What do people think of this car...?

[Sandspider]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260209023680&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=016

I'm viewing her on Saturday. Belts and pulleys were done 1000 miles ago, service history (apparently) up to that time. The chap doesn't know if the waterpump, clutch, fuel lines etc. have been done recently so I'll have a graze of the paperwork...

Does anyone know this car? Do you think it looks "OK"?! Apparently it has a Cobra alarm but it's been disconnected due to going off intermittently.

Many thanks.

Giles

 

[Sandspider]

(Oh, and if any of you think it looks really good, you're not allowed to pop there and buy it before I can!!) []

 

[will lyons]

Hi Giles

only 4 previous owners ????

history should be very comprehensive and secure .........?
from the photos it looks a nice tidy example of a later Lux the description is quite basic and as Paul usually reccomends it may cost you about 1k in the first year for anything underlying you might come accross

Red and linen interior look good together and if it is basically as the description then it could be a good one maybe somebody does know this car here.

Is this your first 944?

others may advise you on first inspection be patient and check everthing is working as expected and enjoy the viewing

Wil

 

[pauljmcnulty]

As it's the same spec as my car, and mine cost £4k, and I'd assumed that mine would increase in value, I'm p!ssed off that you can get a car that looks just as good for a starting bid of £1k......[]

You've read all the posts, so you know what to look for. THO if it's half as good as the ad it's still a bargain!

 

[John Sims]

Looks like you are OK Paul. The reserve is more than £1,000 []

 

[Gary C]

Problem was that Ebay was only used to dump junky cars. Anything decent would sell via another route.

While Ebay may be becoming more mainstream way of selling cars, I still would be VERY wary of buying a car off it. A colleague at work has bought two cars and both turned out to be worse than the price paid.

 

[Hilux]

Looks like the owner has nobbed the car up a treat with stupid steering wheel

The steering wheel may be odd looking but would allow a taller driver to use the car more easily.

I must admit I`ve considered one in the 944 having had one previously in my G27 for exactly that reason.

 

[Sandspider]

Thanks all.

I will investigate closely - I tend to be a cynical viewer (which is probably why I still don't have a 944!) but I'm relatively confident of not ending up with a monster. Will, yes it will possibly be the first 944 I own, but I've seen a small handful now. Scotty, I think you're right, he's not an enthusiast - he couldn't (or wouldn't) answer some fairly basic questions about fuel lines, brakes etc. (Maybe he just doesn't have time to look through the paperwork). He's selling the car as he's bought another Porsche, but I suspect he's not cared particularly well for this one... (His exact words were "It doesn't have full service history, but it had it until 1000 miles ago when all the belts and pulleys were changed"...) I know the reserve is over £1500 so I might just let the auction run. If no one bids over his reserve, I can talk to him about it again!
Gary - I think you're right, Ebay used to be a dumping ground. But it's getting better - a friend of mine has bought 3 cars off it, and all were at least as expected, one was really good! I'll give it the old eagle eye, and keep you posted...

G

 

[Sandspider]

On studying the pictures, it doesn't seem to have the usual trim thing round the back under the exhaust, with the corner flanges curling round towards the front. (Quite hard to describe trim panels!) I think every car I've seen had that - was it just an option, or does the fact that it's not there suggest the car's been crashed into at the back?

Thanks,

G

 

[morris944s2john]

ORIGINAL: Sandspider

On studying the pictures, it doesn't seem to have the usual trim thing round the back under the exhaust, with the corner flanges curling round towards the front. (Quite hard to describe trim panels!) I think every car I've seen had that - was it just an option, or does the fact that it's not there suggest the car's been crashed into at the back?

Thanks,

G

If you go and have a look at the car, undo the carpet trim clips in the boot, remover the vertical bit of carpet and have a look at the inside of the rear panel. there should be a factory sticker there listing various things. If its not there, the car has been rear ended and the panel replaced.

 

[smitty893]

ORIGINAL: Sandspider

On studying the pictures, it doesn't seem to have the usual trim thing round the back under the exhaust, with the corner flanges curling round towards the front. (Quite hard to describe trim panels!) I think every car I've seen had that - was it just an option, or does the fact that it's not there suggest the car's been crashed into at the back?

The trim panel you are describing sounds like the Turbo valance/diffuser and wasn't standard on the Lux.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

there should be a factory sticker there listing various things. If its not there, the car has been rear ended and the panel replaced.

Or, I've heard of it falling off if the boot's been wet at some point. And which boots haven't! Still worth wondering why if it's not there, though, and looking for signs of repair.

