Porsche 944 Turbo Values

[blade7]

I didn't see Simon's car listed for less than £22k, and I think it sold for closer to £20k. I never talked money with him, because I didn't fancy driving all the way down to his place. I'm pretty sure it was an early Turbo though. Turbo Tim also struggled to sell his 3.0 16v monster for anything like what it was worth. That car did start as an S2, and that's the only reason I didn't buy it. I saw it during and after the build and it was an amazing car. Going back a few years, I could have bought a nice turbo, that had Paul Smith's 3.2 engine fitted. I was offered it for £11k, which is probably what the engine had cost. But that was another car down on the south coast. The moral of this story, don't throw many £1000's at a 944 unless you're going to keep it for years, or be prepared to take a very big loss on it.

 

[944Turbo]

If you want a good one there are not many available so the field is limited - the one above I didn't look at in great detail but the very yellow washer bottle stood out. How much is an e30 M3 worth these days? I class them as inferior to a 944T so should be cheaper - many would disagree though!
Tony

 

[blade7]

I sold my VGC 87 RS Cosworth in 2003, and replaced it with a VGC 91 944 turbo for the same money in 2008. The 944 was a better built car, and cost a lot more when new. But try and buy a VGC 87 Cosworth for less than £40k today.

 

[944Turbo]

I know, I guess the Cosworth and M3 had race heritage as saloon cars, but the fact is they were saloon cars with mods so had inherent compromises. The 944 was always designed a sports car, so more performance orientated from the ground up and ultimately a better 'sporty car' the Cosworth and M3 are better for rear seat passengers though!
My nephew has a seriously modified Audi S2 Coupe which as standard had all the best and latest Square arch quattro underpinnings - they never rallied though so are significantly cheaper to buy. That doesn't really make sense as a car to use either!

 

[Wallachie]

Interesting thread. I have a Nautic Blue 1987 Turbo that I have spent a fortune on recently after it had been laid up for quite a few years.

I had assumed I would never ever see my money back, but with some of the figures mentioned in here maybe I am ok after all!

I am in two minds whether to keep or sell when it’s finished. I want to use it for my wedding in September, but after that I think I might sell.

 

[blade7]

I know, I guess the Cosworth and M3 had race heritage as saloon cars, but the fact is they were saloon cars with mods so had inherent compromises. The 944 was always designed a sports car, so more performance orientated from the ground up and ultimately a better 'sporty car' the Cosworth and M3 are better for rear seat passengers though!
My nephew has a seriously modified Audi S2 Coupe which as standard had all the best and latest Square arch quattro underpinnings - they never rallied though so are significantly cheaper to buy. That doesn't really make sense as a car to use either!

I always thought a S2 Coupe was a better prospect for a road car than a UR Quattro. The 2.0 Cosworth having a 16v head, and quite a big turbo mounted close to the head, was always going to deliver a bigger hit initially than a 944 turbo. And my Cos felt quicker on the road. But a 250 bhp 944 kept going when the Cosworth ran out of puff, and no standard Cosworth would do over 160 mph.

 

[Wallachie]

Unless it has some special parts, or it's low mileage, you'll be lucky to see more than £15k for it IMO.

I was thinking £15-20k. Ideally closer to £20k though

 

[Wallachie]

Think again, unless it was a very good car to start with, or you've spent many thousands on it. These cars are 35+ years old now, and buyers for £15k+ cars are quite thin on the ground.

I’ve sold plenty of 944’s over the years, the last Turbo I had I sold for £19k in 2018.

This latest car I have probably spent £10k plus on paint and mechanic overhaul to date, and it’s not finished yet.

 

[Eldavo]

I didn't see Simon's car listed for less than £22k, and I think it sold for closer to £20k. I never talked money with him, because I didn't fancy driving all the way down to his place. I'm pretty sure it was an early Turbo though. Turbo Tim also struggled to sell his 3.0 16v monster for anything like what it was worth. That car did start as an S2, and that's the only reason I didn't buy it. I saw it during and after the build and it was an amazing car. Going back a few years, I could have bought a nice turbo, that had Paul Smith's 3.2 engine fitted. I was offered it for £11k, which is probably what the engine had cost. But that was another car down on the south coast. The moral of this story, don't throw many £1000's at a 944 unless you're going to keep it for years, or be prepared to take a very big loss on it.

