Podguy

Don't let the Tacoma go. If you get a Jag you might still need it for transportation.

Actually the X-type that I drove in Italy and Croatia was one of the best driving cars I have seen. Very close in handling to the 928, but with a little more comfort. I rented a 2.5 with a five speed. The all wheel drive really kicks in. The five speed gave the car a true Jag feel. The 2.5 motor would seem to be underpowered, but it was not. Maybe with an automatic you would need a 3.0. Gas mileage was incredible. I did not keep track, but we rarely had to fill the tank over a three week on the road trip. I would not give an S type the time of day.

The Jag at the rental agency was sitting next to a Mercedes Diesel, which I was attempting to talk the agent into renting me instead. He talked me out of it telling me there was no comparison. The X-type got looks and raves everywhere we went. One guy in Serrento took out his cell phone and immediately started snapping pictures. In Split the guards at the Telephone company provided us a free parking space and stood guard on the car all night.

The seats, the braking, the handling and even high speed driving were all a pleasure. Of course, in Europe is is possible to travel long distances at high speed. We crossed Italy from Serrento to Bari in a short day traveling most times in excess of 100MPH. At the end of the trip we got out and felt like we had just gone around the block.

Any way don't let the addicts here sway you. Putting lots of money into a car that will need lots more and never give any back is discouraging. I think the only real way to own a 928 is to do all the work yourself. Otherwise it is a very expensive luxury item. Unfortunately not all of us have the time, patience and skill to do this.

I will say this. I have bought a number of poor running or non running 928s. Almost to a person the old owner was sad to see the car go. One car I bought from a doctor who had the car through medical school. He put an S4 motor into an 82 and loved the car until it went into 4 cyl mode and never came out. He dumped the car on me after spending $10K on with the same mechanic who put the S4 motor in the car. Instead he bought a Carrera. When I went to pick up a few of extra parts he had the doc began to complain how his new Porsche was no where as much fun to drive as the 928.

Dan the Pod Guy

dr bob

Ron-

Let me know when the mounts need to go in. I can volunteer the space and time if we do it soon.

BUT-- This is to help you keep the car, not to help you sell it.


Get Rob's engine support from Bill, and we'll schedule a maintenance day here.


I have the same bolster issues and need to do a full Leatherique treatmen to my seats. Just need to schedule it over a week when I'm on the road so the softener can do its thing.

Can't help you much on the pod cracks. My dash was perfect when I bough the car, and has been hidden under a dash cover since the first few weeks I've owned it. I'll speculate that the dash is still perfect under there but frankly hacven't looked in a couple years. The 2-piece dash cover came from a vendor at the Cypress College swap meet, so you know it's a rather exclusive part. Nonetheless, an investment of less than $50 will hide a lot of cracking until you decide to repair or replace.

A good painter should be able to fix the fogging for less than what you suggest. If you take it to a high-end shop you will pay a high price. Shop around a bit. You really want to get it to look like the other side, not like a new MBZ on one side only. Think about it.


You have my e-mail and phone number I think!

perrys4

Thanks everyone!! I love the support here, that is one of the best reasons to own a 928. One issue I have is feeling like I am taking (repairs) and unable to contribute back to the community. I don't want to be that way. Dr. Bob, I would never take help from you guys and then turn around and sell, definately not my way of doing things. If I could have it my way I would have the 928 and the Jag as well as keeping the truck even though I dislike it. If I do decide on a Jag I plan to keep the 928.

I am going to get a few more estimates for paint and see if it is reasonable to move forward with that since it is whats bothering me the most. I honestly think I will stick it out for a while longer because I dont want to jump to a decision I will regret later. Like I said before, my car is nice, I am just being overly picky but that is the way I am. It was a nice example seven years ago when I bought it, its just the PO work has deteriorated. Dr. Bob, check your pod, Mine was fine when I bought it and has always been covered to. Never sits out in the sun and it is cracked. Thanks again!

Tim, I was seriously considering your car! Now I feel I should have done it.
Chazz, I am looking for an 03 XJR with the R1 package or an 02 XJR R100

H2

Heinrich is right. You only live on this earth once and you might as well drive a true sports car. If you can afford the $50K-$150K alternatives (with much higher maintenance than the 928) then that's an alternative. However, I think the 928 gives a very high ROI...relatively speaking. And the "relative" part is important. How much is it worth to put money into a car that, once you get the bugs worked out of it, will give you good and reasonably reliable service? And you'll have a great car. I don't use the 928 as my primary car but as my "fun and proud to own and love to drive" car.

I hit the same point of discouragement at one point and was ready to move to a different platform...but I really wasn't satisfied with what I was seeing. Although Heinrich has daily drivers in his "harem of cars" I use my Audi TT or the beater Camry for daily driving and the 928 for R&R. It's a great stress reliever and my wife has come to recognize that now and cuts me some slack. That's about the only benefit she sees in the 928 though...but she's tolerant and I let her buy a quilting machine to help compensate..and we're both happy. They're not cheap either and are money pits too....but the Rest and Relaxation is what's worth the expenditure. One can buy a heck of a lot of Made in China quilts that look great (and are hand made) for the price of a good professional quilting set up. Her quilting machine makes about as much financial sence to me as my 928 does to her. But, this does not mean that there aren't other good cars out there. I have friends who swear by Bimmers and 'vettes but I'm much happier with a car that was a classic the day it rolled off the line (in my mind anyway). To each his own. Just the other day a car mechanic thought my car was a Ferrari. I wasn't offended.