To be honest a lot of these cars will have had a knock somewhere in their history, that's just the law of averages. It's how the repair was carried out that's the important thing.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

it doesn't seem to have the usual trim thing round the back under the exhaust,

The turbo spoiler is rare on a lux, more common is nothing at all - as in the pics. It does look a bit untidy.

The other option was the toast rack - see my avatar - which are dead cheap to buy used.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Giles, if you're looking for a straight lux with good body and mechanicals have a look at Yvettes' car:


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1984-Porsche-944_W0QQitemZ250212977819QQihZ015QQcategoryZ9860QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I can't vouch for it in any way except to say it was much better than mine.....[]

Edited to add that the auction's finished but I can get her number for anyone who is interested.

 

[Sandspider]

Hi all.

Thanks for the additional input. Smitty, I think you're right - I'm thinking of the S2 / Turbo diffuser. I do like the look of that, but I actually prefer the toast rack as on Paul's car. (Is it officially known as a "toast rack valance"?!) I see they're going for £20 - £60 on ebay (unpainted) but are they hard to paint and fit? I will check for the factory options sticker as well.

Scotty - don't worry, if anything I'm being overly anal about getting a good car. (No doubt you've noticed a few posts from me recently asking lots of questions). I've always found huge amounts of useful info and opinion here, and on various similar sites (titanic, clarks garage etc.). Ebay is a good way of getting your car exposed to a bigger audience than Pistonheads, Autotrader etc. Some cars on there I'm sure are dodgy, but as long as I inspect carefully and the price doesn't go too high it looks to me like a good way of getting a good value Porsche, and I'll have a few quid spare over garage (and even some private seller) rates to fix any little niggles that do arise.

I am looking for a good sound car mechanincally, but I'm not so bothered about cosmetic condition (as long as there's no rust) as the car will be my daily driver and it might acquire the odd scratch. (My current car certainly has, and only one of them was my fault.) Speaking of that Paul, Yvette's car looks as if it might be a bit too shiney for me! I'm kind of looking for an oval dash (post 1985.5) car for the increased modernity, nicer interior and slightly tweaked handling etc, but seeing Yvette's that looks a lovely low mileage Porsche for a very reasonable price... There certainly do seem to be a good range of them out there, and I'm not going to buy in a hurry.

Thanks again for all the help.

Giles

 

[Gregson944]

I brought mine off ebay no problem at all I did'nt hand a peeny over until I saw it . Then bit his hand off.[][][]

 

[Guest]

i bought mine off ebay so far so good depends who what and why youll know when u find the right car and dont remember even off of ebay you have the right to refuse to buy it if not exaclty as described or youre not happy with somthing

Paul

 

[ubertub]

I think the owner has watched one too many episodes of American Hotrod and got carried away in Halfords... other than the steering wheel though, it looks great.
worthy of a closer inspection at least.

 

[Sandspider]

Well, car successfully viewed. Lovely paintwork, redone 2 years ago, and owned by a nice old chap, old car enthusiast. Not a Porsche enthusiast however - the car's basically been standing on his drive for 2 years (just moved around the drive from time to time), and it's been serviced mainly by a mechanic mate of his since 2000. (The mechanic also owns a nice 944, but it's still not ideal). That said, it still looked well cared for, and the oil was a nice rich brown with no signs of mayonnaise. Took the car for a little spin and the tappets refilled with oil and stopped ticking, exhaust was clear and clean even on first starting. Starter motor was a bit baulky, but probably just due to a low battery from standing around. It ran smoothly, but the windscreen washer system fell apart and sprayed water all over his drive when he tried to wash the windscreen! Again, not a major problem, but unfortunate timing. The clutch was a bit jerky but that's probably more down to my driving style not being used to the car. (Though I do know that a jerky clutch can be a sign of impending clutch failure).

Anyway, the upshot is that I didn't buy it, though I was very tempted. I'm going to watch the auction carefully, and if it doesn't meet it's reserve I will get in touch with him again to discuss. (If it does meet its reserve I'll probably regret not buying it!) Does anyone know of a good car inspection service or bloke round Brizzol way? I've picked up a lot from the forum and various articles and things, but I still don't know much about the deeper recesses of the engine bay. I saw that sportscarguides offer an inspection service, but it costs £300 to £400 and that sounded a bit pricey to me.

Oh so tempted to buy though - just a great feeling to be sat inside, hearing the growl of the engine, and pin sharp handling. Still, I'm in no hurry and if it does go, there will be more... There WILL be more!

 

[Diver944]

Sounds like a good one. If there was no visible rust on the sills or wings then it's got to be worth around £3k, as the only faults found were incredibly minor. 9 hours to go and 7 seperate bidders so far, I wonder how many of them have viewed it