928, Talk me down

OK Just Breath. (in with the good air, out with the bad air)

Talk me down, Porsche 928. Tell me again why this is a terrible idea, tell me that timing belts are expensive and take a long time, tell me that parts in general are expensive.

DO NOT tell me how much fun they are to drive, DO NOT tell me how timelessly cool they look. DO NOT tell me about the luxury, DO NOT tell me about being able to fit my children in the back (even if it is a little tight)

Do not show me the examples on Craigslist for UNDER $7K. Do not talk about being able to drive to the track day, having a great time, and then being able to drive home in style.

twitch twitch.

I have had two front engine Porsches (924S, 944), I know they need more attention that a girlfriend with low self esteem, I know they can be fickle.

WHY? Why do I want a more complicated one?

Oh, Merry Christmas (I have had too much time to think)

Then this manual for $1500 would be just awful

http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/3454648816.html

and for $4500 with a rebuilt engine and receipts

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/3416483027.html

EricM wrote: OK Just Breath. (in with the good air, out with the bad air) Talk me down, Porsche 928. Tell me again why this is a terrible idea, tell me that timing belts are expensive and take a long time, tell me that parts in general are expensive.

Oh, the belts aren't expensive, and not terribly difficult to do.

The tensioner is a $1500 part, though.

DO NOT tell me how much fun they are to drive,

Sure, because they're not. They have the interior feel and driving position of an RX-7 GXL (contrived, and awkwardly crappy) and the driving feel of a Merc 450SL (not really that exciting).

DO NOT tell me about being able to fit my children in the back (even if it is a little tight)

Are your children Cabbage Patch Dolls? Because that's about the only kid that would fit there. When I drive one, my head is right over the rear A/C's register, which is between the rear seats.

Think about that. A car that small with front and rear A/C. Somebody had to screw something up bigtime for that to deemed necessary to even be considered, let alone put into production.

A 944 is a MUCH better driving car.

EricM wrote: I know they need more attention that a girlfriend with low self esteem

Even girls with low self esteem are usually better looking than 928s.

BTW - The climate control unit is also about $1200.

Porsches are like newer Audis, except instead of everything being $600, everything is $1200.

Don't manual 928s have one of the most expensive clutch R&R's known to man? I seem to recall reading that here once.

Also, Eric, you seem to be making one hell of an assumption about how they drive. Unless you are shopping above $10k for S4s and the like, don't expect a track car...they are not great corner carvers out of the box.

EricM wrote: I know they need more attention that a girlfriend with low self esteem

This should be in the magazine.

Man up, do it.

Just make sure you get one with a manual trans.

I think it is a great idea. Get an early model with he non-interfenece engine and the Bosch mechanical injection (L-jetronic I think). Much simpler than the later models and they look better as well. Manual transmissions are more plentiful as well. Go listen to sound clips on youtube, it will make you decision much easier.

It is your wallet so go for it

They are long-distance GT cars - not sprinters, track or autocross beasts. They do what they were designed for really well. They are complicated for their day - stuff like three windshield washer pumps and $1,000 radiators, but also the fastest car of their day. Probably better to think about them in the sense of maintaining an aging hand-built supercar. There is a good support community on Rennlist that can work through or around some of the spendy stuff (there are better and cheaper timing belt tensioner fixes). 15% of 928s came with manuals - retrofits aren't straightforward - there are differences in the tunnels of the cars. For early cars, I think they're actually better with an auto. Later cars with a manual are ok. 79-84 are the 16 valve non-interference engines (unless a euro S car, then debatable on interference or not). 1985-the first 1000 1986 cars are 32 valve interference engines. I suspect there weren't actually any built in 1986 (first 1000 are over-run 1985s, above 1000 serial numbers are 1987 S4 models with early bumpers)

Electrical stuff is the bain of their existence. Mechanically, they are pretty well-built machines.

Oh, if you're determined, you can make them go and turn really well

oldtin gave the best response to this question. having owned my share of these "remarkable" cars over the years i tell people who are looking at buying one find the best local example you can find and take it for a test drive even if it is way out of their price range. this way they can experience the car as it should be. if you are looking at these cars under a price of 5k you better know what you are looking at. 79-84 is where you want to be and i like the auto in them also. the best time i had in one was driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway in the middle of night with the windows down and listening to the echo of that V8

I was going to talk you down, but instead decided that I'd just leave this here.

Merry Christmas!

oldtin wrote: stuff like three windshield washer pumps and $1,000 radiators,

Of course, if you're not looking for originality, it would be pretty simple to just get a reservoir and single pump setup and run the lines. And I'm sure you can find a radiator that will work from any vendor on ebay

Knurled wrote: BTW - The climate control unit is also about $1200. Porsches are like newer Audis, except instead of everything being $600, everything is $1200.

I've owned an Audi... :(

RUN AWAY! People do not take care of a 928 the way it needs to be...

My Dad daily drive one for 25 years. I used to love riding in the back seat. When I finally got to drive it I remember it didn't seem much faster than my slightly modified Focus that I had at the time.

irish44j wrote: And I'm sure you can find a radiator that will work from any vendor on ebay

It incorporates the oil cooler and trans cooler and is one of those "exactly fits the hole" kind of deals that German companies loved to do.

It's a nice looking unit, don't get me wrong. Everything on the car is beautifully engineered, too, even though the interior looks like something you'd knock together in an evening to fill out a street rod. (Lots of wood-backed carpeting and such)

For my money, I'd get a 4.6 Ford powered FC RX-7 and spend the rest on an exhaust system that doesn't sound like ass.

Knurled wrote:

irish44j wrote: And I'm sure you can find a radiator that will work from any vendor on ebay

It incorporates the oil cooler and trans cooler and is one of those "exactly fits the hole" kind of deals that German companies loved to do. It's a nice looking unit, don't get me wrong. Everything on the car is beautifully engineered, too, even though the interior looks like something you'd knock together in an evening to fill out a street rod. (Lots of wood-backed carpeting and such) For my money, I'd get a 4.6 Ford powered FC RX-7 and spend the rest on an exhaust system that doesn't sound like ass.

So what you're really saying is that if YOU got a 928, it would look like this lol.

irish44j wrote: So what you're really saying is that if YOU got a 928, it would look like this lol.

Oh ick no! Were a 928 mandated, I'd get an automatic S4 and leave it blissfully stock.

The idea behind the 4.6 RX-7 is not "massive power" but "smooth, seamless acceptable power". Stately power, as it were. The 4.6 SOHC and DOHC are good at that, much more refined-feeling than other commonly available V8s. I'm envisioning a vehicle for traveling in style, not for track use or other such proletarian purposes.

Eric, since you've had a 924 and a 944 you should already know what you're getting into. If you can afford it's upkeep, go for it.

Just do it. I have had two schools of thought on getting another one. First of I think 87 and later were the better body style. Now the tough part. Get one with a bad moter and add lsx power. Or get good example with all maintenance up to date.

These cars were hugely fast for there time. The 87 928s4 with a 5 speed I drove for a while would easily do 180 and topped out at well over 200. These are supper high-speed German muscle car designed to cruz the autobond at extremely high speed. (Yes I did this). 0 to 60 was fast for it's day but today's base corvette will smoke it. The bottom line is drive a good one not a clapped out POS then decide

Take a look at the wiring blocks on one. If you're still interested after seeing it, you'll at least be getting what you deserve.

dean1484 wrote: The 87 928s4 with a 5 speed I drove for a while would easily do 180 and topped out well over 200.

Not according to Porsche, or anyone else, it wouldn't and won't. Maybe with some drastic mods, but I don't buy it.