944 Buyers Guide Pt. 2: Shopping A Seller.

[@davidkaehele8910]

As far as the paint goes solid colors are single stage and the metallics and pearls are clear coated. If you have a solid color with clearcoat it has been repainted. One thing to look for in a repaint of Gaurds Red is did they get the color correct? There are two different Gaurds Red, very close but different. There is a pearl white available but I have never seen one in person, but it would be interesting.

[@TakeFlightGarage]

Interesting info I’d never heard that about the differences in paint! I vaguely recall seeing something about the change in guards red, the only thing I for sure know is that the paint code for one of them is LM3A

[@Seagrams]

Job hunting, dating, buying homes and cars... it's never fun dealing with the market. When I purchased my 944 i was blessed to stumble across an honest seller. I didn't bother to negotiate price as it was fair and I wanted to encourage more of that good in the world.
Although I can't imagine what's worse, being a buyer or being a seller having to deal with all those low ballers, test drivers, and tire kickers lol

[@TakeFlightGarage]

This is well said 👌🏻

[@ireiaand]

Exactly what I needed! Have been looking at a good few on Facebook marketplace, some sellers definitely seem very sketchy to be giving my cash to… so I completely agree with shopping the seller and if they seem sketchy the car might be too.
Just found a very nice 1987 944 base model with 2 owners and 67k miles in the same colour as yours! Been sitting on marketplace for the past month at 18 grand, what do you think? I would assume a car like this probably would need a lot of the rubber replacing just due to age? Just asking this as the engine bay looks quite original, very clean but the seller hasn’t said if he’s done any work to it…

[@TakeFlightGarage]

At that point it’s all up to the overall condition of the car, if the paint is very clean no scratches, no tears in the leather, and all that stuff, then that price I would consider very fair with only 67k. That’s pretty darn low mileage for a car this old, especially if the car is in crazy good shape. But t doesn’t hurt to reach out to him and ask some questions!
Rubber will be fine until it needs to be messed with, that’s when it’s gonna start to break. If the car was kept inside esp in a climate controlled environment then everything should be preserved rather well. The only big thing that’s gonna be in your future on that car would probably be a clutch.

[@ireiaand]

@@TakeFlightGarage hmm okay thank you for your opinion! Yea the car basically looks like it rolled off the production line yesterday, seems to be in superb condition!
Ahh yea haha suppose that makes sense, hopefully it doesn’t need everything messing with might have a look at it soon! But yea the low mileage might also be something to look at as I’ve heard these cars don’t like to sit and start to have a lot of problems from going as a garage queen to a daily driver…

[@TakeFlightGarage]

@@ireiaand I probably wouldn’t use it as a daily honestly just because it’s in such great condition mainly because everything’s gonna drive you nuts like where you park it scratches dings all that stuff. There’s a def a level of paranoia I have about my 86 that I never had about the 83. If you baby the clutch it should have plenty of life left but you’re right about the cars not liking to sit. Could cause fuel problems etc.
But I will say if this is legit like a concours level car 18k does sound like a pretty good opportunity for it to be a forever car. They were meant to be driven so throwing miles on the clock was never a big deal to me, but it’s all the other daily aspects I’d be worried about.
Here’s my .02;
If you’re looking for a daily to get to and from school/ work/ college, I’d shop for something in the 12-14k max mark, with deals that are still out there for closer to 10 (944 values are all over the place it’s annoying lol) and I’d basically keep that extra cash in your account for “emergency” purposes like an oopsy daisy clutch job.
On the other hand, if this is gonna be a car that you intent to keep forever and the oncoming maintenance isn’t too big a worry because the car can be down for a while, won’t be driven hard or far everyday but will still see some moderate use, then you can own it comfortably and not really worry about the financial aspects of things. If everything’s original on it once you subject it to daily duty it’s definitely gonna show its age. When I cover all the modifications I’ve done to my car I’ll make sure to include a closing piece talking about where I spent money on mine and why and how someone might be able to take a more inexpensive car as their first car and do all those mods and have a very solid setup without having to worry too much about what is/ isn’t gonna break in the future.

[@ireiaand]

@@TakeFlightGarage I appreciate the detailed response! Yea I definitely feel that this car perhaps may be “too nice” for a daily, perhaps one that has been used moderately with maybe 100-140k miles that’s had those old parts wear out and be replaced might keep the car more affordable to begin with before it requires a full array of things due to wearing out with age.
The 944 would be my first car ever, I’m not sure if I would have it forever perhaps down the line I would like to get my dream car a 62 bug (a lot less cooler but I love them) but I may fall in love so much with the 944 like you have done yourself and not feel able to ever let it go haha. Might just have to get more garage space…
Overall tho, looking at what you have said the car would typically do 14 miles a day just to school and back, hoping to find the best example I can, as then hopefully it won’t have problems that ones that have been neglected may have (unsure of everything that can go wrong with them, but things like timing belts possibly causing damage due to not being replaced frequently could be a sign I’m hoping to avoid all together) My budget for one of these guys is probably somewhere below 20 perhaps might see if I can find a turbo for a good value as that would be a dream but I’m sure I could find a great base model too that can still hold up to daily use. Not going to drive it too hard like track days or anything perhaps just spirited driving on occasion. One thing that’s slightly unfortunate is I won’t be able to store the car in a garage but I do have access to a clean driveway and I’ll get a cover to have it in every night to hopefully keep it in the best condition!
I appreciate your response and it’s definitely helping when making choices on getting that first 944 definitely will be talking to my parents about the information you have given me! And I’ll most definitely watch your future videos on it!

[@twinkyzz6790]

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