dr bob

In my darkest 928 non-appreciation period (lost a most-excellent GF to a dentist with a then-new '78), my non-appreciation increased when the S4 came out. It wasn't until I owned one that I came to appreciating the S4 style. I still like the OB style, very clean lines with no hang-on stuff. I think Jim Bailey commented to me one time, referring to the 911, that all the add-on stuff that folks seemed to love on that car, like the fender flares, wings, pop-up tail panels and front skirting, all that is a tacit admission that they didn't get it right from the beginning, and that all this 'new' stuff is needed to make the car "right". There's a reason that the 993 is so well liked -- they did enough body reshaping that they didn't need much beyond the basic container shape to have a fabulous car. It didn't hurt that it was the swan-song for the air-cooled versions, and that the teardrop headlights and the shared front end from the Boxter plus and some infant issues with the new manufacturing systems created a little bit of vacuum in the line for a few years... But I'm getting way off the topic.

There are a few examples of the S4+ cars with the rear wing excised, and they look great. Perhaps a nice 86.5 5-speed with the rear rubber lip removed would be about right-- the OB rear bumper shell shape without the distracting rubber trim. Back to a clean shape just the way it was originally styled, with easy 300 HP and updated brakes and suspension.

GLWS. The '89 auto performance in normal street driving is noticeably better than the '87-88 cars, thanks to the more lively rear axle ratio. The individual ratios in the gearbox help too. At the same time, when cruising at higher speeds I sometimes long for another gear ratio since there is certainly adequate torque available to carry it, it least for the driving I do.

docmirror

There's no need to belabor this with you, but for others out there in the market, or thinking of the 928, the rear wing of the S4 is part of the aero package. It's there for a reason, and although no one here may be out tootling around at 130MPH plus, for those that do, the wing or lack thereof will be quite noticable if the wind picks up, or you need to pass another large car.

The downforce on the rear of the car gets progressively worse as speed increases. Sort of a suction effect of the slanted back design of a hatchback coupled with a ton of power.

Certainly there's no downside to removing the wing for normal highway speeds, even low triple digit speeds, but when you get further up into the area where the aero does it's thing, wing removal, or spoiler removal should be considered carefully. Unlike the big wing on the Countach which is strictly for bling sake, and works by slowing the car down, the 928 wing is functional. To be better, it should have been about 2/3 further up the hatch area, and smaller, but for aesthetics sake, it's down near the base of the hatch area.

Another car which suffers similar from the downforce issues is the Lotus Esprit. In 1989, as the speeds got up there, the very light chassis of the Lotus was beginning to lose it's grip. In some countries, the later version wing on the Esprit was right up in the middle of the rear decklid. Coincidentally, it was also called the S4, and they weren't very popular, also they couldn't be certified in the US because it blocked the rear view(already poor) too badly.

Roger has removed his wing on the GTS, and he drives it with spirit, but he's also increased he tire size significantly, so he gets some more grip there, and the rake of the chassis is a bit different than stock.

Anyway, just realize that the wing on the S4 is there for a reason folks, and taking it off makes you a 'test pilot' at high speeds, and wind conditions.

Jadz928

Nice ad. GLWS, Justin!
Certainly you are not the only one who prefers the original body of the early 928.

Randy V

Huh?

Justin A.

erioshi - S4s do have a good presence in photos. All my friends were shocked at how small the car was compared to the photos where it looked much larger and longer.

Dr.BOB - great insight, thanks! I still think the S4 looks amazing but I do feel design wise it does have that add on feeling. Sometimes the add on works out well like the first generation Cayenne facelift. The lack of difference between my 79 and 89 interiors were disappointing. Where the 79 interior felt ahead of it's time, the 89 felt dated and conflicted with the updated body style.

Thanks Jim! I should have gone with that talbot yellow car I spoke to you about months ago, oops!

Randy - I wasn't sure of the responses I would have gotten, I have read some heated debates on here concerning hacking the wing, original vs modifications, ob vs S4/gts and etc. I wanted to avoid any heated debate sense I don't have the knowledge or the experience of other members. I don't agree with the advice of buying the newest model you can afford, that I have read so often on here as advice to someone looking for a 928. I think it's more complicated than that. But I am pleasantly surprised by the response I have gotten on this thread, thank you.