@@JohnDoe-kh1mt Go for it, but if it isn’t already sorted out and/or you are unable to work on it yourself, be prepared to spend thousands. Otherwise, leave it for someone else to properly take care of it.
The cost to bring one back is already there I have $8,900 in a car you can get for $3,500 on marketplace a runner. Unless it's already running or you have 6 parts cars, It doesn't make sense just part it out and make your money on eBay.
I hope values and popularity increase at least to the point where it’s viable for someone to reproduce parts like door panels, dash pads, etc! Great video, as always.
I'll do my part here in Ontario and Quebec, east side of Canada to create awareness. Going to restore a 944 and bring it to car shows. I believe the 944 will earn a lot of respect in the future once people research it and learn the history. This car taught me that you don't need a 700 whp car to be fastest or to track hard. There is more to a car than just horsepower (what I hear about lately) and this car reminded me of that.
I'm from Brazil. I've had a 944 1984 for the last 24 years. We have about 12 units of this model here in Brazil. Your videos have helped me a lot to know more about the car. I'm glad to hear that the owners of this car around the world have done a good job of restoring. Thank you very much!
I recently bought an ‘89 running 944 with rough body and salvage title and an ‘85 complete car non-runner with very clean body. I was a young man when the 944 came to market and was always interested in them. Now, retired I can devote some time and resources to these cool cars. Interestingly, both the previous owners were young guys in their 20’s who purchased them with big “plans”. I have $4k into BOTH cars. These cars are now my retirement gig. I’m a fairly capable DIY’er with time and resources to devote to these interesting cars. This channel is one of my first “go-to” choices for good clear content. Much appreciated.
Nice! It sounds like you and I have a similar history and passion for these cars. They’re a lot of fun to work on with fewer and fewer of them out on the roads today. I’m sure you know “plans” can go sideways or get completely scrapped when people’s initial expectations aren’t fully aligned with what a car may need to make it right, but no doubt you will take good care of them now they’re in your hands. 😁
Thanks to @NC944er I am a couple of episodes away from getting a part time job at the RPM Porsche shop. Seriously, I can't thank you enough. Keep up the great work!
My first car was a blue 1978 924. I bought it when I was 15. I worked at Del Taco (only place that would hire me with a work permit) I saved and bought parts to put it together. I sold it, and then watched 16 Candles for the first time. When I saw that red 944, I always wanted it. Some guy posted my current 944 on Offer Up for $4000. I went over and looked at it. Told him I would come back in the AM to get the money. He said, “if you can get me money tonight I will take $1500.” I broke the law speeding, getting to my bank as fast as possible to get the money. Best purchase ever. I honestly don’t think I would sell it ever, even if it hit those prices possibly predicted. It is truly my dream car and it makes me happy just having it my garage. You probably feel the same way. I don’t look at this car as an investment. I look at it as a project and something to have fun with.
Ha! Such a great story, you stole that 944! 😂 I do think the idea of “investment cars” takes a lot of fun out of it because then you’re afraid to drive them, lest the value decrease and so they’re not truly enjoyed. Mine looks great, but it’s pretty high mileage and not all original at this point, so I don’t have worry about driving it. My first car was a 1985 Toyota MR2 (basically a go kart), but at the time we looked at a 944 that was well outside our price range, so I lost out on it then, but it certainly sparked the passion for the series.
@@NC944er Exactly. Mine has 120k miles on it. However, it does have some minor blemishes but it is in really good shape. I don’t even want to fix the small blemishes on the paint. (Small road chips in front) It’s the history of the car. The steering wheel and shift boot has patina. I mean, yeah, I could rethread the steering wheel and get a new shift boot; but the old stuff gives the car character. I did have to reupholster the driver’s seat and center console. They were ripped. I have the tweed fabric interior with the vinyl backing. I live in Henderson NV, a local place adjacent to the strip called “Vegas Upholstery” was the only place that would take the time to track down the original tweed from Germany and take the time to reupholster it.
