Ed Hughes

I've got an '84 911 that I know very well intimately in most of her areas, suspension, interior, engine drop/clutch, big brake upgrades, roll bar/harnesses, all done by me with the exception of paint.So, I'd not afraind of getting dirty.

I'm seriously considering looking for an '87 928 or newer car in good shape with as l,ow of miles as I can afford keeping the car somewhere around $20K
I'm getting off the auto leasing merry go round as the cost of this on a monthly basis is crazy. So, I figure doing a shark for cash will allow me to get an awesome car for tooling around town/short trips, and leave my 911 for track work.

Thoughts? Is this like going to a drug dealer and asking for help in kicking the habit.

The thing here, is my wife thinks I'm being economical by stayting away from leasing $40K cars, I get my second P-car. Now, assuming I do my homework in looking for a well-maintained car, am I going to disappoint her in repair costs, if I do most of the work myself?

heinrich

No. I haven't spent that much in 6 years on all my cars. BUT ... try to choose carefully and actually, it may be a good idea to buy a pretty but unkempt S4 and update it to your standards. At that point you will have a car that will never break. A man like you can do all your own work. Start by a complete update. Look for a 5spd but autos are also great and the wife may like it.
Heinrich
ex-911SC '81 targa
ex-944S
ex-944
e-952
ex-928S
ex-928S euro
Currently 928S4 5spd (mine for 6 years)
Curently 928S auto '85
Currently 928S 5spd '86
Currently 928 auto '81
ex-928S4 auto

heinrich

Btw Ed ... you'll not be disappointed Welcome to the fold

Bill Ball

Buy a very nice 87 for $10-14K and put the rest away for maintenance and upgrades. My 89 was bought for $16K 5 years ago and has been my daily driver for the last 85K miles. Like you, I do most of my work. I've had very few problems - rear main seal, rear wheel bearing, LH brain. I've just done RMB, shocks and, of course, the supercharger, x-over-pipe recently. Otherwise it's stayed stock, and it's been all good. So, keep looking until you find the right car and go for it. You might enjoy taking the 928 to the Big Bend open road race in Texas. These cars were designed to be driven at high speed over long distances with no particular preparation.

Ed Hughes

Thanks guys. I've learned that getting a car already in pretty good shape is way less money that trying to bring it up to snuff. I'm going for an automatic I think, so it will be more for cruising. I'll have the 911 to go out and bang gears in.

General consensus is to look for '87 or later?

Nicole

Over the longer haul, the cost of maintaining and repairing a 928 is much, much less than the depreciation of even a 25k car in the first 3 years. If you can afford the depreciation of a new Hoda Accord, you can afford a 928.

heinrich

Ed it i hard to find a 928 that's been well-kept but they're out there. Problem is they all look good. Need to be SURE.

928Quest

I have had two 928's. Bought the newest ones i could afford, in the best condition I could afford and then fixed to perfect condition and held their condition at that point. If you start letting little things go you'll end up with a hunk of junk in no time. In broad strokes, 87 and 88's are nearly the same car, they are probably easiest of the S4's to find. 89 had gearing change and added the computer dash, last year for no airbag. 90' add PSD system, airbags, RDK Design 90 wheels, 91 better insulation, door seals radiator flap delete. There are some other differences but they are further down in the noise.

I like the 91's because they are the closest to GTS you can get without paying $10-$15k more. Good 91's S4's can be had at $18k-$23k

Ron_H

I can't understand why you would want to use the 928 for short trips and around town. Once past 80 mph is when my car begins to settle down to business. Around town is almost a waste; I jump into my Rabbit for that stuff. Park the thing right up at the front door of any store and laugh if someone hits their door on it, because it is their car that will suffer more than my Rabbit. You watch how you start making excuses to go to the supermarket in the next state to use your shark. I make excuses to take it the long way home all the time, like shopping in San Francisco 50 miles away rather than in a store closer to home. Wait until you realize the comfort of the interior compared to your 911. Better get a PPI too before you buy. It is the only way unless you can smell the problems.

RDS928S

Ed,
your new wheels look great on the 911. Keep the wide tires up front and hit the weights .
You might mimic my situation, 78 911 SC turbo track toy and modified 86 928S daily driver.
The 928 is great as a daily driver except in the snow. Although I don't think that will be a problem in Texas.
That being said be prepared to drop some serious cash in order to bring a nice stock 928 up to the standard of your 911.
Try to purchase one with up to snuff AC, Motor mount replacement,water pump replacement, timing belt replacement, suspension bushings replaced, and most of the rubber hoses etc. under the hood replaced. Also by this time oem oil shocks need replacement.
I purchased a one owner low mileage car(bone stock) in very good shape last march from Atlanta GA. In less than one year I have invested at least 8k in repairs/upgrades due to age realted items. Granted if you do your own work you dont have to pay $90 plus per/ hr labor rates. Most of that investment is in labor. There is a great parts support network for these cars. I have found the prices relatively cheap.
Check out: 928 Motorsports.928 Specialist,928 International and Devek web sites.

Good Luck


RDS

Rick3452

get the 5 speed, you wont be sorry...

perrys4

Good to see another 911 owner waking up and smelling the coffee.

Ed Hughes

Thanks again all, it's good to hear the rabid enthusiasm for the 928, just as I see in the 911 world.
Perry: I don't know that I'm waking up, but rather expanding my horizons....The Targa will be with me a long, long time.

ROG100

Hi Ed,
I am in Double Oak (3 miles from HV) and have a number of 928's if you want to try them out.
I have a 89S4 you may be interested in.
We have a great local 928 club (most meetings are at my place for tech sessions). We can do all maintainance including alignments - you can pay with beer)
PM me.
Roger

Chazz

I'm quite happy with my '89S4 as a daily driver. Why not enjoy that necessary trip to Home Depot or the grocery store? The rub strips do a pretty good job of protecting it from door dings and thing is darn near a station wagon. It will easily carry seven banker boxes or a couple of cases of wine and lots of groceries. Last weekend my wife and I took it from our home hear San Diego to San Jose and back via (of course) the Cabrillo Highway (Calif. 1) carrying two small suitcases, two briefcases, a few jackets, a picnik lunch and still had room for two of our grandkids in the back (kids love it).