Have you ever thought this thought about your previous Owner?
#31
My 80's owner was the same way as the OP of this thread only he claimed it was amazing! The headlight motor gears were shot, hole in the radiator, parking lights didnt work, didn't start, none of the HVAC worked, and the interior was shot. I bought it based on pictures he sent me as he hauled it here on a trailer. The pictures were from years ago... then I find out he replaces the clutch hydraulics and doesn't even bother to bleed! Rocket Scientist
#32
My PO was a doctor in NJ. I had a chance to talk with him, he loved 928s and owned four of them over the years.
He gave me the name of the last place he had work on his car, but the relationship was not a particularly good one. I called and spoke to the owner of that shop and he was nice enough to send me the whole service file going back to 2003. Not sure what happened, but I could see they kept working on the same things over and over without fixing them (like replacing the battery every year).
Case in point ... I found a receipt noting "alternator full of oil" and charges to take it apart, clean it out and replace the voltage regulator. Well, the reason it was full of oil was a leaking oil filler that sent oil running down the front of the engine. I finally fixed that leak when I did the intake refresh, but the doctor's shop could have done that long ago and probably avoided all those towing charges and battery replacements. Did they ever suggest that? Or did the doctor say "$1,200 to fix a leaking gasket, that's absurd, I can just live with it"
So I think I feel sorry for the PO that either the people he trusted with the car couldn't fix stuff correctly, or that he wouldn't spend the money to get them to fix it correctly. He obviously didn't know about RL and a community here where you can find the answers and encouragement to take proper care of a 928.
He gave me the name of the last place he had work on his car, but the relationship was not a particularly good one. I called and spoke to the owner of that shop and he was nice enough to send me the whole service file going back to 2003. Not sure what happened, but I could see they kept working on the same things over and over without fixing them (like replacing the battery every year).
Case in point ... I found a receipt noting "alternator full of oil" and charges to take it apart, clean it out and replace the voltage regulator. Well, the reason it was full of oil was a leaking oil filler that sent oil running down the front of the engine. I finally fixed that leak when I did the intake refresh, but the doctor's shop could have done that long ago and probably avoided all those towing charges and battery replacements. Did they ever suggest that? Or did the doctor say "$1,200 to fix a leaking gasket, that's absurd, I can just live with it"
So I think I feel sorry for the PO that either the people he trusted with the car couldn't fix stuff correctly, or that he wouldn't spend the money to get them to fix it correctly. He obviously didn't know about RL and a community here where you can find the answers and encouragement to take proper care of a 928.
#34
On this note, I'll specifically mention my PO. He was Dan Grap in NorCal. He is capable and the work he did were things I've never had to go back into, in almost 3 years. He was a very good buffer between me and the other 4 POs.
#35
Whoa, time warp.
Ok, I'll play. The immediate PO of my car picked up my car (probably at auction) with the intention of 'flipping' a P-car that he got for a song. From 30 feet away it looked great. I have no ill-will toward him, he was honest and knew nothing about the car.
The previous-previous owner obviously considered the view from 30 feet a major factor as well. The interior was completely trashed, leaked in the rain and the shifting was an adventure to say the least. Nothing was adjusted properly but it ran strong and looked good from a distance.
I think of this PO (or possibly the previous few POs) to be the kind of guy that buys a 5-speed P-car so that he can rev it up and dump the clutch whenever he wants to feel a little torque or draw attention to himself. Looks were a factor, but maintenance: not so much.
Now that I've gone through the running gear, steering, the MM/pan gasket, TB/WP, new clutch/pp/t-o bearing/ all of the shift bushings and front transmission seal plus top end refresh and completely gutted and re-did the interior with new carpet and leather seat covers it's getting to the point where it's not embarrassing to show to other car guys.
If the PO had known how to do all of this stuff I probably would have had to pay twice as much for this car or more or else he'd still be driving it and I'd be driving another similar one.
So thank you PO, wherever you are. When you were no longer able to consistently shift it into the gear you wanted and the odometer gear gave up, so did you. That 'last straw' meant I got a strong running engine and great car to work on and drive for 3 years now.
Ok, I'll play. The immediate PO of my car picked up my car (probably at auction) with the intention of 'flipping' a P-car that he got for a song. From 30 feet away it looked great. I have no ill-will toward him, he was honest and knew nothing about the car.
