Porsche 928s

Author
Discussion

535dBoy

Original Poster:

474 posts

197 months

Friday 12th February 2021
quotequote all
Surfing the classifieds and looking at 928s

Two questions

1) Am I mad
2) assuming not totally in 1 above, would I hate an old school auto?

TIA

Discombobulate

4,793 posts

185 months

Friday 12th February 2021
quotequote all
1) No
2) No


In order of brilliance: 928 GTS, GT, S4
In order of coolness: the earliest one you can find, with pasha interior preferably.

Edited to add: ex GTS and S4 owner

Huskyman

653 posts

126 months

Friday 12th February 2021
quotequote all
A good start is mr 928 Paul Anderson
https://www.928spares.co.uk/

What year and what model are you looking at?

535dBoy

Original Poster:

474 posts

197 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
Discombobulate said:
1) No
2) No


In order of brilliance: 928 GTS, GT, S4
In order of coolness: the earliest one you can find, with pasha interior preferably.

Edited to add: ex GTS and S4 owner
Ta

I see there is a manual GT on here at the minute which has caught the eye but the only manual GTS is mega bucks.

I thought a manual may add more of an experience - 3 of my current cars are pdk, one modernish manual and one old school with overdrive !

Discombobulate

4,793 posts

185 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
Pedals in the manual are bit lorry like for a car of this type but box is OK. I drove a manual GTS for around 1500 miles and then swapped it for an auto as it suited the laid back GT feel better.

SRT Hellcat

7,015 posts

216 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
Great cars. Pedals will take a bit of getting used to as the clutch pedal is way off to the left of the brake pedal. I raced a manual GTS a few times. Great fun

535dBoy

Original Poster:

474 posts

197 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
Interesting comments about it of course being a GT type car and therefore maybe suit auto better

I’ve just mentioned it to Mrs and she has said if you want to..

richterswil

872 posts

190 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
535dBoy said:
Interesting comments about it of course being a GT type car and therefore maybe suit auto better

I’ve just mentioned it to Mrs and she has said if you want to..
That’s a clear green light. Strike quickly!!

I know I’m on the edge when my Mrs says, “do what you think is right”

Discombobulate

4,793 posts

185 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
535dBoy said:
Interesting comments about it of course being a GT type car and therefore maybe suit auto better

I’ve just mentioned it to Mrs and she has said if you want to..
Do talk to Paul Anderson (as advised above). He is local to me and looked after my 928s. No one knows these cars better and he often has his ear to the ground re upcoming sales. He does inspections too.

535dBoy

Original Poster:

474 posts

197 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
richterswil said:
That’s a clear green light. Strike quickly!!

I know I’m on the edge when my Mrs says, “do what you think is right”
Yes I wasn’t quite expecting it to be that easy I had to say!!

Washing the main cars at the minute so I’ll come back and have a look again!

535dBoy

Original Poster:

474 posts

197 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
Discombobulate said:
Do talk to Paul Anderson (as advised above). He is local to me and looked after my 928s. No one knows these cars better and he often has his ear to the ground re upcoming sales. He does inspections too.
I will. Thank you.

Castrol for a knave

4,637 posts

90 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
928 S4 owner.

It's a model that seems to be coming in from the cold - much more chat about them in the Porsche forums and with classic 911's really rising (risen) in price, they're being re-evaluated. Really good owwnes' forums and support as well.

You'll do a lot of reading, you'll read god knows how many times that it was supposed to replace the 911 and plenty of people saying it's massively inferior to drive than the 911.

It was a car Porsche needed at that time, the 911 had hit a wall, it's core US market was making sounds about all sorts of legislation that could kill it and Porsche also realised they had no GT car, in market that increasingly wanted GT's. It does not drive like a 911, but it drives very well - I push mine as hard as my S7 with Sportdiff - there again, I'm not exactly Dicky Atwood.

I have posed this comment on other threads, but they are hitting the same mark at the DB7 - the unloved ones have fallen by the wayside and the ones that are left are generally well maintained and being reappraised. Personally, it is a far better car than the DB7, but other may of course differ.

It is a car that likes to be driven - the electrics like to be on not off, but that's not so differant from many other cars.

The engine is very understressed, so it has amazing longevity. Cambelt very 5 years (3 to 4 advised) or 60,000 miles (I'd swap it out at 40k). The rest of the oily stuff is pretty straight forward. Electrics can be a challenge, but there is good support, a number of specialists who can recon the ECU and up to around 1990, a lot of kit was vacuum controlled rather than electric, so again, analogue.

