Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

hi gang
bit of a background, but i'm 40 in nov (the new 30 i believe!!) and the wife has asked what i want for my birthday, other than a party, a watch, a trip to noo york or an eve with lucious ladeez, i am instead having a bit of cash to put towards my first porker

now, at first, i was looking at other sports and was thinking of a westfield or a can-am spyder (if you've never heard of one, hit google!), but the sensible family man in me (we have a 13 month old terror!) decided on something with rear seats, and i've always wanted a porsche, so porsche it is! initially, i have been looking at/asking around about a child seat for the 944 fhc and cab, but i've had very inflicting advice, some say yep, a child seat will fit in the rear, others have said no chance! juniors safety and comfort is paramount, so after asking/telling/ordering today the good lady if its ok if she sits in the rear while junior is upfont in the seat and getting the thumbs up the cab is a goer as is the fhc!

i'm on the lookout for a cab with a budget of £7k, or a good fhc for upto £4.5k so will i get a good car for these sums?
i've sent Paul a mail asking about the details of his car he has in the classifieds because it looks a stunner

i dont want a money pit, i want something that has been cherished, with fsh and very well looked after, definately no rust nor issues. is £7k for a cab or £4.5k for a fhc a reasonable amount to get a v.good car? i dont know anything about porsches, so will get a good inspection before i buy as i want something as mint as i can possibly get for the budget(s).

i am setting aside £1.5k per year for maintenance (again is this sufficiant?) it will be a third car, garaged and used on dry warm days only by either myself to take junior out in, my wife to take junior out in or all 3 of us to go for a picnic/drive in the country

i'm on the wirral, and will travel a reasonable distance for the right car.

cant wait to get my foot on the porsche ladder, and a big thums up from "err indoors" for being who she is

Al.

Hi m8 & welcome. An adult may find it a bit of a squeeze in the rear of a 944, more suited to small children. There is a recent thread here on child seats:

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=8992&p=53541&hilit=child#p53541

Using the forum search function and word child, several previous threads are available on this subject.

You should also find a decent rust free 944 for 7k, and depending on mileage, 1500 should be ample to keep the car in good order. Things like cam belts, due every 3 or 4 years cost around 1k, a clutch around 1400. Annual service is around 400. This is all subjective to mileage and anything that may break apart from wear & tear items.

cheers Red Rider, i've exhaused myself for a few months now looking at child seats and the 944, but now i know that junior will be upfront with me (with comfort, space and fully safe) and the good lady in the rear, then the porsche is now a goer! the wife is 5ft 1", i'm 5ft 9" so i think she will be just fine and dandy in the rear seats. it wont be used for long journeys (ie more than say 4 hours with stop offs with us all in) much, but the occasional blat into the country and coast roads is a must

John Mitchell Garage have a guide to variuos service/repair prices here:

http://www.jmgarage.com/service/Service-944.htm


Think it cost around 6k if you needed all that lot doing in one go. JM Garage also act as technical advisors on the forum.

Since I only bought mine recently, I have seen aboput another ten I may have bought. Some with all the service work currently done, and some - a bit cheaper - that need the work done. Cleaning, polishing and detailing you can do yourself to your own standard. Plenty of cars out there, but all a mininmum of 18 years old.

Hi and welcome to the forum.

You've easily done the best thing by looking through this forum, and you'll get plenty of advice from 944 owners. If you get along to a local TIPEC meet, the friendly bunch may even let you have a go.

For the money you are talking about, I don't think you'll have any issues. Prices are coming down at the moment, as people are not putting a few K into what is essentially a hobby. Pity you missed out on Paulpsb's car - it's well known in TIPEC circles and was very well looked after. I'm sure something else will come along though, so keep 'em peeled.

The running costs aren't too far adrift either, infact I can get my Boxster serviced for less than £300 by using independant specialists. Your only issue will be Porsche parts.

I hope you find what you're looking for.

Enjoy the ride (when you get it) - they're a blast. And if you want to send your wife my way, she sounds like a great find!!!

Hi and welcome. You might find this useful,

http://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5183

Jim went to the bother of fixing it before he flew off this morning. If I was to start again, I would buy a from someone in the club. Everyone I've met throught the club has been an enthusiast believe it or not.

It would be a good idea to add where you are to your profile/sig so when folk give you any advice or spot a car for you its relevent and reasonably local.

In the current market you will have no problem in your budget and you would be unlucky to spend 1500 per year on your maintenence too ( not impossible just unlucky )

Best of luck with your hunt.

