Does this pricing seem ambitious to anyone else here?

[olstyn]

Early 944 in Twin Cities area

I was just browsing ads local to me (not actually in the market for one at the moment, but I enjoy looking regardless), and yeah, I know this is a dealer, but did pre 85.5 944s jump up in value? I mean, sure, it's low miles, and they claim it was last owned by a PCA member, so it's *probably* been well taken care of, but yikes, $10k for an early 944, especially in the dead of winter? I wonder if since it's just before 60K miles if it might need new belts & water pump about 5 minutes after it gets driven off the lot. If that's the case, then the pricing seems even sillier. Here's hoping whoever buys it from them is well informed and can negotiate the price down to something that's actually appropriate to the car.

[RallyJon]

Your link doesn't work.

Regarding 944 values, IMO it's all about condition and maintenance. For a perfect, pristine 944, the car itself is worth $2k. Knowing that you won't have to do $8k of work in the next 10k miles is the premium.

Actually, that applies to most old-but-not-classic Porsches.

[Sunroof]

Pick up this months issue (April 08) of EXCELLENCE magazine. The issue features the 944 Market Update by Bruce and what I can tell is that prices compared to 2007 for all 944 models including the 924S have gone way up!! Good 944s are a rarity these days.

As an owner of a 1985.5 model for 12-years, I suggest that anyone looking for a 944 should get a 1985.5 or newer. These models have all the refinements including upgraded interior that are worth going after. By the way I put 345,000 miles on my car without any engine issues (one replaced head gasket) nor transmission problems and sold it to my mechanic about seven years ago for $1,500.00! I have to wonder where it is today?

Bob
73.5T

[olstyn]

Wow, 345,000 miles? That's amazing in any car.

It was always my understanding that the 85.5 and newer cars were better in several ways, both with the interior and other items, and thus commanded a significant premium over the early cars. Given that, it struck me as odd that an early car would have a price that high.

I can believe that values in general have gone up, but it's a 1983 car; isn't that the least desirable year?

Originally Posted by RallyJon

Your link doesn't work.

I figured out why the link doesn't work (it works for me). Tried it from my other computer and it sent me to the main page of the site it's listed on, where it wants you to select an area that you're in (seems to work wherever you pick - I tried Texas, New Mexico, and Minnesota). Once it sets a cookie with that value, the link works (have to click the link again though). Dunno why they need that cookie in order for their site to function properly, but I apologize for not realizing it beforehand.