944 advice please (again)

[cashflyer]

Well, I know I shouldn't be - but I was looking at a 944 ad today. Since I am really out of my element with these, I will ask here for some general talking points.

The car is a 1986 n/a.
No known rust.
Phone dials.
Body = fair to good
Interior = fair to good

a/c inop.
drivers side window mechanism inop.
windshield wipers inop.

Car was "abandoned" at a garage and subsequently sold under mechanics lien. Current owner has only had it a few months, knows nothing about the car's history, and cannot afford to fix it up. He says it "drives great".

Price is $2k.

Is a 944na with an unknown mechanical history and known problems worth $2k?

[the]

You know the car is going to be crappy, because the current owner recently bought it, undoubtedly with high hopes, and has already been disappointed and/or is faced with some problem that likely exceeds the value of the car. (Oh, and also it's a 944).

But for $2K, you can't go very wrong, as long as it isn't rusted out and can move under it's own power. In 2-3 months, you can just put it up for sale for $2K, saying you can't afford to fix it up, but it drives great.

[natey]

Yes, there are clearly problems beyond the window, the wiper, and the AC, otherwise, why sell? It probably sat at the mechanic's for a good long time while they went through the paperwork to do the lien sale, so maybe old rubber seals + vac lines, oil leaks, bad tires?

However, if the aesthetics agree with you, then 2k seems a perfectly reasonable price for a 944 with no history but no obvious drivetrain problems. It's worth at least $1k for just the major parts (drivetrain + wheels). But definitely, find out exactly which expense is too much for the current owner.

A final note: assume the AC will be really expensive to fix, in the $1.5k range. Don't ask me how I know. (I shoulda gone with the $150 AC delete bracket...)

[cashflyer]

About an hour after I posted this thread, I was sitting here thinking the same thing.

It's been sitting = it's going to need plenty of work.

I guess if I want a nice 944 I better be prepared to spend the money for one and quit being excited about the cheap ones.

It's odd. I didn't even flinch when I bought my 911, but I keep finding myself looking at 944s like they should be valued no more than door prizes at a kids birthday party.

[aigel]

If you have to get a 944, do yourself a favor and buy a turbo. You can have some fun with that out of the box and it has more options to add power. And do yourself another favor and buy someone else's money pit. These cars are not a good value as projects. You still need very expensive Porsche parts to fix them. Some of them more $ than your 911 parts. They are an excellent value as someone's money pit. $8-12k will buy you a very nice and fast 944 that will need nothing. Possibly even a car that is modified (performance).

George

[the]

Originally posted by cashflyer


I guess if I want a nice 944 I better be prepared to spend the money for one and quit being excited about the cheap ones.

Umm, they are all pretty cheap these days.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

Try to find a 1988 924s. It has the same 2.5L motor as the 944, and it is lighter with cloth seats and manual winding windows. I sold a VERY nice one for $4,924 two months ago. It had all the mods, exhaust, fuel pressure regulator, suspension upgrades, two sets tires, tower strut brace and performance chip. It was someone else's money pit. I bought it in top form and just maintained it. Sold for what I had invested after two years.

I replaced my "needs nothing, no issues" car with a money pit 911.

[DanielDudley]

Yeah, it is worth buying a good runner, there are many to choose from. Nothing is cheap about a cheap porsche.