Bertrand Daoust

This (200$) have been close to my monthly budget too for my car in the past ten years.
Right now, I'm quite happy with the car but I know that it will need some work of some kind again. Hope later then sooner but...

It's a 928!

The Deputy

I guess I'm right in the wheel-house of $200.00 a month average. This is a tally from my "Intro to the 928 World". These are the repairs that I've made so far...all labor and complaining was done by me.

Between 11/2014 and 11/2015

WP and TB = $750.00
Fuel/Vacuum lines = $50.00
Tune-up = $500.00
Oil change/filter = $75.00
Belts = $75.00
Headlight/fog-light bulbs = $50.00
HVAC relay = $15.00
Hood insulator pad = $125.00
Hood/hatch struts = $100.00
Jump post cover = $15.00
Coolant flush/fill = $50.00
Tie-rod ends/ball-joint boots = $100.00
Polished seven slot rims = $500.00
Burgundy floor mats = $40.00 (used, but in good shape)
Rear hatch lower receiver guide = $50.00
Window/Sun-roof/Rear wiper switches = $100.00

Grand total = $2,595.00

Between 11/2015 and 11/2016

Motor mounts = $150.00
Alternator = $175.00
Trans filter/fluid = $100.00
Axle shaft reboot = $100.00
Rear struts = $275.00
Air filter = $40.00
Steering rack boot = $25.00
Tie-rod = $80.00

Total (so far) = $945.00

Granted, I've just been bringing this car up to speed, repair and eye-appeal wise. It will probably never be taken to the next level, by me, since it's just a driver. It's a good ten-foot car and looks good going down the road..so that's enough. Plus, I'd be sick if I went the extra mile, paint and such, and then scratched it. Sure, my plan is to maintain its level of niceness at about a 6/7.

My red 78 (#225) will most-likely cost me much more money and time, since I'd like to take it to that "next level" someday.

Brian.

marine928

Purchasing a semi garage queen 100-130k miles on odo from a knowledgeable owner who has owned the car for at least 6 years and kept up normal required maintenance with documented evidence ( electrical & mechanical ) is the best option and will set you back approximately 15-25K at todays current market. ( 1987-89)

Based on my experience you will need to spend an additional 3-8k P&L, to bring it up to date. This is providing the paint, tires and interior are good.

1. Rebuild the TT with components from Constantine, include a new clamp as well.
2. Shocks and bushings
3. Vacuum lines and all plastic/rubber hoses, and lines.
4. Flush and recore radiator
5. Top end refresh ( cam gears optional)
6. A/C system refresh
7. Power steering system refresh including reservoir
8. Brake system refresh/flush
9. Ground system refresh
10. Change out stock alternator for HO model.
11. Change the pod lights out to LED's and replace the plastic odo gear if not already done.
12. A/T system flush and refresh (hoses)
13. oh yeah, MM as well
The above is based on a mixture of diy and shop and good basic maintenance
history. There is always more but these are usually neglected preventive maintenance items that if done will give you ( or at least it did me) a turn-the-key and drive 928.

GlenL

"Restoring" these cars is a money-losing proposition.

Unless you can get them cheap, clean them up, and re-sell quickly it'll be a money-loser.

I know a guy who used to flip 928s. This is maybe 10 years ago but he'd get them at car auctions in CA, bring them in MN, and re-sell them. He'd do minor cosmetics and mechanical repairs and that was it. No interior restos. No engine re-builds. No paint jobs.

For the other 99% of us, the car is worth exactly $0 more than what you thought it was worth when you bought it. After that it's a money loser and you do it for fun.

It's like buying a race car versus building one. Always cheaper to start with someone else's cast-off racer. But, it's not the car you want, and so, people are always adding to the pool of unwanted racers and driving down the value of what they're creating. (I've got one in the garage now. gonna be awesome...and mine.)

voskian

Just checked what I spent on maintenance over 17 years of ownership on my old 89 S4 (~$23500) and came to ~$1400/year. When I sold it, it was up to date on most all "big" maintenance items (shocks, brakes, motor mounts, OPG, TB/WP/Tensioner, AC convert, hoses, belts, fuel pump/filter, tires) and I would consider it being up to standard for a very nice driver. Paint and interior didn't need anything, mechanicals all as they should be. That works out to less than $115 per month. Car started out at purchase in 1996 at 23K miles and sold at 100K miles (~4500 miles /year).

The key here is the car was mechanically and cosmetically very nice when I purchased it and kept it that way over the 17 years and 77K enjoyable miles!

Adk46

That's a good bottom line, Bob: it's possible to own a very special car for less than half the monthly cost of a new but boring econobox. It's a very special car in two ways: it's a near-vintage Porsche near-supercar driver-capable sort of car, and also one that we become intimately familiar with, perhaps timidly or grudgingly at first, but with particular satisfaction as we drive them about - with confidence that we'll get home. Alright, perhaps with a few episodes we'd like to forget.