I think we all understand what you're going through. I was about to dump my 928 at one time...now I have 3 Porsches. But, then again, I'm crazy (according to my wife...but she continues to keep me around to take out the trash so it works out). Good luck.

Harvey

Andre Hedrick

I wish I could give you my experience last night! I was at IKEA, and a family pulled next to my car as I was walking back to it. The kids jumped out and ran around my OB and were totally in love with it. The mom was here comes the owner back up, and I took a little time to talk to the kids. They loved to hear the 4.5 roar to life! These cars have an awe about them and will always be that way!

SharkSkin

Perry, I agree with others here -- the Rx is to find a nice open stretch of highway and put the hammer down. Run the Sfest '05 fun drive route. Then come back home and wonder what you were thinking.

Namvet

FWIW,
I can afford the Brits and ITI's etc, but Porsche built it right. I have less than a price of used Honda Civic, in my 84S and she gets the job done. Porsche is not for everyone. Your Call!

You are the Driver!

Garth S

Perry,
Plan to set the S4 aside for 2-3 months .... while you prep the car for paint: a very large %age of the repaint price is bullwork prep, which, with a little schooling, you can do. No need to rush - do a square foot or so when the mood is right. Your painter can recommend the correct primer cocktail to be bottled in shaker cans to spray/protect your handiwork .... no need to be fussy, for it will all get cut back prior to final spray.
Find a shop to do the final detail prep and spray - the price will be more attractive.
After this break away, there will be fewer doubts about ownership - and at least 50% of a paint job $$ left in your pocket.

Namvet

Just enjoy it!

DR P got them right!

namvet

85fortheDrive

Perry:

Perhaps in this statement lies a suggestion. I can't find a bigger saprophyte on this board than myself. For every one bit of advice I have for someone, I have ten questions.

But I've learned that people here want to help. Such is why this is such a great community. And within that community is not only knowledge but also available services for the reconditioning of your car. So I invested in this community to get our car's interior restored. Rob Budd did all the leather work and Paul Champagne redid our steering wheel. Hell, Rob even drove the car back to his shop and then back to us!

What I'm suggesting is that you consider the car not just for itself but for how it ties you into a community of people. Over time, this community can help your mounts, your seats, and your paint. Not for nuthin', to be sure. But if you're willing to pace the work and consider vendors outside the southern cal area, then you might have a nice set of options.

FWIW, I"ve enjoyed your posts here and hope that the shine comes back to your ownership of a 928.

Peace,
Tim

Andre Hedrick

Tim,

Ditto's about the ask/answer ratio. I am fortunate to have people like BB (Mr Roots wheel spin ) down the road, oh and some long hair hippie SS too.

Perry,

I know yours is in much better shape than mine just looking at pictures. If paint is an issue, get it painted. For me it is the pure mechanicals of perfection, and paint is the last thing on my mind (unless it protects the mechanics/structure of the car). Right now because I put the effort into the mechanical aspects, she is my DD now until I get another DD to replace my Saab. I worry everyday the TB/WP is going to break on me soon, but I know the 4.5 is non-interference and trust the car completely. (Ken where is the tensioner ) Anyways, take a break and work on the small things you can do yourself.

alex70

I understand - have you seen one of these?

http://www.diseno-art.com/encycloped...h_exelero.html
That thing is crazy!

Another neato link

http://www.exelerocar.com/


Oh, and I do not have the $$$$ for it this week.

Randy Carter

Omigod. You're going to have to call Heinrich for complete instructions on this one. Maybe he meant a case, maybe he forgot to mention your evil twin who sits in the car while you walk around it, maybe I need a bigger bottle of scotch.
Hmm, now there's an idea.

Sorry, Perry; I don't mean to make lite (oops) of your situation. I rationalize things with my age; another senior moment. If you're not old enough to do that, call it a brain fart.

Either way, do what Clayton Williams suggested; "Lay back and enjoy it!"

Nothing's perfect and nothing is enough. Enjoy where you are at the moment and relish the dream of the next one.

928SS

my old gal gets painted to some extent nearly every 18mos to keep it in tip top shape. she gets friggn rock dings on the front after only 150-500mi, and inevitabily gets hit by something within the 1st 45 days (shopping cart, baseball, bicycle, etc - but usually does better than the people attached to all that stuff, hehehe). lots of reasonable paint shops around - have them do it as a side project and let them take their time and you'll save a bundle.

int. stuff is cheap too... plenty of local upholtery shops that'll do a great job for a fraction of the "upscale" shops... again - tell'em to take their time and do it as filler work and you'll save a ton of $$... many body shop guys have buddies that do upholstery on the side... pod restoring isn't that pricey either -ck out my website for portia's link for pod referbing and nearly any shop can do a decent dash recover at the same time.

if the electrics and power train are solid - you are in pretty good shape already. I view cosmetics as generic routine maint items - just something that needs to be figured into the budget cause you can't cheat father time...

to help me appreciate my high maint gal, I keep my crappy f150 4x4 around and just think of the shark as a trophy wife kind of thing - high maint, but a hoot when she's not on a rampage over not having something to wear, a broken nail, bad hair day, losing her stupid foo-foo dog in the mall (again), etc....

might consider selling the jag and getting a nice used 540i bimmer... super sweet ride, solid car, great value right now... or give the wifey a nice new car, and w/any luck you can hitch a ride once in a while

Namvet

Once ya get Wifey the Car she likes, you can lay under anything in the driveway, and she won't bother You!