Any Bad Points On These?

[chrisjcoe]

Hi all

After a bad experience on my last attempt, I'm finally ready to try to buy within the next week or two, and have a few in mind. Before I make the trek to view them, or just take another risk and bid unseen followed by weeks of hassle, do you knowledgeable lot have any comments to make on these? The last time I asked I got some great spots, such as a bad respray, wrong engine size, blowing smoke in the photo, etc.

Red 944S Folkestone
On paper, this sounds a good buy, but it's 2.5 hours drive at least so I'd have to bid without viewing.

Red 944 Orpington
I've asked when the belts were last changed, low mileage, but hate the idea of a starter button.

Red 944 from Titty Ho
I love the seller name, which is drawing me to this one. Another 2.5 hour trek though. Belts changed about 16000 miles ago so may be worth doing again. Don't think it's taxed so would have to factor that into the price. Also I would have liked one with less mileage, but have to compromise for the money I want to pay.

Gold 944 Essex
Probably relatively near me, but gold not red! Needs a bit of work by the sounds of it which I'm not afraid of. Waiting to find out when belts were last done.

Thanks

Chris

 

[j4mou]

If you look on car and classic the titty Ho one is on there with a better picture of the sills and iirc they looked shot, it looked the same car, although I'm not 100%.

 

[chrisjcoe]

If you look on car and classic the titty Ho one is on there with a better picture of the sills and iirc they looked shot

I haven't found it on car and classic, do you have a link? Good spot though, I definitely don't want the hassle of having sills welded!

 

[j4mou]

I was on my phone earlier and couldnt check, I have just looked now and cannot see it now, although im 60% ish it was the same car.

 

[chrisjcoe]

No worries, thanks for trying anyway. I might find out if anyone is local to Titty Ho who can just stop by and take a look and check the sills out in the next couple of days, but the mileage puts me off a little anyway.

 

[j4mou]

mileage is ok, I think the general feeling is "the more the better" as they have been used and not just sat, it wouldnt bother me and if you think about it, its only done 5777 miles for every year its been on the road.

 

[chrisjcoe]

Yeah, that's a good point actually, and I wouldn't do much more than that a year anyway. I'll ask if anyone on the forum is near Titty Ho later, go check the sills out for me!

 

[PSH]

Hi Chris

Personally non of these cars shout out to me but if you are interested in any go and see them in person and if possible take someone along who knows the cars well.

Folkestone car has the after market sills, which may be covering up bad bodywork

Orpington car looks very flat paintwise and a little unloved

Titty Ho looks the best out of the four

Essex car has damaged bodywork, especially the rear panel that would be a real pain to fix correctly.

They all have a variety of other problems, no car of this age is going to be perfect but there must be better out there?


At the end of the day only you can decide on what's good for you, for myself, when I look at cars I always get a feeling when something is right and none of these cars give me that feeling, but then I'm not looking for a new car so perhaps that's why.

I wouldn't worry about high mileage, in fact a well maintained high mileage car is a far better car to buy than a low mileage occasionally used car. Porsche's are designed to be driven and driven hard at that, a car that's not used as such that suddenly does get used more will often begin having various components fail so if you do go for a low mileage car put more money aside than you would for a high mileage well maintained car.

One other point, these four cars look like early dash models, that's ok for they are nice cars but if your well built or tall I'd suggest getting a later ovaldash car that allows more room under the steering wheel.

I wish you luck in your search

Pete

 

[chrisjcoe]

if your well built or tall I'd suggest getting a later ovaldash car that allows more room under the steering wheel.

I'm 6'1, so that might class me as tall, I didn't realise the earlier models were cramped for space. Thanks for pointing that out though.

I want a car that needs a bit done to it, part of the reason for getting one in fact is to get my hands dirty. Getting a smart looking 944 will cost me £2k+, and I want to spend less than that and have a bit of fun with a socket set and spanners. It may end up costing me more in the long run though, but at the moment my finances are limited.

 

[bmnelsc]

Probably relatively near me, but gold not red!

Interestingly Excellence Magazine (US publication) just did a review on increasing interest in older 911s saying "special or unique colors" were factors in higher value - for some model/years suggesting that only special or unique colors were of interest. So for 911s anyway - it seems Guards Red is no longer the most desirable color - even though it is the fastest.....

 

[944 man]

Fnaar fnaar!

Titty Ho.

*sniggers*

 

[ukmastiff]

The essex one has sill rot, i dont know how much but check them inside.

The folkestone one terrible wheels and the dreaded sill covers.

The other red one lacking in history

None if them would be for me either TBH

Mas

 

[T3rra]

Folkestone one has dents in the front badge pannle, ( how has no one noticed this? ) and the wing sticks out on one side! Deff had a bump at least. As pep have said ugly wheels. How much are you looking 2 spend?


There's red 944 1990 turbo starting a £999 on eBay no reserve, that's a car worth saving, working on, as u can added 2 it value. Or brake 4 more.

Gold one rear wiper is in the wrong position.


There be plenty off time 2 play mercanic, even a sound one there be bits and bobs u want 2 do.

 

[chrisjcoe]

The turbo looks reasonable and has an honest description.

I'm looking to spend up to £1500. I know I'll get a car with a few problems but I'm prepared for that.

 

[PSH]

That turbo certainly is worth saving however it won't be cheap fixing all of that bodywork which on these cars costs more than the mechanicals to put right. However although it has no resrve I'd be surprised if it went much below £3000 which is probably close to it's value in that state. Having said that, it is after all a turbo, which means it's one hell of a quick car so worth the extra.

Pete

 

[Fat Albert]

I live 7 miles from Titty Ho and they have a reasonable reputation in these parts and always have some interesting motors, I will see if I can pop down there over the weekend and give it a prod.

Don't worry about the mileage, it's a baby!

PS I am 6'1 1/2" so will give it a little sit in, but I used to fit perfectly in my Mum's 924 in the mid '80s when she went out and her car needed a little run....

 

[chrisjcoe]

I live 7 miles from Titty Ho and they have a reasonable reputation in these parts and always have some interesting motors, I will see if I can pop down there over the weekend and give it a prod.

That would be great if you could take a look, check for big problems like sill rust or blowing smoke. I might be able to take a trip Sunday if the car is worth it, but my weekend is hectic.

(trying to post replies using an iPhone is sooo painful!)

 

[chrisjcoe]

So from what you lot have spotted so far:-

Folkestone might have rotten sills and has possibly had a knock at some time
Orpington looks a little tatty and hasn't been looked after
Titty Ho might have some sill rot
Essex has damage and rotten sills. Also the owner does not know when the belts were last done, so that needs doing straight away.

I'm also watching this Gold 944 from Long Sutton but it doesn't have many details

 

[PSH]

Now that is more like it, it's an ovaldash and it looks good, certainly worth a closer look that's for sure. The price seems to good to be true so make sure there's no hidden surprises but if I was in the market for a 2.5 lux I'd spend time checking this one out. It's by far the best of the cars that you've given links to and it's not even my colour...

Pete

 

[j4mou]

yes thats much better and very straight looking. if you search the mobile number on google thats offered its another old member of ebay with good feedback that also seems to be a car trader.