carltr7

Hello. First post. Thinking about a 944 on the local market. Im an experienced 70s/80s condition 3/4/5 guy. What do you think, experts?

Its a 1983 944. Manual 5 speed, manual steering, 167K km (110K mi) approx. Seller used it to take the wife for an ice cream etc.
Solid, straight, no rot, no rust, steelwork all good. Floor good. Runs drives, starts stops. New (but not great) tyres. Dino alloys.
Current inspection. Starts right up. Runs to moderate temp. Oil stick good. Coolant good. Brake fluid dark but not horribly.
Lights work, popups work. Apparently its timing belt let go 5 years ago and it was all rebuilt including water pump.
So far so good.

Here's whats wrong.
Hood and tailgate gas rams, entire interior is destroyed. Stone chip rust spots to front valance. Paintwork faded to matt, needs a respray probably.
AC compressor out, passenger window out, interior light, horn, one windshield wiper missing. Various detail items easy to fix.
Oil leak to front of valve/rocker/cam cover. Minor seepage at axles.
Cam belt done 5 years ago. Pine needles everywhere.

Here's whats got me spooked.
* NO Service history.
* Evident neglect.
* Immediate preventative work to cam belt, tensioners, chains, seals etc.
* Horn / Window / Wiper are inspection items yet not done??
* Guys a bit of an evasive jerk. Pics in ad were 2 years old and not as the car sat on viewing.

All this for about 2200 USD very firm.
Cheap yes. But with an entire interior and respray as well as the preventative maintenance I am probably looking at some work.

My Plan:
Insist it gets a proper inspection and the horn / window / wipers sorted.
Chat with the tech thats been looking after it.
Roll the dice at 2200. Do the immediate preventative work and leave the cosmetics for a rolling restoration.

Question: Does this sound like a plan for a low cost entry to 944 ownership or am I heading for financial ruin?

If its was a TR7 something more familiar I wouldnt hesitate. 944s? Unknown. Please help.

Mike Murphy

A cheap Porsche is an expensive Porsche. An expensive Porsche is an expensive Porsche.

Plenty
Of
Receipts
Sorry
Can’t
Have
Everything

carltr7

Posts: 4,945
Likes: 33

Yep. Makes sense.

V2Rocket

If we’re talking post count...


can you DIY the work or will you have a shop do it? Expect to put in probably $2k in upfront maintenance.

all 944s will need work but some are in better starting shape than others.

personally a car with bad paint and interior is a $1000 car at best.

tempest411

I think $2200 is the new $1000. In the S.F. Bay Area I never see these cars going for much below that~in barely running condition.

tifosiman

Walk away. Based on your description its not worth spending the $$ on any inspection. There are going to be other things that are wrong with it to the point where you will put way more money into it than just buying a nice example to start with, and if the guy is a jerk he won't take well to you trying to get the price down any further anyway. Keep looking.

carltr7

can you DIY the work or will you have a shop do it? Expect to put in probably $2k in upfront maintenance.
I can do it myself. I can weld, engine-swap, rig EFI systems etc... I only leave tire changes and hydraulic press stuff to the shop cos I havent got that equipment.


all 944s will need work but some are in better starting shape than others.
Like all old sports cars then eh lol - yep it will need a thorough going-over. Ive mentally set aside 1-2000 US $ to get it reliable.
However since it will have a new inspection (and where I live they are thorough) I can at least be confident of the brakes, shocks, rubber etc.

personally a car with bad paint and interior is a $1000 car at best
Yep I agree. Its a 1000 US $ car.
Where I live car prices are just insane.
You should see the garbage that some guys think are worth 3000 $.

The only other one for sale where I live is 1800 US $
For this you get a non-running, non-inspected, YELLOW (blarg) AUTO (blaaaarg) that hasnt seen an inspection sticker since 2014 and thats parked on someones lawn.

On that basis the 2200 US $ one is the bargain of the century.

carltr7

I think you're right. unfortunately.

There's not much I won't take on with an old car but this "new cam belt every 3 years else your engine eats itself" business is just a bit more of a gamble than Im usually cool with.
Unless that's just some internet hyperbole of course. I just don't know

carltr7

check that count again

fasteddie313

This one looks like similar condition if not better for $800...

https://appleton.craigslist.org/cto/...939994472.html

carltr7

All things being equal and given the hassle of shipping it Im thinking its about the same value.

Im in the bargain basement here. Its all going to be a bit ****. lol.

I guess Im trying to figure out the psychology of the seller.
Some guys bodge them, respray and try to sell them with ruined mecahnicals.

Its like this guy did the opposite. All the mechanical stuff like brakes, shocks, tires, steering is kosher but the paint and interior looks like ****. Its hard to figure out what the objective was. Because "prepped for sale" it is definitely not.

In that sense its an "honest car". All original, no airs or graces. A bit pricey yes but also not tarted up to look what it isnt.
Decisions decisions lol.

If I bought it, what would be the recommended procedure?
The usual front end engine work before before I even think about driving it any distance?

Chalt

One of the pictures says it all, "Motor turns by hand / should run."

fasteddie313

I'm not suggesting you buy that car and ship it, I'm saying that deals are out there..
Where do you live?

carltr7

Actually thats not what you said. You provided a link and a comment about that particular car.

I live in Nova Scotia.

V2Rocket

How hard/expensive would it be to import a decent US car from NY or Maine?