@@P1983sche A little patina is a good thing! My steering wheel has the popped threads along the top as well. I actually picked up a really nice used replacement a couple years ago and never installed it, it’s just sitting in a box. 😂 I do plan to replace the stock wheel with the larger 370mm Momo Prototipo at some point, to make the manual steering a bit easier.
@@P1983sche 120k on a 944 is nothing. The oil on my high mileage 944 never turned color, pretty much the oil looked like it did when I put it in with only a slight variation.
This trend is prevalent across all enthusiast models over the last 3 years. The reason is because of asset inflation due to the low interest rate environment we were in and the surge in interest of hobbies one could pursue at home. All car values will be dropping as the economy falls back to reality. Short supply will keep RELATIVE values high in the long term, but I would predict we see a meaningful correction in the collector/hobby car world over the next four years. I’d say the 944 fits into the maybe a “third tier” of collector cars alongside the E36, RX7 FC, and others, which will see a drop and a flattening in price over the next few years. This drop will probably be a similar percentage to what we see in the higher tier cars (911, Supra, Skyline, etc) but the absolute value of your that drop won’t feel as painful since the basic price of the lower tier cars is smaller. Also, I do think that all collector car values will stay up above 2015 levels long term as the proliferation of auction sites has created a new market dynamic that did exist before and allows for greater demand to be exerted on the supply (exposure to a much larger audience) than the old localized Craigslist market system that existed before
Interesting points! It feels like a bit of a plateau since January. I honestly thought we’d see a quicker correction on everyday used car prices, but there are still some ongoing supply issues. While I got my car before the “hide in your house” effect, I’ve certainly enjoyed having it here to tinker with over the past couple years.
I agree and i will add i think the 944s are valued fairly, relative to performance and rarity so will be stable and I think many over rated fanboi cars will be dropping back when "reality" retuns
I really think you hit the nail on the head with the vast number of 944’s that were left to rot and fall to pieces. The return on investment has never been there until just recently to pour money into a 944. This increase in quality vehicles is what will lift the entire 944 market.
Loved my 944 when I owned it. The best thing about it was the feedback from the steering wheel. Awesome car. Bought at high mileage 100k+ as a bargain. No engine problem ever but the alternator locked up first week of ownership, replaced myself with a new unit and at the time the price was no worse than the price for a new Honda alternator.
Thanks for sharing, I’m glad you enjoyed your 944! Affordable maintenance is attainable when doing you own work, it’s when the Porsche dealer comes into play that things get a little crazy. 😂
@@NC944er For the most part the 944 engine is bulletproof due to the silica array embedded in the aluminum cylinder walls as the block was cooled at the factory. My oil always looked ridiculously clean.
I think you are pretty spot-on with your comments and speculation. I have had my ‘86 951 since 1999. Enjoyed it as a daily driver for some years and then after 2 A/C compressor replacements and a third failure, left it stored for the past 8 years. Finally decided to sell it this past summer just to get some space for a new toy. But, realized after a quick review of Hagerty and BOT sale data that it would be worth “recommissioning”. So glad I did. I forgot what an absolute joy these are to drive and fairly easy to wrench on too. I am fortunate to have the best of its contemporaries for real live comparison ( ‘85 Ferrari 308, ‘86 Porsche 930 and ‘88 Lotus Esprit ) and the 951 in many ways is my favorite.
Wow, quite the collection you’ve got there! Coincidentally, mine was stored for 8 years prior to being revived… and four years later my A/C still doesn’t work. 😂 Really due to lack of trying though as I’ve prioritized it below all the mechanical and cosmetic maintenance. I may get to it next year. I’m glad to hear yours is back on the road and being enjoyed!
@@NC944er Forgot to mention that I also have an ‘83 Ferrari Mondial QV. Not in the same performance league as the others. But, I love the Pininfarina design, the gated shifting and . . . the sound of that V8 Ferrari engine revving through the gears! Truly a much under-appreciated mid-engine sports car. Check out John Pogson’s review on RU-vid.
I have had my 944 turbo for over 20 years now. I still feel it is one of the most underrated cars of its time. Fantastic handling, great power, refinement, looks, and quality all make it a fantastic car. I have driven many many cars as potential replacements over the years but have not found any that are as good especially for the money!!! I crossed shipped air cooled cars when I purchased mine and they were the same price back then, I still feel the 944 offers a better experience.
