Nicole

What I'd like to add is: read, read, read about the different models, years, and their quirks and advantages. Become as educated of a buyer as you can get. Visit 928 related events. Consider getting the 928 buyers guide, if you don't have it, yet. Then look at and DRIVE as many as possible. Learn how they feel, so you can tell a good one from a bad one. And don't hesitate to ask questions here!!!

As everybody suggested, buy a well maintained one and be ready to pay more - in the end it will be less expensive than a cheap ratty one. My car was cosmetically beautiful but needed $12k in repair, maintenance and tires within the first two years. Since then I spend about $1500 per year, driving 4000 miles for pure pleasure.

Best of luck!!!

Kaz

As Nicole said, the first two years seem to be the most intensive while you get your car up to standards or your standards, after that it mellows out. Do the math on a new car payment for an equivelant car for your 928 and you'll see that $1500, $2500 or even $5000 in a year is less expensive. My neighbor has a 02 996 that he's trying to sell for $60-$65,000. No thanks.

jyoon

ijust bought one several months ago that wasn't maintained very well. i just spent around $1700 in ignition and fuel components. i would not expect to spend more than $1k or so a year once it up to snuff. no way will i spend 20k+ on this car. imho this car is way too expensive for the performance you're getting. you are paying alot for the exclusitivity and name. if i could do it again, i'd buy another 944 turbo. the 928 is very poor value imho.

Bill51sdr

Thus reinforcing the mantra "buy the newest, best maintained 928 you can afford..." An S/C'd 928 is a tremendous bang for the buck, imho.

SharkSkin

Those of us who really care for our sharks are not generally bean counters. A well maintained 928 is a very different driving experience than a 951. That's what it is that hooks us and addicts us... the unique experience, the grin factor and smile value. If you want $ value get a Honda.

bdstott

I'm in EXACTLY the same sitiuation as you!
I've wanted a 928 since I was young, and finally the price dropped enough an my disposable cash came up to enough that I'm proud to say I bought my first 928! I'll be getting it in a couple of weeks.
Like you, I did months of reading and about them, and I also decided that 86.5 was the best car that I could afford if I wanted one in good condition, with recent maintenance done. Timing belt, water pump, rebuilt tensioner, new gaskets (valve cover, intake, oil pan etc).
The amount of info I've gotten from Rennlist is insane. This is THE place for info!! You guys ROCK!
Also consider buying Jim Morehouse WSM on CD. Can't beat it for the price, although if the ones from Porsche were available at the current price 2 months ago I may have gone that way....
Anyway, keep looking and reading and good luck!!

Shane

Maintenance cost are cheap! I haven't had to spend more than $4k in maintenance in the last 6 years. Most of that was piece of mind stuff like timing belt, oil changes and motor mounts. But I have spent thousands on upgrades. That is where most of my expences come from. Just updating the car!

The 86.5 is the best. My 5sp just recently posted 281rwhp/ 278rwtq with just a set of performance chips, and a 107k miles on the clock. That is reaching S4 territory. The only other upgrade done to the 5sp is a RMB so far. Those of us that have the 86.5 know what an outstanding car they are for the price!! My early 86 is a nice car as well just lacks a little in brakes. It will cost extra to upgrade them, and I need to, but that is an expense one could side step simply by buying an 86.5 instead.

Fabio421

jyoon........ if you are looking for a fight I think you just found the quickest way to get there. If there is one thing I have learned its that 928 owners are VERY protective of their cars.
But the general idea of what jyoon said is basd in truth. I personaly bought an 84 928s w/ a 5 speed. I have been steadily fixing little annoying electrical problems and other small things. So far I haven't had to spend a whole lot of money, just alot of time. The one thing that I have realized is this. I bought a 21 year old car. When it was new, it was one bad ****. Now that 21 years of new technology have come and gone, you can buy a japanese sports car with similar performance and alot more dependability for about the same price. The parts are also cheaper. But you still don't get the stares and the questions that you do when you pull up somewhere in a well kept 928. There is something to be said for that. I guess its all up to personal prefference. It sounds like you are already well aware of the pro's and cons of buying into the 928 family. Thats more than alot of people who buy these cars. Good luck.

Kaz

One must come to terms with the fact that you will never recoup your costs with a 928. Never. You also won't recoup your costs of keeping any other car on the road short of a documented and legend raced Ferrari. If I spend 20 grand over the next decade keeping my 928 on the road I will consider it better money spent than on a depreciating new car with its road maintenance schedule and heavier electronic content.

Following what manufacturers want you to do, trading in your car every three or four years for a newer, stiffer, lighter framed, but heavier overall, better performance, but the same 1/4 times as were run a decade ago car is drinking the kool aid. Keep a car over the long term and stay up on its maintenance and you will ALWAYS come out ahead financially. Doesn't matter what car we're talking about. Put the Kool Aid down. It kills people.

