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I hope others comment, but:
- as a minimum it will need new tires.
- and the belts as "insurance" if there is no knowledge of when they were last done. Front seals at the same time.
- change all the fluids (all of them)
- there are fuel hoses that go bad, create a smell in the interior (coupe only perhaps, not sure).
- may want to get a full high quality detail job also.
Probably the rule of thumb is to reserve at least $2-3K for postponed maintenance / repairs for any 18 year old car purchase.
Hard to tell if $4-5K on top of an $8K purchase price will create a 968 worth $12-13K. It is often better to buy the $12-13K car that has full service records and no obvious flaws (and therefore hopefully no hidden land mines).
The best investment you can make for any used car purchase is to get a <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym>. There must be a highly regarded Porsche mechanic in Chicago where you can arrange a <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym>, preferably someone with 944 / 968 expertise. I've done that for every Porsche I've ever purchased, they've run about $150 or so, maybe $200 today. The best money you can spend. Amazing what the experts will find that the seller doesn't even know about, or you can't uncover.
Roland
Roland
'93 Coupe Tip Silver on Grey, '02 911 C4S, '89 Vanagon Syncro -- (RIP: 944, 911SC, 931, MGB, VW Bug, GTO, Sprite.)
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+1 on the <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym>
I wouldn't even start this car without cam and balance shaft belt change. The belts are good for 30K miles or 3 years. While it may be true that the car has been recently driven, if the cam belts are timed out as they may be in this case, they are prone to failure. If they fail, the damage to the engine can be very expensive to repair. You can do the cam and balance shaft seals at the same time and I'd be inclined to include the water pump while you are in there. Including the items that Roland noted, $4 to 5K might not be quite enough.
Chris Vais
1994 Coupe Midnight Blue Metallic
2015 Audi Allroad Quattro Brilliant Black
2008 Audi A5 Brilliant Black
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I bought a pretty abused/neglected 968 Cab. I had a mechanic (maybe not a competent one) look it over and give me an idea of what I needed, but he missed a bunch of problems. Doing all the work myself, I've spent probably $5k in parts alone. Granted, I'm sure I've done stuff that hasn't needed doing, just because "while I'm in there.." I still need to put in a bunch more to get it perfect. Lots of what I have spent has been on things that I and the mechanic considered "inconsequential", like fixing the door handles, and various cosmetic bits that had gone missing over the years.
I'm not doing this because I want to make money on it, but because I happen to think the 968 represents an interesting moment in the Porsche chronicle and wanted to see the car saved (i.e., "for the love").
So yes, to re-iterate what others have said get a <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym> by a competent Porsche mechanic who knows the 944/968, unless you're like me and really enjoy throwing good money after the bad.
-Matt
1993 Midnight Blue Porsche 968 Cabriolet (toy! Currently under restoration)
1995 Jeep Cherokee (war wagon, Zombie Apocalypse Response Vehicle)
2015 Mazda 3 (my reliable, nice car)
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Yes, as others have suggested, get a <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym>. If for nothing else, it will give you a starting point. There are other threads on here about purchase price, cost of ownership, etc. One thing that always sticks in my mind is the 20K figure. Basically, by the time your done, you'll have roughly 20K in a fairly nice, up to date, reliable car. Buy it for 8K and you may end up with 12K of rejuvenation. Buy one for 14K and you may only end spending 6K. Of course, these numbers are arbitrary and include any desired repairs in addition to the necessary ones. You'll save a bunch by doing stuff yourself if and when you can. It is doubtful you'll ever sell it for what you end up investing in it, so buy it, fix it, drive it, enjoy it. Just like any other 16-20 year old car, part of it is a labor of love.
- Darryl
1992 Slate Gray Coupe over Carrera Gray Full Leather interior....1 of 1
2006 Cayenne S Icelandic Silver Titanium Edition
2006 Cayman S Seal Gray over Black
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And when you are selling one assume that the repairs noted as needed by the purchaser will be 50% more than you thought, resulting in an offered price of 50% of what you wanted. Its called the 50% rule.
For me, I guess, a well-used but frequently repaired car may be in better shape that a seldom used and seldom repaired car. In my white car, for example, with 386,000 km, not much that moves hasn't been replaced a couple of times. So not much is really old. For example, the 3rd starter and 3rd A/C compressor are being installed next week. In my cab, same year but only 73,000 km, most everything is original other than belts.
Its a turkey shoot.
Kim Strong, Nova Scotia
Baron of Bugtussle and Lord of Wigtownshire, Scotland
2022 Mustang Mach-E
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If your all in price comes out at $16k you got an absolute bargain.
Happy motoring !
Jay
“Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.” - Hunter S. Thompson
"I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself." ~Dr. Ferdinand Porsche
"968Forums, a quaint little drinking community with a serious horsepower problem"
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn-out, shouting, 'Holy sh*t! What a ride!'"- Unknown
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I'm not showing this to sell you my car, but this is my ad so you can see no much work I've done. I'm into the car about 14k more than I paid. It's now pretty much perfect mechanically.
http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/3651238954.html
1986 Porsche 911 Targa (guards red/black interior)
1993 Porsche 968 Coupe (black)
2005 Acura RL
2004 Toyota Sequoia
