Greggles

No one should restores these cars expecting to get their money back. That being said -
Any car with this many known problems will certainly have several others looming. The PO has found out that 928 upkeep is the killer.

Maybe the better question is; which is better:
1 putting $4-8k+ into the car (& your labor)
2 waiting for a nicer '86.5 (with less problems) for $7- 9k?

Good Luck if you go for it!!!!

Gretch

Depending on how much you wrench yourself, This car could easily cost you $7,500 to $10,000 to put in very good condition. Now some stuff can be had used, and some things you describe may not be as bad as they sound, on the otherhand, it is likely that you will find more things that need to be attended to. If you pay $2,500 for the car and put $5,000 into it, you will be on the verge of spending more than you will ever get for the car. That having been said, there are many of us here who have done exactly that.......present company included, and I started with a near perfect car.

TAREK

If you value your social life don't do it. You can come over to my place for a weekend to experience it first hand

Gretch

This hobby IS a little bit like owning a boat, albeit a U-Boat......hole in the water you throw money in to................As regards boating, I always found it better to crew on someone else's and put a few work days into it, then actually get married to one......So TAREK has a good deal for you. And a very cheap tuition bill for the education.......

DoubleNutz

Does that "get a life" statement fall into the "IMO" catagory Tarek?

I have done this a few times and in the middle of another (87 928S4) and my social life is just fine. IMO, A hobby is a hobby and any hobby that you have a passion for could consume some time and cash.

Of course you could do the Martha Stewart homemaker hobbies and be statisfied with that ... what ever pumps your nads I guess.

heinrich

Just let me buy it ...

V-Fib

928 Owners are not the "*****-Nilly, Mamby- Pamby, Wishy-Washy Hand-Wringing" types of owners. The 928 is a passion...no..... an addiction. The 928 can be the "Darling of your Life" or the "Bitch of your worst nightmares". There are no more loyal owners of any type of automobile, literally to the point of being fiercely rabid about 928's.. If a person can't financially afford or take the time to care for their current auto's (Ford-Chevy or whatever), they will most certainly be overwhelmed by the 928. After 4 years of ownership, I still make weekly/monthly orders for parts. Are they absolutely neccessary for the car to run? Sometimes. Most of the time the parts are for upgrading/restoring. If a person doesn't enjoy working on their own cars, it can become cost prohibitive. 928 ownership is extremely rewarding, most here will agree. Join the ranks of 928 ownership, and you will not only get the one of the greatest automobiles on the planet, you will also get adopted into a great family here. IMHO, of course.

heinrich

bloody well right Anthony

Gretch

Man, that is scarey, it is so FRIGGIN ACCURATE............We should askl John to post it on the top of the board in perpituity.........

hlj821

I'm at the $6500 mark from one that I bought for around the same price. Each time I drive it, I love it more. I just have the A/C and paint left. A/C this summer, paint this fall.

FlyingDog

If you've driven it that much and don't feel addicted yet, pass it on to Heinrich or somebody else (possibly John Kuhn would want it for his turbo project). If you are addicted and just here for some naysayers to talk you out of it, you're going to end up buying it.

James-man

Buy it.

It is about how much the car will be worth to you to enjoy. People do not budget $2,000 a year on vacations and expect to get their money out of it.

You should plan on a good $10,000 for any state of condition 928 to get to the end of what you are looking for in drivability and cosmetic condition. The thing is, you don't have to do everything at once. Get the car driveable, and begin enjoying it. Plan for and schedule the cosmetic issues.

If you cannot handle a $7,500 "vacation" spread over a couple of years, can you handle a $3,000 "vacation" on a $7,000 928? Sure, you will likely increase the resale value with the repairs a bit, but your decision is not a business decision, it is an emotional decision.

Parting out seems to be the only financially viable business decision on these cars these days - and it makes most of us weep. Keep it personal!

SteveG

I think Jim Bailey put it best and to the point: "If you don't love it, you will hate it." I think both of those are progressive conditions, depending on how much time and money you have to "invest." Keeping in mind that $$ = time. If you don't have spare cash for the labor charge, you better enjoy the wrenching. I do wish Mathilde had the Viper's hinged hood/engine compartment that allows for complete access to engine. I'm guessing Porsche didn't do that b/c of weight/structure considerations. But I would never trade her.

Fabio421

928 = Repairs
Repairs = Time
Time = Money
Money = Root of all evil
Conclusion................ 928 = Evil

heinrich

I used to have another hobby that used to tell me money meant nothing to her. Yet somehow she was the biggest consumer of it. And in the end, somehow now it has become the only thing she ever talks to me about.