the ultimate question I no longer have to face

[peanut]

My 944S2 is currently SORN and hasn't been driven for the past 4 weeks . Not only has the MOT expired the tax has too.![&o]

I know the car needs a lot of expensive work to get her roadworthy again and the dilemma faced is

Q Do I spend maybe £1500-£2000 getting her roadworthy again ? or
do I cut my losses sell the car for £500 or whatever and put the £2000 towards something else ?

I only use a car every couple of weeks or so and barely cover 2000 miles a year now that we spend most of the summer touring in the campervan .

The sensible choice would be to get a cheap workhorse like a Audi A4 Avant Tdi cheap to buy cheap to run and practical .
My heart says get another classic car or rebuild the S2 []

heres the work that needs doing which I've estimated at £1680 incl vat but that may be a bit optimistic what do you think ?

new brake master cylinder
new clutch master cylinder
new clutch slave cylinder
new cam /balance belts tensioner etc
new waterpump
new fr brake discs and pads.

 

[Hairyarse]

How about sell it for about £500 or whatever you get, add that to the £2k and buy another 944 that doesn't need the work? Or am I missing the point? []

 

[simkin911]

If you can live without it and won't replace it then flog it as it is. If you want a 944 and can't be without one then it's a more serious question and you'd have to examine how much cash has been spent in recent years and how good the bodywork etc is. Otherwise you may not get another as good despite spending £2.5k-£3k to get one. Certainly not a huge number of cars for sale will just have had all the work you mention done in the very recent past history.

 

[Lowtimer]

Only you know what you can afford to spend on a hobby car, and whether you really want to continue to run a 944. No-one on here can reveal those things to you. In general I think it's better the devil you know than the devil you don't. So if you still want a 944, keep this one, don't change it for another which will inevitably also need money spending on it. But if you are running out of personal motivation to meet Porsche-sized bills to run a Porsche, then I would recommend moving the car on rather than keep it off road and slowly dying.

 

[JamesO]

Maybe sort the brakes/hydraulics then sell with an mot but needing a service. Would be a shame to see another die for the sake of some servicing.

 

[Copperman05]

These all seem like fairly serviceable items, just a shame they all need replacing at once, i think you have to ask yourself if you use the car enough to justify the outlay, £1680 doesn't seem like an extortionate amount for what is a classic vehicle and a Porsche a that. It seems now that as the prices for these cars are at an all time low then a big maintenance birthday for these cars can persuade owners to cut losses and move on. You wouldn't be he first. I think if the car means anything to you then invest the £2000 in her and enjoy more time with it in rejuvenated form, if you are done with it or are bored then maybe it is time to move on, just dont regret it later! Edd

 

[ukmastiff]

Firstly an S2 would go for more than 500 pounds even for scrap as I'm sure you know. Secondly you either spend the money on her or put her up for auction as a project , which ever your wallet dictates , I dont really see how anyone elses opinion means jack TBH. Best of luck whateevr you decide. Mas

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I don't know the car, so will try to put an objective point of view. If it's not worth a lot in your opinion, despite needing the work mentioned, do you not think the rest of the car is good enough to justify the expense? There's no point putting £2K in to a car that you know full well needs other things attending to that aren't as urgent, but will only get worse, for example. Is it really the car you want? Again, putting money in to an S2 if you really want a turbo is possibly a waste, or if you really fancy an MX5 or a Series I Defender for a change. Also, if you genuinely need a different car it's not worth keeping the wrong thing, and spending money on it, so it can sit there not doing the right job. I've found my mileage actually increasing over the years, and had to up the third-car, limited mileage, insurance allowance last year to 6K. That says to me that I'm enjoying it more and more, and went a long way to justifying the £3500 it cost this year in repairs alone. To be fair I now put the cost of running an S2 (using specialists, not DIY of course) at closer to £1500 than the £1000 per year we used to suggest. That does put the bad years, like the one I've just had, in to perspective a bit, but also gives pause for thought if it's really only an occasionally-used toy that doesn't get driven enough, fills drive space that really should go to something else, and costs a disproportional amount of money that would be better spent elsewhere. Harsh comment perhaps, but it's always good to stand back and think about the amount of pleasure one gets from a hobby over the amount of money and time it costs. And the marital good-will vouchers used up, I seem to spend all mine on the car but it's worth it to me at the moment! []

