rgs944

What is usually the price difference between a auto and a 5 speed value. I think for most people the 5 speed is more desirable but I have to admit I am not familiar with the 928's and if that makes a big difference. The car is $3750 and is in average CA condition. Good color, good rims, decent interior. 95,000 miles. Fairly clean. I am more familiar with the 944 series so any advice on things to look for would be great.

Landseer

Its hard to pin-down. We enthusiasts love them, but when looking at cars this old the amount of wear and tear and pent-up maintenance on the whole vehicle becomes controlling when establishing value.

In the case of the 83, it has the pre-85 box, and so has the likelihood of more transmission problems from wear of synchros and dogteeth. A 1000 premium for a 5 speed has been mentioned, but I think its more apt to be true for the 85-up, especially the more desireable 87 S4-up.

You might type "worth it" in the search box and read through some of the newer threads.

rgs944

Thank you for some good info. As far as the 83 tranny, is it likely to have problems with 95K on it? I am assuming that by the looks of the car it looks more like someones pleasure driver than a track car. I will not be able to do a PPI on this car. I will need to get it shipped to me. The seller specializes in higher end cars and took this on trade. One noted problem it has is there's some bubbling of the paint under the rear spoiler. Is this common like a water problem getting trapped in the spoiler. The paint is also faded but if it is not clear coat maybe it might buff out good enough, it is straight. For $3750 I know I am not buying a show car but as long as the mechanics are good it should be a lot of fun for the money. He says the previous owner just used it for a weekend car. They say it is a good runner and driver and it would be an ebay purchase. They have 100% feedback with 16 sales.

Landseer

I think with 928's you need to check them out.

erljive

If there is no PPI done is there service records? Recent maintainence of any kind? Can the seller make a video for you? Do you TRUST the seller so far? If it's decent that's a lot of car for chump money.

Landseer

Or like my 84 5 speed, $4500 for a $1200 car. $6500 in parts later, its mechanically driveable. But still pops out of 4th. Check it out.

shmark

one MILLION dollars! Depends on the car, but a 5sp definitely adds value, particularly if it's well cared for and shifts well. I don't think a $1000 premium is out of line but then I'm biased. If it's a solid car with decent maintenance and drives well, then it sounds like a nice deal. If the a/c works, you're stealing it.

rgs944

One thing I forgot to mention. He did say that the shifter felt a little loose to him. I assume that like the 944 this is long linkage setup. Is it common for these to develop some slop or could that be a sign tranny trouble?

Landseer

Replacing a few wear-parts within the long linkage generally restores that.

The front of the linkage is pinned by a ball/plastic socket. (some owners loop a heavy bungee over this area, so that when the socket wears-out it doesn't pop off the ball, so it will shift but with much play)

The rear is pinned by a coupler with plastic bushings. (some folks are experimenting with bronze replacment bushings)

The shifter itself is attached to the shifter rods with 4 plastic bushings. (these wear out, but my experience is if the other two situations are solved, then these aren't that important. I actually run without them and have no play issues, but I'm probably wearing the linkage irreparably)

They are not fast-shifting cars. Notchy. Clutch set-up is tricky as it wears. Hard to reach master cyl that may loose its full stroke, hard to bleed. Slaves wear out and loose some stroke. Center plate of the twin disk clutch can wear and is notorius for not self-centering between the twin discs. All this causes drag with causes shift grinding which wears-out the synchros or dog teeth or both.

So if its loose in the linkage, but transfers between gears without grinding and doesn't pop out of each gear on heavy deceleration then the trans is probably fine and the clutch systems are too. If it has some grinding going to reverse and first, or between other gears, it might be the clutch or clutch actuation. Trans might be workable in that case.

Mine had all these problems. All linkage points toast. Master and slave leaking and scored. Hydraulic flexible line leaking. All clutch parts toast including intermediate plate. Parts cost about $2000. Now it shifts well enough to drive, but pops out of 4th on decel (that could actually be an internal gear misalignment --- but hard to check).