Glad I held onto my 84 844, all original except for the radio and 'wear' items. Fun car - hope more people buy and get them back on the road, always fun to see another one on the road. Great video!
Ok, I'm a car enthusiast but never saw a 944 in my life. Everyone talks about the 911. I think the 944 lacks awareness. Someone at work said "Mart, why don't you look at a used Porsche?" after i coudn't find a clearn 300ZX Twin Turbo. I stumbled upon the 944 and researched it. Fell in love. Going to buy my first 944 this weekend. No rust, it was a NA to 944 Turbo full swap by a Porsche mechanic. Receipts and service records, CDs with repair guides included, original manual, etc. Really really excited. I am happy to be part of the community. Goal is a fun weekend car/ track car and learning how to restore it on my own. Great channel! Looking forward to watching the other videos. Conclusion: for price to increase, I think people need to understand how amazing the 944 is and how I believe that Porsche purposefully sabotaged the 944 to pave way for the more profitable 911.
Oh man, that’s so cool! It sounds like you found a great car with some interesting and well-documented history. The 944 community is the best, tons of resources, and people willing to help you learn along the way. The 944 was “unloved” for a period, maybe not as badly as the 924, but there has definitely been a resurgence of interest in these cars and with dwindling supplies, it makes more sense to try and restore them. Best of luck! 👍🏼
That was an interesting perspective! I have had my 1984 944 for 9 years now. It's typically an every day driver when there is not something QUIRKY going on! Thank yu for the video !
Great video, as always. I miss my car already, i wish i had room for more toys. . I thought about this topic quite a bit during my ownership. I do think they will continue to gain popularity and value but I think we’re in a slight plateau currently. That’s not uncommon in a time when prices surge and people scoop up things left and right and then that dies down for a while as people try to let prices fall but I don’t think they will. I got what I believe to be top dollar for my car in the condition it was with the mileage it had and I’m super happy about that. I hope the new owner can see some appreciation in value and continue enjoying the car as much as he did that first day.
Ah man you sold your 944? You had a clean one. I get it though. They really have come up in price recently. They were stagnant for a little bit and then they seemed to catapult upward.
That lack of space may help keep you financially solvent. 😂 If our HOA didn’t have a provision about not keeping disabled vehicles parked out on the street, I’d probably have a couple of parts cars or projects sitting out there. The new owner of your car was undoubtedly thrilled… as we all were when we picked up our first 944. In those first couple weeks, I would just go out and stare at mine like a little kid. 🤪
I don't think we are on a bubble but I would guess NA 8V 944s and 16v 944s are probably where they will be for a while with a slow trend up. Not so sure about Turbo's and S2. I wanted a 968 but those have skyrocketed and I feel silly buying one instead of a Cayman S or 996. It makes me sad that the days of a decent 944 needing minor work in the 2-3k range seem to be over. I wanted to work on one with my kids that wouldn't mean them wrenching on my 89. Something that would have been a $500 parts car 10 years ago, people are trying to get 3k for one.
I’m with you on the 968… I love the performance, but for me aesthetically they’ve always been a strange mix between the two cars, half 944, half something else. 😂 And with the prices, probably better to go with a Cayman. It is a little sad, because when I take my 944 to events, it’s generally the only one and people get excited to see it, even with its lower tier beginnings. I think everyone has a 944 story… they had one in high school or college, a family member had one, or they always wanted one, but all good things come to an end at some point I suppose.
I’ve got an ‘89 S2 as my daily driver and I absolutely love it. Hopefully the values go up because it shows the appreciation for these cars. That being said I’ll never sell mine. It’s such an enjoyable car to drive
In 2009 I bought a n ‘88 NA that the third owner had owned for many gears, spent $21,000 in maintenance and drove so rarely that the Pirellis were dry rotted. It was 22 model years old and had a tad over 100,000 miles. Won an eBay suction and got it for $4,450. Nice to know my son might get more for it when he can pry it out of my cold, dead hands. Hoping my wife gets even more out of a ‘73 914 that will have a 1,911 cc engine with individual throttle bodies.
