In addition to what Heinrich said:

1. Hindsight is always 20/20. I don't think that 30 years ago, when your car was built, they knew exactly what people would expect in 30 years. Do you know exactly what we will be driving in 30 years? You have to build your cars for the people who buy them now, not for the ones who buy them in 30 years for cheap and then critizise your decisions.

2. At the time our cars were built, the tires would have had trouble with 400 hp - remember, this was the time of 16" wheels, and 275 width was almost unheard of. The rubber compounds were not where they are today, either...

3. I recently asked Peter Schutz (Porsche CEO in the 80ies) why they never made a turbo version of the 928. He told me the biggest problem with the 928 was that they did not sell used, and if you can't sell used ones, you can't sell new ones, either. So it did not make sense to invest in making additional models, when there wasn't enough demand for ANY type of 928.

In other words: They rather focused their limited resources on what they could sell, not what they had to subsidize...

 

why would anyone build a car w/power locks and windows w/out a friggin cup holder?

who designed the alarm system? I'd like to strangle him w/his wiring...

whats up w/the plasitic spedo gears?

was the 85 valve cover shoulder bolt designer on drugs?

who was the 1st to get laid in a shark?? did it hurt? hahaha

 

[QUOTE=Nicholbry;5190204]1. Thrust Bearing Failure. What were they thinking when they altered the torque tube/driveshaft/shim/collar etc. from the pre-S4 to the S4+ automatic set-up; causing the "Achilles heel" (as we've come to know it) of the automatic 928s?

>> I tried to get an answer from Jörg Austen, he just recalled doing some dealer training on the procedure for the earlier shim & C-clamp design. I even sent him a note after the 2002 meeting and he just sent back the pages of the workshop manual (pre-S4).

3. Why complicate an otherwise simple component, like the radiator, with plastic end caps & seals?

>> Porsche purchased components from many vendors. Behr is a major supplier to the European market. It is very likely that Porsche just specified the size and connections, and left the design decisions to Behr.

5. What were your personal feelings about the potential success of the Porsche 928 when it launched in '78? Any reservations?

>> Tony Lapine stated that Porsche was elated with the success of the 928. It out sold the Mercedes Benz 2 seater - their main market segment competitor, it won the car of the year award. This was a tremendous achievement for a 2300 employee company.

6. Did you really think it would replace the 911 as originally planned or find its own niche as it did?

>> At the time that the 928 program was approved in the early 70s, Ernst Fuhrmann was unsure that the 911 could ever pass future safety and pollution regulations. The 928 was the clean sheet of paper product that could allow Porsche to survive in the future.

The fact that Porsche's engineers overcame all problems and were able to keep the 911 alive is a testament to their prowess. Since the 911 kept selling, was their focus for racing, and had such a loyal following they had no reason to kill their golden goose. The 928 was pushed "up market" and didn't displace the 911.

 

Having listened to the Porsche personalities in 2002, I'd venture to state:

a. If it ain't broke don't fix it. As we all know, Porsche evolves designs based on experience. ALL of their racing experience had been with the aircooled boxer motors. Why throw ALL that experience away and start fresh with a V8.

b. The 928 IS BIGGER and heavier than the 911s of that period (the newer 911s are nearly the same size and weight as much). Weight is a major issue for race cars. Air cooled engines help a race car to be lighter and more reliable (no radiator, no water, no failure if water leaks).

c. Porsche didn't need to kill the 911, it had been their flagship and they were able to keep it as their flagship. Why confuse the market? The 928 was sold "above" the 911 in price and to a different customer base. Jörg Austen stated that the 928 was often used as a safety car at the track - it was fast and could hold more equipment, and he enjoyed driving it at the Nürburgring.

 

I would ask why locate the "small" fuse panel directly under the HVAC Blower. Several years of PO neglect and my panel had some serious corision problems.

 

who designed the sunroof and why is it so damn small.
why is the center console only 1/2" deep and aside from papers what else did they plan on putting in there?
we have head light washers and windshield washers and a rear window wiper but why NO rear window washer??


but above all i think i'd "tell" them all thanks for designing and building such a BAD *** CAR.....
mine is pushing 20 years old and still kicks *** and looks like a million bucks...

