dshulik

My '80 928 with 3spd auto tranny is running in tip top condition right now. At traffic lights nobody seems to want to mess with me but its just as well. The car's specs say it does 0-60 in 7.2 sec which isn't all that impressive nowadays. Once the car starts moving it builds quite quickly and turns into a beast. My friend's '93 BMW M3 automatic has about the same power but that car absolutely smokes right off the line. What's the best way to get this thing to launch quicker w/out converting to a 5 speed or doing ridiculous mods to the motor?

Afraid to even tangle with Honda Civics 0-60...Help! <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

Dave H.

buy a different car...

Weissach

Yes, I too would buy a different car. Those early autos are really slow. It's like their running on a "limp mode". This is why they are so much cheaper to buy than the 5-speeds.

Jay Wellwood

Seriously...

Your car sets apart from others by it's handling ability. Despite the low 0-60 times (hey...the 928 isn't a stop light car), as you well know the handling is awesome.

I have this jacka$$ at work with a WS-6 who really would like a piece of me. I keep telling him that my 928 would get smoked from light to light (let his head swell)...but give me either a 5 mile straight stretch for top end, or a mountain twisty and I'll hand him his hat, plus change.

If you wanted a stop light car - shoulda got another one than the 928.

If you wanted class...well, that one's open to debate - but I like the 928.

If you wanted impressive handling and the ability for high end speeds...welcome to the 928, the best of both worlds IMHO.

Just my $9.29 worth.

DougM

928's were not built with 0-60 in mind. 99% of your driving is 30-50, 50-70, and 70-90 etc....That is where the car shines

John Struthers

D,
These critters were built as Luxury, Performance cars.
IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM WERE THEY BUILT AS DRAGSTERS!
Even the early models are good at rolling kickdown street racers. Especially if you are old and sneaky like me.
The Euro's, S4's, GT's, and GTS's are different animals all together with respectable 0-60, 0-100,
1/4 mile times. Then again they have 80-100+ more HP than we do.
I KNEW what I wanted when I started my search but between all the lyin'sacks of s--t on EBAY, the cost of transportation and lodging as I traveled coast to coast and a lot in between - veiwing disappointment after disappointment - my war chest dwindled ... SO, no 86 1/2, or, S 4 for me.
I love my 82' Weissach, auto, 'Pattycakes' but she is not a later model, or a Euro.
Do not screw up and dump huge bucks in your 80', just enjoy it, find her weak and strong points.
Trying to make your 80' a hotrod will weaken the resale IMO for when you finally trade up to an S4 or better. Go to one of the shark gatherings and have someone "TAKE YOU FOR A RIDE" so you can see what an 80 to 100 hp increase MEANS. Most people will never or rarely use that HP but when they do look out! HOT STUFF, COMIN'THRU!!!
Save your bucks for the trade up.
John S <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
Jay, you haven't left yet? <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
Looks like everyone wrote at the same time... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

John Struthers

D,
If you are worried about the Japanese Imports now, wait until the New RX-8 hits the streets.
ROTARY HELL ON WHEELS FOR UNDER $30.000 !!!
We'll all get together and slit our wrists...
John S. <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

Nicole

What's a WS-6? Is that the latest Honda Civic Sports model?

Part of what I enjoy about the 928 is that in almost any situation I feel there is still some extra performance or safety left. Usually it's enough to know that I could...

But I did not buy a 928 for it's power, I bought it for it's beauty and class. I don't care, if Camaros or Firebirds are faster - that would not make them less tacky.

Remember that yours is already a classic car, while the BMTroubleYou is a pretty late model, with a more advanced gearbox. It would be sad, had the engineers not learned anyting in the past 22 years!

Just enjoy the nice aspects of your car, and some day you'll be ready to trade-up. By then, you might have matured in a way that you don't want to race others anymore. But that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, would it?

Jay Wellwood

Nicole-

The WS-6 is the hot Pontiac Trans Am.

