924Board.org

[Thomd]

I need some help....I have always been a big Porsche fan....I have the oppertunity to buy a 86 924s for $200.00. It has about 120000 on the clock it runs and drives really well...the interior is extremely clean....the bad side is it needs a front cap, a tie rod (its bent) and a little body work on the rear passanger side. I was told he drove it into a ditch...then parked it..the damage to the other side of the front cap is where something damaged it while parked.
My question is....What am I looking at to replace the front cap parts....both fenders, hood, at least the pass side headlight and probally the front bumper. I dont mind replacing parts or doing the body work itself...I can do all of that...I have seen some 924 and 924s selling for under $2000...I dont want to buy this car and end up spending more money on parts than it would have cost me to just buy another....any opinions??

[Stu2j]

It will cost more to fix it than it would to simply buy one in really good condition.

Sry
_________________
-Stu
924 owner since 1988
924S owner since 2002
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[gohim]

There weren't any 86 model year 924S cars imported into the U.S. by Porsche. The 924S was only imported for the 87 and 88 model years. If the Seller/Previous Owner told you that it is an 86, either he imported it his self, or maybe bought it from someone that did (gray market).

The car could be a US 87 model year car that was built in 86.

Unfortunately, as Stu2j as pointed out, the cost of repairing the body of a car that badly damaged would exceed to amount that it would cost to buy a car in good condition to begin with.

New fenders are over $1K a piece from the Dealer. Good used ones will probably cost you more than $100 a piece. Fenders and hoods are not hard to find, as they are the same ones used on the 924. What will cost you is the shipping on them if you are far from the Seller.

Maintenance on a 944/924S can be very expensive as well. The "front of engine service must be performed every 3-years or 30K miles, you you run the risk of a broken belt. Which can cost up to $2500 to replace as part of the "front of engine" service. Are there any service records with the car? Without written documentation to show that the "front of engine" service has been done during the past 30K miles of 30 K miles then the front of engine service need to be performed immediately, and that is $1500-$2500 right now.

If the engine in the car you are looking at runs well, then it may paid you to buy the car to pull the drivetrain. Then you can look for a nice 924S or 944 that has suffered engine damage (probably due to the owner failing to keep up with the mandatory "front of engine" service, which results in bent valves and damaged engine blocks. Without a good running engine, there are very few 924S or 944 cars that are worth more than $1000 (car would have to be in cherry, original condition, other than the engine).

Good clean original interiors are also hard to come by. I would pay the $200 for the car myself, since I need an engine. I bought a near perfect 87 924S with a destroyed engine and only 72K miles on it a few years ago, and can't seem to get around to building the replacement engine for it.

If you decide to pass on the car, if you would be so kind, would you give me the Seller's phone number, and maybe I can buy the car for parts?

[Thomd]

Well...He is looking for any documentation that came with the car (he just got the car from someone himself). I asked him to get me everything to look over. I will look at the service records and documentation. It may be an 87.....he said he really wasnt sure. I may look for one that has engine damage and use this car as a donor.
Thank you for the information and suggestions.....any other ideas keep them coming. Im just learning about Porsches, I was into British sports cars up untill a few years back.....But Ive ALWAYS loved Porsches.