Ray Singh
Posted a lot
More German exotica in my garage now
Posts: 1,984
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Friends. I have been offered a Porsche 944 turbo that has come up for sale. I am a big fan of this under rated car and have owned a couple previosuly. Finances have always dictated that i sell the car for some reason or other.I sold my last car (it was bought via Retro rides) as we moved into a large family house last year. Ironically, it has a double garage which is currently devoid of car. Anyway, the car that has been offered is a early 220bhp car, but is cat c listed in 2006. It has a vic check done to show the repairs were carried out well. The seller describes the engine as smokey on startup, and also tells me that the sills are bubbling. I am no mechanic - i struggle to top up the washer fluid, but this car has really go to my heart. I am due to see it on sunday and am worried that it will be an impulse buy without any thought. The car has a month MOT and 25 days of tax. The current owner needs a quick sale and has offered up a guide price of £1500. My head is saying that with lots of learning this could be the perfect project car that I could rolling resto into a useable condition. However, the other half of me, is paniced that bubbly sills mean inner and outer sills need replacing, smokey engine = full engine re-build and it will always be a CAT C car. What would you do? Some inspiration for your time:  |
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hamps
Posted a lot
www.medwayrscentre.co.uk
Posts: 2,077
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Cat C cars are everywhere, really don't let that put you off at all, as long as it was repaired properly, who cares?! The smoke could be turbo seals, piston rings etc? maybe have a proper good look over it, it may be something silly like a blocked breather? If the sills have only "just" started to bubble, surely they can't be rotten through?!!! I think it is dirt cheap, and as a guide maybe cheaper? I say go check it out properly, and go from there  |
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Even ion 2006 it wouldn't have needed much damage for this to be written off, as it would have been 15-20 years old at the time. If it's a car for yourself, does it matter it's on the hit list? It's never bothered us, we've had loads of Cat C's and D's over the years. Just go and have a look at it and see how you feel about it!
A word of warning though - a VIC is nothing more than an identity check of the vehicle, it offers no assurance of the standard of the work and is there purely to make sure the vehicle is not a ringer.
Joe
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Last Edit: Jun 7, 2013 12:42:33 GMT by Deleted
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A word of warning - a VIC check only ensures it isn't a ringer, it's no guarantee of quality repairs. (Hah, timing, posted above just as I finished writing this).
Being declared cat C in 2006 suggests it may well have suffered a moderate amount of damage, so I'd be very wary unless you can prove exactly what happened to it. Equally it could have been something very minor, but unless you know otherwise...
£1500 is particularly cheap too, which also rings alarm bells.
Additionally, would you ever be happy with it knowing it had been damaged? Put me right off one of my previous cars, was never comfortable with it.
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Last Edit: Jun 7, 2013 12:45:02 GMT by Lewis
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Ray Singh
Posted a lot
More German exotica in my garage now
Posts: 1,984
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Thanks for the replies. I assumed that the VIC, showed that the repairs were carried out to a high standard. VIC - Vehicle Identity Check - makes sense really doesnt it? Its in the name.
See i have already gone all gooey for the car and cant see the wood for the trees.
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If you're that tempted, the question to ask yourself is "Can I throw away £1500?". If you can, then there might be some justification in having a play.
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hamps
Posted a lot
www.medwayrscentre.co.uk
Posts: 2,077
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Even ion 2006 it wouldn't have needed much damage for this to be written off, as it would have been 15-20 years old at the time. If it's a car for yourself, does it matter it's on the hit list? It's never bothered us, we've had loads of Cat C's and D's over the years. Just go and have a look at it and see how you feel about it! A word of warning though - a VIC is nothing more than an identity check of the vehicle, it offers no assurance of the standard of the work and is there purely to make sure the vehicle is not a ringer. Joe Yeh sorry, I forgot to mention this! |
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doobie
Part of things
Posts: 271
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Ask him to MOT it and if it passes agree to pay him the price of the mot on top of the agreed price. If it fails at least you know what is wrong with it and can either walk away or adjust the price accordingly. If he refuses to MOT it then he is hiding something so walk away.
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Ray Singh
Posted a lot
More German exotica in my garage now
Posts: 1,984
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Good point well made..... I know that his answer will be that he needs a quick sale and hasnt got the time.....
But yes, this is a good way to determine what (if anything) he is hiding.
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Worst case scenario, would you be able to break it for the £1500 if it all turned sour?
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Ray Singh
Posted a lot
More German exotica in my garage now
Posts: 1,984
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I would have thought so yes. If not £1500, then at least £1000.
So i guess the census, is go for it, if it all looks ok......
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fred
Posted a lot
WTF has happened to all the Vennies?
Posts: 2,957
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Do you know a buddy who is savvy which such stuff?
If not maybe a call to a mobile mechanic may cost 40 quid or whatever just to come along with you
The cat c is pretty common, its the smoky stuff which could cost if your not too handy with the spanners
bubbly sills wouldnt be too much to worry about
But yes ask him to book it in for a MOT
if he side swipes you
walk away
be strong !!
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'79 Cossie ran Cortina - Sold
2000 Fozzer 2.0 turbo snow beast
'85 Opel Manta GSI - Sold
03 A class Mercedes
Looking for a FD Ventora - Anyone?
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Hmm. If it's only a little smoky at start-up I'd sugest valve stem oil seals - although turbo bearing seals could leak while it's switched off I suppose, giving the same symptoms. Bubbly sills could be rotten if the rust's coming through from the inside. IIRC, these are galvanised and don't rust much. In fact, they tend only to rust where non-galv repairs are let in after accidents... Personally, I'd tread with extreme caution, despite being able to wield a spanner and a sparkly hot melt metal gun.  |
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Personally if I was selling something I knew to be cheap anyway there's no way i'de faff about wasting half a day taking it in for an MOT, sorry to pour cold water on things but I would think thats how it was for most people. Smokey on start up could be a simple fix could be more involved, as above the best advise would be to take someone knowledgable with you to have a good look at it.
CAT C is always going to devalue it compared to a vehicle that isn't on the register no matter what condition you get it in to, however it wouldn't put me off buying a vehicle - but i would be wanting it for a fair bit less than one that wasn't recorded.
Bubbly sills again you need to look at they could be poxy rotten from end to end or just in small patches which could be repaired for considerably less.
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Having had a 944 I would never have a poor one. Money pit is the word...
That, and and they wouldn't be my first chose for a first resto.
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'03 Porsche 996 C2 3.6 - Sort of Retro
'84 Porsche 924 - Definitely Retro!
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