Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

I'm still on my quest for eternal life - or so it seems. I'm looking for a 944 turbo SE in good condition for a budget of sub £4k.
This seems a big wish and comes with compromise.

I have found a car that fits the bill but has 236k miles on the clock. Its got a Full service history and clearly has had lots of money spent on it. New clutch, fuel and brake lines, tyres etc. The interior is very clean. Only 4 owners from new the last owner has had the car for ten years. He amassed most of the mileage on the car on a daily run from Kent to London.

So questions for you are:

1) How many miles has your 944 done?
2) Where there any major failing points on the car and if you remember at what mileage?
3) What could potentially go wrong with a car of this mileage?
4) Any other words of wisdom.....

I have secured the car (pending deposit) for £3k.

Just phoned the previous seller, who tells me that the air con doesn't work, the passenger side electric window is very slow and it has a strange rattle from the front of the engine. This started after he had the belts changed (at 216k now 237k), but didn't get the idlers or rollers changed. The noise goes away after five minutes and he has used the car like this for over 9 months. Oil pressure gauge is faulty and always reads 5 bar when electrics are on (faulty earth?). He replaced the driving light lenses from glass to perspex as they kept being hit by stones and breaking. They are over £200 each from OPC. He also told me that on the last MOT, he was advised that the suspension bushes were near the end of their life - so will need changing now.

I think you can get a better example than that, but you should look at spending 5-6K instead, if your budget allows.

Just IMO

Hi,

My S2 has approx. 105,000 miles on the clock. Firstly, air con on a car of this age is unlikely to be working. It's more than likely going to need a new compressor and recharge etc to get it going again.

I'm not 100% sure about the rattle you mentioned but it may need the idlers and rollers. If you're going to get the rollers and idlers done, it's worth having the cam belts and water pump replaced at the same time. (You need to remove the belts to get to the water pump if I'm not mistaken). Someone will probably be along in a moment whoi knows a bit better than me.

As for the oil pressure gauge, is it always reading 5 bar? Does it read 5 bar when the car is warmed up. I find my oil pressure gauge sits at between 3.5 - 4 bar at idle when the engine is up to operating temp.

Headlight glass/lenses are the same as a Mk 1 Golf, so not sure why he was going to an OPC for these items. Should be able to get some good second ones from a breakers or flea bay.

I think the main thing to remember is to buy a car on the how well it has been maintained rather than condition/mileage. However, I've never heard of a 944 with 236k on the clock. IMO though, I think the car seems a bit expensive. I've seen good 944's with half the mileage for about £4k.

Regards,

Ben

Most of the issues sound normal for any high mileage car, on most I'd be looking at doing belts & idlers, waterpump etc. So that would resolve those issues. As others have said A/C never works & can (will) be expensive to fix. Suspension bushes will need doing but aren't a fortune, I suspect dampers will need doing at the same time but that is only about £500. Mine has done 145K & TBH doesn't show it.
I've heard of 200K+ miles & TBH it will probably be a better car than a garage queen.

Is it in Kent, want me to have a look?

Cheers chaps.

The car is in Leeds. The lenses for the driving lights are the special S2 style units (aka front fog lights) so not Golf items.

If its not too far from me I might be able to find the time to have a look at it

Hi,

Apologies. I thought you meant the pop-up lenses. Where about is the car in Leeds. You've got me interested now. Any pics?

Regards,

Ben

S2 fog/driving lights are around £90 if you only need the front lenses. The complete unit including back shell is near £200. AMHIK!

I would guess that its this one

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1000013.htm

That looks good & the interior certainly belies its mileage.

Thats the boy !!
Fingers crossed it will be mine at the weekend.

I've heard of 200K+ miles & TBH it will probably be a better car than a garage queen.

Bob on Jim. Conditions what counts not the milage. Could be a good car with a bit of tlc.

Rav that advert looks like a dealer posing as a private seller he has a 996 for sale using the same location shot and phone number but a slightly different name. Looks a supicious thing to do unless he can explain why.

944 add http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1000013.htm with Paul Gill as contact
996 add http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/998749.htm with Kam Gill as contact

Is he someone who happens to own 2 porsches and lives in a mansion or is there something else going on. Check him out first then car. Funny how the wording is the same at the end of both adds even the same spelling mistakes.

Or everything could be alright, what do you other guys think? I'd save a bit more budget and look elsewhere personally.

Andy

Who trusts property agents