Another 84, a euro that I have driven, won't accept a shift to 2nd. So, you skip that gear. Fortunately, you have the power to do it and still enjoy.

My advice is of course to drive it and check the reactions of the transmission in entering, pulling under torque and holding a gear both on accel and decel. If you are good there within the box, the other stuff can be sorted. Maybe yours will just have a simple linkage wear issue, which is less than $150 for parts.

rgs944

That is great information and very much appreciated. I am debating right now on whether I want to take the plunge and go on their word, or if I am going to fly out and inspect for myself. At that point I might be brave and drive it home but I would want to test drive the car a good 50 miles to feel comfortable enough with it. If I can get cheap hauling I would probalby go that route though. Airfare is only about $100 each way so that is not a big deal.

9two8

Synchromesh failure is also a distinct possibility..., when I bought mine, it had a slight crunch into second and fourth..., I had the box completely rebuilt 12 years ago, and it,s perfect..., I also found out later that if the "crunch" is,nt too bad, then a 928 would go on for many miles with the problem...., but being a perfectionist I had it fixed.

Ken
80 928 S
5 Speed

UK

antsmands

I agree with shmark. I bought my car off Ebay without a PPI and feel lucky that it is in good condition though I paid more that I would have had if I did the PPI. No major repairs soooooooo farrrrrrrrr! Would not do it again however. Live and Learn! $200 is nothing to save $5000.00 in repairs. Go Drive It First!

James Bailey

Worth somewhere between $500 and $15,000 all depends on what it needs. With the rust and faded paint that you know about it needs to be good mechanically to have much value. Odds are the A/C does not work, most of the hoses and wiring under the hood are shot, it grinds a bit when shifted into second, and it was " a weekend car" because it was not reliable enough or nice enough to drive everyday......Old 928s need to be seen, driven, and when possible PPI by someone with some 928 experience. Listen to this...."my 84 5 speed, $4500 for a $1200 car. $6500 in parts later, its mechanically driveable. But still pops out of 4th....." He just said he paid $4,500 and now has spent $6,500 more JUST FOR PARTS ! That is $11,000 . The big factor is do you like to work on cars or do you pay someone else. The ONLY cheap part of 928s is often the initial purchase price....Also note it is not much faster than your 944 and a good bit heavier.

Landseer

Jim has heard it all. Its true. He laughed to himself when I showed up a couple years ago.

The owner said "its just a weekend car, they are collectors pieces, not meant to be driven".

"its paint is really in pretty good shape" (from 100 yards)

And "they had some trouble making an alignment stick on it" (every single aspect of the front end was worn out. Brakes and rotors and bearings included)

"it pops out of gear, but they tell me thats the linkage" (for starters, yes, and the hydaulics and all clutch mechanics and even the shift boot. The LSD trans was replaced with an 83 non lsd --- found that out later too)

"I can't get the trunk open" (cause that would have demonstrated the torch job wing install)

"The headlight has a short" (that melted all the other wires in the harness)

"The mileage is correct but the odometer is broken, I did it recently" (mileage exempt title years ago)

"That coolant on the driveway, i think its from my tractor" (no, maybe the WP. At least it made it 15 miles home before selfdestruction)

"they are too low with the spoiler installed, anyway"

and so on and so on. But I had to have the first one, right then.

Oh, edit, "there is a little gas smell, I think its the carbon cansister" (well, yes, the three way connector. And leaking fuel line onto the motor. And the 9 holes in the gas tank from the stereo amp installs)

Good news: The more parts I trash from it, the faster it goes.

James Bailey

Ah Yes...." But I had to have the first one, right then. .." A bit like it is nearly 2 AM the bar is about to close and the girl drinking down at the end of the bar starts looking better and better Ever wonder why bars are usually pretty dimly lighted.