slownrusty

Gang - I was on the way to the dry cleaners yesterday morning and spied this 928 at a used lot. Its a used lot that specializes in mostly newer trucks (Tacomas, 4Runners, F150 etc) - anyway this 103K - 1986 928S was traded against a XJS (yuk!) that they had sitting in their lot. The previous owner had this 928 for only a few months and is a close friend of the lot owner so goes through alot of cars apparently.

Anyhoooo, the used car lot owner was a really a pretty great and straight guy (for a change!!!) and we took the car out for a road trip...and I was TRULY disappointed. This is a 32V car and the performance was VERY poor and I am losing faith here! I am thinking finding a good used, well maintenanced car with accompanying performance is becoming rare at a decent price?

Here is what I found on this car - the bad:
1) The interior door buzzer refused to shut off!! Not what I call a pleasant sound while driving.
2) Sunroof refused to open - but apparently worked last week? Driver side window was finnicky too.
3) Severe front tire wear on the inside of the tires - both sides.
4) Extremely sluggish off the line and felt VERY lazy.
5) Idle refused to settle down and stayed at around 1600rpm even after a long drive and up to engine temp.
6) Very hard to start and I had to keep my foot on the gas pedal at 2K rpm so that it would not die.
7) Usual aesthetics with broken front spoiler, cracked dash some interior panels lifting \ warping with heat, non working AC, non working digital clock, pushed in at the rear bumper-ettes, the wear on the brown (LOL) leather did not bother me.
8) No records on any maintenance at all except some sporadic AC receipts over the years and a few oil change receipts. No one knows when and if the timing belt and WP were done.
9) Sold in FL brand new - then sold to someone in PA who then moved to NY then the car made it out to CO at sometime.
10) Front fog light cluster on both sides fit weird as if pushed in?
11) The tranny shifted terribly!!! As if someone was hitting me behind the seat with a baseball bat during shifts....no exaggeration!

The good:
1) Paint is original and looks pretty darn good
2) BBS wheels look OK - period correct I guess
3) Comes with the original window sticker $51,500 back in '86
4) Once up to speed 80mp/h or so car felt pretty comfortable and composed
5) Car very solid underneath and very clean as well.
6) Relatively low mileage at 103K
7) There was a recent 928 International brochure in the glove box and I was very impressed with it as I leafed through it - I am going to order one of them to keep handy! Cool and informative brochure Mr. Jim Bailey!

After much conversation they were willing to take $4K off the asking price as the lot owner realized it needed alot of work and would sell it for $7K if I bought it right there and then - I walked away as it looked like a money pit.

I would not pass up a 928 if I found the right one, so I guess I will have to keep scouring Rennlist and buy a car from someone like a Rennlist owner who has been diligent with maintenance and care of ownership and I am thinking that you cannot find a good car for less than $12K-$15K? I am leaning towards a 32V 5speed car....Oh well I'll keep looking. I understand that these cars are getting old and are "used" and I am not trying to be a tire kicker but the 2 928s I recently drove, left me with a disappointed feeling.
Well here are the pics and feel free to chime in and re-invigorate some fresh winds into my sails:





Regards - Yasin

Airflite40

be patient. a car in that condition is worth 4-5k, if it's an 86.5 and if the interior looks decent. where are you located, what are you looking for, and what is you budget? rennlist is a great shark finding service

John Veninger

Buy Gary's car. It is near perfect.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/299208-88-928-s4-for-sale.html

chaadster

When I was looking for mine, I had a max of $10k allocated to the purchase. I looked for a year, and spent $1k on a few pre-purchase inspections that didn't come out well.

After a year of searching, it became clear to me that $10k was not going to net me a very good condition 928, at least not a 32v, which I was after too, unless I got very lucky. Well, if I wanted merely to play games of chance, I should have gone to the casino, no? I wanted a 928!

So I bumped my range up to $15k, and started to find more of what I was looking for: sub 100k miles, good condition all 'round. Negotiating on a car listed at $15.5k brought me home one for $12.5k.

It has been perfect.

My point here is to suggest that if you want one free of issues, you're gonna have to pay, and spend time looking.

Stay the course! Good luck!

