Newbie Qs: How Much am I Looking at for These Fixes?

[Doug&Julie]

Howdy peeps! I started a thread on the Rennlist board about a high mie 1990 C4 for sale (Let's Talk About High Mileage C4s (again) - Potential Purchase - Rennlist Discussion Forums) and wanted to get your thoughts on this car as well. I've seen and driven the car and overall I love it. However there are a number of items that need addressing and want to get a feel at what I'm looking at, mostly in terms of cost but also in P.I.A. factor.

But let me start with the positives...mechanically the car ran great. Very solid. Very smooth. Good clutch. Great motor. Handled well. Really a pleasure while in motion.

Now here's my list:

The airbag light (on the clock) is on.

The seatbelt light (on the clock) is on.

I can't tell if the distributor has the vent fix. Can you from the photos below?

The windshield will need replacing (sizable rock damage - see photo).

The driver's side power window is slow. The passenger side is slower. Issues? Worrysome? ..or no big deal?

The driver's side power window switch toggle popped "off". I was able to snap it back on to lower the window. Common? (I've replaced a few window switches in my time, so probably no biggie.)

He mentioned something about the speedometer occasionally "failing". He said it rarely happens, but once in a great while the speedo just drops to zero. The problem is then the speed activated spoiler will drop down (because it thinks the car isn't going fast enough?). Any ideas on this? Charming foible or sign of something more daunting?

The AC is week. Needs charged every year, but I couldn't really get it to blow cold. Granted, I only tried for a couple of minutes and don't know the system well. Thoughts?

The headliner by the sunroof needs to be re-glued. But only there, and otherwise looks good.

The paint is overall very nice, but shows signs of re-touches and re-paints. Nothing scary, but how does this play to the value of the car?

The car needs a valve adjust.

How do we feel about a car like this making regular 2-5 hour trips?

Would love any thoughts you can offer!

Some pics:

[Doug&Julie]

Sorry, that last pic is upside-down..

[johnsjmc]

The dist vent is the rubber hose shown is your pictures. What is high mileage? I have a 1995 993 with 110000 and am not worried about much.I paid less than 20k but it will probably need a clutch in a year or so and I can address a couple oil leaks and repair a weak 1st syncro at same time and expect to spend about $3500 then. Interior is mint and it needs no paintwork my air works my glass is good and the car has PSS9 added. Yours might fall into the years which had headgasket missing engine oil leaks. Many of them have been fixed by now. Any record of a top end?. The airbag and seatbelt light could both be related to a seatbelt switch and wire harness repair that many have had. $15K seems high for your car

[Doug&Julie]

Thanks. 155k miles on the car, although truly you'd only know it by looking at the odo. Still, I'm with you, $15k seems high for the car. He's willing to negotiate, but I don't think what I'd offer him would be anything but an insult to him.

[Don Plumley]

The airbag/seat light and intermittent speedo might be related - typically a grounding problem or internal solder joint failures. That would be the good news. But you'd want a thorough PPI on the airbag light to ensure it's not the bags or system.

High mileage 964 C4's scare me a little. There's lots of expensive stuff to go wrong in the AWD system. I know that many don't have these problems, but the list of other "little issues" speaks to how well the PO kept the car maintained. YMMV

[johnsjmc]

You could ask him to get an estimate to fix the glass,airbag and seatbelt light etc. Then offer less 1/2 cost of repair or something like that.He should at least be able to replace the glass under his insurance. I,m not a big fan of 4WD either. I like these cars as simple as you can get them. I would like manual AC ,2WD,no power seats or windows. Less weight and less to go wrong.

[Augustus]

Beautiful car....I'd buy it just for the color!

[stevepaa]

well, at least he kept it out of the sun. The dash has no cracks. Engine looks a little dusty which can be good, since no one has been working on it and found something which has caused the sale.

[Doug&Julie]

Looks like I just bought my first 964! For more of the story, check out my thread on Rennlist.com.

Newbie Qs: How much am I looking at for these fixes? - Rennlist Discussion Forums

[Brillo]

Congrats Doug!

I have no 964 experience, but from what I have heard and seen with them, you made a good choice.

I always enjoy following your Porsche ownership odyssey

[Doug&Julie]

Thanks Ray! I have no 964 experience either, that's part of the reason I bought this one. I've wanted one for some time. This will be an adventure for sure. This one kinda crept up on me, almost bought it before I knew what I was doing. ..almost.