted by 89-944NA

+1, and tell the guy your buying it from, many people have heard the belt before it breaks.....makes a sound like SNAP! then Oh S**T!

Original poster said not to laugh ... Tee hee hee.

the seller is prolly not a forum member .

[VOTS89]

If you buy it I think you'll need to do a complete FOES = $600. New tires = $600. Pay for car = $3,500

Total: $4,600

PLUS all the other things that will start to surface once you drive it on a regular basis = ?

Mileage is pretty good, does Carfax back it up? Interior look OK? Starts, idles, runs nice, all are a big plus!

Original clutch equals rubber center disc, not too expensive if you do it yourself and you have the special tools.

When I buy my cars I get the $500 pathetic basket cases that need gone though from front to back. If I were to pay $3,500 I'd have a buyers inspection done and ask the seller to drop the price enough to cover it if not more.

Bruce

[Kiantone]

I should have said in the OP that he originally wanted $4800 but someone stole the radio & changer & speakers, the ones in the door were still there.

[VirginiaF1]

Originally Posted by Kiantone

I should have said in the OP that he originally wanted $4800 but someone stole the radio & changer & speakers, the ones in the door were still there.

Good to know where his pricing prioritites lie..
Wait 30 days and if hasn't sold it some unsuspecting soul, offer $2650 cash and dolly the car to your mechanic to ensure that no one hears that timing belt snapping sound..

[Kiantone]

This may be a naive question, with these $500 tools that get used for a half-hour once in three years couldn't someone set up a netflix for tools? If the tool is not returned or damaged the credit card gets charged for it.

[Gawernator]

There's good alternatives to Porsche's super expensive timing belt tensioning tool. See Arnnworx. I'm pretty sure that was the most expensive tool, everything else isn't too bad. I paid $35 from PP for the CV joint bolt socket -_-

[Jrboulder]

Originally Posted by Kiantone

This may be a naive question, with these $500 tools that get used for a half-hour once in three years couldn't someone set up a netflix for tools? If the tool is not returned or damaged the credit card gets charged for it.

I was thinking about that earlier this year. I ran some numbers and in the end it would take a bit of work and would loose money if I valued my time at minimum wage. I'm still thinking about it, and if I pick up another 944 I'll probably get a 9201 that I'd be willing to loan out with some sort of a deposit setup. The same with some other 944 specific tools.

[xsbank]

No records - too much money. Shocks, tires, bushings, steering, belts, brake fluid, trans fluid, etc etc. pay way less or get another. Look for exhaust manifold cracks, engine mounts, and last but not least, 500 for a radio, speakers and install!

[chamilun]

treat the seller like youd want to be treated if it was your car. 88na in decent nick is worth 2500-3500.

offer him 3k if youve done the tests on the different buyers guides websites.

but don't low ball just because the car needs routine maintenance.

[Gawernator]

I sold my 83 with over 150k miles for $4,300 xD so I think I'm reverse-winning