Mas

cheers guys, i'm on the wirral

Hello. To answer some of your points. Good child seats do fit the rear of a 944. Adults don't. I'm not big but can't sit in the back of mine. Porsche still sell suitable child seats new for £165. I was looking at one recently at OPC. Though Mamas & Papas do a cheaper one. I even have a baby seat 0-9mths that fits somewhere.
Recommend you go the OPC route as they will assist you in fitting it & the quality is top notch.
I'm averiging 2K a year on maintenance but I'm fussy & actively improving my car as I go along. Depends what you want out of it. And how you use it. You have to remember that 1500 will be average. You may have a couple of years that are less than £500 then have to blow 3K at one go.
Join the club! It's a no brainer. Top marks for asking here before you buy. If only everybody did that. Usually it's too late to help.

Edit. Don't restrict your search to one model. All the 944's have there good points. Just buy on condition. In fact with cars as old as this condition is all that matters. Ask on Piston heads & the cry goes up "Get an S2." then the new owner comes on here with a tail of woe & disappears for ever broke & disheartened. I'm not saying don't get an S2. Just don't depend on them being the best option. You will have to travel for the best cars. If you want a look at mine drop me a Pm. You can see how a basic 2.5 8v can go!

Totally agree with JJ above, also don't go and look for say a white S2 with black leather, air con, cup wheels and a bridge spoiler for example, because unless you are really lucky you won't find one, buy on condition not spec and make sure the last 5 to 6 years service history is good, the first 3 years is now irrelevant as its getting on for if not over 20 years ago, happy hunting and don't be afraid to ask questions

Hi from me and I can only echo everyone else here. Being patient and looking for an enthusiast car for sale on the Forum is very good advice.

Happy hunting


Andy

Just had a thought. If you're willing to travel then Jon Mitchell is selling one of his S2's at moment near concourse condition
http://www.jmgarage.com/CAR-SALES/JMG/944S2-271109/944S2-271109.htm Cars already been discussed on this forum somewhere.

Andy

i'm totally with you guys, condition=100% most important.

last thursday, i went to look at a s2 cabrio from a dealer, (not porsche, but one that sells high end-ish motors) touted as a fantastic example. screen price £7k. i phoned up to ask a few q's, service history, when belts were changed, oil pressure, smoke on start up etc... you know, the usual. anyway, he said the cars in fantastic shape, full history, with a new hood and interior, and he changed the belts etc, so i decided i'd go and take a look.

it turned out to be a rot box, rust on all arches (not surface either, all the way through) sills, both doors, the leading edge of the bonnet, more chips than the 70's american cop show, scuffed wheels, clouded windscreen.... the roof, if it was new, it was new in the 90's, not now......... if he had it up as a "fantastic example" then his name is stevie wonder, it was a total waste of time driving to see it. spent 15 mins just shaking my head at the state of the body work then walked away............... and this was from a dealer!!

a friend has had 2 porsches now, a 944 and 968 and he gave me a buying guide on what to look for and what to spot, plus other advice, so i'm heeding the advice from here too. i dont want to go in blind and regret what i buy. if it takes a year to get the best for the cash, then a year it is. i know i'll never get a an s2 turbo cab in guards with linen leather with 40k miles, fpsh from a dealer with warranty for £4k, (would be nice like......... ) but i can get a rotbox shed sold by stevie wonder for £7k......................

Have you looked on Piston Heads site for a car?

Also ask people: Has the car had or need any rust repair treatment? Be specific with that question. Not 'Does it have any rust.....'

I had some new 944's when I was younger. So, what I was looking for was: A car like my new one's condition would be today, if I still owned it 20 years later. Mileage was not a denominator unless it was ridiculous. Mechanics can be fixed, and I allowed a few grand for that if needed. I actually insured the car I bought before seeing it, going on the owners description. Sale being subject to his description on the phone. I drove up to Nottingham, tested the car for about 10 miles, went to the PO for raod tax, and drove it home. It was MOT'd the same morning before the sale. I only looked at one car locally before that which was rusty underneath.

The car was well looked after and had done only 10 k in the last 10 years. I spent three weeks detailing it, things like where the door hinges are etc, hatch grooves, sunroof recess etc..

Hi & welcome pretty much convinced other people have covered the bases. I would suggest when you get closer to getting one which is 1/2 decent then get another 944 owner to go with you.

If only everyone came here & asked first ..... SIGH!