Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Just a quick note to introduce myself and get some honest opinions.

Many moons ago I was the proud owner of a 944 Lux (A19 ACS if you still live?) which I traded for a 944S2. When my daughters started to grow legs I had to grow up and sell the S2 which was the best car I ever had. With the kids almost grown up and a bit of surplus cash to spend I decided I wanted to go back to the world of 944 ownership. Long story short, eBay, red wine and a cheeky bid means I am now the owner of a 1986 944 Turbo. First impressions were ok as it looks quite smart and one of the selling points were the replacement sills and 12 months MOT.

As soon as i could I took the car to Porsche Swindon to have it inspected. I knew the car had a number of electrical gremlins (none of which impact critical electrical functions) and given it's age I expected some mechanical updating being required. What I was not expecting was the bodged sill replacement. Basically the outer sills have been replaced and a rather nice spray job to both sides of the car. What has not been done is the rust in the floors so sills and floor does not join. Lovett's suspect that inner sills were not sorted either. Their advice to me was to not spend anything on the car as in their opinion it's not economically viable.

My question to the world of owners is should I sell on as a project and seek out another car or get this one fixed so I know I have a sound platform to build from?

Here's a quick summary of good and bad points:

Good: strong history file, lots of receipts showing major work to engine and a replacement gearbox approx 30k miles ago
superb condition 968 alloys with good tyres
black leather interior. Seats have no scuffs or tears. Some motor functions not working
12 months MOT and tax

Bad: under body corrosion plus what ever is hidden
Leaking sunroof (now fixed with new seal) has damaged headlining
Electrical issues (no rear wiper, electric mirrors, heated rear window, sunroof)
Collapsed n/s engine mount

So, do i get body sorted and slowly work through the mechanicals/electricals or sell as a project car. If I get another 944 Turbo am I potentially walking in to the same again? Who can do that sort of work (Oxford area) and what sort of spend am I looking at?

I would stick with it and get it all sorted.

A proper job is not cheap and could cost you up to £3k depending on how bad the rot it is and where you take it.

To give the car a fair chance you really need to take it to a fabricator that's knows them.

Jump on the A34 and head south for an hour and you'll find Paul Baker a master craftsman that's worked on my car and another members recently. If it's the 1986 Turbo that sold for £3800 you've got a plenty of room to play with compared to finding one that has been sorted properly.

Yeah I agree with Sean, pay to get it done properly.
It sounds like you didn't pay big money for it, so will be worth sorting and know you have a good one.

It is that car. His description in the advert and his assessment of the car over the phone and what arrived are 2 different things. I did buy blind (I know) but thought with the descriptions and the price I got it for I couldn't go far wrong! Do you have contact details for Paul?

I'm guessing its this one http://www.pbcm.co.uk

Yes that's Paul's website http://www.pbcm.co.uk/

Here's my car sill pics http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/944po ... t=3&page=1

Depends on just how bad the rust is. Cut it open to see then part out to get your return if nessery. I actually lost my S do to spent a lot on it but jacks points went and I broke it. Brought a turbo.

Shell was cut up and iv got pics off just how bad the rust was consider there's was little to show out side. Just bubbles in the fresh paint

Hi Martins I really hope you are happy with the decision you make and all is resolved.

But I'm curious - how does a 44 with such serious structural issues get a fresh MOT? Maybe 944 experts here can enlighten me - I'm genuinely puzzled.

An MOT test confirms a basic level of roadworthyness. Corrosion is not an MOT fail unless it is within a certain distance from suspension mounting points or seat belt mountings. Also the level of investigation an MOT inspector is allowed to do is very limited. They are basically only allowed to tap with a small rubber hammer which is unlikely to show up much. My 944 was damned by Lovett's due to the amount of work, both mechanical and bodywork that needs doing. To be honest the mechanical stuff can all be worked through in time and a lot of it is DIY stuff. My worry was body and I am seriously considering following the advise and cutting it open but not just yet. I will use it for the summer as it now drives ok. I fixed the leaking sun roof and did a minor service myself with new pads, filters, plugs etc. I also replaced the throttle with a part off eBay so no more blutack and no more hunting on idle. There's loads of things that have been really bodged that are such simple fixes and have cost little other than my time which is free.

Bear in mind that Lovetts will be taking into consideration their very high Porsche Dealer Labour rate and only using new genuine parts where still available. A good, recommended independent bodyshop that has masses of restoration expertise will potentially be a third of the labour rate and willing to use good second hand parts or even fabricate them themselves if necessary.

I would drive it and enjoy it over the summer months and fix the little jobs that you can. This will give you time to discover if it truly is a good car worth spending more money on.

Always nice to see another Oxfordshire based Porsche owner pop up on here

I have no real advice on the sills but have read on a number of occasions about the recommendations made Porsche dealers in terms of work needed (and also the 'quality' of work carried out at some dealers) isnt always understandable and there is a gap between what they expect and whats acceptable on a 30 year old car. In no way am I saying that rusty sills are acceptable or bodging a repair just that an independant engineer might have a different view once they get through the bodged outer sill repair.

Hope it all works out as it looks like a clean car and hopefully see you around at some point.