SharkSkin

The performance/running issues are probably vac leaks and kickdown adjustments. Sounds like it's starting in 2nd gear. Sounds like it's been hit in the front & rear, and in need of bumper shocks. The other stuff is par for the course -- tire wear due to knuclehead alignment. $5K might be more reasonable unless a PPI turned up more issues, and if a compression check comes out satisfactory.

JKelly

It sounds like there has never been any maintenance done on it . $7k is still too high for an 86 project car with 100k miles on it; especially if you weren't planning on doing the vast majority of the refreshing and maintenance work your self. I think you will be very surprised at how much life can be breathed back into the 928 .

bigmac

Please realise that these cars are truly wonderful. But they do require some
love and care over the years. I payed 24K for my 90S4 with 38K miles in 05.
I came away with a car that is rare, fast, unique, and beautiful. I guess that
you may have to spend 15-20K overall for a good example. Hang in, you will
eventually be rewarded

tdelarm

I concur with the $4k range for a car in this condition. And then figure another $4K to $5K to get it sweet...if you're lucky. As Jkelly states, you can breath a lot of life back into a 928.

There are plenty of sharks that have been driven hard, expensive maintenance neglected, and then put up for sale available. The caveat is someone will eventually pay for performing the required services that keep these cars on the road. If the PO didn’t do it, the new owner will have to. There’s no getting around it.

And in this process, future un-informed shark owners have come to expect paying bottom dollars for these cars and then are appalled when they discover how much work this “steal of a deal” shark is actually going to need to become a reliable performing car.

It’s pretty simple. Figure out what are deal breakers for you, such as: high miles vs. low miles, ext. condition, int. condition, mechanical condition. And then purchase the best example for your budget.

But know in the end, dollar for dollar a nice shark is still the best deal around in a sports car

Cheers.

whitefox

If your interested, I have an 87 auto S4 for sale, wouldn't disappoint anyone.

Ispeed

Every 928 out there has greatness in it. From brown automatic '78s to 5 speed GTSs, the biggest questions are:
1. Automatic or 5 speed
2. Early body style or S4 and later
3. Performance oriented or not (S4 brakes, specs for the year, euro S vs US older car) figure out what you will be happy with.
4. Don't pick a money pit that wasn't the car you really wanted in the first place. It took me 3 928s recently to find the one I would be happy with. Take your time figuring this all out before you end up restoring a car and dumping it to get the one you want (and restoring that one next!).

slownrusty

Thanks for all the advice and chiming guys. I will keep looking and to be honest my preference is a 32V 5speed car, my budget is flexible and I can manage $15K if the right car came along.

Whitefox what are the details on your car?

Keeping my eyes peeled and crossing fingers, this is good as I am no immediate hurry.

Regards - Yasin

Nicole

What exctly is your limit? How much work are you willing to put in? Is 5-Speed mandatory or just a preference?

There are so many 928s for sale right now, and the better you tell us your requirements, the easier we can find one for you.

How 'bout a 90 GT with new PSD, has an S4 engine from what I understand, but is great mechanically and at least decent cosmetically. Daily driver of PCA Concours judge. Asking somewhere around 15 or 16k, I believe. Car was at DEVEK Days, but I did not look too closely. Susan should have more info (650-369-3383)

Tires worn inside is a clear indication of wrong alignment procedure - car had been lifted during the procedure....

slownrusty

Thanks Nicole - I will call Susan and make some inquiries.

Yasin

SteveG

So I'm guessing you are west coast?? As I type a new cat is being installed on my '85, 5-sp, Black/maroon, 89K, well maintained, many new parts, interior near mint, garaged, no winter driving, Long Isl area.

dr bob

If you don't mind spending a little more now to save a lot more later, look at Tim Delarm's car. It's in Seattle right now but --might-- be travelling south to Sharktoberfest in SoCal next month. Tim's car is as close to a "needs nothing" example as I've seen. Black with Cashmeer interior. It's an auto though, so misses on your 5-speed desire. In the $20k neighborhood, about what a $15k car would cost you by the end of the first year if you wanted to make it right and nice. Low miles, excellent cosmetics, excellent maintenance history.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/284558-1988-928-s4-black-tan-for-sale.html