Landseer

Rescue, patch respectably, drive, repeat

James Bailey

I have often commented that some poor old 928 is $10,000 away from being a $5,000 car.....so yes repairing restoring 928s tends to cost way more than anyone ever can imagine. Sure you can save much by doing yourself but the parts are expensive, paint is expensive, and the unexpected ALWAYS pops up ! The key question is how does one define restored ?? Is it that it runs and drives O K looks OK from 20 feet , and so what if the A/C does not work.....or is it as nice as is was when NEW (or nicer) ? People spend all kinds of money on all kinds of cars the often heard statement about hotrods is "You could not build it for that " when one is for sale. As a hobby owning ,fixing, and driving a 928 is a great return on investment in smiles per mile......just never ever let your wife see the bills

Landseer

Decent original paint and an interior that may be worn but isn't tattered and doesn't smell.
Car that needs mechanical wear items replaced, but wasn't thrashed.

Buy new mechanical wear parts, consider used for lenses and lights.

Must do the work yourself.

Great formula for entry.

Also, the 83 and 84 cars are a fantastic starting point. The 4.7 engine, even in the automatic, growls and delivers more power than you'd ever need on east coast highways and even Asheville-esque hillclimbing trips.

I have the utmost respect for those that buy the best and restore them to perfection. These owners are the reason the support exists in the marketplace still. There is a lot of room for others like me to drive the cars that might be consider parts cars. My expenditures, though less, also help keep the marketplace alive. This morning I parked an 84 auto in the midst of a bunch of 911s at a PCA breakfast. Total investment $5500 --- it fit and was respected and enjoyed. (They laughed when they heard it start. V8 power !)

andy-gts

I am doing the insane thing right now, I am having a stroker with itb , torque tube and trannys redone with 2.2 rear end so I can justify not getting a ferrari. Therefore for 30K for the car 5 years ago and stupid money.....I will have a super car way under the cost of a comparable ferrari and I will smile as I pass the ferrari every day on of the week!!

Dean_Fuller

New car cost.........................................$30,000
Finance cost for loan................................$5,000
What the car is worth after 4 years..........$12,000
Total LOSS is 48 months.........................-$23,000

Nice early 928........................................$8,000
Maintenance and upgrades over 4 years.....$10,000
Total investment.....................................$18,000
what the car is worth after 4 years............$10,000
Total Loss over 4 years.............................-$8,000

Still a better investment than buying new....and the longer you keep the 928 the more its worth...or at least the same.

The new car will lose value for YEARS.

Just my thoughts.

Robert B

Dean perfectly put!!! Buy the best car you can, and fix the issues as they arise. Eventually our cars will be worth a lot. I figure 10 to 15 years. I came up with this number because that will make these cars 40+ years. This was the same time frame as the US muscle cars when prices started shooting up.
If they don't then just keep doing what your doing and enjoy the car!

depami

Yes Dean, very well put.

Check this out.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/giant-bi...154433006.html

rgs944

Yep good post, but needs a little revision for today's market.
New car cost.........................................$40,000
Finance cost for loan................................$5,000
Full comprehensive insurance and state use and sales taxes. $8,000
What the car is worth after 4 years..........$15,000
Total LOSS is 48 months.........................-$36,000

Nice early or late S4 model 928........................................$9,000
Maintenance and upgrades over 4 years.....$10,000
Total investment.....................................$19,000
Hagerty full coverage and state sales and use tax. $2000
what the car is worth after 4 years............$12,000
Total Loss over 4 years.............................-$9,000

hacker-pschorr

The cost to restore a 928 is not unique to a 928.

Most cars will greatly exceed their value with a full restoration. Yes there are exceptions with the high value of some Corvette's, Jag's, Ferrari's etc...... they are the exception.

People are quick to bring up the "value" of a 928 after the restoration making such a project not worth it.
I say "Compared to what??"
Go out and buy a new "perfect" car from a dealer lot and tell me what it's worth 2-4 years later.
Ever compare the MSRP of a twin turbo Mercedes to their value a few years down the road? It makes a 928 restoration look like a bargain.

If you love the car and have the means, go for it.

fraggle

I have $35,000 into my '87, and have done all the work myself over 8 years. I also don't care.

928porschemangreg

I estimate i've added $3000 in parts cost, so now total investment is $9,000, and estimated new value is $12,000. As long as that ratio stays, you are doing something right and worthhile. (Although the value of my labor is worth about $5,000 compared to paying a Porsche mechanic, but I love doing it so, no charge!).

polecat702

Well said!

danglerb

I think you need a lot of luck to get a $10k respray approaching factory paint, and maybe less luck as you get closer to $20k and avail yourself of the services of a premium shops best. More than a few of us can live with pretty bad paint, but at least to me it doesn't make a lot of sense to have $15k in the mechanicals and drive around with bad paint and cracks in the dash. Start with a car with nice paint and save yourself the grief and/or expense.

fraggle

Note: I have done NO paint on my car. The front and rear could use a respray, but as it is I don't get all sad when I get a new stone chip.

Jadz928

I have a personal 928 restoration project with a $25K budget. It's very comprehensive, to include new paint, rebuilt uprated engine, restored/semi-custom interior.
I believe it's possible, but will be tight. This doesn't include the cost of labor.

One point of inspiration for this project was an article in Excellence, where a DIY'r restored/built a special 911RS replica, for $25K. I figured if he can do it, so can I.

Another point was to challenge the general notion that 928's are expensive to restore. I've read that here, and in talking to other restorers (who won't touch them).

We'll see how it plays out. I'm curious.