Why is buying a 944 so hard?

[WBray]

It's becoming a bit of a mission for me to buy a 944 before my insurance renewal now, if I didn't want one so much I think I would have said screw it a while ago on any other car.
First insurance decide they wont let me insure one for the last month of my policy, meaning I will have to rely on my dad to be able to bring the car home for me.
Every car I enquire about either is sold, has faults not mentioned in the adverts, or the person selling it isn't organised or jacks the price up.
Living in Cornwall I am hundreds of miles away from the nice cars in my price range and year range meaning normally a stop over would be necessary and with having to rely on dad with his work isnt likely to be possible without making the seller wait a while.
Don't want to take insurance out on my current car incase the policy wont let me go up more than 5groups at anyone time like current or end up taking it out with a company who charge to much as dont know whether I will end up with a 2.5 or 2.7.
So many headaches and I dont even own one yet
sorry just thought I would have a moan to anyone who who might (thought probably wont) care.
Will

 

[944 man]

Budget? If you arent looking for a cheap car, then JMG might be the answer. The cars sold are at the upper end of the price range but Jon has prepared them properly and will stand by them if they fail.

They are a specialist repairer rather than a dealer, but Im sure that they had a lovely S2 for sale.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

You're doing it the right way around, though, and looking for a good example! [&:]

Over the years we've seen so many people arrive on the forums with the 944 they just bought. Always a bargain, and they look lovely in the pictures. So often, within weeks, there are huge problems looming, with clutches on the way out, head gaskets failing, all the usual things you need to look out for. Reguilarly, that shiny paint hides a shell that fails it's MOT, and isn't economical to repair, or the car collapses the first time it's jacked up.

There are good cars out there, but you might well have to go through 20 bad ones to find the best. With your location, it's always going to be awkward and all you can really do is look for a car that sounds perfect. Get the seller to send pictures, including things like inside the sills, and ask them about recent maintenance in detail. You're looking for the seller who knows the car, and is totally open about it, before you commit to travelling.

You can always ask here, as well. Often the cars are known, or a local member can take a quick look for you. Some of the best cars are owned by forum members, so a car like Alan Locke's would be worth travelling for.

 

[WBray]

£3k cash at a push or probably a little over £3k with a trade in.
unofrtunatly I cant afford an S2 or Turbo due to insurance as otherwise would love an S2.

 

[Copperman05]

Keep in there Will it will be worth it in the end.


Edd

 

[WBray]

Didnt see that post paul and thanks
Ye trying to avoid all that, really dont want to end up with a dog just so that I end up saving a few pounds initially, dont see the point in why people do that as ends up making them hate the car or slate the model.
I would potentially be interested in Allans but the problem lies with having to relay on my dad to drive it home as whenever I look much north of Manchester he just says no :/
It will Edd though the time frame makes things very awkward.

Will

 

[edh]

There's a red 2.7 on Autotrader - in Maidenhead £2550. Looks very nice. Suspect it has an enthusiast owner

and a square-dash 2.5 in red with Pascha interior - my favourite trim [] Doesn't look quite as appealing to me

Don't rule out the 924S either

 

[WBray]

Hi edh
Im looking for later models with the oval dash as not keen on the old square dash and I dont think I could live with that sort of interior, think I would throw up each time I got in it lol.
Not ruling the out but really do prefer the stance of the 944.
Thanks
Will

 

[WBray]

On a plus side I have finally found a company who will give my temporary cover

 

[barks944]

Great, I remember when I picked up my first 944 about 4 years ago. Was very excited especially as my previous car was a series 2 Landrover.

 

[WBray]

bit of a differnce there mate lol! I'm excited and not eve got one yet which isnt good as im one of the most impatient people ever.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

There's a red 2.7 on Autotrader - in Maidenhead £2550. Looks very nice. Suspect it has an enthusiast owner

Does look well worth a call. Only 7 miles from me if you wanted a second pair of eyes to look over it.

 

[barks944]

Deffo worth getting a 2.7 if you can get it. I did some flow bench testing on the 2.5 and 2.7 heads a week or so ago and there's quite a difference and of course a few extra cc's makes a good difference to mid range torque. Still doesn't make any more power than a 2.5 though according to figures. Weird that .

 

[WBray]

Thanks paul I may call you up on that offer, have attempted to phone that guy twice so far and left an answer phone message but recieved nothing back yet unfortunately as does look really nice. Hoping to hear back about one tomorrow though someone is seeing it first thing :/

Ye barks really would prefer the 2.7 though now decided as people have said its really about the condition and maintaince for me with whats available.

Will

 

[Alpine]

these 2 all look ok on Pistonheads;

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/944/porsche-944-1989-2-7-lux/1009365

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/944/porsche-944-lux-1880/294001

I'd look for a car privately so that you can meet the owner and check its been looked after. Traders in the main sell trash, and the good stuff is overpriced.

 

[WBray]

looked and contact the first one before and know roughly where he is, and itsjust had a price drop from ~£4k down to the £3k. Think he might be the next guy I contact if this one tomorrow doesnt end up happening.
I'm looking at both but like you said a lot of traders cars arnt the best.

 

[Sandspider]

Persevere mate! I looked for probably 2 years as I was in no hurry to buy and wanted to get a good one. Despite minimal travelling, I managed to see a fair few cars, then eventually a nice Lux came up about 10 miles from me at a fair price, I viewed it and bit the seller's hand off! Well worth it, 4 years and 30,000 miles later []

 

[DarrylH]

Don't look at the blue one in Alton. at S2000 4 U. I went to see it last weekend and it was an absolute state. Also the seller hadn't explained the car didn't just fail on a brake hose but also severe rust.

Inside was tatty and the same with the outside!

I've got one lined up tomorrow with a man who seems genuinely interested in the car and has sent me photos of the ins and outs of it with the faults that he knows of.

It's going to need a little bit of TLC but I'm all up for getting my hands dirty.

The right one will come along though! Good luck finding one I know exactly how you feel

 

[GlennS]

Why is it difficult? Because the 944 is in a transitional state at the moment. Some are regarded by their owners as cheap sports-cars which they intend to run into the ground or run for a year or two with minimal maintenance and expenditure to scratch the Porsche itch and then sell on. Others are owned by people who think of them as emerging classics and who are prepared to throw far more than they're "worth" at maintaining and running them. Currently the former outnumber the latter and people who love the cars don't sell them often. Most of what you will find on the market are "junkers".

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: WBray

Hi edh
Im looking for later models with the oval dash as not keen on the old square dash and I dont think I could live with that sort of interior, think I would throw up each time I got in it lol.
Not ruling the out but really do prefer the stance of the 944.
Thanks
Will

ok in that case the 2.7 looks ideal.

I've just left a deposit for another car in Maidenhead.....more in a couple of weeks on that one
[]