FredR

I doubt you can prove anything [either positive or negative]. If someone really knew what they were doing I am sure they would have conveyed that in the first instance. If indeed the owner did what he now says he did then one has to wonder what his game plan was with a car that had no prospective collectability at the time & just leaving it stationary for 18 years. If it was in one of those bubble tents, up on blocks and sat in nitrogen atmosphere that would be convincing.

As I advised in my first post to your thread, my main concern would be that of corrosion in the water jacket, especially at the top of the cylinder. The coolant contains an anti corrosion package but that typically get exhausted after a couple of years or so. To be fair if the engine is not running, then it will not be sucking in moist air when it cools down.

If we could define condition with meaningful performance indication, I suspect well used examples that are well maintained would perform much better than pristine looking low milers. I suspect that the owner will give you more to think about than the car itself.

SecaBlue

Hi Fred,

Sorry but I edited my post while you were replying :P So now there is additional information.

As for the storage, it is typical that cars are stored here in Europe in an underground climatized garage, to keep them out of the Winter... so that is believable.

Apparently the owner just always wanted to own an S4 and bought it as more for prosperity rather than driving or investment... the interior reflects this, and all electrics work

FredR

Doubtless you may be onto a gem cosmetically speaking but as per your original thread concept we can only advise what might be lurking and only you can do the value proposition bit. My 928 is only driven about an hour a week under normal circumstances but it is driven and maintained as best I can and even then as one fixes one thing inevitably something else crops up and that with lots of tender loving care!

If the owner has looked after the car then by all means go for it just try to flush out of him [indirectly] how often the coolant was changed- i.e. throw in a curved ball when you enquire such as "it should be changed every 10 years"- and see if he comes up with a better but nonetheless questionable answer.

Rgds

Fred

SeanR

Same hoses, same age so change them. I'd say that since we are a predominately North American forum we wouldn't hear much about the fires from the EU or elsewhere abroad.

Darklands

SecaBlue

Well, in light of all your info, and the pending costs associated with getting the vehicle back on the road, I decided not to buy it... they were wanting too much for it in my opinion. There will be others, but want to thank you all here for polarising my direction

merchauser

since you are passing this car, could you post all the information you have gathered including the price? there might be someone here that would be willing
to give it some consideration, and all of us would be interested in any photos you could share.

Captain_Slow

Why pass on it completely? If it's fresh on the market I'd keep it on the back burner while continuing your search. None of the information provided here should be taken as discouraging from buying it. The seller bought it at the low price point and now sees examples from auctions and other sales data that indicate it's a good time to cash it in. The seller probably hasn't taken into account the fact that knowledgable buyers will be cautious about a car that has sat for 18 years, no matter how well preserved it is. The seller will have to wait for the buyer who sees a pretty car with low miles and that's all they need to be willing to part with the cash. The seller may have a long wait, and the price may soften over time. On the other hand, the days of decent cheap 928s and even great deals on really nice ones are over (going on about 2 years). One factor I consider whenever I think about selling mine (which seems to be an annual thing that comes in February) is that I won't able to purchase my car again - that's how far the market has moved.

Wisconsin Joe

How much were they asking?

SecaBlue

Sorry for the lack of responses to the last few questions. Work got busy last year and lost track of posts. The car sold at Auction for 15,000 Euros plus Auction 17% fee and transport to get it to me (approx 1000Euro), so I could not keep it on the back burner. The Auction site still has the historical listing up https://www.vavato.com/en/#!/auction...5219dcb/lots/5

Meanwhile I have found another in Sweden that has only 100,000km, 2 owner, which sounds nice except it has not moved since 2008 (last roadworthy inspection was 2007), so out of traffic and not driven for 11-12 yrs. It has however recently had timing belt and rollers changed, and all fluids and oil change. (exact details to be verified).

Again, stored in climate controlled environment. Guessing I should still be worries about the brake and fuel lines, and head gaskets etc...