944 Market

[ChasR]

If you look at them like that, then there are more bargains for us . You forget that low mileage and everyday do not go hand in hand. One of them has to give. Buying a 944 just on mileage is stupid IMHO. To put it into perspective my old 944 Turbo was on 180k. It was much better condition than the S2 before it (on 130k), and it was more reliable (and dare I say, in better condition) than certain 'low mileage' cars bought for a significantly larger sum with the owners despairing here about how their car was costing them a fortune to keep. Do you honestly believe that mileage is the be all and end all of a car's condition? Not many people could guess the mileage of the car without looking carefully. There are much bigger worries on a 944 besides the numbers on a clock (rust is becomng a big problem due to age, clutch replacements, brake problems etc. etc.), things where mileage may not have a large influence, the owner will. I learned the hard way with my S2 which was lowish mileage, but even when I sold it with a small fortune thrown at it, the car still did not compare to my Turbo in condition and if I am honest it still does not despite both cars now having a 50k gap in mileage between them. Sure, low mileage can bring a few benefits (possibly a less worn interior depending on who has owned it, some fresher things) but do not forget that these cars are now over 20 years old. Bushes will be perishing, dampers will not be as fresh as they once were and so on regardless of mileage. If your budget really is £5k for a sub 110k car I best not say what I sold my Turbo for (with people telling me still that I sold it too cheap!). Any car used daily will have its mileage raised. What matters more IMHO is how the car is kept. In the case of my 951 it really was a case of almost no expense spared. FWIW it is still being used daily, as it has been now for almost 3 years . I shall agree that with two cars in place and everything being equal between them, the lower mileage car will be worth more ; it shall also potentially have to be a garage queen to also hold that value. OTOH I do wish you the best of luck. Maybe you are just a wind up merchant mentioning words like 'scrap valve' for an otherwise good condition Porsche and you were hoping for a feisty response [].

 

[JaseGT4]

Not looking for a feisty response at all. For me mileage is important when looking for a car as there is wear and tear on all components including the body. As a buyer with cash (who is not in a rush) there is a huge choice out there. I agree rust is an issue hence the PPI and again I agree mileage will increase if used on a daily basis but I'm not interested in how much mileage I will do when I own the car as its future saleable value is of no consequence. Maintenance is very important as you say but there has to be a trade off of value at some point when a car reaches an uncomfortable mileage for potential owners. 200,000+ miles is a no go area for me and I'm sure other owners would feel the same way.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Whilst mileage matters if it's an investment car, it's almost irrelevant otherwise. What would you prefer to buy for the same money? Car 1 has 200K on it, but a recent clutch, brake overhaul, bodywork restoration and respray. Car 2 has 90K, but no history of clutch, fuel lines or water pump, and some bubbling of the sills. Car 3 has been laid up for 10 years, having covered only 60K miles. It had a belt change in 1998, the tyres were new in 1997, and it was once Guards Red all over, but now has several shades of pink. I know that's all made up, but the point is that the high-miler is clearly the best of the three, and would sell for more if it wasn't for people's perception that high milers are worn out old sheds.... The purchase price of a 944 is the last thing to look at. As you say, there are many on sale at wildly differing prices. All that matters is current condition and history of the major jobs being done, and always pay a bit more for a better car. You can easily rack up twice the cost of the car in the first couple of years if you buy the wrong one: I did! [&:]

 

[simkin911]

I'm looking for one too. If you can find more than than one £6k sub 110k 250bhp car then let me know. [] If it has a great service record, fresh belts, no rust, good paint, mild tuning (circa Promax stage 2), newish clutch, sports interior then I'll reward you with a £2k finders fee. Unfortunately I've just described my old m030 car I sold 2 years ago! Wish I hadn't. [&o]

 

[Craigybaby]

"6 grand for a near perfect 944." Good luck with that, you'll be searching long and hard and when you find it shark will probably have just nipped in there before you.