 

[zcacogp]

Nick, Sorry to read your post. Not a nice situation to be in. As others have said, it's your decision, and not a decision that can be made in isolation. The context is all-important, and only you can know this; how much do you need this car, how much do you need a car, how much else is about to go wrong on this car, how much money do you have, how much are you looking at the car in pure financial terms and how sentimentally attached are you to it? For what it's worth, a quick glance at the list of items you mention makes me think that £1680 is a high price, but parts prices have been going up of late and I may be wrong. A second-hand brake master cylinder could be a reasonable saving, and I thought that clutch master and slave cylinders were fairly cheap? Belts are pricey but waterpumps can be bought for less than £200 if you are happy to shop on German eBay, and I'd have thought that a similar saving could be made on disks and pads by doing the same. Bear in mind also that the prices of 944's seem to be rock-bottom at the moment, so you won't get much for it if you do sell it. (If the pundits are to be believed then prices may rise in the future.) It's also worth saying that a working car with 12 months ticket changes hands for much, much more than a dead one, and money spent on getting it back on the road is often recouped (and more) when it comes to selling time. Best of luck with the decision. Is there a rush to make it? Oli.

 

[Hilux]

Invest (if you feel you want to) but only if the interior and body are pristine or near to it otherwise its another tatty old S2 on the market and with rising food and fuel costs, the threat of redundancies everywhere, the lack of feelgood factor and the recession and E10 fuels around the corner...................................... If you like a 944 then sell it and buy one thats had it all done, the owner will have taken the hit and it will have cost you what you would have spent but you`ll have a better car - lets face it there arent many punters out there looking to buy a 24 year old Porker at the moment so you`ll get a bargain if you look out for it.

 

[u63af]

I am selling my A4 avant tdi and would take your s2 as a px. I fancy another project car. my email is sandyfalconer@hotmail.co.uk if you are interested. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230714773426

 

[Eldavo]

Front discs and pads are an easy DIY for you, should take a couple of hours and be under £200 if you have a hunt for ebay parts. Waterpump and belts, rollers, etc. should be under £500 for all the parts and again isn't the nightmare to do that it is made out to be. Join the club and they'll even lend you their belt tensioning tool! Not having done it before it still only took me 1 day to do including lots of other little while you're in there cleaning up jobs. No experience of the other bits and procedures but there's lots of help on here and i'm sure Alasdair will have some good used parts. I reckon you could do everything you need to do for under £1k and if you still decide to sell then you'll get over £1k more than you would for a "non-runner."

 

[peanut]

thanks guys I'm overwhelmed . Theres some excellent suggestions here and I'm grateful for the time and trouble you've gone to. You know sometimes you can't seem to see the wood for the trees ?! Its good at times like these to ask others for their views. I usually ask my partner but to be honest her passion is for horses not cars.[8|] Our biggest problem is we have no more car space and are already using a neighbours driveway for one car I think your answers suggest that there are several factors here to consider but perhaps one of the clearest is The car is never likely to be a sound financial investment and therefore that is a factor I can remove from the equation. Now that I don't have to consider the return on investment factor i am free to spend whatever I can afford or wish to. The car is basically sound both bodywise and mechanically save the problems already outlined and the sills will require replacing withing the next 2x years. As suggested i could do some of the work myself not to save money necessarily but to be sure the job gets done properly . I can also source non Porsche parts if I wish which a garage would not often accept. I love the car. I love the looks the cream interior the beautiful shimmering Dove blue paintwork . I love the speed and handling and it always gives puts a smile on my chops when I drive it. Its unlikely I could find a replacement in this colour with cream interior and adjustable suspension and chipped with such an excellent engine I have decided to keep the 944S2 . Before the spring I'll replace all the parts needed and get an MOT and tax for MAr/April time. I will then set about restoring the car especially the interior. refurbish the seats and replace the carpeting. Replace all the leaking perished rubber seals and restore the paintwork. I will also look for a good bodyshop to replace the sills . When finished it should be a superb example of a great classic and I'll keep her . She may never return the investment in money terms but as we all know thats not what classic car ownership is all about . I'll start drawing up a list of work and a plan of action and i'll keep you advised of progress. heres the old gal in better times

Thanks everyone. Happy New Year .