928autobahndreamer

I don't mind spending a little time working on the car. Actually I'm looking forward to learning a new art. I stay up a little later than the rest of the family anyway, so once the kids are in bed and the wife and I have a chance to have a "real grown up conversation" (she's a stay at home mom, she needs this to keep her sane ) Then I can go out in the garage and do some work. My main problem will be making sure I have the funds to put into the car without impacting more important family needs. This is why I'm planning on keeping my daily driver so if something breaks that makes the car undrivable I don't have to sweat being out of transportation and I can work on the car as time allows to get it running again. If I hadn't found this board I don't think I would ever have considered doing Porsche engine repair myself. I have followed Big Dave's progress intently and he is my hero right now. I want to learn to do things kind of like he has (without breaking a timing belt and having to completely rebuild an engine of course ). The problem is there is a serious lack of 928s in a hundred mile radius and know mechanics with 928 expetise. So, if there are any 928 enthusiasts in the mid-missouri area please contact me. Doing this with someone who has been down this road would help a lot.

Jim bailey - 928 International

For several years now my wife has maintained a separate bank account (she is a banker) just for auto repairs/tires/etc. and each month makes a "car payment" into that account. Our cars we buy for cash but this account offsets some of the loss in value due to depreciation as well as taking away some of the pain of unexpected big repairs.

James-man

10 years ago I spent a premium to get low mile car that checked out mechanically. I had the t-belt done right away, had it done again a couple of years ago. A/C fixed twice, clutch replaced once (didn't need it but I didn't know better at the time). 60K maintenance. Several sets of tires. A few switches replaced. After about 50,000 miles, I am nowhere near $10,000 in repair costs and I had the work done, except the easy stuff like changing plugs, wires, cap & rotor, etc.

My car is nowhere perfect, but I treat it reasonably well - garage, drive 1x per week or more.

Not all of these ar $60k money pits.

gruffalo

My old banger just died, so I'm currently using mine as a daily driver. And it is just a delicious car, in every respect. Using it as my daily transport has actually made me enjoy it even more. The opposite of what I expected.

But to keep costs down it's a must to do your own maintenance. So it's also a must to have alternative transportation.

MM

rob rossitto

well said! lots of good advice!

since you wanted to hear from the devil, and I've recently been to hell and back on my project, I'll throw in his/my .928cents - if you're the kind of guy that likes to "improve things a bit", and think you might want to modify the car - get an S4 (1987) or later shark...

IMO, beyond a blower if you decide to stroke it or do any serious mods, it's a LOT cheaper to start w/something that has bigger valves, later cams, Tbelt parts, a "flappy" type intake, later fuel, suspension, trans, ignition and cooling systems...

think I hit the in$ane mark on my "low budget" stroker upgrade recently (that started w/"just" an oil leak)... easily could have done it for 30% less if I'd started w/an S4 or later car and didn't have to upgrade nearly everything from the firewall forward in the process... (but I had to lust for the older body style, soooo - I still have that, but not my soul)

satan's advice: there's a LOT more than simple cosmetic changes btween MY's, and devil IS in the details - so do your planning/homework well or you'll be praying for the other guy, but your soul will belong to me!! (hey, dubya talks to god - so what's the big deal?)

there are also more accessories & features for the later cars - full exhaust, custom lenses, interchangable cams & lots of other "stuff" that'll keep your updating more fun w/lots of options... on the other hand, there seem to be more used parts laying around for the older cars, and they are less $$$... (I just happen to have a few if you want to start collecting now!!)

the good news is that I've found 928 owners to be quite helpful, and approachable, willing to help out and even entertaining!!! and the cars - well, let's just say you can help satan get his quota from all the folks that'll sell their souls for just a ride (no, not on paris hilton - in a shark!! hilton is a just a perk for the unfortuate)... so be careful, or you'll be addicted before you can shout amen!!

Rich9928p

I'd also like to point out that the 928 isn't the only Porsche (or high-end car) that has the problem of costing a huge amount to get back into shape if it was not well maintained. My local shop has a customer who bought a nice looking older 911 Turbo (930). There were many little things (oil leaks), bad distributor, etc. that weren't replaced. The buyer though the car looked nice but it didn't have the power he expected. Well, over $6K has been put into the car and it still leaks oil, the engine has to be pulled to replace those gaskets. The owner is considering selling the car - and no doubt will take a considerable loss.

A pre-purchase inspection could have alerted him to the many problems and he may have been able to talk down the purchase price to help with the many repairs needed, or he may have passed on the car.