I am actively searching for a 928 and have been glued to Ebay for weeks now. I've seen a wide range of prices for my choice of 928 ('87+ S4), but have also noticed that the classifieds in Rennlist and elsewhere feature cars with somewhat higher asking prices.

My question is directed to those of you who've bought via Ebay: did you really get a good deal? Did you get screwed? Has experience taught you that buying through PCA or Rennlist, et al, delivers a better product?

Also, any advice anyone has regarding my search, I'm all ears (or eyes). I'm aware of many of the issues regarding the timing belt, water pump, various electrical gremlins, alignment, dash cracks etc. Anything else.

Thanks for your assistance.

Mark Osmundson (Ferris)

 

Mark,

I would venture to say one factor for the variance in price swings on EBAY vs. the other venues you speak of such as Rennlist or PCA is related possible to EBAY drawing more then it’s fair share of uniformed sellers then the other venues…let me expand…EBAY at times can be a clearing house for dealerships that know nothing about the 928 therefore often you’ll either see an over inflated price or quite possible a “GT” being advertised as an S4 and under priced…those that list on the likes of Rennlist or other “Porsche related sites” quite often know more about what it is they have and therefore price it accordingly.

I think you can get good deals anywhere...but a good deal will rely more on your ability to spot it then the venue you shop.

Of course…this is not to say ALL EBAY sellers are un-informed but I certainly have seen my share list at outrages reserves.

 

Mark,

Here are a few additional sites to get you going. Some of the information will be repeated.

Couple of quick tips…

*Get a Pre-Purchase Inspection by a mechanic you trust and who KNOWS the 928 if you get REAL serious. If maintenance services have been missed…you’ll pay the price.

A few Big Ticket Items to look for but not complete...
Timing Belt
Torque Tube
Motor Mounts
Steering Rack
Leaking Radiator (where plastic meets metal leaks)
Leaky oil pan gasket

Porsche 928 Model History
<a href="http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/lancia/58/classic/porsche.htm" target="_blank">http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/lancia/58/classic/porsche.htm</a>

928 Frequently Asked Questions
<a href="https://rennlist.com/main/areas/services/928_faq.htm" target="_blank">https://rennlist.com/main/areas/services/928_faq.htm</a>

General Information for New 928 Owners
<a href="http://members.rennlist.com/v1uhoh/fornew9.htm" target="_blank">http://members.rennlist.com/v1uhoh/fornew9.htm</a>

Porsche Option Decoder
<a href="http://www.kindel.com/Porsche/options.asp" target="_blank">http://www.kindel.com/Porsche/options.asp</a>

Porsche 928 Buyers tips
<a href="http://home.wxs.nl/~Jennit/Technical/BuyerTips.htm" target="_blank">http://home.wxs.nl/~Jennit/Technical/BuyerTips.htm</a>

Sources for Porsche 928s and Buying Tips
<a href="http://www.billsworkshop.com/P928S4/shopping.htm" target="_blank">http://www.billsworkshop.com/P928S4/shopping.htm</a>

928 Spec & Tech information
<a href="http://www.928gt.com/928specs/928specs.htm" target="_blank">http://www.928gt.com/928specs/928specs.htm</a>

Paint Codes
<a href="http://www.928gt.com/928specs/Paintcode.htm" target="_blank">http://www.928gt.com/928specs/Paintcode.htm</a>

Carfax
<a href="http://www.carfax.com/" target="_blank">http://www.carfax.com/</a>

Experian
<a href="http://www.autocheck.com/?ts=014045420" target="_blank">http://www.autocheck.com/?ts=014045420</a>

By no means is this a complete list but it will send you in the right direction.

One last tip!

DO NOT take a verbal answer as proof for timing belt service...if they don’t have paper work on the service then consider the service having not been performed. Broken or slipped belts can/are cause for expensive valve repair.

Also...coolant changes ARE VERY IMPORTANT every two years to protect against corrosion...again...paper work and not verbal proof.

Tim Delarm

 

I searched for 3 years and finally found what I wanted on TraderOnline.com. I also spent a small fortune on PPIs for various cars all over the country, though I think it was money well spent. The car I ultimately chose was in my home state of California, which worked to my advantage since I could drive it home in one day. The only disappointment was the scratches on the body which
I didn't see in the photos. I can't emphasize enough the value of a PPI from an honest shop; I heard all kinds of BS from sellers about how their cars were in "top condition" only to discover that most were disasters ready to happen. Most sellers detail their cars' appearance
for eyewash, and to cover up issues you don't want. I had the shop (in another city) that performed the PPI on the car I ultimately bought "repair" some of the items on their list of flaws, but when I actually got to see the car
I realized that almost all the repairs needed to be done over, including the balancing of new tires! You pays your money and you takes your chances. Ask for references unless you know and love the shop that does the work. They actually installed a rear window wiper arm to rest in the middle of the rear window! However, all things considered, I got what I wanted, and am not too far off of my target budget. Someone on this list got one of the cars I really wanted, but I found another one almost identical to it a few months later for considerably less up front. I reasoned that I should buy low and expect to spend some money to bring it to an acceptable level, rather than to buy fluff and a pretty face for more bucks. Hey, I'm a happy camper. <img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />

 

Thanks for the informative replies. The website in particular will come in handy.