 

[Hairyarse]

Good decision Nick, you know it makes sense []

 

[zcacogp]

Good lad, Nick. I didn't think you'd be pensioning it off to the big motorway in the sky; no-one on here likes to hear of a 944 coming to the end of the road, least of all you. Well done on hanging on to it. (Although I have to say, I suspect you were very tempted by Sandy's offer above - I would have been!) Classic cars are not a sound financial investment. BUT a 944 won't depreciate and, in those terms, represents good value for money. If you spend £2000 restoring your S2 you will add a very good proportion of that £2k onto the value of the car, and then have a very usable, very enjoyable car that is unlikely to lose any value over the coming 5 years (particularly if maintained well), and that will remain a joy. A diesel estate may cost less in parts and fuel, but will depreciate and be a lot less fun to run. I'm sure chaps on here (944man and Alasdair particularly) will be able to help with parts for the restoration. And I really don't think you'll regret it ... hey, if I am ever in your neck of the woods I'll claim one of those beers you owe me and twiddle some spanners on it to help out! Oli. P.S. Dove blue with linen interior? 'Tis the best colour combination for a 944, I quite agree. And it's an S2 ... you've achieved motoring perfection, why move on? []

 

[944 man]

OP if thats the interior to your car then you really shouldnt sell it. Im sure that youre aware that the trim alone is worth more than £500 and the engine around £750 if its relatively fresh. As usual Ive only read the first post (earlier) then come back and seen the picture, then written this... []

 

[peanut]

thanks Oli. it would have broken my heart to let it go to be honest . Its still a nice car but its quite a bit tattier than the pictures show. It will be quite a project but next summer it will seem so worth while . I've neglected the old girl for the past 4 years and she's done me proud really but now its my turn to put something back. Thanks for the offer u63af . its a good price for a lovely car but unless our circumstances change I'll be keeping the 944 for now. Thank for the evaluation and encouragement everyone. I'm actually looking forward to the project now I've made the decision. Wish i had a garage [&o]

 

[peanut]

ok I've discussed it with the local garage who are happy to do all the labour with me supplying the parts. Soooooooo Any suggestions for the following parts would be a big help.These are the prices I got from Porsche but to be honest I would be quite happy to use aftermarket parts where possible to keep the cost down. 1989 944 S2 Brake master cylinder £411 Clutch master cylinder £98.00 Clutch Slave cylinder £98.00 clutch slave hose Front brake discs £228.00 front brake pads £118.00 front brake hoses £47.00 waterpump £272.00 belts & tensioners £200.00

 

[944 man]

Master cylinder rebuild kits are available for both and theyre not expensive. Water pumps are far cheaper bought from Germany. Salve cylinders are cheap new. For hoses Id go to my local Pirtek, theyll do you a braided clutch hose for a very modest fee. Steel braided brake hoses are virtually as cheap as OEM rubber parts. Pirtek cant help here (they take them in but get them made elsewhere as theyre critical), but you should expect to pay about £60 for a set of Goodridge hoses, whichs a bargain. Avoid Zimmerman discs - there are better finished discs available for a similar price or less. Simon

 

[peanut]

I tried to rebuild a master cylinder but found it impossible![] Its not supposed to be serviced . The retaining circlip has to be butchered out because it has no holes . Once i dismantled it I couldn't get it all back togther again. I needs a special rig to compress the springs whilst refitting the circlip. Thanks for the tip about zimmerman disks [] I'll try to use aftermarket parts where possible but I was shocked at the prices of some parts from porsche like £100 for a balance belt ! and £411 for 2x fr brake disks all less VAT !