RE: Porsche 928: You Know You Want To
Discussion
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Years ago, within a couple of days, I helped 2 friends with some DIY repairs, one with an XJS and the other with a 928.
The difference in quality of materials and design between the 2 cars, both from the same time, was vast.
The Porsche was just superb, like it was carved from a solid piece of granite. Every single thing on it was just top quality. The most mundane clips were wonderful. Bits that most people would never see were engineered to perfection.
The Jag was like a bag of bolts by comparison.
In the defense of the XJS, I seem to recall the 928 being just about the most expensive production car around in the late 70s or early 80's. Wasn't it something like £75k? And I'm guessing that the XJS would have been not much more than £20k?The difference in quality of materials and design between the 2 cars, both from the same time, was vast.
The Porsche was just superb, like it was carved from a solid piece of granite. Every single thing on it was just top quality. The most mundane clips were wonderful. Bits that most people would never see were engineered to perfection.
The Jag was like a bag of bolts by comparison.
XJS was faster as well.
In the days when petrol prices weren't too bad, I was lucky enough to run a 928 GT as my daily. For those who don't know, the GT was a mildly tweaked version of the S4 with a manual box as standard. I've had some interesting (and a few not so interesting) cars before and after. The 928 was quite possibly the single best car I've ever owned, and the one that I most regret selling. In terms of performance, handling, and the ability to cruise long distances in complete comfort, nothing else has ever come close.
Would I have another? Definitely yes, but has to be a manual again!
Would I have another? Definitely yes, but has to be a manual again!
DonkeyApple said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Years ago, within a couple of days, I helped 2 friends with some DIY repairs, one with an XJS and the other with a 928.
The difference in quality of materials and design between the 2 cars, both from the same time, was vast.
The Porsche was just superb, like it was carved from a solid piece of granite. Every single thing on it was just top quality. The most mundane clips were wonderful. Bits that most people would never see were engineered to perfection.
The Jag was like a bag of bolts by comparison.
In the defense of the XJS, I seem to recall the 928 being just about the most expensive production car around in the late 70s or early 80's. Wasn't it something like £75k? And I'm guessing that the XJS would have been not much more than £20k?The difference in quality of materials and design between the 2 cars, both from the same time, was vast.
The Porsche was just superb, like it was carved from a solid piece of granite. Every single thing on it was just top quality. The most mundane clips were wonderful. Bits that most people would never see were engineered to perfection.
The Jag was like a bag of bolts by comparison.
XJS was faster as well.
canucklehead said:
what i find unique about the 928 is that, 36 years after it was introduced, it still looks like a modern car. it could have just been unveiled at geneva this year...
Exactly. Timeless and with a design language that speaks more to wisdom than to marketplace whim. What's more, with the recent excitement around cars like the Jaguar F-Type and the Mercedes AMG GT, it's not as if a 928 successor would be out of place, today. Might cost some serious coin, mind. And, of course, there's the issue of a viable business case relative to the 911.
unsprung said:
Exactly. Timeless and with a design language that speaks more to wisdom than to marketplace whim.
What's more, with the recent excitement around cars like the Jaguar F-Type and the Mercedes AMG GT, it's not as if a 928 successor would be out of place, today. Might cost some serious coin, mind. And, of course, there's the issue of a viable business case relative to the 911.
A Panamera based coupe has been rumoured for ages, and no doubt it will appear at some stage, the 911 is in a different sector (imo) this would be 2+2 GT to compete with the DB9, Merc CL i.e. £100K plus coupes erring more on the side of comfort than lap times.What's more, with the recent excitement around cars like the Jaguar F-Type and the Mercedes AMG GT, it's not as if a 928 successor would be out of place, today. Might cost some serious coin, mind. And, of course, there's the issue of a viable business case relative to the 911.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
DonkeyApple said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Years ago, within a couple of days, I helped 2 friends with some DIY repairs, one with an XJS and the other with a 928.
The difference in quality of materials and design between the 2 cars, both from the same time, was vast.
The Porsche was just superb, like it was carved from a solid piece of granite. Every single thing on it was just top quality. The most mundane clips were wonderful. Bits that most people would never see were engineered to perfection.
The Jag was like a bag of bolts by comparison.
In the defense of the XJS, I seem to recall the 928 being just about the most expensive production car around in the late 70s or early 80's. Wasn't it something like £75k? And I'm guessing that the XJS would have been not much more than £20k?The difference in quality of materials and design between the 2 cars, both from the same time, was vast.
The Porsche was just superb, like it was carved from a solid piece of granite. Every single thing on it was just top quality. The most mundane clips were wonderful. Bits that most people would never see were engineered to perfection.
