docmirror

How much are you paying your dad to sort this car out?

What is the level of your college fund?

Why do you think a $3500 928 is going to be cheaper than a $9000 928S4 with no issues?

I better stop, I might get upset.

cnowak1

oh no not at all. I know a S4 would be easier to maintain. i play tennis in college so obviously I don't work but make really good money on ebay;provided that will not cover everything. Also, I teach tennis on the side so my funds are not that limited. I make most of my money in the summer. Also, I am buying this car knowing its not perfect but am willing to spend the time and effort to fix it up. I'm sure the car would be worth more if the cosmetics and interior were better. However, there are not that many 928's around close to me. I see one for 12k but thats way too much. There is also one for 8k for an 86 928 but that seems a little much for me for that car.

pcar928fan

A 928 is like NO OTHER Porsche (well I guess it does share some bits with 944/951/968 but very little) and so if dad had a 911 and you think he is going to work on a 928... You are dreaming! Get a used Honda Civic and be happy. When you graduate, get a REAL job and then buy a late model S4...you will be MUCH happier with that...

Glenn M

Fly Navy has an 87 for $7k in VA. Buying a 928 on a limited budget is not advised unless well sorted. It will either spend all your money or sit in the driveway until you can get parts.

Cheers,
Glenn

largecar379

since when.......?

more computers, more cams, more valves, more electronics, interference TB engine.........

I'm not saying that early 16V cars are better, just saying that the 32V cars are more complex and are not easier to maintain.

32V owners will argue this to death-








--Russ

cnowak1

The plan is to buy the 83 928s. I have lots of time for TLC. I also accept the fact that it will be a project car if that should be the case, though nothing with the engine is wrong. Obviously, servicing and maintaining this car will be expensive and I 100% accept that. When I graduate in 2 years I am supposed to get My mom's 2008 Audi A3 so I am willing to hold on to the 928 at least until then or maybe even keep it. I mean it only has 134k miles which isnt alot considering its an 83. Who knows, if I take good care of it and maintain it well, it could easily go for over 200 thousand miles. The summer job will make at least 11-13 thousand so I am pretty confident I could make enough money and put it into a fund. Anyway, I really appreciate all these posts and reply's. This is probably the best forum I have been on! Thanks all!

docmirror

Pay your dad $40/hour. That's less than half the fee for a general ind wrench.

S4s are harder to work on, harder to diagnose, and have a lot more that can go wrong. I take comfort that you are at least in college. Stay the course young man, and buy the work shop manuals before littering the driveway with 928 bits.

shmark

Buy it and enjoy it, work on it with your Dad. I wish I had that opportunity. It will repay you in many ways, nothing to do with money. If the car runs, you can make a pretty decent driver for not a lot of money, ask Firemed. I've given the opposite advice many times over the years, but part of me still likes a project and I'm hoping to work on one with my son in the near future.

WallyP

If you are really going to do this, then I have a suggestion...

Your chances of success will be greatly improved if you purchase the 928 tech info CD set that Jim Morehouse has prepared. These are the greatest amount of technical info on the 928 that is available anywhere. The set includes technical training manuals, test plans, the complete workshop manual set, complete changes by year, etc., etc., etc.

Jim's email address is jim928-at-ptd.net (change -at- to @)

Sailmed

^^^^^^^^ + 928!

Hey now...
I resemble that remark....
The trick remains buying the best running car for the money.
Better to buy something that needs cosmetics, then something which needs mechanics. Paint can wait!
The ugly duckling is normally the best runner.

AaronSweat

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I graduated college in '02 and while I was in school countless friends were taking out loans to buy $20K+ brand new cars. Those cars are probably all worth $7-8k now in top shape, which they aren't. I don't see a problem with a working student to pay $3,500 on a car. Should you get in trouble just sell it. As long as you have the cash to spend and/or lose go for it.

Last year I got a '81 OB for $5k and since I learned of this website I've got some great info. My reasoning was that I had the cash and knew if something happened and I had to sell the car at even 1/2 price I would be okay.

Another thing that you should consider when looking at say this '83 vs a newer S4 is registration and insurance. In Ohio a car over 25 years old can be registered as a historical vehicle which is $100 for 50 years of registration. Insuring it as such costs me about $50 every 6 months with full coverage and a replacement value of $5k. I'm sure laws vary from state to state, but it maybe something to look into.

cnowak1

hello all. am leaving friday morning to atlanta to go buy the car. however, today on craigslist new orleans someone listed a 85 944 with 32k miles. I don't know what to do now, haha. It has a new water pump, belts and battery. he is asking $3400 for it. However I have NOT driven a manual transmission since first learning how to drive. That was about 5-6 years ago!!!!! I really like the 928 because you dont see many of them around and they are unique but...............................I need help! Thanks guys!

Charley B

944. No contest.

Glenn M

944, cut your teeth on it, get a 928 down the road after school. Easier to repair and greater parts pool. Clutch is a bitch to replace on the 944's. 32K mile should be ok, check into that.

Good luck,
Glenn

pcar928fan

Ditto on the 944 comments, and let me add, that pre-graduates taking out $20k loans for cars is ASININE and part of the reason why we (as a country) find ourselves in this current economic situation. To much credit to people who should NOT be accessing it... It is the "I have to have it now and I DESERVE IT NOW generation."