Ice-9 and 944 owners... FAST HELP PLZ!

[Nanotech9]

ok, I'm looking at possibly buying this '84 944 on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=582237376

are there any problems with the '84 model i sould be aware of?
are all 944's Standard shift, or did they make an Auto (i don't want auto)?
I'll be using this car for local SCCA Auto-Cross racing - I'm not worried about looks too much.

Auction ends soon, so plz post any comments ASAP!

THANKS!
- Nano.

[Ice-9]

No particular problems, besides the same ones that I have with my 944, namely touchy electrical systems and lots of necessary maintenance.

I'd be suspicious of his claim that "belts look new," though. If he doesn't have maintenance records, you can be putting yourself into a very dangerous situation. If the timing belt or balance shaft belt goes, you've just totaled your engine. Bent valves, busted cams, you name it, it happens after the timing belt breaks. So ask if he's got records - the belts should be done every 30,000 miles or so.

Porsche did make an automatic 944, so check on that. I'm not sure if it was available in '84 or not. It was in '85.

Funny thing is, this car looks a lot like mine - silver, with Fuchs chromed wheels, although mine are a little different. I'd ask more questions about it, though - the price seems suspiciously cheap to me.

I can send you a whole "before-you-buy" checklist specifically for 944s, if you want it. Good luck, and I hope you join the club! (of 944 owners, that is, the greatest people on earth)

[OC]

The pre-85 1/2s had the 924 interior. I'd hold out for an 85 1/2 model if I were you.

-OC

[Nanotech9]

thanks for the info guys!... but, based on the fact that i had virtually no time to research the subject in depth, and get lots of info from the seller, and that I couldn't really inspect it myself, i decided to pass on this one...

I'm going to post a new "Wanted" thread with the list of the cars I'm interested in for doing autocross.

Thanks again for the help though!