Great story, thanks for sharing. My middle son thinks he will inherit mine as well. He’s got about 7 years before driving age, so I’m not sure it will still be around at that point, but we’ll see. 😂
Prices are down a little this year and good deals can still be found, they just pop up less frequently. Classifieds like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, etc will be your best bet for an affordable project. Most of the decent ones I’ve see lately fall between $5k-$10k. You can find them cheaper, but they’re typically in such rough condition that the cost to bring them back to life would significantly outweigh the value at that point. The general consensus with old Porsches is to buy the best possible example you can afford.
Well, as the (fairly new) owner of a 1983 base model, I would hope that the value goes nowhere but up. although I'm not looking to sell it at this time. However, as has been said, almost everything is for sale if the price is right.
Great video!! I hope your future speculation is right! And I agree with you. I happen to own a 1986 944 Turbo (Guards Red) with the good old phone dial rims. If the price does tick up enough in the next 10 years I suppose it'll be time to consider unloading this beauty...or not. :)
Nice! I actually have a really nice condition spare steering wheel that was pulled from an ‘86 Turbo, wish I could have afforded the whole car. 😂 If I do end up parting with mine, it will probably be to pick up a new project that needs saving and less about the money, but we’ll see. 👍🏼
I guess I’m lucky! I picked up an 83 944 for $1,800 a few months back. I just got it running though after about $1,000 in parts (and a brand new set of a bunch of tools!). About $3,500 into the car in total, which I don’t think is too bad for rebuilding the whole brake/fuel system and servicing the engine bay.
Nice work! Examples sold in a non-running condition usually take a pretty large hit on value. I’m glad you got it back on the road and can enjoy it. 👍🏼
I inherited a 1983 944 from my late father-in-law. Although it has 113,000 miles on it, the car is pristine. I’m enjoying it immensely. When I bring it to work, the kids in their ‘20’s go wild over my 944, especially when I activate the flip up headlights. Value is somewhat meaningless when you enjoy driving a vintage car that is fun and makes people give “Thumbs Up” every day.
Love it! I’ve definitely had some of the younger crowd see the 944 and go, “Bro, what is that!?” They think it’s something much more modern than a 40-year old car so when I tell them, they’re pretty shocked. I think a lot of people have a 944 story from some point in their lives though - either they knew someone in high school who had one or had a family member who owned one, etc. I’ve been restoring mine for that reason, and not to enhance its value, and there is a lot of fun to be had in sharing the experience with others. 👍🏼
I bought a 1987 924s last year for $5,000 and I can’t find any other even comparable to it for that price anymore, plus I’ve fixed a bunch of problems since I’ve owned it
Thanks bud Oh yeah We got the fuel lines Short shifter Timing and balance belt servicing Full tune up Plugs Wires Rotor Cap Oil Gear oil Filters The full Monty Little odds and ends to fix up here and there too And I am planning on installing a MAF 😊 to replace the air flow meter Then drive!!! Planning a trip to Mooresville,NC to meet and old friend . He’s into Audi . Should be fun. Thanks for the great videos and knowledge. Passing on knowledge is a path to immortality 😊 Endless aloha
I'm excited and nervous to see how the next few years go. I have a long wishlist of cars I'd like to own but especially with the last few years many are not currently realistically attainable. (I did buy a complete but neglected 944 May 2021 and have been working on getting it roadworthy again). My fear is two fold. One, the people like myself who wanted 944 as kids or before they could drive have the disposable income to start buying them, properly sorting and maintaining them (remember a few years back the craziness with certain muscle cars?). Two, I really doubt the more modern cars will age well. I hope I am wrong about this but the number of specialised parts, especially electronics, when they fail they will be a nightmare to source or repair with many requiring specialized dealer tools to pair back to the car. The other is all the plastic components once they start aging out and becoming brittle.