The auto in my S4 is fairly sporty - drop it in 3 and it will kick down early enough. It's not a docile old slush box, and being a Merc box from the 80's, is very well made and really only needs fluid for maintenance.

I also recommend speaking to Paul - he's an approachable, if very busy, chap. I wold also get a PPI - especially an auto to get the crankshaft end play checked, then get a Ritch clamp fitted to stop any slippage and your engine getting lunched.

I have found it draws more comments than any other classics I have owned or own.

And most importantly, unlike it's 80's contemporaries, you can do a tip run in a 928!!




SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all

535dBoy

Original Poster:

474 posts

197 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
SFO said:
That does indeed like nice although I think I’d prefer a newer one

Strange choice or tyre to fit it with mind !

535dBoy

Original Poster:

474 posts

197 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
Castrol for a knave said:
928 S4 owner.

It's a model that seems to be coming in from the cold - much more chat about them in the Porsche forums and with classic 911's really rising (risen) in price, they're being re-evaluated. Really good owwnes' forums and support as well.

You'll do a lot of reading, you'll read god knows how many times that it was supposed to replace the 911 and plenty of people saying it's massively inferior to drive than the 911.

It was a car Porsche needed at that time, the 911 had hit a wall, it's core US market was making sounds about all sorts of legislation that could kill it and Porsche also realised they had no GT car, in market that increasingly wanted GT's. It does not drive like a 911, but it drives very well - I push mine as hard as my S7 with Sportdiff - there again, I'm not exactly Dicky Atwood.

I have posed this comment on other threads, but they are hitting the same mark at the DB7 - the unloved ones have fallen by the wayside and the ones that are left are generally well maintained and being reappraised. Personally, it is a far better car than the DB7, but other may of course differ.

It is a car that likes to be driven - the electrics like to be on not off, but that's not so differant from many other cars.

The engine is very understressed, so it has amazing longevity. Cambelt very 5 years (3 to 4 advised) or 60,000 miles (I'd swap it out at 40k). The rest of the oily stuff is pretty straight forward. Electrics can be a challenge, but there is good support, a number of specialists who can recon the ECU and up to around 1990, a lot of kit was vacuum controlled rather than electric, so again, analogue.

The auto in my S4 is fairly sporty - drop it in 3 and it will kick down early enough. It's not a docile old slush box, and being a Merc box from the 80's, is very well made and really only needs fluid for maintenance.

I also recommend speaking to Paul - he's an approachable, if very busy, chap. I wold also get a PPI - especially an auto to get the crankshaft end play checked, then get a Ritch clamp fitted to stop any slippage and your engine getting lunched.

I have found it draws more comments than any other classics I have owned or own.

And most importantly, unlike it's 80's contemporaries, you can do a tip run in a 928!!
Thanks for this

Is there a dedicated forum somewhere, I couldn’t find it easily when I started looking last night but by the same account didn’t look very hard

Given I enjoy driving more than tinkering, what is the sweet spot mode wise where most things are more reliable?

Castrol for a knave

4,637 posts

90 months

Saturday 13th February 2021
quotequote all
535dBoy said:
Castrol for a knave said:
928 S4 owner.

It's a model that seems to be coming in from the cold - much more chat about them in the Porsche forums and with classic 911's really rising (risen) in price, they're being re-evaluated. Really good owwnes' forums and support as well.

You'll do a lot of reading, you'll read god knows how many times that it was supposed to replace the 911 and plenty of people saying it's massively inferior to drive than the 911.

It was a car Porsche needed at that time, the 911 had hit a wall, it's core US market was making sounds about all sorts of legislation that could kill it and Porsche also realised they had no GT car, in market that increasingly wanted GT's. It does not drive like a 911, but it drives very well - I push mine as hard as my S7 with Sportdiff - there again, I'm not exactly Dicky Atwood.

I have posed this comment on other threads, but they are hitting the same mark at the DB7 - the unloved ones have fallen by the wayside and the ones that are left are generally well maintained and being reappraised. Personally, it is a far better car than the DB7, but other may of course differ.

It is a car that likes to be driven - the electrics like to be on not off, but that's not so differant from many other cars.

The engine is very understressed, so it has amazing longevity. Cambelt very 5 years (3 to 4 advised) or 60,000 miles (I'd swap it out at 40k). The rest of the oily stuff is pretty straight forward. Electrics can be a challenge, but there is good support, a number of specialists who can recon the ECU and up to around 1990, a lot of kit was vacuum controlled rather than electric, so again, analogue.

