A Cautionary Tale: Listen to your Shark!
04-12-2008, 10:17 PM
#32
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Based on what I saw today, this car would have been saved if there was early intervention. 5 lbs. in the engine compartment would have saved the engine - just my opinion.
Maybe I'm too attached to sharks but I'm so sick over this. It could have been avoided had regular maintenance been performed.
Maybe I'm too attached to sharks but I'm so sick over this. It could have been avoided had regular maintenance been performed.
04-12-2008, 10:46 PM
#33
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It needs a bunch of deferred maintenance jobs done on it, one of which is the fuel lines. It also needs brakes (rotors, pads, lines, sensors, etc), and a few other items to be taken care of before it ready for the road.
To bad about the burned up S4.
04-12-2008, 11:05 PM
#34
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Ed,
You are approaching this the right way. I purchased a '86.5 last Fall as a parts car, but it had the potential to be a daily driver so I focused (and invested) for it to be just that. Mike can attest to that.
I pulled it into the garage after purchase and spent a decent amount of $'s getting it ready for the road once again.
I have a soft spot for 928's. As Dave Barry (I think) said "there's a fine line between a hobby and mental illness."
You are approaching this the right way. I purchased a '86.5 last Fall as a parts car, but it had the potential to be a daily driver so I focused (and invested) for it to be just that. Mike can attest to that.
I pulled it into the garage after purchase and spent a decent amount of $'s getting it ready for the road once again.
I have a soft spot for 928's. As Dave Barry (I think) said "there's a fine line between a hobby and mental illness."
Last edited by Adam Geist; 04-12-2008 at 11:32 PM.
04-13-2008, 09:20 PM
#35
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Guys, we were so sorry to hear this story. We hadn't heard about the first fire, until reading this, let alone the second, of course, but I know Kevin and you guys all warned him about the condition of the car when we were there last October. He had about, what, $2k in work to do at the time if you guys helped? 
Such a shame. We wondered why we never heard about the guy or his car again. Guess this explains it.
May that lovely S4 rest in peace.
(PS: It is for this very reason that Kevin already changed over the entire fuel system on his recent purchase before even ever driving the car -- from fuel cooling to transmission to power steering -- no point in taking these kinds of chances. It's much less expensive to replace these lines now, than the whole car later!)
Such a shame. We wondered why we never heard about the guy or his car again. Guess this explains it.
May that lovely S4 rest in peace.
(PS: It is for this very reason that Kevin already changed over the entire fuel system on his recent purchase before even ever driving the car -- from fuel cooling to transmission to power steering -- no point in taking these kinds of chances. It's much less expensive to replace these lines now, than the whole car later!)
04-13-2008, 10:26 PM
#38
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I made an offer on the burnt carcass so other sharks may live on. My offer was rejected and a counter offer was double the amount - it was unreasonable based on the extensive amount of fire damage.
Sadly, this S4 will most likely rot away under a car cover.
Sadly, this S4 will most likely rot away under a car cover.
04-14-2008, 09:48 AM
#39
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Guys, we were so sorry to hear this story. We hadn't heard about the first fire, until reading this, let alone the second, of course, but I know Kevin and you guys all warned him about the condition of the car when we were there last October. He had about, what, $2k in work to do at the time if you guys helped?
Such a shame. We wondered why we never heard about the guy or his car again. Guess this explains it.
May that lovely S4 rest in peace.
(PS: It is for this very reason that Kevin already changed over the entire fuel system on his recent purchase before even ever driving the car -- from fuel cooling to transmission to power steering -- no point in taking these kinds of chances. It's much less expensive to replace these lines now, than the whole car later!)
Such a shame. We wondered why we never heard about the guy or his car again. Guess this explains it.
May that lovely S4 rest in peace.
(PS: It is for this very reason that Kevin already changed over the entire fuel system on his recent purchase before even ever driving the car -- from fuel cooling to transmission to power steering -- no point in taking these kinds of chances. It's much less expensive to replace these lines now, than the whole car later!)