I recently watched a clip of Dave Grohl talking about problems with his Tesla and not being able to personally do anything about it, he just kept having to go back to the dealership. 😂 I think the shift in knowledge/experience will definitely have more of a background in electronics, but with larger barriers to entry in DIY maintenance as a result of the computer oriented repairs, but outside that, parts should be mostly plug-and-play if they attainable and accessible on the car. I swapped out some motors and components on my drone last year and it was pretty easy, although not nearly as fun as working on an internal combustion engine. 😂
Yeah, the individual country-specific markets can vary quite a bit as well. I’ve talked with people from Australia and New Zealand and the 944 is a pretty rare site in those parts of the world. I was also a little surprised to find how much more expensive they run in Germany vs. the US, but I suppose the states did receive quite a lot of the original inventory at the time.
I just bought an '89 Guards Red S2 with 120k mi for $25k. Perhaps a bit much if not for the recent $3800 in documented work, great tires and near perfect exterior. I plan to continue maintenance and restoration work, and fully expect the car to maintain my investment. Whatever. It turns heads!
Nice! The S2 is “the” model to have across the series I think, the power delivery is more linear than the turbo and it has all the best updates added throughout the years. Condition and recent maintenance can make a big difference in final price, I’ve seen a recent timing belt job add $2,000 to a sale over comparable examples at the time. Enjoy it! 👍🏼
IMHO, 914s and 928s went way up. Probably because there are fewer examples than the 944. There were plenty of 928s for under $3K, not any more. 914s were under $1K. Or course I am talking about the cars being dumped on FB Marketplace or Craigslist with an assortment of problems or non runners. Now the basket case 928s are $5K and it might have a title. 😅
Yeah, I think you’re right… I recently saw a local 928 for $8,000: non-running with disclosed oil leaks and thrashed interior. Respect to all those guys out there who have “running” 928s. 👍
Hi! I’m 16 and I’m drooling over this 944 at this euro car dealership near me. They’re only asking 1900 bucks. The car doesn’t start. They told me it needed a new battery and a fuel pump, but also that when the car is running that it shakes. Do you have an idea on what it might be? Also do you think it’d be worth it to buy one as a fun project car?
Nice! How many times have you gone by to look at it? 😂 They definitely make for fun project cars if you have access to a decent set of metric tools. The main specialty tool you’d need is the belt tensioning tool for timing belt service. $1,900 is a good price if the car is otherwise in good shape. Whatever the dealership says it needs, I would at least double that. The risk is in the unknown and it’s probably safest to factor in another $2,000-$4,000 to care for any backlog of maintenance. A new battery is about $180 and fuel pumps can be found for around $150. The shake/rattle could be a number of things. On the 944, it mostly commonly points to failed hydraulic engine mounts (they collapse over time and need to be replaced) or a poorly timed balance shaft belt (these are often set a few teeth out of time). Shakes can also result from engine misfires, you won’t be able to determine if that’s the case without firing it back up.
Shaking in common can be from badly set balancing belt... this engine shakes a lot without it... and if badly set it can even crack an oil suply tube in the sump. It can be some catastrophic failure also. Buy it cheap or leave it. Would consider this car if body and lack is in good shape, if it is not rusted... i mean no rust in sixe sills and around rear mounts of the suspension especially the lower mounts are the first to show rust if you look from under of a car
I see values rising because people in their middle 40’s like me loved these cars and drooled over them when we were young. Now we have some money and these are our new classics and Will just go up in value - especially the turbo - even if it is an LS powered car. The question I have about the car market is what is going to happen when the boomers age out. They are driving the classic car market. What happens when their estates want to liquidate those cars? Especially when I am then in my 50’s and I don’t care to have their gasser or their poor handling land yacht and definitely not at these prices? That is a whole bunch of cars. They flood the market… I don’t know what that looks like.
Yeah, I agree it will get interesting in the next 10-15 years. I think we’ll still see some smaller pockets of those 50s-60s cars, cases where a son or daughter carries on the tradition of “dad’s car” in parades, etc, but they may end up being more of a museum experience. 😂
Thanks! They are pretty close… I’ve come across quite a few people who prefer the sleeker lines and older style dash of the 924S, but I think the 944 still outpaces it in popularity. The box fender flares make it a little more aggressive and well know, and so “on average,” the 924S sales I’ve seen lately tend to come in about $2,000 lower than a comparable condition 944 would be at that time.
