Possible purchase

[Alpine]

Can I just seek some views on a car I've been looking at.

'88 Lux (2.5), 105k miles, drives really nicely. It has had new outer cills but when I looked in the door vents it still looked pretty rusty. Shouldn't all of the rust have been cut away (so the insides of the cills would look clean) or would the new cills go over the old metal? I don't think there has been any work to the inner cills. Externally the cills look fine and the bottom of the front wings have been repaired too but looking inside the vent has got me worried (although am I being too fussy for a 25 yr old car). Some of the electric didn't work (sunroof, screen washers, driver's seat hight adjuster and front interior light). He wants £2.5k so not silly money, but I know how much you can end up spending on these cars, especially on bodywork. Any thoughts?

 

[simkin911]

You don't say when the sills were replaced but I'd expect the rust to re-appear within a few years (from the inside out). Sounds like a crazy half job if someone went to the expenses of replacing the sills. I'd keep looking at £2.5k - different if it was really cheap.

 

[ukmastiff]

Some people still crone on about how much a 944 'should' be worth however in reality 2500 Will buy a sound lux all be it not low miles. Service history and belts ? . For 2500 youll do way better than that one from what you describe, borderline cheeky to my mind. Mind you ive recently seen the White turbo in herts I was offered for 2300 a year ago and its up for 5500 in the same state so you have to admire some cheek I suppose Best of luck

 

[T3rra]

Could be new cills, but only out side plates. Which really just hides the problem, letting it get worse. Is there a dimond shape in the middle? Factory sill have this. As said cills rust from inside out. So if rust is present on the inside off the outer skin then its prob on the inside off the inner skin to and this it bad. Other thing is the sills may off been replaced and the rear section left

 

[fire3500]

If you're looking for a good original car, one of mine is currently for sale in Lincolnshire... I'm putting this one up for sale as I feel I'm spreading myself a little thinly right now, but I really am not in a terrible hurry to sell as I'm very fond of the car, and in particular of the condition and the colour. If we winter together then it will be my pleasure... I've owned the car for a few weeks (V5 now back from the DVLA), and it was a slightly impulsive buy but when I saw it I couldn't resist and I'm very pleased to have experienced a good early car. It's 29 years old though, so it's not without a to-do list and I'm going to list it at the price I believe it to be worth now, and shall increase as I work through that to-do list accordingly. So what is it and where are we at? The car is a Pastel Beige 944 Lux, and from the original bill of sale (plucked from the VAST history file) in July 1984 I can see that the original buyer changed their order from Guards Red (don't blame them) to Pastel Beige... a 1985 colour (and aesthetically far superior) and paid extra for a sunroof, all cloth sports seats, a passenger door mirror, alarm, cassette and coin holder and front fog lights. All still present and in good condition, I'm pleased to report (although the nearside fog lamp has a crack - planned for replacement). Untitled by iancleary, on Flickr Someone has added a rear toast-rack valance, and it's all been painted to match the body and fitted correctly. Since I've had the car I've addressed a few issues already, including replacing all four tyres with new Goodyears. The Michelin tyres fitted were OLD and cracked and, in actual fact, intended originally for a van... now the car has correctly sized and rated tyres with good grip, wear and fuel-economy characteristics. Untitled by iancleary, on Flickr The body is in very nice shape really, with the exception of two areas which require some remedial metal / paint work. Both sills are original and the OS is solid and good, the NS requires some repair. Both front wings require localised repairs at the pointy end, nothing major though. My body guy is dropping round this weekend for a cuppa as I have him teed up to do the work. Buy before they're done and there is about £600 of work to put in, buy after they're done and there's about a £600 lift on the price. I'm a simple animal. The interior is exceptional, and I am delighted to report that the dashboard has only the most minor of cracking around the defroster outlets and no warping. Those all cloth Porsche logo sports seats have proved to be very hardy and are in exceptional condition. Only a small crack in the outer plastic piping on the driver's outer bolster provides any evidence of their 127,000 miles of use over almost three decades. Untitled by iancleary, on Flickr On the picture above you can see the corrosion damage on the lower edge of the sill (if you look once more at the picture of the tyre change you can see the OS sill is good and the wing issues, minor as they are). Untitled by iancleary, on Flickr With the exception of the under-bonnet mercury switch for the inspection lamp and the headlamp washers everything works as it should. Windows, electric sunroof etc. all good. There are seatbelts fitted in the rear and the integrity of the interior is wonderful, with only a little more wind and tyre noise than you'd find in a modern car. Untitled by iancleary, on Flickr I've added a Phillips head unit to the dashboard with Bluetooth phone and charging capability. I loathe gaudy car radios and so although this is a modern unit it is fitted well (ISO connectors) and looks appropriately dignified. The car is now running Porsche approved 15w40 Shell Helix engine oil and I can report that the oil pressure is good. I had the OPRV out yesterday (30th August 2013) for inspection and it's in serviceable condition. Oil pressures are:

