944 timing and balance-shaft belts: why records beat mileage
The 944 is a maintenance-driven car. Belt history is the single most important thing to verify before purchase.
The 944 uses a camshaft timing belt and separate balance-shaft belts. All of them are age-limited, not just mileage-limited, so a low-mileage car with no belt history is not necessarily a safer buy than a well-documented high-mileage one.
Ask for dated receipts. A verbal assurance is not enough on an engine where a failed belt can mean valve damage. If the history is missing, budget for the job immediately rather than hoping.
While the belts are being done, inspect the water pump, thermostat, rollers and tensioners. Replacing a belt on worn rollers is false economy, and access is already apart.
Record what you fit and when. Keep the receipts in the car. On these cars a documented maintenance file is worth real money at resale, and it protects the next owner too.