dO yOu thInK...

[Brucelee]

The ones we all crave still command a buck.

The ones the mechanics want us to buy are pretty cheap, at least in SOCAL.

[z12358]

The only thing I don't like about it looks-wise is the shape of the rear wheel wells. That straight line covering the wheel reminds me of a Citroen.

Z.

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car Magazine has a feature in it's current Dec. '06 issue named: Affordable Exotics - 12 Exotics cheaper than a Camry. Based on a budget equal to a well-optioned Camry ($27k). The Porsche 928 is one of the cars they highlight. Here's what they say:

Magazine writers have been telling you to buy a Porsche 928 S for 20 years now. And you still don't have one, eh? Well, really, NOW is the time to buy one. Like the Ferrari 400, it was a car that sent out mixed signals in every possible direction. Was it a Sports Car? Was it for the burgeoning Grand Turismo market? Who knew?

Here's the shocker: Buy the Automatic. You'll save a bucket of money, get a real sense for the Grand Tourer the car's supposed to be rather than the Sports Car it was trying to be.

Later cars are better and S2s aren't as expensive as the GTS. Parts are still somewhat available, but you're going to pay for them. The Driveline is pretty durable, provided the owner has taken the proper preventative maintenance steps. There should still be a few original owners around. Pay more and buy one from them.

• Engine: V8, 234-288hp
  Top Speed: 155mph
  Price New: $51,900 (1986)
  Typical Cost Today: $19,000
  Number Produced: 22,662

• Ease of maintenance: ●●○○○
  Annual Maintenance Cost: ●●●○○
  Potential maintenance Cost: ●●●●●
  Fun Value: ●●●●●
  Investment Value: ●●○○○

I have a friend, fellow Esprit Owner (2 actually) who has an S2 (Automatic - made by MB btw) which he uses to tow his Boat. Another Lotus owner here has a GTS 5-speed (Euro-spec) which he bought new overseas, used there for several years, and then imported. They both love them and both say the car is pretty reliable and not expensive to own.

Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[pecivil]

I gotta see a picture of a 928 towing a boat.

there is just something wrong with that. I wonder if the earth slightly spins off its axis when he does that.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by pecivil

I gotta see a picture of a 928 towing a boat.

there is just something wrong with that. I wonder if the earth slightly spins off its axis when he does that.

Hi,

Not at all. It uses a Porsche Towing Hook attached to the Frame members, designed for the car. Dave specifically got the car for this purpose and specifically got the Automatic because it has a Transmission Cooler, and the V8 has the power to pull the trailer. It's the only thing he uses this car for.

Dave is a pretty interesting guy. He's a GunSmith by trade and made a bundle patenting some sort of specialized Skeet Shooting Barrel (apparently it's the only thing the Pros and Serious Amateurs use).

He has quite a few cars to choose from. His daily driver is an Audi S4, he also has a 1978 Lotus Esprit, an '89 Lotus Esprit SE, an '05 Lotus Elise S2, and a 1917 Ford Model T, at least at last count.

I met Dave through his older brother, Bill, who used to race Datsun 240Zs with me back in the late '70s and was a former Air Force Pilot. Unfortunately, Bill was killed last year when his Beechcraft Baron crashed in a field in Kentucky, apparently out of fuel. You may remember this story because it made the national news. Bill left from Sioux Falls, SD to return to Mpls. from a business trip. Flying alone, with the Auto-Pilot set, Bill apparently suffered a massive stroke and was unable to move. The plane flew past Mpls., over Madison, WI where two Air Guard F-16s were dispatched to it and they followed it to Detroit, where a 2nd pair of F-16s took over and followed it all the way to Kentucky where the plane suddenly lost altitude and crashed in a remote field, apparently when the fuel was exhausted. Pretty sad...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[Jeph]

Originally Posted by redman12

For those of you that are not familiar about 928 (from cardomain) 928 would probably own the bmw on the left.

