N00b Questions here I need an experts advice. May get 87 944S

[CoconutColin]

I have a bunch of questions forgive me for being such a noob.

Here is the ad: 1987 Porche 944S For Sale. 197,000KM runs well. Was donated to the school where I work at.. The car is too good to destroy. It would need brakes and some tender loving care. I don't have any idea what this car would be worth. We are using the proceeds to buy equipment for the shop class. If interested please contact me by email.

My questions are:

1. What is the difference between a 951 and a 944.
2. How much are brakes and parts for this car? Any interchangablity? I just priced out master, rotors, callipers and pads for about 2800 or something on pelican.
3. Is it worth getting this car for cheap and fixing it? How reliable are these cars?
4. I am mechanically inclined and an apprentice at a BMW dealership. But how much would you say you spend a year on your car.

Thanks for reading and helping me out.

Colin

[ronin]

hi Colin and welcome

the 951 is an 8-valve turbo, and the 944S you speak of is a 16-valve normally aspirated car. both cars come with their strengths and weaknesses. there are several threads that discuss both in detail. I won't go into all of it here

the real question here is how much money are you willing to spend? the problem with these cars is that it is much cheaper in the long run to buy a good example than a cheap "fixer-upper". these cars can become expensive quickly. even if you are mechanically inclined and can do a lot of the work yourself, the parts cost alone can get to be astronomical. there is no free lunch here. in most cases, you'll end up spending more money on a "fixer upper" than simply buying a good one in the first place

many people think that they can get a car for cheap and then "fix it up" for a few hours of labor, a bag-o-bolts, and a paint rattle can from the hardware store. this won't work. you already seem to have done some homework on what things will cost, so you have a basic understanding of what you are up against

oh, and you may try to post this on the regular 944 section, as this is the turbo section, and not too many n/a guys drift over here. you'll get more responses there

good luck and have fun!

[jjflash]

Colin,

Run down to the nearest Borders, Barnes & Noble or good motorsports bookstore and buy "Original Porsche 924/944/968" by Peter Morgan. It's a great basic book on this line of P-cars. Lots of fun with tons of great pix...a real classic.

[sfierle]

I agree with Ronin, the fixer-uppers on a Porsche are not the financially best way to go, unless you take pride in knowing you did the work yourself. Although not a 944, it took me two 911s to realize it (yes, I am a slow learner)

[CoconutColin]

Thank you EVERYONE for your responses. I love the porsche 944. and I am an apprentice mechanic... I may work for bmw and have help from some of the brightest mechanics around. IM confident if I get the car $$$ and parts will just be the concern. In which case I can just sell it for parts...

(I am getting it < 1000.)

[gtroth]

You have to be more careful about the head for the S (rare and pricey, and more valves to bend). So you'll want to do the timing belt and chain tensioner immediately. And there's a real good chance that there's a clutch in your near future so you might save your money for that (same goes for any 944 with those miles (er, kilometers).

Honestly, there's a pretty good chance it's going to need all the usual things and you'll end up dumping several grand into it (and tools) over a few years. That's what I did and I bought an already very nice one for $7K. That said, i don't regret it for a second, but that's me.

edit - I hate to say this, but for <$1K, you could probably get your money back out from the head alone if it came to that. Of course we'll all yell at you (unless we need a head).

[CoconutColin]

im not buying it..

so yeah.. you guys arent going to see me on here..

btw anyone want a parts car?