The Jag was like a bag of bolts by comparison.
XJS was faster as well.
Edited by Wills2 on Friday 12th September 17:14
daytona365 said:
Seriously considered one of these, they seem to have nearly everything you'd reasonably want in a fantastic classic package...........However that 7ft timing belt really scares me !!
No need to be scared, the early cars are non-interference.However, if the belt fails on a 32v car then you are in for a world of pain, as I found out.
True, but that one was always called that way when they were new.
Incidentally, while on the subject of facelifts and referring back to the lowish performance of the early car, and the paradox of the later ones holding US production car speed records: one of the often overlooked benefits of the 928 facelift was that it considerably reduced the drag coefficient.
Incidentally, while on the subject of facelifts and referring back to the lowish performance of the early car, and the paradox of the later ones holding US production car speed records: one of the often overlooked benefits of the 928 facelift was that it considerably reduced the drag coefficient.
I remember reading somewhere that the makers of Back To The Future overdubbed the sound of a 928 for the scene where the Delorean starts and reverses off of the lorry in the mall car park. With the right exhaust and induction 928s do sound frankly awesome. Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised if Risky Business and the like isn't sound effects.
I also recall an awesome scene in Weird Science (apart from Kelly Le Brock in the shower) where a 928 leaves 11's all done a parking lot???
That wasn't hanging about in the late 70s, but it wasn't anything like the bleeding edge of road-burner death machine either.Ah thanks, that explains it. Wow 0-60 in 8 seconds is slower than I expected! Must be a heavy old thing.
I'd still buy one, all those 80's films have made me desire one of these more than is even slightly sensible. The sound alone (however faked) in Risky Business made me want one and that hasn't changed since.
I also recall an awesome scene in Weird Science (apart from Kelly Le Brock in the shower) where a 928 leaves 11's all done a parking lot???
poing said:
Lowtimer said:
poing said:
I thought I had a vague memory of these being the fastest production car in the world for a while?
The S4 was the fastest car in the US market at one stage I think. But that was much more powerful, and had a much better 4-speed box. The original Autocar road test 928 automatic did 0-60 in 8.0 dead, 0-100 in 20 point something and 140 mph flat out. That wasn't hanging about in the late 70s, but it wasn't anything like the bleeding edge of road-burner death machine either.
I'd still buy one, all those 80's films have made me desire one of these more than is even slightly sensible. The sound alone (however faked) in Risky Business made me want one and that hasn't changed since.
Back when I was younger I would long for anything with a decent headline power figure. These, once they fitted the 300bhp engine (and Mk4 Supras) were easy winners. I never was bold enough to even look at one, but I still wonder what it would have been like if I had one.
I now have a V8 Vantage but, on paper, they are similar. 4.X v8, 3XX bhp, similar weight, sporting pedigree. But surely the driving experiences are galactically distanced?!
I now have a V8 Vantage but, on paper, they are similar. 4.X v8, 3XX bhp, similar weight, sporting pedigree. But surely the driving experiences are galactically distanced?!
kramv8 said:
I remember reading somewhere that the makers of Back To The Future overdubbed the sound of a 928 for the scene where the Delorean starts and reverses off of the lorry in the mall car park. With the right exhaust and induction 928s do sound frankly awesome. Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised if Risky Business and the like isn't sound effects.
I also recall an awesome scene in Weird Science (apart from Kelly Le Brock in the shower) where a 928 leaves 11's all done a parking lot???
Wow, this brings back some memories from the late 1970s and 1980s when I was somewhat more reckless than now.I also recall an awesome scene in Weird Science (apart from Kelly Le Brock in the shower) where a 928 leaves 11's all done a parking lot???
So back in the late 1970s one of my neighbours bought a T reg 928 when they first came out and I used to push bike round to his house with the camera to take a few pics and drool over the car, he later sold it and purchased a 308GTB. I thought both cars were pretty sensational and even blagged a spin out in both the 928 and 308 which was very impressive.
Fast forward a few years later to my mad motorbike days when I owned what was then the superbike to own, a GSX1100, which was the first superbike to knock the six cylinder 1000cc Honda CBX off its perch, and really did crush every car in its path. This was the bike to have. This thing was staggeringly fast for its day, though left a lot to be desired in the handling department, let's just say you accelerated hard enough away in a straight line to allow slower lines through corners. In layman terms it handled like a donkey, through which a cottage industry for steering dampers flourished to try and tame the beast - having said that, many Kawasaki and Yamaha motorcycles of that era also earned themselves poor reputations in the handling stakes.