Are you saying this specific (pictured) 928 would "own" the Bimmer on the left? I don't know if it has any mods or not, but if you're referring to 928s in general, I may be skeptical of that statement. It's appears to be an M5 (with M3 rims). I'd venture that what the M5 lacks in nimbleness it makes up for with the 5.0 400HP. 0-60 in 4.8... How many cars from the 80s could pull that off? Am I wrong here?

[CJ_Boxster]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

Unfortunately, Bill was killed last year when his Beechcraft Baron crashed in a field in Kentucky, apparently out of fuel. You may remember this story because it made the national news. Bill left from Sioux Falls, SD to return to Mpls. from a business trip. Flying alone, with the Auto-Pilot set, Bill apparently suffered a massive stroke and was unable to move. The plane flew past Mpls., over Madison, WI where two Air Guard F-16s were dispatched to it and they followed it to Detroit, where a 2nd pair of F-16s took over and followed it all the way to Kentucky where the plane suddenly lost altitude and crashed in a remote field, apparently when the fuel was exhausted. Pretty sad...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Wow that is sad, I wouldnt mind going the way he did with 2 F-16 as escorts.

[ricklin]

I have been jonesing for a Porsche since my 89 928S4. Loved that car, bought it in S. Carolina for about 10K with 90 k miles on it. Sold it here in Socal for 15k with 120k miles.

Remember guys the 928 is not a sports car it's a GT. Very hard to find with a stick, about 95% of the 928s had automatic. It was a MB auto in a Porsche case with the trans at the rear of the car.

The 928 has incredible engine durabilty, as long as the timing belt gets changed.

A 928S4 looks best from the back, which is the view that mere mortal cars would have of it.

I also enjoyed the fact that here in Socal I would see a 928 about 1 X per month. Not many of them made. The 928 was Porsche's top of the line.

They are generally cheap to buy, my 10 K car was something like 85 K new.

If you are in the market for one, GET A PPI FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS 928s.

That would exclude most Porsche dealerships.

My 928 and my Boxster were as different as night and day. Both great cars.

If given the choice of my 89 S4 and my Boxster for a 1000 mile road trip, I'd take the 928.

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Man, it is great!.... if you dig AMC Pacers!

Hate to hurt anyone's feelings, but we get WAY more looks when we're in the 928 than the Boxster. Of course, the only view a Boxster ever gets of my 928 is from behind. I love them both, but when given the choice I drive the 928.

A few facts about the Shark that may help you admire it a little more:

1) It was the most expensive production Porsche of its' time. Mine was 62,500 sticker in 1987. Mucho mas if it were sold today.

2) Full (and I mean FULL) leather interior. The ceiling, walls, door panels, everything but the dash board are leather.

3) The 1987 928 set the speed record of the time for any production car at 171MPH....stock, out of the box.

4) Can you say 316HP with no mods. That's just the '87 as later models had even more. With my X-Pipes added and a couple of other minor tweaks we're at 350rwHP. Supercharge this baby and you are gone.

5) On the highway and in the mountains, the Boxster can't keep up. Much closer in the mountains, not a chance on the highway.

6) People ask "what does 87SHARK mean on your license plate". When you say Shark is a nickname for the 928 and 87 is they model year, everyone says "That's a 20 year old car? It looks new!". One of the fellow forum buddies had his boss try and impress him saying he loved his new Porsche and was looking at the same one on the showroom floor the week before. The problem is that was two years ago and the 928 went out of production in '95. Timeless beauty.

7) It looks really good with Rebecca DeMornay on the hood.

