The_Remora

Hi welcome to the forum and hope you find a good shark.

Check out this other recent thread that goes over how to distinguish a 'Euro' from a US model, VIN info and various things to consider: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/418487-hello-looking-at-an-1980-euro.html

4liter

Thanks dprantl, I believe that you're right, I'd imagine the "newer cars" would have better equipment, typical of any production run, it's just a matter of what I can initially put out to get the car. Maybe I should wait, stack up some funds to get a younger car..maybe....

dprantl

You can get a US '85-'86 in good shape for ~$6k...

Dan
'91 928GT S/C

hacker-pschorr

Define "good shape"

dprantl

Fair exterior for a 2x year old car: original paint with typical chips/fading, but can still be shined up with a good cleaning and waxing. Fair interior: slight warping of the dash/rear quarters is ok, driver's bolster worn, carpet in presentable condition, newer floor mats. Mechanically: all major systems working, routine maintenance has been done and can be proven with documentation, timing belt and associated parts have at least 2 years/20k miles remaining.

It's a balancing act, if the interior/exterior is worse but the mechanicals are better, the price may stay the same. Deduct or add for bad/good aspects.

Dan
'91 928GT S/C

4liter

Thanks everyone, I will search more and not settle on the first car that I see. I'll keep you posted!

LeRox

You should add maintenance records into the equation.

4liter, Good luck with your shopping adventure!

shmark

FWIW I agree with Dan on the later transmission. My old '83 had the later trans from an S4 and was much better to shift than my current '83...which has a freshly-rebuilt old-style trans, why the PO didn't just install a later one instead is beyond me. Personally I like the earlier 16v cars for the non-interference design, and the fact that low compression is ideal for running higher-boosted applications. That's where I'm headed. If it had the later trans it would be the best of both worlds.

And maintenance records will (and should) add a premium to the price. But really worth it in the long run.

4liter

Thanks everyone for your input, this forum rocks! As soon as I find something, I'll let you know how it went. As far as I can see, anything under 3 grand has limited service history and a lot of "I don't know and I'm not sure" to my questions from owners trying to unload a gem or a turd, anything 5 grand and above there is a better chance of getting something well kept...but we all know sometimes chances have to be taken to some degree. I imagine some of us here has at some point.

wolf76

Hello. I am on pretty much the same search you're on. From the cars I've seen so far everything the other members said rings true. Especially the whole idea of buying the best car you are able to. I'm about 30 minutes outside the city so chances are we have seen or will see the same cars. The one's I've come across on Craigslist "seem" pretty decent in the pictures but often prove to be another story alltogether once you see them in person. Also as I'm sure you've already discovered this site is wonderful and has been the best resource I've discovered in my search for a 928.

Best of luck,
Chris

Jim bailey - 928 International

Craigslist gets lots of adds from people who are too cheap to pay for an add, lots of salvage title cars ,lots of cars which will not pass emissions test , unpaid parking tickets , back registration due and "dealers" jumping titles ....the guy taking your money did not put it in his name !!! and you have no way to contact the guy who signed the title which is a MAJOR hassle if the paperwork has a problem and you need HIM to sign something.

surfridermason

You may want to hold out to find a 4 cam car...They're so cool!

4liter

Wolf good luck with the search I'm seeing a lot of cars in CA(to be expected), FL, NC, and ATL. There are hardly any in NYC I think the folks who originally had them had seen some big payoffs and moved down south with them during the Reagan and Daddy Bush eras via OLD money, the stock market. and by other means LOL. Jim, I think that you've hit the nail on the head, Surfridermason, now that would be neat for an S4. I can forget about a GT or GTS, that's a down payment on a house...still! When I see the S4's though, they know what they have and sell for an average of $6,500 to $10,000. I have to save up the bucks and hope to catch someone in a pickle(not that I wish bad upon anyone) and needs the cash right away. I don't mind a 16 valve car with a shoddy interior, it doesn't bother me, some Leatherique and some time, my polishing wheel with elbow grease, some wrenching and I'm back in business. Plus, I like the fact that a 16 valve engine in non interference unit. I can add the S4 bumper treatments later THE UPDATED 4 CAM LOOK IS TOO HOT! However the poor examples that I see are too needy and the folks are requiring too much money for them as if they had all service records and the car has been reasonably kept and they are not. It looks my 2000 9-5 AERO will have to be sacrificed as well as my 1995 Range Rover P38 as well as my 1996 9000 AERO. DAMMIT I WANT MY 928! It's going to take some time, so here we go guys, I have to make it happen.

4liter

Also I'd like to add...HAS ANYONE SEEN SO MANY 944's FOR SALE LATELY! it's incredible. When I wanted one, there none to be found. Now I'm tripping over them It's incredible!

surfridermason

85 is the first year of the 32v in USA......It's an interference design (but don't worry about it unless you can't turn a wrench yourself), the noise it makes is very unique, and i regularly waste new 300hp mustangs and other newer hot rods...I put the chips in and removed the cat...It's FAST. Not my fastest, but fast enough to keep me "here" for a while.