And one fateful day whilst out for a summer ride on my GSX1100, a 928 S2 passed me at a high rate of knots in the opposite direction, well this was like a red rag to a bull, I turned the bike round and gave chase and it didn't take me long to catch the 928 up due to traffic and roundabouts. Can I just say that although I could have overtaken the 928 accelerating up the hill I instead chose to sit behind this thing because the exhaust note was absolutely sensational, especially in-between gear-changes. However, I soon learned that 928s also go round corners like on rails and don't need to slow down because of the level of grip they possess. The driver indicated right off the main road to turn onto a country lane so I duly followed, but what happened next was quite astonishing because as we hurtled along this twisty bumpy country lane all he did was accelerate away from me whilst I wrestled with my elephant handling GSX1100. He rarely braked through the corners, this thing just went round them with no drama, no fuss, totally flat as a pancake, then accelerated out of them. Try as I might I couldn't keep up, till finally I reached a crossroads and said 928 was nowhere to be seen. I was totally gobsmacked by the huge amount grip and performance as demonstrated, with little or no fuss. It cornered like it was on rails.
Moving on to the early 1990s I achieved my dream when I purchased my first Porsche 928 S4, and absolutely loved every minute of ownership, it put a massive smile on my face whenever I drove it. Was as practical as anyone could want being a 2+2 seater and the rear seats dropped down for when you wanted to purchase a huge TV or other large item. Mine used to average 21 mpg which wasn't bad for a 5 litre V8.
But it went from a tame labrador to a psycho Rottweiler in a split second by depressing the accelerator pedal. This thing had a true Jekyll and Hyde personality. It was as soft as putty with masses of power emanating from the lazy 5 litre engine at low revs, but pressing the accelerator pedal transformed it into a monstrously fast supercar. Incidentally, most folks don't know that 928 autos actually pull off in 2nd gear whilst in 'D' such is the abundance of torque at low revs.
So last year I decided once again to bite the bullet and buy another 928 S4, and can I say that the memories came flooding back because this one is just as good to drive as the one I purchased over 20 years ago, just as solidly built, with excellent visibility front and back, still does 21 mpg, goes like stink when required, and still puts a massive smile on my face whenever I open the garage door. Running costs are totally acceptable as are insurance and road tax.
The Porsche 928 is currently one of the most under-rated supercars in existence (which is good for car enthusiasts), but the secret is out and values of well looked after examples are rising fast especially for the manual 928 GTS models. Mine is an 928 S4 auto and I really don't care. Putting the shift into 3 is good for 121mph which is fast enough for most country lane antics - I know this from my earlier years. My current purchase is treated with considerably more respect than the one I purchased in my 20s.
As for the sound effects in Risky Business, I doubt it very much having sat behind one whilst flat out which sounded sensational, as for Kelly Le Brock in the shower.... Breathtaking!
Anyone considering buying a 928 needs to be cautious, especially of the cheaper models for sale. As with most things, you get what you pay for. I looked out for a decent model for many months and test drove several 928s before spotting an enthusiast owned 1990 928 S4 complete with a huge amount of service history and TLC, and haven't looked back since.
My 928 has been utterly reliable, everything works including the aircon. Would I recommend buying one to a friend. Yes I would. Am I biased, yes I am because I own one and love looking at it and driving it.
Porsche 928 - no substitute.
Wills2 said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
DonkeyApple said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Years ago, within a couple of days, I helped 2 friends with some DIY repairs, one with an XJS and the other with a 928.
The difference in quality of materials and design between the 2 cars, both from the same time, was vast.
The Porsche was just superb, like it was carved from a solid piece of granite. Every single thing on it was just top quality. The most mundane clips were wonderful. Bits that most people would never see were engineered to perfection.
The Jag was like a bag of bolts by comparison.
In the defense of the XJS, I seem to recall the 928 being just about the most expensive production car around in the late 70s or early 80's. Wasn't it something like £75k? And I'm guessing that the XJS would have been not much more than £20k?The difference in quality of materials and design between the 2 cars, both from the same time, was vast.
The Porsche was just superb, like it was carved from a solid piece of granite. Every single thing on it was just top quality. The most mundane clips were wonderful. Bits that most people would never see were engineered to perfection.
The Jag was like a bag of bolts by comparison.
XJS was faster as well.
Edited by Wills2 on Friday 12th September 17:14
The 928 was always on my list of cars I'd like to get one day. Then I read this thread. It had all the makings of an interesting and epic restoration. Granted it is extreme but, it just shows how wrong a wrong'un can be!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff