sweanders

I'm having a really though decision to make within thne next week.

I have found two cars that are in great shape and are reasonably priced, which one would you choose and why?

1988 944 turbo - red with black interior, sport seats but nu AC.

1990 928 S4 - silver and standard equipped, auto.

They are both in near mint condition and have pretty low miles. Both at roughly 100.000 km's.

I will use it as a daily driver, weekend toy and during my vacations. Plan on putting about 40.000 km's or more on it every year.

qoncept944

I think the 928 would be a whole lot cheaper to maintain than a 951.. Especially an automatic. But then you've got an Porsche with an automatic.. Tough call.

Sami951

No personal experience with a 928, but I think it goes something like this:

951: spirited, affordable, fasssst
928: relaxed, expensive, fast

If you can get the 928 and afford the maintenance too, it just might be the better choice. 40k kms is quite a lot of driving after all...

PCinDC

928 Cheaper to maintain??? Don't say that to the 928 guys!
I personally would go with the 951, but my best advice would be to drive them both and see which gives you more of that 'feeling.'
928's are excellent cars though...if it was a black or dark blue 5 speed, I'd be singing a different tune...

Z-man

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by qoncept944:
<strong>I think the 928 would be a whole lot cheaper to maintain than a 951.. Especially an automatic. But then you've got an Porsche with an automatic.. Tough call.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">No stinkin' way: the 928 is one of the most expensive p-cars to maintain! Isn't the S4 a 32 valve car? At about $100 a valve, if you have timing belt issues and bend the vales, that's $3200.00 in parts alone! (the 928 S4 is an interference engine, right?) The 928 engine is a very complicated machine.
From a maintenance standpoint, the 951 is cheaper to maintain.
-Z.

sweanders

I'm pretty familiar with both cars.

I've owned a 944 S2 that I unfortunately crashed in this december and have been looking for cars in nice shape since then. And now all of a sudden I find two examples in good enough condition..

I think they'll cost about the same to use and the 944 is more demanding to drive - not that that is a negative thing..

Damn this is tricky.

One thing is sure tho, I really love those sport seats..

sweanders

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Z-man:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by qoncept944:
<strong>I think the 928 would be a whole lot cheaper to maintain than a 951.. Especially an automatic. But then you've got an Porsche with an automatic.. Tough call.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">No stinkin' way: the 928 is one of the most expensive p-cars to maintain! Isn't the S4 a 32 valve car? At about $100 a valve, if you have timing belt issues and bend the vales, that's $3200.00 in parts alone! (the 928 S4 is an interference engine, right?) The 928 engine is a very complicated machine.
From a maintenance standpoint, the 951 is cheaper to maintain.
-Z.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I wouldn't consider a blown engine because of a t/b-failure maintanence, more like lack of maintenance..

icat

I'd go with the 928. Much more refined ride, less of a hot rod, still has the speed when you need it. Auto would be nice in the Houston traffic - not sure how congested your streets are over there.

Z-man

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by sweanders:<strong>
I wouldn't consider a blown engine because of a t/b-failure maintanence, more like lack of maintenance..</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">That's just an example, probably a bad one, though.

According to a few mechanics that I know, the 928 is an expensive car to maintain, especially the 32 valve ones! (Not just for repair of broken things, but regular maintenance) There are a lot of components in those cars. Since the engine is heavy, the front suspension gets taxed alot as well. Twice the cylinders, FOUR times the valves, lifters...etc: (compared to a 944Turbo) there's a lot of stuff that needs attention in there!

Your best bet is to ask your local mechanics what they think.
-Zoltan.

pete95zhn

Hej Anders!

928 is a fine ride,most say that it's the best in it's class,but I'd still take that 951...but hey,I may be a bit biased!

<img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" /> ,Pete

PCinDC

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">

According to a few mechanics that I know, the 928 is an expensive car to maintain, especially the 32 valve ones! (Not just for repair of broken things, but regular maintenance) There are a lot of components in those cars. Since the engine is heavy, the front suspension gets taxed alot as well. Twice the cylinders, FOUR times the valves, lifters...etc: (compared to a 944Turbo) there's a lot of stuff that needs attention in there!

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">From every 928 guy I've ever talked to, the electrical system on these cars is a real PITA. I've heard of guys chasing gremlins for years with no resolution.

Peckster

You won't have much fun using the 928 as a weekend toy on the track.

Can you really live with an auto? I looked at several, but couldn't. IMO, 928s are GT luxo-cruisers and 951s are for guys who are into the sport.

sweanders

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Z-man:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by sweanders:<strong>
I wouldn't consider a blown engine because of a t/b-failure maintanence, more like lack of maintenance..</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">That's just an example, probably a bad one, though.

According to a few mechanics that I know, the 928 is an expensive car to maintain, especially the 32 valve ones! (Not just for repair of broken things, but regular maintenance) There are a lot of components in those cars. Since the engine is heavy, the front suspension gets taxed alot as well. Twice the cylinders, FOUR times the valves, lifters...etc: (compared to a 944Turbo) there's a lot of stuff that needs attention in there!

Your best bet is to ask your local mechanics what they think.
-Zoltan.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">As for service points the 928 has 8 spark plugs where the 951 has four and it uses more oil since it's a bigger engine. Otherwise than that I can't see why it should be more expensive. Unless that there is a major breakdown of course. If I'm getting the 928 I'm buying it from my friend/mechanic who has worked on Porsches for more than 30 years so I don't worry about that it hasn't had the proper maintenance, I've even been around when he has serivced it and changed the t-belt so I know it's been properly done.

Do I understand you correctly that if it wasn't for the possibility of higher maintenance cost you'd take the S4 over the 951?

I don't really worry about the cost, I'll rather sell my house than be without a Porsche again.

wjk_glynn

A 928 is definitely more expensive to maintain than a 944. Its not just that the engine doubles up on a bunch of things, the 928 is packed with all sorts of electrical gizmos and they tend to fail with age.

Having said that, the cars are so different. the 944 Turbo is a sports car, the 928 is a highway GT cruiser for cross-European blasts. I'd base my decision on what you want from the car.

Karl.

sybelix

I unfortunatelly have no experience of 928 series, but they hear to be great touring / highway cars. Your choise depends a lot whether you like to upgrade your vehicle or just to drive it as it is.
Cause naturally 951 is the way to go, if you are lookin' for a FAST car.
Is the 951 an S or regular 951? Cause if it is an 951S, there you have one more reason to go for that.. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Automatic gearbox is a nice thing, but in a Porsche, I don't know...
It is a sports car after all..