JEC_31

Complexity - just like cost of ownership - is a relative attribute.

I personally consider the 928 to be very complex, compared to my experience with early to mid '80s Japanese cars.

For a quick example, ignitition wires:
RX-7, 1986 = a few soft plastic holders to keep the wires from laying on hot parts.
928S, 1986 = dozens of two-piece hard plastic clamps bolted down, locking the wires in place every few inches.
Of course the control-freak clamping is better from a pure engineering perspective, which is what Porsche is all about, but it's needless complexity when your back is aching and you need to change the wires quickly.

I described working on the 928 to my muscle-car friends (who are used to engine bays you can almost stand in while working on the motor) as a process of peeling an onion, removing layers of parts and subsystems to get down into the thing you wanted to work on. Granted, this was on an '86 with the classic pipe-organ intake that obscures most of the engine bay, so maybe a GTS would be less PIA - I'd sure like to try one someday!

I'm now wondering if anyone who's wrenched on a Cayman or 997S would consider the 928 to be less complex...

Back on topic: Damn I love that Rhodamine Red!

cobalt

Complex or PITA. There is a difference. Compared to an early 911 the 928 is somewhat more complex. You can tell that the 928 was a much more expensive and laborious car to build. The newer cars are more annoying. My Cayenne is a real PITA to work on. You have to spend tremendous time removing your "layers" as you put it just to change a simple turn signal bulb. If you want to compare a car that was a maintenance nightmare look at the old Audi 100 or the 924. If you want a complex car, look at the old Citroen Masseratti SM.

The worst car I ever had to work on was an early Jaguar so in comparison these cars are easy. The Ferrari's especially the newer ones require constant attention. A well maintained 928 will run flawlessly for thousands of miles assuming it has been well cared for. A Ferrari will require general maintenance more often at a much higher expense.

Shane

No I actually still desire to own this GTS, however not enough to go through a divorce right away because of it.

Tom sent me a pm about this and I presented the purchase to the wife... nuf said there

I would have had better luck the first time around, having gotten it and then asked permission...

Live and learn

Hawkeyes

Ford motor mounts are $30 each, inexpensive replacement and quite serviceable. Oil cooler seal leak may be due to using synthetic oil combined with dry seals - I had a similar issue and fixed it with Auto RX & a switch back to rock oil (no dear, petroleum does not come from dead dinosaurs).

P/S leak could be hoses or may be same as above. Even if it needs a new rack, they are not prohibitively expensive - $400 to $600 without core. Locking is an electrical gremlin, fuse or relay, front rotors & pads are easy to replace, parts cost under $400. New coolant level sensor is about $70. If the radiator leaks, a $3 tube of Aluma Seal will tell you if its a minor or major issue. A new Devek radiator is around $800. Water pump & belt is, well you know. I figure around $3k if you can do your own, or most of your own labor.

OK, I've nearly convinced myself to buy it. Now if I just didn't already have that darn '89 S4... (would my bride be upset if I owned two 928"s? Raspberry Red is such a DELICIOUSLY HOT color)

Hawkeyes

ROG100

Tom has the car in Austin and has decided its not for him.
Great deal for someone.

JEC_31

Excellent point, I had not considered that difference. Now that I think about it, how many simple easy-to-reach nuts and bolts have become PITA due to rust?

I think the 928 has a little of both.

RyanPerrella

I would still love to see what this color looks like in the sun. Every pic is in a warehouse

rickjaffe

you guys can laugh all you want but I've had the ferrari for over two years. Had some issues in the beginning, nothing too major, recently redid the carbs, and will do the timing belts in the next six months, but it still won't get to the 6k I've spent in 60 days on the porsche. Only had one ferrari and one porsche, but the ferrari hands down is simplier, easier to work on and cheaper to run. Also have to say, that of all my classic's it's the most reliable, and that includes two amercian cars (vette and a lincoln convertible).

rickjaffe

that's what I did, and it didn't work out too well this time, and that's a big reason why I'm going to "try" to sell. funny it worked with the ferrari a bentley and an airplane, but the porsche which was supposed to be in part for her drove her over the edge.

hacker-pschorr

Well that explains it - come back when you've put 50,000 miles on the 308.

Hell, just for fun see how much it costs to run it up to 200,000 miles. There are a handfull of 928's on the original drivetrain with that status.

docmirror

Sigh, all these comments from non-Ferrari owners about horror stories. The 308 engine is actually very similar to the 928 engine, albiet of smaller displacement. It is a cast aluminum block, with Nikasil liner coating, using Al pistons in a 90 degree V shape. Early engines are a twin overhead cam with two VPC, and '83 and later are a quad valve setup.

The cams are driven by two belts rather than one in the 928, and the valves are adjusted by pucks which is a hassle in the 308, but a valve adjustment lasts a long time. The later injection is the same as the 928 K-jetronic, It uses a Marelli rather than a Bosch based ignition system, which can cause trouble.

The trans in the 308 is quite bulletproof. The clutch is a Valeo unit, and usually lasts well, escept in cases where the nut behind the wheel doesn't know how to clutch. There are no auto Ferrari's of the 308 type, but the 400i was offered with an auto.

308s get a bad rep due to the same reasons that 928s get a bad rep. Lack of regular maintenance. And they are getting long in the tooth. A properly maintained and driven 308(or Mondial) will take the same type and cost of maint as a similar year and similarly driven 928. As said, chassis parts will be costly, but they generally don't go bad. My Mondial has over 100,000 miles, and it's going strong despite some problems with the injection system. It should last another 50k with no trouble.

Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net

Could it be as simple as you buying a well maintained F car and a P car that was not?

Out of curiousity, was the purchase price the same amount for both cars?

Any chance you are comparing a garage queen F car to a daily driver (or worse a neglected) P car?

I don't the 928 difficult to work on at all, but my experience may have biased me...

Giovanni

[QUOTE=Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net]Any chance you are comparing a garage queen F car to a daily driver (or worse a neglected) P car?QUOTE]

And one that is considered high mileage for a GTS.

IcemanG17

regardless of how expensive 928's are to maintain......

That GTS is a sweet color....it looks great!

MGW-Fla

You are making your judgement off of two months 928 ownership versus two years Ferrari ownership. Apples and oranges. You typically can have some initial expenses when purchasing a 20 year old supercar of any brand, that does not mean you can automatically expect that to multiply out over years of ownership. Maybe the Ferrari is cheaper to maintain. Maybe since you had no prior experience with 928s other than pricing them on the internet, you should have thought to go and test drive a few and take along your wife too before buying one if it was to be "her" car. That perhaps could have saved you some time, money, and marital grief. Good Luck to you Councilor.