Thursday 1st October 2015

Porsche 928: Catch it while you can

Looking for an affordable Porsche that's a dead cert to appreciate? The 928 is finding plenty of love at the moment

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In the increasingly febrile climate of ever-escalating classic car values, I hear one question more than any other. What cars are still affordable that are destined to go up in value soon?I've heard some surprising nominations for this about-to-go-ballistic award recently, but one car seems to unite everyone: the Porsche 928.

As ever the early ones are the purest aesthetically

For years neglected as a money-pit boulevard cruiser, the 928 is finally being recognised as the lovely thing it is, in its own right. It certainly seems to garner plenty of love here on PH.

The car that was supposed to replace the 911 is often viewed as an abject failure because it never did replace the 911. But hey - we have the Panamera today, a car that arguably very much follows the 928's template. And look what you get with a 928. A comfortable cabin with excellent ergonomics, a torquey V8 that's gloriously happy at high revs, genuine pace and a chunky steering feel that turns sweeping A-roads into rivers of joy.

Values are definitely on the move. One year ago we ran a story on the 928 in which we reckoned £15K was steep, and at the time you could still buy a manual 928 for just £6KThose days have gone. The general updraft in the value of pretty much all things Porsche has elevated the 928 to the point where, if you don't move fast, you may well lose your chance.

Manuals carry a premium but still sub-£20K

Which one to buy?
Most 928s for sale are post-1986 S4s, and most are autos. That shouldn't trouble you - the S4 has the advantage of a larger V8 (5.0 or 5.4 litres) with between 320hp and 350hp, while the Mercedes-Benz sourced auto 'box is bulletproof and certainly not the worst slushbox of its era.

The cheapest 928 in the classifieds today is £10,950 for a 5.0-litre S4 auto with 99,000 miles. In its favour, it's standard, has plenty of history and looks in decent fettle. Against it, though, it's a Japanese import. Still, £10K...

My personal pick of the classifieds is a 1991 S4 with a louche lounge-bar Amethyst Metallic paint scheme, a particularly retina-rubbing shade of purple - check out the gloriously lurid interior. Yours for £23,995. Early 928s are harder to find, but definitely worth seeking. They're arguably the pure 928 experience and do look timelessly cool. Take this ex-Roger Clark 928 from 1979, which looks gorgeous and is in stunning condition.

£60K for S4 shows way things are headed

Set to manual
Manual cars have rarity (only one in six 928s built was manual) and stick-shift kudos in their favour, but they definitely carry a premium. It's still possible to find sub-£20K manuals, such as this 136,000-mile GT that was sold new in the UK in 1989 but emigrated eight years ago to Ireland. Seems a steal at £17,500.

Especially when you consider what dealers are now asking for the best manuals at the top end of the market. Just how much? A 56,000-mile S4 GT in Guards Red with black leather is up for - wait for it - £60K. Told you you needed to move fast.

[Barchettaman]

Beautiful things from any angle.

Not bad for a 40 yr old design!

[Burwood]

As a teenager a family friend owned one from new. Looked the nuts then and still a fantastic design.

[Huskyman]

I had one in the early noughties and I loved it to bits. Great car but be very careful what specialist you take it to. I wish I still had it as it was a very rare spec. Hey ho.
I loved the way that the instrument binnacle moved with the steering wheel and the three memories for the seat position and mirrors was a boon as well. Be careful with geo and tyres if you have the adjustable suspension on it, they can bite very hard in the wet as well

Edited by Huskyman on Thursday 1st October 11:49

[burningdinos]

Ever since I saw the Mission E concept I've been wondering how a 2-door version with a V8 could be sort of a spiritual successor of the 928...

I've always liked them, though I always felt quite lonely in that

[GTEYE]

Epic design.

To show how things have moved on (but not in a positive way), the Porsche 928 was Car of the year in 1978...

That would NEVER happen these days.

[loafer123]

I have a 1994 928 GTS and every time I think I should consider changing because I don't use it enough (have to store off-site), I drive it and remember why I love it.

If anyone is interested in the 928, there is an annual meeting of around 40 cars on the village green in Tilford, Surrey this Saturday from 11:30.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Every time someone says Porsche 928 I have to post this. It's the law.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuoJu35u2sI

[Turbobanana]

Always liked the 928. I moved into a new house and discovered my neighbour had a bright yellow one but lost interest after the described it as "immacylate".

Dealer prices (for just about anything) do seem astonishing these days, but I guess *someone* is paying them or they wouldn't persist.

A 928 doesn't even have motorsport heritage to speak of, unlike the raft of Maltese / Australian import, spectacularly overpriced Escort Mks 1 & 2 that seem to proliferate in the classifieds and online, destined to become rally weapons.

I guess the bubble has to burst at some point?

[Chicane-UK]

Friend of mine has a 928 S4. It's certainly an interesting car and nice to see out on the roads but having driven it a few times, I've never really warmed to it very much. It doesn't feel THAT quick unless your foot is fully mashed into the carpet and you're getting into the higher revs and I find the cabin a spectacularly ugly and noisy (wind & road noise) place to be.

[Vee12V]

I like the early ones design wise but wouldn't necessarily want to own one.

[ilovequo]

c.£20k!?
Madness

[Baryonyx]

'Not the worst autobox of it's era'! Such glowing praise!

[Bodini]

What, no mention of Risky Business?

[rossub]

Personally, I would consider a right hand drive car that is a Japanese import as being a positive thing.

Providing the mileage stacks up (and yes, you can check), it hasnt been subjected to our crap damp climate for years on end.

[C7 JFW]

Certainly not the prettiest Porsche but I'm sure a few will fall into the hands of diligent owners who restore them.

The only way forwards in my view is to get a 911 and keep calling singer.

[bencollins]

Turbobanana said:

Dealer prices (for just about anything) do seem astonishing these days, but I guess *someone* is paying them or they wouldn't persist.
I guess the bubble has to burst at some point?

Cheap credit interest = dealeropoly on marketplace & ability to hold stock = price cartel.
Im not against the way of the world, but usual disclaimer of price for sale /= sales price
Ebay sales are a good indicator of real prices, as is looking in other market places as UK seems a bit "special" just now.

[Dale487]

I love the kitsch Amethyst S4 - my favourite Porsche colour of all time (shame its no a manual).

Its good to see that 928s are going up in value as the repair costs weren't worth it at £6k.

I still think Porsche should make a Panamera Coupe - the spiritual successor to the 928.

[Maxus]

Just happened to talk to a 928 owner at the weekend (see pic). He has owned the car for 10 years and has taken it from 35k to 120k over that time. His was a manual. A very cool looking car.

[SrMoreno]

Are classic prices really "ever-escalating". I'd heard that they were looking fragile at the moment.

[Devil2575]

Turbobanana said:

Always liked the 928. I moved into a new house and discovered my neighbour had a bright yellow one but lost interest after the described it as "immacylate".

Dealer prices (for just about anything) do seem astonishing these days, but I guess *someone* is paying them or they wouldn't persist.

A 928 doesn't even have motorsport heritage to speak of, unlike the raft of Maltese / Australian import, spectacularly overpriced Escort Mks 1 & 2 that seem to proliferate in the classifieds and online, destined to become rally weapons.

I guess the bubble has to burst at some point?

I think one of the reasons classic car prices are on the rise is that people are looking for somewhere to invest their money. The belief that prices are rising makes people buy which in turn makes prices rise.