 

[JaseGT4]

As I found when I sold my 964, the prices advertised are not the prices achieved. Cars advertised at £7-£7.5K are not moving and there will be flexibility in price. I'd always change belts asap after buying a 944 unless it is properly documented but that would come under running costs for me. The cost is always in the day to day running of these cars not the purchase price

 

[JaseGT4]

Which he did on a nice black turbo, which was only £5.8K. I'll get there first next time

 

[Ex Skyline]

You should buy a boxster [8|].

 

[ChasR]

ORIGINAL: Jase1969 Not looking for a feisty response at all. Maintenance is very important as you say but there has to be a trade off of value at some point when a car reaches an uncomfortable mileage for potential owners.

That is fair enough. It is sometimes hard to tell the trolls from genuine peeps as you may understand on the forums . IMHO there isn't a trade off bar what an owner perceives from what I can tell. It can get expensive to keep maintaining a high mileage car used daily at times but it is also almost always cheaper than buying something unknown with its own gremlins which can make a grown man despair (don't ask me how I know). I initially was put off by the mileage of my 951 but the provenance and history of the car (in addition to the seller; a known specialist here) was what made me go for it; if I am honest, I still quite gutted I sold it considering that it drove beautifully in addition to it covering all of the basis.. There are not many classic cars you can put 10k on over just a year without throwing a fortune at them.

 

[JaseGT4]

Always an option []

 

[Craigybaby]

Shark said it needs "mechanical and cosmetic fairy dust". Not my definition of near perfect, sounds like about 5 grands worth of work to me.

 

[JaseGT4]

ORIGINAL: ChasR

ORIGINAL: Jase1969 Not looking for a feisty response at all. Maintenance is very important as you say but there has to be a trade off of value at some point when a car reaches an uncomfortable mileage for potential owners.

That is fair enough. It is sometimes hard to tell the trolls from genuine peeps as you may understand on the forums . IMHO there isn't a trade off bar what an owner perceives from what I can tell. It can get expensive to keep maintaining a high mileage car used daily at times but it is also almost always cheaper than buying something unknown with its own gremlins which can make a grown man despair (don't ask me how I know). I initially was put off by the mileage of my 951 but the provenance and history of the car (in addition to the seller; a known specialist here) was what made me go for it; if I am honest, I still quite gutted I sold it considering that it drove beautifully in addition to it covering all of the basis.. There are not many classic cars you can put 10k on over just a year without throwing a fortune at them.

Thanks, I'm really keen to get back into 944 ownership, always regretted selling my SE but currently amazed at the perceptions of price on some of these cars. Perhaps PH's is not the place to look.

[/URL]

 

[JaseGT4]

With all due respect I would think that is from a traders perspective to sell. From a lets get this on the road and use it perspective with ongoing repairs then probably not so much. This was a sub 100K car and there has to be some flexibility in spend on a turbo at that price.

 

[JaseGT4]

Just watching this at the moment and forgetting the low mileage, low owner turbo cars which maybe seen as an investment or a car to be driven everyday (lets be fair, still cheaper than a brand new Golf). The price and mileage of standard 100,000 milers is all over the place.

Just been looking at PH's and who would spend almost £5K on a 209,000 mile car or £5.5K on a 160,000 mile car? They really are just scrap value?? I really can't see the value of these cars increasing dramatically.

I'm looking for one and I've set my budget at £6K (max mileage of 110,000) and for that the car has to be near perfect, I'm happy to spend a couple of K a year on maintenance having owned a few of these in the past I'm aware of running costs on a daily basis. Also happy to buy privately subject to a PPI. My intention is to use the car and not worry about where I park it with no worry about future value.

Anything more than that and I may as well buy a nice Boxster 3.2S with a Porsche warranty, the only difference for me is build quality and of course the styling.

 

[Indi9xx]

In 27 years I am yet to rebuild or replace a 944 engine because it was worn out... In fact, I have never had to rebuild any Porsche engine because it had worn out. Nearly every suspension bush I have ever had to change was because of aged rubber. Nearly every wheel bearing we have ever replaced had the tell tail markings that replacement was needed because it had been left standing at some point in its life. Most of the tyres we replace in the workshop have been because they were perishing with age or the other extreme is due to spirited use. Not yet seen any issues with a 944 bodyshell which was down to mileage (boxsters on the other hand..) Every cracked dash is because of the amount of exposure to sunlight and chemicals. I have seen many low mileage 944's which needed thousands spending on them, and likewise I have customers with over 300,000 miles on a 944 which need very little ever doing to them each year.. But the reverse is also true. I would not be put off of a high mileage 944 unless I wanted it to put it into a bubble.. But if you fancy a low mileage 2.7 I might have just the car for you.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Jase1969 Anything more than that and I may as well buy a nice Boxster 3.2S with a Porsche warranty, the only difference for me is build quality and of course the styling.

