928 Reliability
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Supply, NC
928 Reliability
Hello,
I have seen in several places where folks were warned to not have the shark as their primary vehicle. Why is this? I have found that my sharks (79 5spd, 83s and 79 Euro AT) have been as reliable over a 13 year period as any other car I have ever owned. I sold my 83s after 7 years with 270,000 miles on it and it ran great. Now, my 79 Euro is my daily driver and i indend to drive the wheels off it. I have found that the 928 is the only car i have ever owned that can take everything i can throw at it and keep right on going. Over the years I have concluded that i have a rough driving style. I just love to drive. Most of the other cars, and there have been many, just couldn't take the abuse. I like to slide around curves, drag race and on occasion go as fast as i can. I have found my sharks are always ready. Am I the only one who thinks like this? Yes, they are a lot of work but if you put in the investment in time and $$$, they will be your best friend. They almost never say no
Thanks,
Frank Barnhill
79 Euro
I have seen in several places where folks were warned to not have the shark as their primary vehicle. Why is this? I have found that my sharks (79 5spd, 83s and 79 Euro AT) have been as reliable over a 13 year period as any other car I have ever owned. I sold my 83s after 7 years with 270,000 miles on it and it ran great. Now, my 79 Euro is my daily driver and i indend to drive the wheels off it. I have found that the 928 is the only car i have ever owned that can take everything i can throw at it and keep right on going. Over the years I have concluded that i have a rough driving style. I just love to drive. Most of the other cars, and there have been many, just couldn't take the abuse. I like to slide around curves, drag race and on occasion go as fast as i can. I have found my sharks are always ready. Am I the only one who thinks like this? Yes, they are a lot of work but if you put in the investment in time and $$$, they will be your best friend. They almost never say no
Thanks,
Frank Barnhill
79 Euro
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Sarasota, Florida
They are indeed reliable if you keep up on maintenance, the issue is, these cars are getting old and things that have not be replaced/repaired begin to fail and could leave you stranded somewhere.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Dubuque, Iowa.
I think it's just related to when something does go wrong you can't just go down to Joe's Auto Parts store and pick up what you need. Sometimes Joe can order it in, but then you may not get something that works (See my ignition trigger/running on 4 cyl thread). It's not good to have a 928 as a Primary vehicle for that reason in my opinion, but it has nothing to do with reliability.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 16,271
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From: Stockton, CA
928 in general can be pretty reliable....for every neglected nightmare...there are 928's out there that just keep running! This explains why many have such high mileage! As long as maintence is kept up to date & problems are corrected promptly.....928's will last a long time.....however.... if you happen to be unlucky or had a PO that deferred maintence....you could into some large $$$ very quickly!
It should be noted that I do not drive my 928 everyday (more like a couple times a week).... In my location (#2 car theft in the nation) daily drivers get beat up quickly....& my 928 is too nice to suffer such abuse!! Thats what the 3 cylinder gas miser is for!
It should be noted that I do not drive my 928 everyday (more like a couple times a week).... In my location (#2 car theft in the nation) daily drivers get beat up quickly....& my 928 is too nice to suffer such abuse!! Thats what the 3 cylinder gas miser is for!
Advanced
Joined: May 2005
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From: 1981 928 - 1988 924(sold)- Northville, Michigan
I believe when people say a car is reliable, they are looking at the long term costs and how frequenty they have to replace parts of thier car. With that being said, I think the 928s get a bum rap because parts take longer to get, they are harder to find, and they are generally more expensive. On the other hand, everything is relative. I would rather have 3 weeks of down time to drive my porsche than drive a Toyota Camery with no down time. Of course 928 is a sports car and would blow the doors off a Camery. Therefore, if I garage my car for 3 weeks a year to have service or replace parts...in my mind I have a realiable car, others may think not.
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From: Dallas Texas
Without this board I really would ahave avery difficult time owning a 928. it would cost a fortune at the porsche dealer because I really dont trust small shops.
I think the 928 it very depebable. It just the issue of doing maintenance on a regular basis and doing it right!
I think the 928 it very depebable. It just the issue of doing maintenance on a regular basis and doing it right!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Monroe, LA
Originally Posted by whitefox
They are indeed reliable if you keep up on maintenance, the issue is, these cars are getting old and things that have not be replaced/repaired begin to fail and could leave you stranded somewhere.
As for mine, I'm on a roll. It seems like my 928 has my other US cars beat "hands down" when it comes to reliability. When I get in and turn the key, I can go for a drive.
I choose not to have mine as a daily driver to keep it away from the other knuckleheads, primarily in parking lots. I don't like leaving it sitting all day long exposed to others who don't know any better. 
Also, I enjoy it that much more when I do drive it.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Sarasota, Florida
Originally Posted by Loaded
Without this board I really would ahave avery difficult time owning a 928. it would cost a fortune at the porsche dealer because I really dont trust small shops.
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From: Colorado
What most people think of as "reliable" is being able to just drive it and not have to maintain it, with no failures. It seems that 90% of car owners don't like to maintain their cars. They don't pay any attention to it at all UNTIL there is a failure and then they repair it. So, to them a reliable car is one that goes and goes without any failures. This is why so many people recoil in horror when you tell them you drive a 20-year-old car. People buy new cars because they don't want the hassle of maintaining a used car. These are people that know where the gas goes and the mechanic knows where the oil goes. This is 90% of the population.
Hell, even a British car is reliable as long as you constantly maintain it. So, no a 928 is not a reliable car by the definition stated above. It does require frequent attention or things will fail.
Hell, even a British car is reliable as long as you constantly maintain it. So, no a 928 is not a reliable car by the definition stated above. It does require frequent attention or things will fail.
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From: Colorado
Originally Posted by Loaded
Without this board I really would ahave avery difficult time owning a 928. it would cost a fortune at the porsche dealer because I really dont trust small shops.
Administrator
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 27,629
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From: Up Nort
If I stop taking mine apart it runs fine!
I use my 81 as a daily driver, being in Wisconsin I have to own a 2nd vehicle anyway for winter. So no worries if she's down for a day or two as parts arrive.
I use my 81 as a daily driver, being in Wisconsin I have to own a 2nd vehicle anyway for winter. So no worries if she's down for a day or two as parts arrive.
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Joined: May 2001
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From: The Great Northwest
My 928 will never see the inside of a dealer garage, period.
Originally Posted by 911Dave
I never thought I'd ever hear somebody say that. The dealers are the LEAST trustworthy of all your options. The independent shops, in my experience and that of every other Porsche owner I've ever heard from, are by far the most honest, skilled and reasonable alternative.