I'm just now beginning my search in earnest, and my big fear is making the wrong compromise between initial cost and future repair. The unfortunate thing I've discovered about my search so far is that most of the cars I'm interested in are not very close to my location. Consequently I'll have to rely on the seller's description and/or make the trip. I've seen that another option is to enlist the help of another Rennlist subscriber, so I'll also keep that in mind.

Thanks again for your help.

Mark

 

<a href="http://928registry.org/" target="_blank">http://928registry.org/</a>

<a href="http://www.autotrader.com" target="_blank">www.autotrader.com</a>

<a href="http://www.928gt.com/" target="_blank">http://www.928gt.com/</a>

Are a couple of cool places to look as well as Ebay.

PPI, lots of Photos, Lonf test Drive if possible and a carfax background check are the keys to a good buy.

Mark Anderson of 928 Intl has a sweet GTS for sale. Salvage Title though .......
Good Luck!

 

I would agree with everything listed above. I bought a 84 with records back six years but the car was a nightmare of major repairs. Don't get me wrong, the car ran, just almost everyone was fixed or repaired incorrectly. For example, I just finished replacing the timing belt and water pump. It had been done before as stated, but no one say anything about four bolts broken off in the block via the waterpump. I've never seen so much silicon sealant outside of Hollywood. Don't get me wrong, I love the car but purchased it for $6500 and it took another $3000 to get it right, so have the best vehicle inspection by the best 928 Porsche mechanic that you can.

 

Salvage Titles scare me, so my policy is to avoid them. If it were a Taurus, maybe...

Thanks.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Ferris B:
<strong>Salvage Titles scare me, so my policy is to avoid them. If it were a Taurus, maybe...

Thanks.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">It doesn't take much to result in a "salvage title"!!!

Remember- even tho you may buy your shark for, say, $10K - it is STILL a $70K car when new - and thus, parts and accident repairs are based on the $70K!
A "minor" fender bender can EASILY result in the car being "totalled" by the insurance company, and thus - end up w/salvage title.

Knowing the DEVEK folks - I would be MUCH more likely to purchase a "salvage title" vehicle from them, then a "clear title" vehicle from an eBay unknown!

 

MityMse,

A guy near me has an '82 S that went from $5,000 one week to $3,500 the next in classified. I called when it was five and his first question was, "You know this is a project car, right?" His ad mentioned nothing about this. Needless to say, I was scared off.

I'm hoping that by limiting my search to '87 and newer, I'll avoid some of the pitfalls...

 

Mark, good advise. Perhaps I'll widen my horizon. I'll talk w/ my insurance guy too, as he may have some insight into the matter.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Ferris B:
<strong>Salvage Titles scare me, so my policy is to avoid them. If it were a Taurus, maybe...

Thanks.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Take a visit to the Registry - Marks is the Silver GTS - Not knowing Mark except for a few calls for parts, I'd say this shark is well taken care of. The ad states their was an engine fire at one time, but judging from the pics - You wouldn't/couldn't tell. Thos rims are SWEEEEEET.

As far as a salvage titles go .....It all depends. Buying from a cat like Anderson, most likely GTDs a Good Buy!.

BTW - Mark Anderson owns 928 International.

 

Sorry - I said Devek in my post - meant to say mark Anderson at 928Intl.
My comments remain about Devek - AND apply to Mark at 928 Intl...OR Dave @ 928 SPEC.

If ANY of the 'Big 3" sell a car - I would bet that you can have confidence that the car will be ACCURATELY described. These great folks would NOT screw somebody on a car deal - they would get MUTILATED on the boards here - and it would cost them WAAAYYYY more in lost business than they could EVER make on 1 car!

Also - If you find a car - and it is in the vicinity of ANY of the BIG 3 - get them to do (or recommend someone who would do) the PPI. There is probably MORE 928 knowledge in these 3 companies then most of the rest of the country combined!!!

Also - if you find a car you are interested in, I am sure you could find a Rennlister to do a minor 'check' of the car - and tell you if it is worth persuing with a PPI - and then recommend a local 'expert' to do a full PPI for you! (and then - there are others here that could do a GREAT job of a PPI for you)

 

I checked out Mark's GTS, and if it were in my price range, I'd pursue it further. All your advice regarding the big 3 and their reputations is noted.

I wish I could afford a GTS, but my search will probably be limited to '87-'90 S4, with mileage in the 80,000-120,000 range. I'm thinking of spending up to $15,000, with the anticipation that much of the major work would recently have been done. I'd like to limit post-purchase mechanical expenses to a couple grand if possible. Doing so will keep my marriage intact. She has her horses, I hope for a 928.

Thanks to all for some GREAT advice.

 

Okay-

Your posts have led me to the following conclusions:

1) 928s are listed for sale in more places I could have imagined. So I'll begin my search in the pages of the "big 3" and in the Registry among others. I'll monitor EBAY to see what's in the auction market.
2) A PPI is a MUST!
3) Receipts detailing recent work are a MUST!
4) Salvage titles aren't necessarily a bad thing, depending on the circumstances and seller.
5) Buying sight-unseen is inadvisable, but Rennlisters might be able to assist w/ a cursory inspection, or knowledge of the car to begin with.
6) I still have some research ahead thru the sources you all have provided, and those additional resource found in them.
7) I'm not totally up in the night with my price/condition expectations.

Thanks to all.