I thought this thread would be useful for those out looking for a typical car, so they'd know the typical expense to get it to our driver-oriented standard. They may end up with a non-typical car, and may have non-typical goals, skills, or points of view, but they'll have a baseline. Thanks, everyone, for contributing.

Madturk

I bought mine with receipts worth of $45k. Since that I've dumped over $20k and planning for another $10k. Probably not worth $20k today)
But I love this car and I want it to be one of the nicest 928 out there.
So, long story short whatever you think you will spend to make it to your standard times that by 4. Sorry but true. At the end 928 is something else.

voskian

Just checked the rolling expenses on the 91 GT and looks like ~$6200 spent parts and labor in last three years since I bought it. TB/WP/Tensioner, shocks, AC, all fluids, belts, fuel filter/pump, aero mirrors, carrera III wheels and tires. I had to have the TB/WP done by a shop as the ! came on the day I was to pick it up and 70 miles from home, so paid labor there. So far I have put 13K miles in 3 years on it. The car was a very low mileage (24K miles) garage queen when I bought it so no interior/exterior resto had to be done.

$6200 divided by three years = ~$2000/year or ~$171/month. This car recently showed at 299/300 at Zone 1 concours....it can be done.

Captain_Slow

Bob V. has a very special GT. Rare to find one like it. But I think even a car that is say in "good" condition (a 3 on the Hagerty scale) in and out, and mechanically, can still be maintained, improved and updated, for under $200 per month - but for more months, taking it slow and steady...enjoying the process (but remember, one likely spends $10k to $15k less for "good" vs. "concours"). Thus, the "good" cars are perfect for buyers who want to roll what they didn't spend on the car into mods and "stuff" that personalized the car for them. Cars like Bob's should not be messed with...Bob is really the caretaker of his car Bob is also super friendly and great to talk to. I look forward to seeing him and his car at Frenzy (though the car didn't make it last year).

(Note...so far I've done all work on my car. It's the only way to keep the cost of ownership reasonable)

Lizard928

To do timing belt, waterpump, top end refresh, oil pan/MM, shocks, rack bushings, and HVAC pods, A/C reseal, and all the rest of the fluids, if you are paying someone to do all that work I would plan for $10-16k depending on what options you go with/what exactly you need.

If you're doing it all yourself it obviously can be much cheaper.

chrisk7789

I bought one that was sitting for 7 years that looked clean and well maintained before it sitting. It turned over but did not stay started.


So far I had to replace the brakes and every part of the fuel system (excluding lines and computer modules). So far I have spent $1,250 on brakes and rotors, $800 on LKQ fuel tank, $165 on the sending unit, $250 on the fuel pump and $500 w/ labor on the catalytic converter. With the labor I had about another 1k.


Throw in tires, $600 for back registration, and $2,600 for the car, and I should be done for around 8-9k, and that doesn't include the paint (I have a body shop friend doing me a favor and painting for free), reworking some interior parts, and buying some weatherstiping and belt moldings.


So far its a wait and see, but I have a feeling I should have just spent the 8-10k on a 6-7 on a scale of 10 example and made some small adjustments from there.....but...that's always the allure of buying low and selling hi.

dr bob

My ownership experience is very similar to Bob V's first one. A very low-miles well cared for car in great cosmetic and mechanical condtion. The low miles part meant that few hands hed been on any of the mechanicals. From there, the bulk of the 'work' has been scheduled and preventive maintenance. And minimizing the damage done to the car along the way. Except for the initial effort to bring the AC back into shape, nothing on the car falls outside of the maintenance category so far. Reading some of the nightmare stories of PO and other mistakes made, I consider myself blessed.

Do I have to include all the fun ools, equipment and garage/workshop improvements in my car costs analysis? It would have been better to just buy a new R8 and pay to have it maintained. seriously.

FredR

Seems to me there is a very clear pattern emerging here based on ownership experience & knowledge.

The more folks have of both these quantums the more it costs to run these cars.

What a surprise!

Rgds

Fred

Toronto928owners

The terms "average" and "typical" become antiquated instantly in a 928 thread at the moment an invoice for parts and/or labour is presented.

I actually find the aforementioned terms offensive when presented on the same page with the mark of 928, on paper or within verbal exchange.

LMAO!

☺

marine928

My only cost since since finishing the upgrades in Feb. 2015 have been: fuel $668.60, insurance $397.00 (collector car ins.) , new tires, $1268.00, front end alignment, $128.00, bonnet/hood struts $36.00.
When you take out the tires, alignment and hood struts because they are one time purchases that will last at least 2-3 years, my cost is about a eleven hundred and change for a year of problem free driving.
As Bob V. and others have noted, our cars are made to last and as dependable as anything on the road today once you spend the time and money to correct and upgrade components and known preventative issues.
Commitment, time and money along with the advice of our 928 members will get you there.