The previous-previous owner obviously considered the view from 30 feet a major factor as well. The interior was completely trashed, leaked in the rain and the shifting was an adventure to say the least. Nothing was adjusted properly but it ran strong and looked good from a distance.
I think of this PO (or possibly the previous few POs) to be the kind of guy that buys a 5-speed P-car so that he can rev it up and dump the clutch whenever he wants to feel a little torque or draw attention to himself. Looks were a factor, but maintenance: not so much.
Now that I've gone through the running gear, steering, the MM/pan gasket, TB/WP, new clutch/pp/t-o bearing/ all of the shift bushings and front transmission seal plus top end refresh and completely gutted and re-did the interior with new carpet and leather seat covers it's getting to the point where it's not embarrassing to show to other car guys.
If the PO had known how to do all of this stuff I probably would have had to pay twice as much for this car or more or else he'd still be driving it and I'd be driving another similar one.
So thank you PO, wherever you are. When you were no longer able to consistently shift it into the gear you wanted and the odometer gear gave up, so did you. That 'last straw' meant I got a strong running engine and great car to work on and drive for 3 years now.
#36
The 2 PO of my car had a paper trail of over 16k worth of maintenance and repairs. Some of them were from when the car was less than 2 years old (a/c wasnt working).
And the 2nd owner who I got the car from used to buy parts and take it to the shop and have them replaced even though they may not have needed it. I think he had the battery checked out 6 times (in all fairness he is an older man and probably left the interior lights on by mistake, I haven't had a battery issue yet).
They have made my life easier!
And the 2nd owner who I got the car from used to buy parts and take it to the shop and have them replaced even though they may not have needed it. I think he had the battery checked out 6 times (in all fairness he is an older man and probably left the interior lights on by mistake, I haven't had a battery issue yet).
They have made my life easier!
#37
My PO was a nuclear scientist. No Kidding!
He had most/all of the work done at local shops. Some of the issues I've dealt with and repaired were on the service records as being repaired within the last few years. Of course the repairs I've done cost no where near the amounts displayed on the invoices! She still needs a paint job, the leather and interior needs a bit of work but I love this car.
I keep in touch with the PO by sending emails from time to time telling him what I've done to the car. I've learned a lot about the history of the car through email.
He had most/all of the work done at local shops. Some of the issues I've dealt with and repaired were on the service records as being repaired within the last few years. Of course the repairs I've done cost no where near the amounts displayed on the invoices! She still needs a paint job, the leather and interior needs a bit of work but I love this car.
I keep in touch with the PO by sending emails from time to time telling him what I've done to the car. I've learned a lot about the history of the car through email.
#38
5 previous owners on my car, 2 of which did seem to have done what the car needed, the PO I think saved it from becoming a parts car for which I thank him, I'm just carring on where he left off.
I just can't see me ever selling it even if its a D minus, add a stable mate to it more like it (OB).
I just can't see me ever selling it even if its a D minus, add a stable mate to it more like it (OB).
#39
If the previous owners of my 928's had not treated them the way they did, I would have never been able to afford them. I'm ok with that.
And, if rl did not exist, I would not have bought one, seriously. -Ed
And, if rl did not exist, I would not have bought one, seriously. -Ed
#42
The P.O. of my cab left it sitting in the rain with the windows down until the seats rotted to the point the springs were sticking out. Somebodies dog slept in there. Mechanically it was a complete melt-and-re-pour. The PP0, or PPPO spent something like 40K cutting off the roof and putting the cab top on. Just my sort of project.
#43
The only time that I even thought about the GT's PO was when I discovered the repaired 45 caliber hole in the driver's door.
I will be a terrible PO - it's called "Cobbler's Child syndrome".
I will be a terrible PO - it's called "Cobbler's Child syndrome".
#44
The PO of my car is a truly genuine "klootzak" as we say in Dutch, for plugging the hot water hose to the heater, screwing up the TB change (way off timing because vibration damper was mounted the wrong way around), and screwing up the elctrics at the ventilator switch in the radiator. All of this led to an overheating engine with headgasket failure as a result.
#45
My PO will always be fondly remembered for the fuel smell in the car when I bought it. After stripping the car down for race prep I discovered the cause... he had drilled 3 holes through the floor into the fuel tank to hold the cable clips for his 'mega' speaker system...