I've had my 83 928 for over a year now and I've been able to take most issues in stride, but it seems to me that now I can't keep the car going. Its seems almost everything is going wrong. The trans is bad, the water pump is bad, it needs a timing belt, it needs thousands in interior, bodywork, and paint. I'm thinking of parting my car but I don't want to be without a 928. Can someone please help me! I might be on the look out for a fiwer upper with a few less major issues, because I actually like fixing up the car. Really all I needc is a strong runner. Any help is greatly apprieciated.

Tony

 

The transmission is bad? Is it an auto?

Timing belt / water pump will be needed on almost any car you buy so that's a non issue IMO.

Post pictures, I don't recall seeing a pic of your car.

 

If the trans and the interrior is gone then there is not much left to part out. The 16V engines are not really worth much and body panels are not too popular either. Why not just fix everything as opposed to risking buying another one with unknown problems.

 

Don't mean to be harsh, but it seems like you're surprised about the work that needs to go into the car.

The interior work should be no surprise and the paint shouldn't be any surprise, right? I mean those are things you saw when you bought it.

The timing belt/wp shouldn't be a big surprise if you've been on here for any length of time.

And no doubt, if you have a 928 that has not been well taken care of, its going to cost lots of time, effort, and especially $ to get it up to snuff.

If it were me, I'd try to figure out what mechanicals its going need, prioritize those repairs, then do your budgeting.

Once you know those variables, add a bit more for the inevitable surprises, then decide whether or not its worth it to you to fix up your existing 928.

Then wieght that against selling yours, and buying one in better shape, but also realizing that one will also need some repairs.

Lastly, I can understand the frustration. Maybe its time to have a beer and not think about it for a few hours or days?

Good luck. -Ed

 

The trans is an auto, and apperently the lip seals are no good. When the trans warms up is tends to not shift until I let off the gas. I really do love this car, but its all pilling up. The fact that another car might need a water pump o timing belt eventually is not and issue. Its the fact the it needs that along with a trans and all the others mentioned. Not that I have put a budget on this car, but I'd rather not bankrupt myself with it. I'll try to post picts but I need to borrow a digital camera. If I bought another 928 I'd just like one similar to the recent $2500 by mark anderson. Nothing in amazing condition .or anything like that.

 

Ed I'd like I beer right about now but I'm 18! That actually is most likely the essential problem in my 928 equasion. I'm headed of to college and I can't spend goobs of cash on the 928. My 928 was doin pretty well until recently so now I don't have a car I can truly trust on a long trip. I'm just trying to find a solution other than selling my beat 928 for a some car I'll hate.

 

You have great taste in cars for an 18 yr old! Good luck. You sure you don't need an incentive plan to get through college such as to buy nice 928 when you graduate?

Seems to me that and old 928 may be unnecessary extra baggage that you may not really want to bring to school - especially if you will be typical college penny-pinching, like most people do. One of my college roomates had an old motorcycle that he took apart and put back together - it didn't distract from school much and didn't cost much. 928 parts have the potential of costing much $$$.

Don't let me bring you down. There are probably some decent low $ 928s out there that will last your college days with some modest degree of $ investment that will not complicate your life. I don't know how to tell the difference when looking at a car as to whether it will last or start falling apart immediately.

Good luck.

 

[middle aged guy rant mode]

LndShrk:

Dunno how to say it without sounding like a jerk, but to be honest, I think the best possible thing you can do for your college career and future is to forget about trying to maintain a fun/expensive car. The best thing you can do is sell the 928 and buy a mid-late 1990's toyota corolla or honda civic, put 800-1000 in wear iterms/PM into it before you start school, and use that for the next 4+ years. I'm a professor at a UC campus, and the students that I know are going places are the ones who 'get it'. They're focused on their work, not only learning the material cold, but TAKING ADVANTAGE of the environment, the mentoring, and the networking opportunities that exist on campus. They're worried about MCAT's or LSAT's or GMATs, not LH's, EZK's, MAF's, or ATF. Take the 30 year view: your college experience is the springboard that's going to get you to the next level. I spent my undergrad career on a rural campus that didn't even allow cars until we were seniors. Lots of kids were bored to tears, but I had lots of time to study, work out, do work study in the theater, etc. I wasn't worrying about making insurance payments, parking, maintenance, so I didn't have to work to support the car habit, and I could focus on my future career. You may NEED a car to get to and from school, but don't let it be a distraction.
You sound mechanically inclined, which is great- if you're thinking about engineering, you're not going to have time to worry about car maintenance anyway, you'll be too busy working on classwork!

Bottom line, I'm surrounded by a sea of mediocre students who are distracted by lots of outside activities that don't contribute to their professional development. I'm not sure what they do after they graduate. Now is the time for delayed gratification. The GTS's will still be here in 10 years when you get your first big bonus check......


[/middle aged guy rant mode]

 

......what he said.....even if its a hard pill to take....besides if you can swing it...keep the car but PUT IT ASIDE....it will be their when the times right to be worked on.

 

Yeah, I don't think this is the right car for a young person in college unless you can afford to buy one that is in excellent condition and maintain it. If the interior is trashed, then you accepted that that by buying a beater. I admire young people like you and Whitefox, who appreciate and try to take care of these cars, but almost always they can't afford to buy a real nice one and they end up getting stung pretty badly when things go wrong.

 

Yep, part it or sell it. Do what Rob says. Focus on your future for the next 4-5 years, not a 24 year old relic.

 

--I-- was a 24 year old relic when I finished grad school. Had a Lotus habit that was worse than te Porsche habit, when measured by the time-and-money demands put on me by the car. Car time was an alternative to a social life. School came first.

Professor Dr. Rob is right. Get something that's dependable and relatively economical to own. Then don't drive it much. It's the driving that kills cars and budgets. Finish school, think about an interesting car when the time and dollars are right. It's possible to have a 928, but only if you can afford to have it maintained for you. Full-time studnets can't maintain cars like the 928 as regular drivers. There's just isn't time. Can't even drive one through the car wash, so there's an hour or two a week tied up even before anything breaks or needs maintenance.

 

I don't think I've seen pictures of this beast. Post them up and let us give you some advice.

Don't sweat the interior for now, get some seat covers, a dash cover and polish the rest as well as you can.

Paint wise, wax what you can.

Engine and tranny, you might be able to find a cheap transmission and get some rennlist buddy's to help you install it. have you checked the level of fluid while it is running? This might help it. TB/WP "might" last you for a while longer, yes, it should be changed and it should be a priority, I don't know if the '83 had the non interference motor or not. You might be able to slide on this if it is (I know, bad advice and I would not do this myself).

Trying to think how it was when I was in college, I was lucky in that my father owned his own shop and worked on these things daily. Good luck and just make sure you get that schooling finished, then you can pay someone else to do all this work.

 

yes replace you 928 with a camary finish school make some dough and buy a very nice 928 and good luck with school

 

And people wonder why these cars are so cheap to buy. There is no such thing as a bargain 928. Remember, this was Porsche's flagship for 17 years, and the most technologically advanced car in the world at the time of its introduction. "I'll just fix it up" is a plan for disaster. This ain't no Mustang.