Ron_H

When I owned a '71 911-E, which, by the way, was a great car, my mother had a MB 280 SL. That was also a great grand tourer: elegant, poised, mannerly, performance in abundance hidden under all that refinement. Take it to the symphony with your date/wife/other. Take the 911 into an endless mountain road until it got dark or you got hungry. Two machines made in the same town with great but unique GT characteristics. The 928 marries both of them and then some. I have sat in the latest MB cars and the 928 has them all beaten. In fact I saw one today: an AMG w/supercharger that was beautiful and the right size. I thought that had I never had my 928 I might be tempted to look closer. Then I drove away thinking the poor owner doesn't know what he is missing and grinned even more. I still look back after parking this machine after two and a half years. And if I want the teeth rattling performance and character of an early 911, I can drive my 2.7L 914/6 (if I ever get the engine finished). Aw why worry about it...I'll get around to it one of these days....think I'll go for a looong faaaast drive in the 928....in comfort. I guess I am approaching adulthood. Damn.

Cameron

My GTS experience in only in what I have read. I have owned an S4 and I own a GT.

As stated, the S4 auto is a bit slow off the line. Especially if you have the pre 1990 2.20 final drive ratio. The 2.54 is better and you will probably need to invest some time to set up the auto tranny right. When I had my '90 S4, my mech tightened up the tranny cable and firmed up the shift points, then I installed the parallel kick down switch and a Jager shifter. HUGE difference in driver experience. The GTS has alot more torque with the 'stroker' 5.4L and in an auto is supposed to make a huge difference. Remember that the GTS had about the same 0-60 time in auto or 5 speed. Not the case with an S4.

Now if you want a 5 speed, an 89-91 GT is fantastic. My '91 GT feels so much lighter than my S4 auto. But in the 5 speed, there is less difference between an S4 and a GTS or GT than the difference between an S4 automatic and a GTS automatic.

Also of note, starting in 1991 additional sound deadening material and other creature comforts were added in. So a '91 GT or S4 will have them. The GTS has these as well as additional grand touring refinements. In terms of collectability or uniqueness, I would say the GTS is the ultimate especially in a 5 speed. Then, probably the GT (expecially the rarest 1991 model year).

Just my .02.

Chuck Z

I have had two 911s, a 1997 993 cab and a 2000 996 cab and at the same time owned at least one 928 GTS (also have own/owned 78 928 and 95 928 GTS/(2) 89 928 S4s, 89 928 GT and a 93 GTS). I really liked both 911s and would have another but the 928 is much more car in my opinion. I would drive the 996 or the 993 and then go drive the GTS and would always be amazed about how much more solid and powerful the GTS felt. Roominess, comfort, ride quality and build quality are all things I remember as being superior in the GTS. I'm sure 911 purists would disagree with me, I could be a little biased........ ........but, the 911s are gone and the 928s are not.

Ron_H

One aspect I like about my '86.5 is the transmission, which starts in first all the time every time. I compensates for the 2.2 rear end. Having driven an S4, which needed to be prodded into starting in first by manipulating the shifter into second for the start, and then quickly shifting into third and back down into second for the shift into second, and then shifting into third for the shift into third, I concluded I prefer my transmission much better. It is passive, and will start out in first while it is still in D; if light throttle is used, it seamlessly shifts into second, but give it a bit more throttle from rest, and it wil stay in first and slam into second on its own. Great! Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. Drive it sedately or drive it sportingly. All in D position. I won't give it up, Marc, if you are listening. I love it that way. And the 2.2 final drive gives me better cruising mileage with less revs. Damn, I have to work tonight or I'd go drive it around some more.

Nicole

I agree - you haven't lived, if you don't...

I'd say it this way:

If you want the best car made by Porsche, get a 928 (OK, some will argue you should get an E500, but that's a different story).

If you are looking for experiencing what Porsche is about (the core of the marque), then get a 911. It's an arrow they made fly backwards, and the engineering that makes this possible is nothing short of amazing.

I got a ride in a brand new 997 Tiptronic. It was a nice car, well made, and quick; thanks to the electronic suspension it was also quite comfortable to ride in. But it lacked the punch of the 928, and I generally prefer the simpler layout of the 928s exterior and interior.

smshirk

Now I can't wait, anyone want to trade for my 996

worf928

You've hit on the number one issue (IMHO) of 928 ownership. The cars were so few in number and so different from 911s that most shops never got any good at fixing them. In my experience the 928 owners who are the happiest for the longest are - with some exceptions - those who take a very active role in the maintenance.

When people ask me if they should buy a 928 I always ask them if they are willing (if not eager) to actually do some wrenching, spend some time, learn about the car, and materially participate in upkeep. If they say "no -what shop would you recommend?" I gently try to steer them toward the higher-volume models that most shops can actually competently repair (e.g. 911, 964, 993, 944.)

For example, Heinrich is cleaning up the mess left by a shop:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...7&page=1&pp=15

IcemanG17

Smshirk
Sounds like you know Porsches quite well, my advice to you...drive an S4 and an GTS....I would guess the S4 will be similar to your 968, just bigger with more power....GTS are much more expensive, the S4's are the value winner. FInd a clean S4 in good shape and use it for a daily driver for a while...once the 928 bug bites you....& it will....you will end up with the GTS..and keep the S4 too.

GTS do perform slightly better than S4's...I have an 88 auto with the super tall 2.20 rear end and it still gets sub 6 second 0-60's with just and RMB....good enough for me

drnick

these are a kind of car that you will take pleasure in owning for a long time.

deliriousga

smshirk:

If you want some names of good 928 mechanics in the Atlanta area, there are a few I can give you but they are all in the GA400 corridor area. PM me if you want any info or want to try an S4 in a few of weeks when I finish my maintenance I've been working on. I live in Cumming and work in Duluth and she is my daily driver once I have her back out of the garage so you're welcome to stop by and take her for a spin sometime.

jetrainor

Rich...in your reply re the S4 vs GTS you mention first gear starts....i'm in the process of wiring in a manual kick-down switch in my 87 S4 euro...i've read the various posts on this....is this something you've done, or are you getting first gear starts through linkage adjustments...or is the GTS tranny different from the S4?

IcemanG17

Jetrainor
You need to adjust the valvebody for all the time 1st gear starts. However if your car is set up correctly it should get 1st gear fairly easy. My car will drop to 1st at anything more than about 1/3 throttle off the line, which makes the car feel very responsive when you want it to & still save on gas when your just cruising slow.

smshirk

deliriousga,

Thanks for the offer. I would love to. I'm between Buford and lawrenceville just off hwy 20, so not far from Cumming or Duluth. I work downtown though, bummer.

bigs

Iceman -

I like your avatar

deliriousga

smshirk

I'll let you know when she's back on the road. I'm hoping within 2-3 weeks since I'm also replacing the throwout bearing and clutch disk and other clutch stuff while she's torn apart.