The auto in my S4 is fairly sporty - drop it in 3 and it will kick down early enough. It's not a docile old slush box, and being a Merc box from the 80's, is very well made and really only needs fluid for maintenance.

I also recommend speaking to Paul - he's an approachable, if very busy, chap. I wold also get a PPI - especially an auto to get the crankshaft end play checked, then get a Ritch clamp fitted to stop any slippage and your engine getting lunched.

I have found it draws more comments than any other classics I have owned or own.

And most importantly, unlike it's 80's contemporaries, you can do a tip run in a 928!!
Thanks for this

Is there a dedicated forum somewhere, I couldn’t find it easily when I started looking last night but by the same account didn’t look very hard

Given I enjoy driving more than tinkering, what is the sweet spot mode wise where most things are more reliable?
The 928 forum on Rennlist is very active, although tends to be Yanks. If you read it you may think all owners do is mend their cars, but it's more a workshop forum than anything else. It is very friendly and there is a really good A to Z sticky at the top, along with links to loads of how to threads...


https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum-69/

TIPEC is worth a look - it's a bit 1998 using an email list and takes a bit of following, but I get 3 or 4 email threads a day and most of it is really useful. Most if not all the UK 928 experts post on there and again, they are a very helpful and friendly bunch. It is also a good place to find a car, and many will know cars on the market - not unusual to find one has done a PPI and can provide some "inside info..."

Sweet spot - I would say anything around £15k upwards will be a sorted car. Be sure to find out when it last had the cambelt done - that is usually a good sign of love. Too many dealers (and auctions) sell on paintwork but dig deeper and you'll find no cambelt for years. That said, Paul A can do belt, water pump and tensioners for about £800.


To provide the point about how useful these are - I have just been out in mine, in the snow and filled the boot with bags of coal, bulk bird seed and cat kibble. Took the scenic route along the Welsh border and celebrated with a can of dandelion and burdock and a Twix. Living my best 928 life smile

Edited by Castrol for a knave on Saturday 13th February 15:35

Bo_apex

2,506 posts

217 months

Monday 15th February 2021
quotequote all
535dBoy said:
Ta

I see there is a manual GT on here at the minute which has caught the eye but the only manual GTS is mega bucks.

I thought a manual may add more of an experience - 3 of my current cars are pdk, one modernish manual and one old school with overdrive !
I find the GT is really on it's toes, and more of a weekend car.

The auto is a bit of a masterpiece, and does it's job perfectly when needed and pressing on.

There's an interesting GTS on Collecting Cars. No affiliation.

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1993-porsche-9...

alabbasi

2,469 posts

86 months

Monday 15th February 2021
quotequote all
I have one, I'm not super in love with it. It's an 88 S4 automatic.
The brakes are amazing but I don't think that the performance is that great. I spent $3000 on a timing belt, tensioner and gears before parking it 4 years ago. In my mind, it does not do much of anything better than my R129 Mercedes which I drive often (except the brakes).
They tend to have a lot of electrical issues. I have not sold it yet because I want to give it another chance in hope that it will grow on me but I can't be bothered to dig it out of storage. I've owned it about 8 years.

Bo_apex

2,506 posts

217 months

Monday 15th February 2021
quotequote all
alabbasi said:
I have one, I'm not super in love with it. It's an 88 S4 automatic.
The brakes are amazing but I don't think that the performance is that great. I spent $3000 on a timing belt, tensioner and gears before parking it 4 years ago. In my mind, it does not do much of anything better than my R129 Mercedes which I drive often (except the brakes).
They tend to have a lot of electrical issues. I have not sold it yet because I want to give it another chance in hope that it will grow on me but I can't be bothered to dig it out of storage. I've owned it about 8 years.
Sounds like you got a neglected one, unfortunately there are many around.

I once bought a pup and spent £16,000 getting it straight. They are lovely things once properly sorted.

Loe Bank and 9Excellence know their stuff.








alabbasi

2,469 posts

86 months

Monday 15th February 2021
quotequote all
Bo_apex said:
Sounds like you got a neglected one, unfortunately there are many around.
What makes you say that? Hopefully not because it needed a timing belt. The fact is that I have other cars that check the same boxes. Those cars are either easier to live with and as much fun, or more engaging to drive.