Hey! I was wondering if you would consider doing a video on the nuts, bolts and screws for the 944, and where you get yours brand new? E.g common sizes, best materials to use, and whether you should / shouldn't replace certain ones. Mine are rusty and I've been scared to replace them in case I use the wrong metals etc, I would love to replace the hardware as I go through and refurb each part :)
Hey Hugh, that’s an interesting idea, I hadn’t thought about putting anything like that together. There are some nuances across different fitting for the various applications on the car, but most of the bolts in and around the engine bay are a standard class 8.8 steel that is yellow zinc plated. There are a few applications, like the bolts on the steering shaft for example, that used hardened class 10.9 bolts. The surface of the bolt heads generally have the specifications stamped on top. Additionally, most bolts use a standard coarse thread, but there are few that use a fine thread pitch, and those details can be found in the Porsche parts catalog. I purchase most of my hardware from Belmetric, unless the bolt length is peculiar, and in those cases you have to go through Porsche, but there aren’t many of those.
@@NC944er Thank you for the reply! I'm going to try find a box set that includes different sizes etc to cover my bases. Thank you for making all of this content btw, its turned my project from being a daunting task to incredibly manageable. I'll be joining the patreon soon to thank you!
I think color alone can have a small impact on value, but much of that will ultimately be determined by the preferences of potential buyers and the comparable options available on the the market at the time. The red, white, and black 944s are most commonly available, followed by silver and tan, with the brown, yellow, and blue colors being the most rare. If you have two competing buyers dead set on picking up a yellow 944, that could drive up the price, but there are others who may not want to go near a yellow car, so it all depends. What does present a more definitive impact on value is if the car have been repainted, where a respray in the factory color will generally reduce value slightly and a full color change to a non-factory color would result in a significant value drop in most cases. In your case, the low mileage and overall condition will have the largest impact on the car’s final value, with the yellow color being more of a wild card… in my opinion. If it’s a nice car in a color you like, you can’t go wrong. 👍🏼
what is your opinion on higher ethanol content fuels? the UK recently adopted E10 gas/petrol as the baseline option where premium is still E5, Porsche say E10 is unsuitable for use in the OEM fuel system, is this something that you have to deal with in the USA?
I run 87 octane that has around 10% ethanol and it runs fine. I would drain the tank when it goes into storage because it can rust the inside of the tank. My car is an 84' n/a though, the later cars need different fuels.
Yeah the US has E10 standard. I use ethanol stabilizer, but it really doesn't become an issue so long as you don't let the gas sit and you have new fuel lines and injector seals
Yeah, I’ll echo what others have already stated. The E10 will run fine as a daily driver, the problem is when it sits in storage, as it breaks down faster than the ethanol-free fuels. I also have a number of ethanol-free pumps in my area and that’s usually what I go for, although it’s about $1.50 more per gallon, it’s worth it to save the fuel pump and injectors if I need to store the car for more than 6 months.
I hope the 944 prices won't raise. What good would it do? Air cooled esp. 964 and 993 are already out of reach from all car enthusiasts. It isn't in any car fan's interests. Soon those cars will be too valuable to even drive on the public roads. Like 964 widebodies and 993 Turbos already. Not good. 👎
Generally speaking young people did not take care about cars. Actual buyers are mostly people that can not buy that car when they were young. Now they are in their 50th and 60th and in a few years they will sell the car because they can not drive any more because of health problems or they simply die. So in approx 10 to 20 years the market will fallen down. I do not see a big increase of value. And within 15 years you will find a charging place for you electro car everywhere but must travel quite far for to get gas. In addition the price for gas will raise up. Last but not least: Technological progress will bring self-driving cars. So, on the daily commute to work, one can rest or do something else while the classic car driver is busy driving.