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

• Engine: V8, 234-288hp
  Top Speed: 155mph
  Price New: $51,900 (1986)
  Typical Cost Today: $19,000
  Number Produced: 22,662

• Ease of maintenance: ●●○○○
  Annual Maintenance Cost: ●●●○○
  Potential maintenance Cost: ●●●●●
  Fun Value: ●●●●●
  Investment Value: ●●○○○

Just a couple of things from the article. I guess they stopped at the 16V 1986 S2 because the 32V 1986.5+ S4 had 316HP and I believe they ended up in 1995 with around 350HP. Also, the parts are pretty readily available and mods galore, but if you can't work on it yourself, you will pay a boat load in maintenance. There are not many mechanics who know the 928 and you definitely need it. It's the only V8 model Porsche had until the Cayenne, and that's a different beast. I disagree with the automatic, but I've never been a fan of automatics in any car. The 5-speed is fantastic, and I love the the dogleg shift pattern.

Finally, if anyone really does consider getting a 928 send me a PM. I'll get you to the great forums and websites for the model. You can practically rebuild one from scratch with all of the stuff those guys have posted online.

[Brucelee]

There is a kit that allows you to drop any small block chevy in the 928. I always have my eye our for one with a bad engine.

I love bargains and speed. What a combo.

PS-the Ls1 and Ls2 corvette engine is cheaper, lighter and faster than the stock Porsche engine in these bad boys.

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

PS-the Ls1 and Ls2 corvette engine is cheaper, lighter and faster than the stock Porsche engine in these bad boys.

There was a guy at Sharks in the Mountains this year who has taken a 4.7 Vette engine and dropped it into his 928. Looks nice. I'll see if I got any pics of it for you.

[pecivil]

if you wanna 928, this is the one to want....DROOL

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=211443253&dealer_id=54160418&car_year=1995&model=928&num_records=25&make2=&start_year=1990&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&search_type=both&distance=0&color3=&color2=&make=POR&color=&min_price=&drive=&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=92064&advanced=&end_year=2007&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=1369

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by pecivil

if you wanna 928, this is the one to want....DROOL

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=211443253&dealer_id=54160418&car_year=1995&model=928&num_records=25&make2=&start_year=1990&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&search_type=both&distance=0&color3=&color2=&make=POR&color=&min_price=&drive=&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=92064&advanced=&end_year=2007&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=1369

Nice car, crazy price.

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by pecivil

if you wanna 928, this is the one to want....DROOL

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=211443253&dealer_id=54160418&car_year=1995&model=928&num_records=25&make2=&start_year=1990&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&search_type=both&distance=0&color3=&color2=&make=POR&color=&min_price=&drive=&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=92064&advanced=&end_year=2007&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=1369

It's in great shape and as a '95 5-speed, pretty darn rare. The price is probably in the right ballpark, but way more than I'd be willing to spend on a car.

[NickCats]

KBB is showing $34,215

deliriousga, would the rarity of this car justify the $35k premium ?

Nick

[redman12]

Originally Posted by pecivil

if you wanna 928, this is the one to want....DROOL

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=211443253&dealer_id=54160418&car_year=1995&model=928&num_records=25&make2=&start_year=1990&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&search_type=both&distance=0&color3=&color2=&make=POR&color=&min_price=&drive=&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=92064&advanced=&end_year=2007&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=1369

Oh my, such a shiny sharkkkkkkkkkk and its midnight blue!!. My favorite color

[redman12]

I also love old Carrera's, its so classic.

[deliriousga]

Originally Posted by NickCats

KBB is showing $34,215

deliriousga, would the rarity of this car justify the $35k premium ?

Nick

KBB is rarely correct when it comes to older cars. When I bought mine, the 5-speed '87s I found were all listed between $13K-17K, but KBB said it was worth $7K. Everyone on the 928 boards thought I got a steal at $10K for a 5-speed with 90K miles on it.

Since it's the last production year of the car, only ~250 were built and ~10% of those were 5-speeds it will command a premium. They may not get the full $69K, but it will sell for $60K+.

Edit: I confused years...in the last year of production only 90 were made and ~25% of them were 5-speeds. Got my Excellence mag today and the avg. price for the '95 year is $41K+. In the older models, the premium for a 5-speed is about 30-40% depending on condition.

[NickCats]

John,

Thanks for the info ! Good to know...

Nick