• Engine cold idle = 4-5bar Engine hot idle = 1.2bar Engine cold 2000rpm = 5bar Engine hot 2000rpm = 4-5bar

Untitled by iancleary, on Flickr No untoward noises are heard, even the torque tube is less of a talk tube on this car So what further improvements can be made? Here is my shopping list:

• New front brake backing plates Repair to both leading edges of wings Repair to NS sill Repair to leading edge of NS wing New NS fog lamp - lense cracked Repair headlamp washers Repair under-bonnet inspection lamp Strip and clean rear handbrake - occasional annoying squeak at slow speeds in town Align speedo - it's twisted in its binnacle Replace LH bulb in tachometer binnacle Replace sunvisor clip on OS inner - painstakingly superglued back together for now Lube zip on sunroof bag Full service - changed oil and filter yesterday, PO changed timing and balance belts @ 12 months and 1000 miles ago Investigate dampers and springs - although in servicable condition the car rolls a bit in corners as has standard Lux rather than sports suspension and Broady's car just feels more composed when in the twists... mine is good, his is better! Replace rear bushes on front lower control arms... evidence of them being old when I was under there Oil filler neck - plastic extension - weeps oil Full waxoyl and preservation treatment NS sidelight bulb is dim Replace NSF indicator lense - slightly cracked Resplace NSR lamp cluster - slightly cracked (have good used replacement)

So there we have it... a veritable cream puff of a 944 and with some margin for further improvement. The longer it's for sale, the less there's going to be on the to-do list, and the higher the price will be. Untitled by iancleary, on Flickr At present the car is taxed and MOT'd and being driven whenever possible... MOT expires May 30th 2014 and tax on 31st October 2013. Both will be renewed as they expire and if the asking price is paid (whatever it is at the time, subject to work completed) then the car will be sold with a new 12 month MOT (unless you want to drive it away the same day, in which case I'll knock you £50 off and you can go and get your own ticket). I'm in North Lincolnshire (DN21) and am reachable via PM here or at ian.cleary@gmail.com, or on 07429 298975. I'm asking £2995 as the car stands. I've looked at many early 944s and they are, on the whole, in pretty horrible and uncherished condition. The interiors are normally very poor and the levels of cleanliness and overall look and feel leave a lot to be desired. This is a car that I have driven personally from Glasgow to Lincolnshire and enthusiastically around the wonderful roads here. It is a pleasure to scuttle along in and in terms of agility and composure it knocks my S2 cab into a cocked hat (although the S2 is faster...). If it doesn't sell then I'll add a "for sale" listing for my Cabriolet and let "the market" make me choose which 944 I keep. I can't keep them both though and so one has to go (perhaps both go and I buy Hairyarse's turbo, which I covet)... I'd like to think that this will be to an appreciative and enthusiastic home. My body guy is taking the car off after work tonight to do the remedial metal and paint... it really is a peach though.

 

[Craigybaby]

Looks a lovely car ian. Will the price rocket once you've lubed the zip on the sunroof bag? Only joking.

 

[fire3500]

Well Craig, with the recent troubles in Syria and the knock-on effects on oil pricing, WD-40 prices have really rocketed... I see at least 7p being added to the cost of putting this car back to the level it deserves, and after I've factored in the value of my time, plus a few variables, give or take... *sucks teeth* I reckon that between the sunroof bag zip, the sidelight bulb and the wash I gave it... it's a £10,000 car now [8D]

 

[Craigybaby]

Seems reasonable ian, by chance are you associated with a company called Buchanan motors?

 

[simkin911]

ORIGINAL: Craigybaby Seems reasonable ian, by chance are you associated with a company called Buchanan motors?

