New Jersey Craigslist:
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/1530410787.html

Seems like a pretty good deal to me. I'm in the market for my first 928. About what I want to spend, right year and options (I think I want an auto: heresy, I know!). The red I'm not excited about (would prefer black), but I'll take mechanical over exterior color. None of the problems listed scare me. I hope it wasn't driven in the Bronx too much (city driving, plus awful roads).

What do you think? Also, just a quick note: I was on the fence about buying a 928, but after finding this forum, I'm MUCH more excited about it. Thanks for all the help to a newbie!

 

Looks ok, but hard to tell from those pics. I would hold out if I were you untill you find one that suits your taste and is mechanically and cosmetically in order (I know, that's very hard when you feel the need for speed, a lot of people - including me - bought the first one without too much shopping around). Good luck.

 

sounds like you know this car pretty well.

 

There is a great one in Williamsburg...VA..a Navy Guy.. check the For Sale forum, and it is Black w/less miles around the same price and some of us know the car...Good Luck

 

Yep..the guy is Fly Navy on RL in Williamsburg, VA...and you could totally drive it home ..the best way to buy a 928..

 

By now, hopefully, you've read the 'new visitors before your first post' thread at the top of the first page. There is a lot of guidance in there regarding the selection process and what to expect from the car.

There's also a pretty good Renn enthusiasts' group in the area there that will help you make the right selection. I can't say it too loud that you will do well enlisting the aid of a few of those locals to go with you o look at the car, and to be sure to get a real PPI before you buy so at least you have a better idea of what's lurking in the near future for you and the car.

Any used 928 I look at has the potential to chew through about $5k just in parts to get it to baseline on maintenance and safety stuff. If the owner has documented recent maintenance, that number can be reduced some. But unless an owner is really **** as I am about this stuff, there will always be a pretty good initial budget hit to bring the car up to good mechanical condition again. Even my own car has a couple $thousand in parts sitting next to it right now, a car I wouldn't hesitate to drive to your house and back without any worries. Not trying to scare you off of any particular car, just warning you of the liability that comes with any of them. Make sure that your budget is adequate. In the words of a 928 sage, your $7000 car is $5000 away from being a $9000 market-value car. Plus the cost of getting the broken AC to work, something that's way north of just a replacement compressor. But tat's not why you are buying it, and if you need to measure the costs now only against future market value, you need to look at something other than cars as an investment.

Other NJ and southern NY listers, pop in and help this guy buy the right car!

 

Thanks everyone for the informative posts. I took a look at the car in Virginia, looks perfect. There was a post asking if it had been sold, so I'm not sure if its still available.

Just a little more about me, in case anyone has any suggestions:

This car will not be a daily driver (we commute to the city by bus), but it won't be a museum piece either. It will not be driven in harsh weather, or the winter at all.
I am less concerned with investment value than 'funability' to drive (which is why I was attracted to the 928).
While still a rookie, I'm also interested in doing maintenance and limited upgrades on the car. I don't know, the maintenance of complicated machinery appeals to me, as masochistic as that sounds. I have a good friend, who's a much better wrench than me, but part of owning this car is the fun in learning how to take care of it.
Also, NJ Turnpike = USA Autobahn (with significantly worse drivers, probably)

Thanks again everyone!

 

Any way we can change the title of this thread to anyone know *these* cars?

1985 in RI
This one was sold pretty recently to the current owner, a lot of go fast stuff added by the PO.

Beautiful Porsche 928 86' - $6300 (SoHo)

1986 porsche 928, Black on black - $7000 (PASADENA, MD)

Used 1985 Porsche 928 S $9,500
Yes, it's an auto, and I said I wanted a manual. Sue me.

 

Well, in the right lane, at least. It's a school zone in the left.

 

Don't know the cars.
Major turn-offs for me in the first two ads.
The third ad might be a better starting point, though a bit high.

 

Stock? It does not have 340 HP, so I wouldn't go too much by what the owner claims to know about this car or any 928. Judging just from the condition of the steering wheel, and his descp. it has a bunch of deferred maint. You need a VIN, a PPI and then you will be in a better position to judge. His idea of "great mechanical condition" is probably different than mine. DYODD.

 

I have the vin, ran the RI car through autocheck.com. Nothing major showed up. Does anyone know when NH issues titles?

VIN, in case anyone can find out anything more about the car's history:
WP0JB0923FS861334

Also called up about the annapolis car. tb/wp at 90K, has PS steering, automtic. Interior in good condition, maybe a tear on driver's bolster(phone was cutting out)

 

Steve, good call. Anyone who doesn't know the HP rating of his own car probably doesn't care how tight the timing belt is.

Landseer, what was the turnoff to the Maryland car? Just curious.

 

The Maryland car ad is what I would be looking for initially.

1 owner. Understanding but not overstating maintenance. Always garaged.

Not a ricer-owner. Not a kid, at least not anymore.

Only downside to me is the price.

I'd want to look the car over very carefully at anywhere near that price.

Also, I'd want me and the owner to go underneath it together to release flexplate tension and check endplay.

 

And to clarify, its endplay we are looking for, not flex plate motion.

My 85 with 71000 miles sat for 10 years. When I dragged it home and released tension, the plate moved almost 4mm. A lot.

But on repeated checks then, and recently (3000 miles later), its on the lower side of end play spec.


Fly Navy's car also has intriqued me. Best I can tell he's got lots of other things going on and no dire need to sell, so he's dabbled selling it. Needs some sorting by his admission (A/C) and maybe other work, but my sense is that it would be a viable car.