Odometer Issues: Any Advice?

"WhatDaFunk" (WhatDaFunk) 08/08/2013 at 11:51 • Filed to: None

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Hey there Opponauts, I'm looking for advice on an odometer issue for a used car I'm considering: a 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo.

Here's a quote from the seller's listing:

although the car really has $138k miles, the odometer failed at one point and the last digit skipped ahead to 3. The plastic gears are known to dry out and the PO supposedly fixed this by lubing it. I have over 2 inches of receipt that show the car being services in the low 100,000's and then shooting up to 300' all of the sudden. When you see the car you know it is not a 300k car. Nevertheless, this is one of the reasons I am selling for a lower price.

So what do you think? Is this legit or a potential deal breaker?

TheBaron2112 > WhatDaFunk 08/08/2013 at 12:00

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Not a deal breaker.

944s have crappy odometers. It's just a fact. My odo was intermittently working when I bought it and now has stopped completely. The gears are a bit low quality and can be the problem.

I chose not to mess with it and I use a GPS device and a journal to track mileage.

My odo says 54,xxx. I assumed that it has 154k just because the odo wasn't working well when I bought it. I'm beginning to rethink that just because it doesn't feel that old.

Either way, it's not a deal breaker.

Z_Stig > WhatDaFunk 08/08/2013 at 12:00

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If there is significant gap in between the 100,000 mile receipts and the 300,000 mile receipts then walk. But it does sound legit. 2 inches of receipts and service records is no joke.

Do you have a link for the posting?

bkempert > WhatDaFunk 08/08/2013 at 12:40

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I just bought an '86 german car (e30) that also has common odometer issues. Stuff like this is not unusual. As Z_Stig said, just make sure the receipts look good.

It's a "Porch-uh" > WhatDaFunk 08/08/2013 at 12:41

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My 944's odo crapped out a while ago - but it's a race car, so I don't care.

Did the skip to 300K happen while this owner had the car, or the one before. I just ask, because if you want to crack the odo and roll it back, you'll have a problem if the DMV already thinks it has 300K+. If not, you can let the seller know that you're going to fix it and roll it back, so write down the 138K number on the DMV forms.

Either way, get a shop (or you, if you know how) to give the motor a once-over. Do a compression check. See what shape all the belts are in (especially the timing belt since these are interference motors and if the timing belt goes, so do the valves) and if he has the receipts, how long ago they were changed out.

Since I have no idea what the car is selling for, all this could be factored into the final price and you'll have to decide if it's worth while or not. Out here, Turbos in good shape with about that mileage go for $9-11K.

Slave2anMG > WhatDaFunk 08/08/2013 at 12:54

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I had an '86 Jetta whose odo took a dump at about 73K...

WhatDaFunk > Z_Stig 08/09/2013 at 01:16

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Here's a link to the listing:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/396598…

Z_Stig > WhatDaFunk 08/09/2013 at 01:41

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That's a really nice looking 944.