As Pete (ExSkyline) said, if the only difference you can see between a 944 and a Boxster is build quality and styling, you need to start searching for Boxsters. I'm very happy with my 185,000 mile S2, and I suspect that my idea of 'scrap value' and yours will be quite different when it comes to selling. Best of luck with your hunt. Here's a link that may help. http://bit.ly/1EYRsOo Oli.

 

[JaseGT4]

Thanks Jon, had a 2.7, prefer the S2, also looking at cabs but leaning more toward the coupe again.

 

[Ex Skyline]

6k is bu99er all for a well sorted and, well looked after '44 Turbo imho. My Turbo annihilates almost every car that fancies it's chances against Him [8D]! That includes Merc's, Beemers, Golf R6's, Scooby's etc [8|]. Martin rs2k on here is selling his car for 19k and, he will get it too! And, it is worth every penny! My '44 Turbo is just a "Weekend Toy" but, I would rather let Him rot into the ground than accept 6k for Him [8|]! These cars are slowly on their way up cost wise and, about time too! Also, mileage is totally immaterial to a well sorted and, looked after enthusiasts car. Ask Jon Mitchell.....! Just my two pennorth' []!

 

[Shark]

I took delivery of that car today. It is a good car the way it sits, but it needs belts and water pump, service, wheels refurbish, driver bolster repair, leather reconolising, it has a leaking steering pump, a dent on a wing and blister on a sill... and I have not even looked underneath it yet. I think there is good £2000 to spend to make it mint- and that's me using trade services and doing a lot of the work myself. On the plus point, it is a cracking looking and driving car, only 1 owner plus dealer demo. It has never seen any paintwork outside the factory which is a rare find nowadays and the inner sill are solid etc.. It will make an enthusiast very happy. It'll be a 12k car when ready I would think..maybe more the way prices are climbing recently! Forget about finding a mint car for around 6k. You may find a diamond in the rough like that above, but be prepared to spend a few thousand getting it to a good standard. My red 951 is a minter. I won it on ebay for sub 6k.. It needs 2.5k spending on it for me to happy with it (most of which I have already done).. so don't get anything for nothing! Also bought the 9.5k panther black 951 in Lanarkshire.. it needs 2grand spending on it too.. Facts are, we may all be enthusiasts in this forum, but the man on the street with a 944/951 does not really know how to look after it or present it properly. Example being both these cars I just bought.. but need a lot of work to realise their full potential. We went to collect the latter car and it was filthy. The car that arrived today- filthy. Both needing work. So if you want a finished article, you need to find an enthusiast maintained car (which will be expensive- see the 51k minter currently for sale for £19,995) or find a dealer like myself and pay the premium there. Either way.. a nice 951 is going to cost you 10K+ for a nice car. Best of luck in your search! You need to be quick as there are vultures refreshing all the sales pages constantly and they are ready to get in a car and drive right there and then with cash to secure a bargain Porsche.

 

[Ex Skyline]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

ORIGINAL: Jase1969 Anything more than that and I may as well buy a nice Boxster 3.2S with a Porsche warranty, the only difference for me is build quality and of course the styling.

As Pete (ExSkyline) said, if the only difference you can see between a 944 and a Boxster is build quality and styling, you need to start searching for Boxsters. I'm very happy with my 185,000 mile S2, and I suspect that my idea of 'scrap value' and yours will be quite different when it comes to selling. Best of luck with your hunt. Here's a link that may help. http://bit.ly/1EYRsOo Oli.

Ha,Ha,Ha []! LMFAO!! Oli, you are a very funny man [][]!!!