 

Nicole,

You amaze me by all you know about 928s. You really get into detail. Did you used to work at Porsche?

H2

 

If you read my earlier post, you will remember that the 928 was designed without the sunroof - they thought if a car had AC, it would not need a sunroof. Then they found out that customers demanded it, and had to add it. It was then too late to raise the roof.

Why so small? Well, with all the mechanics involved and strenght needed for rollover protection, where would you have put a larger movable panel? I don't think they had much choice in that respect.

I don't think I understand your question. Are you referring to the console or the center arm rest storage area? The latter was designed for audio cassettes.

Very simple... You don't need the rear wiper when you're driving, as the wind will keep the window dry. You need the wiper mainly to to get rid of rain drops after the car has been parked.

They probably did not envision people to let their cars get too dusty or dirty and expect the rear wiper to clean them...

However, the rear window washer was later offered as an Exclusive option, but I have yet to see a car that has it...

Nope, just a long fascination with the 928s design... since my teens, to be exact.

 

Porsches of the same era had the same sunroof (911's)

 

thanks nicole. appreciate your info.
sunroof is small, but obviously no room for anything much bigger. nice option but from where i sit the rear of the sunroof is directly in my line of vision when i look up. of course i have no cure for this, simply stating a question i would ask.

center console, center of car, arm rest. i lift the arm rest and below is a 1/2" space for papers???? where do i put my CD's??
what are cassettes ??? (kidding, i still use my Nakamichi Dragon Cassette deck at the house and my Teac Reel to Reel.)

down here in southeast texas it rains.. sometimes when it rains you aren't driving. when you get in the car after it has rained the pollen, dust and acid rain has settled and dried on the rear window. it would be nice to have a little spray of cleaner to aid in removing the junk... i guess them assuming that people would not let these cars get dirty partly adds to the attitude that some still have regarding these cars.

i actually find my comments amusing as these are the only thing i can find to complain about (shows my 928 ignorance ). EXCEPT no CUP HOLDER for my BIG GULP...

 

Nicole, you should write a book about the 928.

You were born near the factory and have no language or cultural barriers that could get in the way of interviewing those involved with its evolution. You already have a lot of insider contacts. You have as much or more knowledge of the car that just about any other enthusiast. You write well enough to do this, and you possess enough passion for the subject to actually complete such an undertaking.

If you could consolidate all of this information in a comprehensive package that answers many of these questions, I believe you could sell a lot of books, and I for one, would sure buy it. Just my vote of confidence *nudge, nudge*

 

Well... Did American cars have cupholders in the early 70s (when they designed the 928)? I don't think so...

Also remember that in the early 70ies, overseas travel was not as common as today. I suspect that most people who worked on the 928 had never been to the US and had no idea what it was like, how cars were used differently, or how expectations were different. Apart from that expectations have changed since, I doubt they did the kind of marketing research that companies do today.

For all I know (and have been told by insiders), they tried to build the best car they could imagine at the time...

 

You're not the first to suggest this - but I don't have the time to do this right now, and can't afford to fund a such project (travel, loss of regular income, etc).

Maybe some day... I'm collecting all information I can get. I've also thought about visiting these guys when I'm in Germany one of these days. That depends on whether they are willing, able, and healthy enough to meet with me...

 

I would have asked why didn't they go all out and compete with the Ferrari Testarossa/512 TR, and Lamborghini's Countach/Diablo by dropping the compression and turbocharging the 928's V8.

However, I'm sure the answer would have been the lack of funds because there was a recession in the late 80's/early 90's.

 

Why do I need 3 different brands of 10mm, 13mm, 27 and 32mm sockets, open end and box end wrenches to work on the car? For example, sometimes the Husky works, then I need the craftsman, just for clearance issues!

and I KNOW the valve covers and engine bay weren't designed for removal and maintenance while the motor was in the car. There's too much stuff in the way.