@@NotFinancialAdvice Now that the 944 has entered the vintage/classic space, it has more special appeal, but back in the 80s and 90s it felt like the Boxter does today, a little more entry level.
Thoughts on a salvage titled 944? I picked up 84 in 2018 for a great deal, however it had hit a deer in 1994 and being 10 years old I assume was totaled. The drivers fender was replaced and now it has a rebuilt/salvage title. How much does that affect the value of the car?
Hey Jon, yeah the salvage branded titles can be a tough hit, in many cases dropping the value 20-40% from market prices. The sad thing is that many 944s met this fate due to parts and Porsche labor costs, when in reality the accident damage was often pretty minor, such as the case for your car. There are undoubtedly cars out there that are in worse overall condition than yours that aren’t labeled as salvaged and so that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the car immensely and pass it down through the family. I’ve generally followed a rule that if I intend to pick up a car with a branded title, to keep it for the long haul, because the resale will take a hit. Even if you and I have the knowledge to assess the vehicle for what it is and feel comfortable with a transaction, there are others out there who won’t be able to move past the stigma associated the label. I think the 944 fares better than the average everyday car in these situations, because it is a special car, and the right buyer who knows what it is may be willing to pay more.
I don't recommend a salvaged title 944. It is a unibody thus once the structure is compromised it never "really" can be put back right. 944 is pretty much all a handling car and suspension attachment points to the body are critical for handling. Of course if you are buying it for it's styling and the Porsche badge, salvage may be OK. I did buy mine for both handling and styling. It is a driver's car.
@@auto9491 On the surface, there is risk, but I think someone who really knows these cars in and out could make a sound case for one after a thorough inspection. Hagerty wanted to “salvage” mine just last year when the front spoiler and radiator support were damaged in a low speed impact. Many states, like North Carolina, can apply the salvage classification when the repair estimate hits 75% of market value. In my case, the front spoiler alone was over $1,200 and then they applied a $150 per hour “Porsche” labor rate to their estimate, and I was told they lump the 944s in with the 911s in terms of general parts cost and risk on their end, which isn’t accurate in my estimation. I ended up negotiating with them and doing all my own mechanical work to keep the title clean, and I still ended out on top with money left over, so the overall insurance model is flawed, it’s just not worth the risk to them in many cases as they can’t solve for the unknowns.
@@NC944er If the frame was not damaged then those 944 should be fine. However in general the used car market tries to hid flaws, the worst is flood cars. However if you have an actual expert that is fine as well.
@@ang9303 True! Although we might appreciate it 40 years from now so we can show our great grandchildren and say, “Grandpa used to drive one of these!” 🤣
Meh, stay away. I discourage everyone from buying one of theses. They are more like antiques then classics at this point. Parts are hard to get, the aftermarket has dried up, and the knowledge base is dying. It isn't a Chevy. The garage down the street isn't going to touch it. The only people who should be buying 944's are collectors and race shops with fabrication skills. If you want a Porsche, go buy a Cayman.
I think it depends on the individual goals of potential buyers, as some people are specifically looking for project cars to tinker with, and given the neglect some of these have seen there’s a lot of opportunity for a variety of restoration work. There are still quite a few European Specialist shops in my area, but I know not everyone has access to those and yes, knowledgeable gaps are certainly developing at regular repair shops. I also wouldn’t give the 944 a super strong investment rating, but they tend to fare better than a Miata or Mini for similar fun to be had.
Really? "Race shops with fabrication skills" only? I rebuilt my 84 as a new mechanic over covid. Only needed my welder once, for a stuck water pump bolt. I didn't know my little garage was a race shop, nor that I had fabrication skills! 😆👍
Those shit boxes were never bargains they always need a complete restoration and for all that work you get a low power underwhelming driving experience
Tell us how you really feel. 😂 Squeezing additional power out of the 944 through modification has always been a challenge, but I think that’s part of their charm. For what I’ve spent on my restoration to date, I could have easily LS swapped, but then it wouldn’t really be a 944 anymore.
Prices have dipped a bit in the past few months, seen several low-mile examples go for less than 10k on BAT and CarsAndBids. Wish I had a second garage to grab another one.