350 HP and fffaaasssttt!!!

Curt

DSHULIK, I have a 79 euro 5spd. This car is slow off the line like yours and its a 5 spd. I try to avoid any races at the line. I usually try to catch em in first gear rolling about 20 or 30 mph and the tach at about 3000 rpm. Thats when you can tear them apart.

I have owned a few hot rods. 70 Chevelle 396 and a 68 Pontiac conv. firebird 400 which was banged out to a 416 and lots of goodies. Now those cars tore em up off the line but handling was crap. and i mean crap. I bought the 928 for looks, handling and the upper end power. and i am satisfied.

My plan is in a few years if i still have the car and need more power I will drop a built 400 small block chevy in it. You can build one of those relatively cheap and the conversion stuff is only a thousand or two. For five thousand or so you can have a big horsepower motor in the 928 and have plenty of off the line power. Dont get me wrong. I love the all aluminum stock motor but it just isnt worth it to me to drop 5 or 6 thousand on a rebuild for that particular year. Remember its a 79 not an 86 or newer. If had a newer 928 I wouldnt touch a thing.

So what im saying is your just gonna have to live with the "sluggish" 928.

dshulik

So I take it there's not much that can be done? It seems that maybe a different torque converter would do the trick but perhaps not? Aside from the slow starts the car is great. Its in very good condition to the point where some people who didn't know any better have asked if it is a "new" Porsche. Hardly a day goes by when complete strangers don't say what a nice car it is and others just seem to stare at it at lights which is a compliment for a 22 year old car..it still blows me away that I was 12 years old when they built it! I had a Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX which was an all-wheel drive turbo that was pretty modified and didn't get nearly the same compliments. My other car was quicker but didn't have the room, comfort, or class of the 928. At lights nobody really tries to race me...perhaps they've already had their *** handed to them by an S4 or a GTS in recent memory and don't want to relive the pain...either way I'm fine with that. I didn't get the car to drag race and its the comfort, handling, and style I was after for a cheap price save the repair bills..I'm just looking for a bit more punch coming out of slow corners and from standstill....

928Benz

Dshulik,

I definitely understand how you feel with the 0-60 punch. Although I've got the 32 valve 85 928s, which does have more grunt than your 80, it still feels sluggish to me. Many times, I just try to stay humble, even to 16 year olds in hopped up Civics. I'd probably be able to take them out, but not without seriously pushing the 928. I only play as the predator when I am antagonized at an easy cruising speed of 40-60 on the highway. When I do play, not many can pull away too far from me, expecially with hopped up imports. I love watching them blow past me while I cruise at 50 and then they see me gaining in their rearview so rapidly, and then just pull past them as their exhaust screams with their engine. Hopefully for him, nothing in his car is going to blow off. I'd have to agree with an earlier post. If you want 0-60, get a WRX or an earlier 928 that can be supercharged. I'm saving all my pennies for that upgrade in the future. For a 1980, it would just cost way more than the car is worth to modify the engine enough to run with cars that are over 20 years newer than yours. And even if it could, you'd just get addicted and keep wanting more power. Just be happy with the timeless beauty and soul of your 928. Going back to 1980, I'm sure there were not too many cars that could equal the performance of it. Good luck!

Normy

[I used to do this to my mom's cadillac]

1. Put car in lowest gear.

2. Place left foot on brake, apply FIRMLY.

3. Place right foot on gas pedal- gently.

-When you see the light turn yellow for the other direction, apply throttle so as to bring the tach up to around 2500-3000 rpm. When the light goes green, release brakes and floor throttle simultaneously. Enjoy.

[Probably not good for your tranny, but it is the quickest way to launch an automatic]

Normy!

'85 S2 5 speed

Luke

[quote]Originally posted by Jay Wellwood:
<strong>

350 HP and fffaaasssttt!!!</strong><hr></blockquote>\

rated at 320, but most make at least 300 @ the wheels. To bad they weigh as much as a mountaneer

Normy

-Not to mention the fact that they look like the Batmobile!

N~