Yeah, you know the story and the one we're talking about. I'm glad Kevin is going about the resto the way he is. He's the one that pointed out at least one of the glaring (after Kevin saw it
) issues last fall that needed to be addressed. It was a cracked boot and loose ignition coil wire. When Adam went to look at the car this weekend he said the same cracked boot was on there. It was a possible contributing factor (dumping unburned fuel into the cats?).I'm just sick over this because it wasn't THAT BAD! It was a DD that was just driven when it should have been fixed up.
04-14-2008, 01:23 PM
#42
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Just the thought of a fire has stopped me.
There is no other way to say this, but a 20 year old German sports car, 928 or not is going to be expensive to get in good shape and keep in good shape.
04-14-2008, 01:53 PM
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great story..and thanks for the advice. sobering though it is, its still good to be reminded that sometimes an ounce of prevention......
rather than hammer the previous owner, its probably just good for prospective owners to know that you will have to probably invest a fair amount up front. i got my car after reading a lot on this site. i am not a wrench and knew this up front. i also knew that even though i paid a good deal for mine and was getting a cosmetically almost flawless, inside and out 928 , i would still be putting up some good money to do preventive things. i had the a/c totally replaced and got the TB/WP changed as well as some minor other things. cost me a little more than a third of what i paid up front. but now, knock on wood, i have an almost show car that runs incredibly. i think new owners that do not do their own work should expect to probably have to put out about another 50% of the up front cost over the next year or so if they want to do the preventive work that will serve as a solid base for the future...less if you can do it yourself. and this discussion has made me decide that i am buying a fire extinguisher even though i have never owned one in my life. i just know i would hate to lose this car because of not having one. can someone suggest a brand/model ideal for this car?
rather than hammer the previous owner, its probably just good for prospective owners to know that you will have to probably invest a fair amount up front. i got my car after reading a lot on this site. i am not a wrench and knew this up front. i also knew that even though i paid a good deal for mine and was getting a cosmetically almost flawless, inside and out 928 , i would still be putting up some good money to do preventive things. i had the a/c totally replaced and got the TB/WP changed as well as some minor other things. cost me a little more than a third of what i paid up front. but now, knock on wood, i have an almost show car that runs incredibly. i think new owners that do not do their own work should expect to probably have to put out about another 50% of the up front cost over the next year or so if they want to do the preventive work that will serve as a solid base for the future...less if you can do it yourself. and this discussion has made me decide that i am buying a fire extinguisher even though i have never owned one in my life. i just know i would hate to lose this car because of not having one. can someone suggest a brand/model ideal for this car?
Last edited by macfly4; 04-14-2008 at 01:57 PM. Reason: *
04-14-2008, 02:07 PM
#44
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Fully Agree.
Wow. We're getting a little arrogant aren't we? Here's an owner that didn't use the best judgement in taking care of his 928 and he has paid the price, and more than likely learned a valuable lesson. But I'm a little surprised by all the self rightious indignation.
My guess is we all are guilty to some degree of neglecting the proper care and feeding of some aspect of our lives such as marriage, kids, jobs, relatives, souls etc., and most can have more dire results than just the loss of a car.
When someone suffers the divorce, the kid in trouble, the lost job or the dead grandparent we never quite got around to spending some time with, or even the destroyed car, happens, do we really have a right to pile on as if we never neglect anything in our own lives?
It's good we can all learn from someone elses mistake, but how about a little more compassion and a little less harsh judgement.
My guess is we all are guilty to some degree of neglecting the proper care and feeding of some aspect of our lives such as marriage, kids, jobs, relatives, souls etc., and most can have more dire results than just the loss of a car.
When someone suffers the divorce, the kid in trouble, the lost job or the dead grandparent we never quite got around to spending some time with, or even the destroyed car, happens, do we really have a right to pile on as if we never neglect anything in our own lives?
It's good we can all learn from someone elses mistake, but how about a little more compassion and a little less harsh judgement.