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Hi I'm new to this forum, so my story is I drove by this 1985 Porsche 928s for sale. Needs some body work and some engine work to getting it to run the guy who is selling it said it's been sitting for 20 years, and hasn't ran since then previous driver hit someone, the title is still clean and odometer says 95000 it's a 3spd automatic and he wants 2k only body work needed is new bumper and hood work, also he said he can get it to run before I purchase it worth the buy? Please help me out I really want the car and want to learn old cars. Are parts hard to get ?
Last edited by dr bob; 09-20-2018 at 01:08 PM.
Reason: Fixed Title Spelling
That's like learning about women by dating Glenn Close. Not a good first 928, that car's going to need _a lot_ to run again. Find an easier 1st car.
LOLz
Originally Posted by DeWolf
I honestly the think the first question should be: can you work on it yourself? Second question: Do you have a garage?
^This. Having a garage is the more important question. Even if you're not an experienced mechanic, you can maintain a 928 with the help of this forum and a decent set of hand tools. The hardest part is troubleshooting weird stuff, and from my observation that weird stuff is usually electrical and caused by corrosion or critters.
One issue with a long-time non-runner is that there is so much catch-up work before you try to start it that it can be discouraging. You'll need to refurb the fuel system, redo the timing belt and water pump, etc., etc. It can take weeks or months before you get the first turn of the key.
The advantage to working on an old, cheap Shark is that you never feel like you're going to make it worse by diving in yourself.
Parts can be expensive, but there are often non-OEM and used alternatives to expensive, new Porsche parts. We can help with that, too.
I would recommend getting the VIN and having Rob do an options search for you. There is a thread for that on the board. He is great to do this as a service to all of us. If the car has desireable options (e.g. Limited Slip, Sport Seats, etc.) that will need to be weighed in your decision to buy.
I would also recommend reading the sticky at the top of the thread list related to ownership of a 928...lots to be learned in those pages as you consider jumping in.
As Shawn said, pics of the interior will be helpful and its condition should also help you decide how to proceed. Restoring the interior is perhaps the most costly part of this hobby...having an original radio, for instance, may help you decide it is worth the investment of time and money.
FWIW...I bought mine as a trashed non-runner...it did not need body work, however, so I learned a lot from this board and did almost everything myself. It CAN be done, even by someone with fairly limited knowledge going in. This board is great.
First, ask yourself if you can get your $ back if you part it out after transport costs?
Then figure if it is worth YOUR time and $ (i'd figure) at least $10k, given its been sitting so long to make it road worthy.
FYI... If its an '85 it is a 4 speed Benz Automatic trans.
I daresay you are hardly the first person to look at a serious project car and wonder if it's worthwhile. Advice to all is the same: Buy the best running condition car you can afford. Know that almost any running 928, unless it has a fanatical previous owner, is going to chew through at least another $5K+ in replacement rubber parts alone before it can possibly be a safe and reliable driver. No cosmetic stuff beyond cleaning, just the rubber parts. You supply all the labor.
A car sitting unused for 20 years with old coolant is going to have corrosion in the aluminum cooling passages and sealing surfaces that will render the engine to pretty much junk status. The trans has been sitting with the top half dry for that same amount of time. There's a reason the car has been sitting this long, and the reason has escalated every years since it was parked -- It will cost way more to fix than to replace. Unless you happen to need parts that are on this car to help out another project car you already own, this one has seriously negative value.
Consider also that the 928 is far from the ideal candidate on which to "learn old cars". Finding a car that's running and driving and is presentable will go a lot farther at my house than bringing home a car that needs all three garage bays for disassembly and restoration. Find one that presents maintenance tasks rather than full restoration, and the learning curve will be a lot less steep.
If you can't talk the seller up to at least $10k and his check clears your bank, find another. Look through the for-sale thread at the top of the page and get an idea of the cars being offered in different places and condition. The dollar you invest in a better car will return at least five on avoided recovery costs.
I would recommend getting the VIN and having Rob do an options search for you. There is a thread for that on the board. He is great to do this as a service to all of us. If the car has desireable options (e.g. Limited Slip, Sport Seats, etc.) that will need to be weighed in your decision to buy.
I would also recommend reading the sticky at the top of the thread list related to ownership of a 928...lots to be learned in those pages as you consider jumping in.
As Shawn said, pics of the interior will be helpful and its condition should also help you decide how to proceed. Restoring the interior is perhaps the most costly part of this hobby...having an original radio, for instance, may help you decide it is worth the investment of time and money.
FWIW...I bought mine as a trashed non-runner...it did not need body work, however, so I learned a lot from this board and did almost everything myself. It CAN be done, even by someone with fairly limited knowledge going in. This board is great.
-scott
condition of the interior is in mint condition, and forgot to take a picture of the engine bay its corroded but fixable
I recommend learning how to spell "Porsche" and then saving up for a better example 928 as your first one.
first if you dont have an answer to my question dont bother leaving a message second i can spell porsche and I only spelled it like that because the username wasnt available
I daresay you are hardly the first person to look at a serious project car and wonder if it's worthwhile. Advice to all is the same: Buy the best running condition car you can afford. Know that almost any running 928, unless it has a fanatical previous owner, is going to chew through at least another $5K+ in replacement rubber parts alone before it can possibly be a safe and reliable driver. No cosmetic stuff beyond cleaning, just the rubber parts. You supply all the labor.
A car sitting unused for 20 years with old coolant is going to have corrosion in the aluminum cooling passages and sealing surfaces that will render the engine to pretty much junk status. The trans has been sitting with the top half dry for that same amount of time. There's a reason the car has been sitting this long, and the reason has escalated every years since it was parked -- It will cost way more to fix than to replace. Unless you happen to need parts that are on this car to help out another project car you already own, this one has seriously negative value.
Consider also that the 928 is far from the ideal candidate on which to "learn old cars". Finding a car that's running and driving and is presentable will go a lot farther at my house than bringing home a car that needs all three garage bays for disassembly and restoration. Find one that presents maintenance tasks rather than full restoration, and the learning curve will be a lot less steep.
If you can't talk the seller up to at least $10k and his check clears your bank, find another. Look through the for-sale thread at the top of the page and get an idea of the cars being offered in different places and condition. The dollar you invest in a better car will return at least five on avoided recovery costs.
first if you dont have an answer to my question dont bother leaving a message second i can spell porsche and I only spelled it like that because the username wasnt available
Originally Posted by Porche928
Hi I'm new to this forum, so my story is I drove by this 1985porche928s for sale. Needs some body work and some engine work to getting it to run the guy who is selling it said it's been sitting for 20 years, and hasn't ran since then previous driver hit someone, the title is still clean and odometer says 95000 it's a 3spd automatic and he wants 2k only body work needed is new bumper and hood work, also he said he can get it to run before I purchase it worth the buy? Please help me out I really want the car and want to learn old cars. Are parts hard to get ?
Hi !
928s are great, I'd recommend a first one that is running, if possible. There will still be lots of fun projects on a running example.
Good luck ! ! ! !
09-19-2018, 03:06 AM
1985 Porsche 928s