I drove down there twice - and let me tell you, it's a lot further from where I am!

 

[blade7]

I drove down there twice - and let me tell you, it's a lot further from where I am!

He had a sunroof delete roof skin that I was interested in. But as I get older, it's harder to get motivated to spend all day driving for bits I don't really need. I saw Simons old car on facebook recently.

 

[PSH]

Well I had another bite at my car tonight...guy was admiring it...said £25k?... I said I've been told its a £30k car all day long. He said, ok you selling it.... I said no...he said, well if you ever do let me know.
I think these cars are worth much more than some realise... she did look very good at tonight's meet though...

 

[blade7]

Well I had another bite at my car tonight...guy was admiring it...said £25k?... I said I've been told its a £30k car all day long. He said, ok you selling it.... I said no...he said, well if you ever do let me know.
I think these cars are worth much more than some realise... she did look very good at tonight's meet though...

How many miles has it done Pete, most buyers seem to think that mileage is the most important thing.

 

[PSH]

How many miles has it done Pete, most buyers seem to think that mileage is the most important thing.

Buyers are wrong to think that....I recall reading an article stating such in the past. My car has 244k recorded....

 

[blade7]

Buyers are wrong to think that....I recall reading an article stating such in the past. My car has 244k recorded....

I don't think there are many turbos like yours Pete, and if a 944 enthusiast sees it they will probably think it's worth at least £25k. But it seems unless it's a good 88 turbo S in silberrosa, with less than 150k miles, there aren't many buyers for £25k plus 944 turbos. Obviously it only takes one, but 244k miles will always be the stick they will want to beat you with.

 

[PSH]

I don't think there are many turbos like yours Pete, and if a 944 enthusiast sees it they will probably think it's worth at least £25k. But it seems unless it's a good 88 turbo S in silberrosa, with less than 150k miles, there aren't many buyers for £25k plus 944 turbos. Obviously it only takes one, but 244k miles will always be the stick they will want to beat you with.

They can try but I'd just inform them of the rigorous road tests done by Porsche in the 80's. Tge most poinant one being their to the moon comparison of over 250k miles in a year. The car was then stripped and measured, result being that there was no wear, in fact the engine was still within spec to be proclaimed as good as new. None of this matters to me though, she's not for sale....

 

[blade7]

They can try but I'd just inform them of the rigorous road tests done by Porsche in the 80's. Tge most poinant one being their to the moon comparison of over 250k miles in a year. The car was then stripped and measured, result being that there was no wear, in fact the engine was still within spec to be proclaimed as good as new. None of this matters to me though, she's not for sale....

No one really cares what Porsche did with the 944 40 years ago Pete. I did speak to someone that stripped their 150k miles 944 turbo though, and the bores were still within Porsche tolerances. And bearing in mind what you probably spent on the bodywork recently, it wouldn't make any sense for you to sell your turbo.

 

[dlknight]

No one really cares what Porsche did with the 944 40 years ago Pete. I did speak to someone that stripped their 150k miles 944 turbo though, and the bores were still within Porsche tolerances. And bearing in mind what you probably spent on the bodywork recently, it wouldn't make any sense for you to sell your turbo.

My own experience doesn't ring true with the 250k miles story.

My car had regular oil changes but was used as a daily driver, I'll agree that most of the bearings were OK (apart from the thrust bearing which was destroyed). There was also bore scoring in at least two of the cylinders and it was using lots of oil.

The thing with those kind of tests is that you can make the results how you want by changing the test parameters.

Still, it did keep going up until 205k miles, and technically the engine did still run and with plenty of power.

 

[blade7]

I bought a 2.7 engine years ago, with the plan to build a 3.0 engine. I'd seen a video of a compression check, and it was all good. When I stripped it there wasn't a mark on the bores, but there was around 0.001" ovality and the same amount of taper. I expect that engine would have run fine for many miles with used machined 968 pistons, but I couldn't find any. And there were a few reports of disasters with aftermarket forged pistons too.