dr bob

So much depends on your expectations. I can put a dash mat over a cracked pod, pull out the warped rear quarters and glue in some carpet. Used seats are by the pound, and color isn't an issue when you are putting Pep-Boyz terrycloth seatcovers on them, right? The engines are generally OK if they aren't abused. Paint is subjective when it comes to a cheap daily driver. That same Pep Boyz offers <$100 tires with a 60k mileage guarantee. Rotors are thin but it's just a driver so why turn them, just put pads in every couple years. If you just want a cheap driver, the best car is the one you know already.


All that said, the cheapest drivers started out as the best cars, and the mojority of the faults are cosmetic. I can put up with a lot of cosmetics for cheap. I do hate getting stranded for stupid stuff though. That's where my wallet and I get in the deepest.

Sailmed

Oh lord of the 928 - please help me - for I know I am strong of smell and weak of brain....
Yes, I am addicted to thy very look - naked, painted, anyway you come. The feal of acceleration when I push, the curves of your seat when you pull,Thou art my weakness...............
HELP oh brethron
I bought two yesterday!
I bought the '78 that was in Tampa - yes, it has surface rust, but only because the whole car was block sanded naked in prep for paint and then sat under cover for months. The motor? I'll say it's trash - but I can take parts off, make them beautiful, and install them on the running '78 car. The interior looks like a rat lived there.
Body question - It has the rear fog light. Was this an option for US cars?
I'm going to take all the suspension, engine (w/SC?), trans, new interior, etc, from the old '86.5 5spd, install it in the body - and make "MY" sweet car.
That, my friends - is "****".
The '83 ? -
I bought the '83 and will see if I can get it to run for <$1,000 as the DD - leaving me time to combine the Euro's - paint, interior, etc.....
Now - when I'm done.....
I should have 4 running 928's w/ parts supply - w/ 2 <$1,000 if we don't include tires
Still waiting on the
THEN - I'll take a nap......

bronto

Looks like someone is giving up on a track car project:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pts/547615093.html

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/pts/546390659.html

Sailmed

I've got a couple of "spares"

Sailmed

Ok - I tried this out - my wife set the budget @ $2,000 per car.
928's to date -
'78 5 spd - Original asking price was $3,500 - purchase price was a trade for a Explorer I paid $1,000 for years ago. The 928 had new rotors, new brakes, new TB, WP, control arms, heads just rebuilt, and came with $3,500 in receipts during the PO's last year - He couldn't get it to run and I spent < $300 doing just that. Total - w/ tires = $2,000 Time? Probably 20 hrs to date.
It was $450 for Fuzions ZRi's - mounted and balanced. I don't think this should be counted against the car as anything used normally needs the same.
The '78 in Tampa - OUCH - I paid $300 for it as a parts car. The body is a '78 Euro and will be in my paint booth as soon as I clear the 928 I'm helping a friend with out of my way. I have no idea what the suspension is like - but for a $300 parts car, who cares! The engine is toast and I will find a mouse motor eventually.
That needs another thread - what would you do to save a 928
The '83 - I paid $700 for it - it runs! It needed a few hours to be sorted out - some spare parts I just happen to have around (probably could have purchased for < $100) - and the interior is rough, to say the least. It too - needs tires.
'86.5 If you count that the insurance company paid me to keep it and let me average that in - I might be able to come up with a GT for <$1,000
SO - Yes - I truly believe that if you are after a fun car - not a beauty - but fun and dependable, the OB's can be found for $1,000.

Running? With a lttle work that one who knows 928's can do - Yes
Easily fixable? Whats your definition of "easy" I don't know of anything "hard" on the 928
Pretty? What amazes me is that if the car looks good - I mean the paint and interior - You can't touch it for that price. Beauty is what sells in this time and age, even if the motor or tranny are shot. That, my friend, is scary!

Now that I've tried this -
I have them lined up at the paint both and 2 will soon be for sale. 1 will be the track car, and 1 will be the DD.
It was a worthwhile investment in time and energy.

Until they are sold - I can run team races in the back yard!

Landseer

Very interesting point about looks vs price.

bronto

This one might qualify for real:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/car/550203220.html

evozine

This may seem picky, but I already own two other white cars, I don't need another. I found a black 5 speed for 2,000, I just need to talk the guy down to 1,000 then I'll be on my way. Once I do that I can buy another parts car to get new bumpers, and extra parts that the car is missing. Thanks for the heads up., keep em coming- I really seeing that you can get 928's for under a grand.

http://www.evozine.com/benz/

http://www.evozine.com/jag/

evozine

Ok, after doing some more research it appears that you can get a much better car for a little more than $1,000 dollars. Below is a craigslist add in Los Angeles for a blue 1985 928 for $4,000.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/car/550723014.html

I believe this type of car would have the larger 5.0 liter with 4 valves per cylinder. My Mercedes E420 has a 32-valve V8, and it is quite smooth and powerful. And yes, it sure seems like lots of 928s end up on the west coast.

Am I correct that a 1985 would be a significant performance improvement over a 1978 928...?

heinrich

now he gets it

JEC_31

Good find. This proves Heinrich's point:
Spend a little more $$ up front on a well-maintained car, or spend far more $$$ (and time too!) bringing the beat-to-death car up the level of the maintained car.

That said, I would personally still buy ANY complete unwrecked 928 for <$1K, because I am a 928 addict who has gone far too long without a fix.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




FYI Common 928 trivia:

1978 928 = 4.5 16v engine, CIS mechanical fuel injection, relatively slow.

1985-86 US spec = early 32v 5.0 engines with "pipe organ" intake, Bosch LH electronic fuel-injection system, rated at 288 hp, interference engines: lose timing belt and bend valves OUCH! The 32v "pent-roof" design has better flow, swirl, detonation resistance, etc, than the older 16v "wedge" design, but is in stock form a bit subduded by US smog equipment and conservative tuning.

Also, mid-model-year 1986 for Porsche changed the suspension and brakes to the upcoming 1987 S4 specs. Any US-spec 1986 928 with the last four digits greater than 0999 is referred to as an 86.5 and is more desirable for the bigger brakes etc.

1984-86 Euro/ROW-spec = 16v 4.7 engines running the same Bosch LH EFI as the US 32v cars, rated at a mere 310 hp (but many report that they're really significantly more...)

IrishLegend

Any more of these 1K 928's seen around lately?

kccampro

928's under $1g are junk... I'm some what of an expert.

IrishLegend

That's pretty much the conclusion I'm coming to myself.

UncleMaz

You don't mean that, do you?