Oh the banter, Craigybaby. Good one.

 

[Alpine]

thanks for all the replies. The cills did have the diamonds by the jacking point and from the receipt it looked as thought the were original Porsche, at a cost of about £250.00. The whole job on the cills was about £900, in 2010. The "quote" referred to work on the inner cill but I suspect that wasn't done, otherwise I think looking down the vent holes it should have looked pretty clean. Service history was a bit patchy recently, but I think it was a genuine / honest car. I might give it a miss as I don't really want to be buying a car where I have lots of jobs to sort out (I went through all that with my S2!). Your car looks lovely Ian, but I need 3 point rear seat belts for the baby seats and I suspect with yours being an early model it wil have lap belts. Once you've sorted the rust on the cills you should have a very sellable car. I'll keep looking, but maybe a rust free car is a rare beast.

 

[simkin911]

Take your time. I think this time of the year market potentially swings even closer to the buyer for cars in your probable price range. Good luck.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

The car is a Pastel Beige 944 Lux,

Ohhh, at last! A pastel beige, code LM1N? I think that's worth a post in the 944 colours FAQ as I don't think we've got one? Wasn't even a special-order colour, but I've never seen one in the flesh. I think it suits the early 944 very well. []

 

[George Elliott]

I chould be very wary if there is rust in the cide members Come of the time it is not properly removed If you cee lots of red flaky metal it would be wise to ctep aside and look at the lovely beige car in Lincs. I am cure this is co My cpell checker is up the cwanny co please cmile a at my poor cpelling and forgive any errors Good luck George 944t

 

[Ewan]

I love the thought (from Alpine) that every time you spend £100 on the car that it adds that to the value. That means my turbo has gone up by nearly £25,000 in the last two years!

 

[J.C944TurboMan]

Hi Ian, I sold a 944 LUX Recently , with less miles , full history with thousands of pounds spent on the 944 . No rust on the original sill , no rust on inner sill , engine bay like new and on and on . I struggled to get £1000 for the car ! Not sure where you are plucking your prices from ? I would strongly recommend that no 944 that have been living in Glasgow or Scotland are purchased ! With the harsh weather up North they suffer from bad rot ! Buy 944 from the South and that have lived South bound . I have a 1991 944 Turbo Black Solid shell , I will be offering for sale soon for not a penny less than £30000 cash in untraceable notes please ! Yes it is a Joke !

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: J.C944TurboMan Hi Ian, I sold a 944 LUX Recently , with less miles , full history with thousands of pounds spent on the 944 . No rust on the original sill , no rust on inner sill , engine bay like new and on and on . I struggled to get £1000 for the car ! Not sure where you are plucking your prices from ? I would strongly recommend that no 944 that have been living in Glasgow or Scotland are purchased ! With the harsh weather up North they suffer from bad rot ! Buy 944 from the South and that have lived South bound . I have a 1991 944 Turbo Black Solid shell , I will be offering for sale soon for not a penny less than £30000 cash in untraceable notes please ! Yes it is a Joke !

....but don't buy one that has lived near the sea. Mine came from Devon

- I knew it was rusty when I bought it, the price made it less of a gamble TBH as it was a lot less than the sum of the parts...KW's, cup mirrors, 968 handles, sports leather, new cams etc.. That early one looks very nice

 

[J.C944TurboMan]

I have heard this before ? Salt water is a killer to cars as well . Less salt on the roads to prevent against ice in the winter helps to preserve then a little longer . Your 944 looks well , may I ask how much you paid for it ? Cup mirrors now demand high price , handles , KW and all them bits soon add up on the wish list . The S2 I own at the moment came from Glasgow and I must say it is in need of major TLC regards sills !! I do believe there are some 944's out there that still have good strong inner and outer sill and underneath .

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: J.C944TurboMan Your 944 looks well , may I ask how much you paid for it ? Cup mirrors now demand high price , handles , KW and all them bits soon add up on the wish list .

Thanks - it cost me just over 2k but there's been plenty sunk into her since....

 

[Frenchy]

My 86 220 turbo has mint untouched original inner and outer sills, painted once for stone chipping, though it lives in the garage and does not see many salty roads, though has spent most of it's life in coastal areas, my Turbo S has had some outer sill repairs about the size of a 20p piece, one of the inner section on the rear wheel well has some small corrosion which is being sorted over winter.