New GTS Owner - 1st Post
05-03-2010, 06:13 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
New GTS Owner - 1st Post
Hi guys (and gals!),
Bought my 93 GTS last August, you may remember this car, it was on Autotrader for quite a while, one owner, 62k miles, 5 speed, sport seats, special order Hellbronze paint, and pinstripes the 1st owner added. Before I go any further let me just say - I love this f***ing car!!! And I love this forum!!! Before I bought it I spent a lot of time here lurking and learning, so by the time I was ready to buy I really felt like I knew what to look for, without this forum I would have been a good deal more clueless and probably wouldn't have bought anything. So thanks!
After much negotiations with the seller I paid $35k for it. Had it shipped here to southern Oregon. The orginal owner hardly drove it for the last ten years, so while well cared for, it needed a few things. First was new tires, the ones on there had good tread but they were dry and dangerous, so new tires, and a new stereo, the original cd had stopped working and terrible radio reception. Even though the original speakers are light on the bass, I kept them because they are all in perfect shape and I want to keep the car as original as possible. If you turn up the bass and the treble down a bit the sound is not bad. MP3, USB, and Ipod are welcome additions as well.
Next I needed a good mechanic, thought at first I would take it to the nearest Porsche dealer 200 miles away, but then found what turned out to be a really great mechanic only ten minutes from my house. I had: Timing belt and water pump replaced including PK tensioner (had to wait a month for this part), new valve cover gaskets, new oil pan gasket, new motor mounts, alignment, new hose on the steering fluid reservoir (slow leak), new transmission gaskets, new big black front calipers, new front rotors, pads, new rear rotors, pads, new misc. belts. Grand total for all that was $6k, which I think was very reasonable, the timing belt and oil pan are pretty big jobs. Glad I didn't go to the dealer, hate to think how much more it would have been.
Ah yes, the pinstripes. They were painted on, and I was scared to death that removing them would f*ck up the paint, but I saw a guy on YouTube remove painted ones with some Meguiars fine-cut cleaner and a dremel tool with a little felt wheel attachment. thought I could maybe live with the pinstripes, but they bugged me every time I looked at the car, so I finally dove in - It was a scary feeling when I first started to grind on it but it worked - horribly tedious, probably took me over twenty hours of mind numbing work, but totally worth it! There's a reason you don't see Porsches with pinstripes, they don't need them! Maybe a '75 Grenada o.k., but not a Porsche.
So all told I have about $42k invested in the car (not counting the transport cost). Not the bargain of the century, but then again not too bad either. I figure I could have bought a brand new car for $42k, but then what would I have in ten years? My gut was right when I was 17 and thought that car is sweet, and someday you'll have one. Everytime I look at the car I think of that old song "Somthin' Else" and I smile - (the Stray Cats' version rocks!)
Thanks again, and happy to be in the club!
Cheers!
Ken
Bought my 93 GTS last August, you may remember this car, it was on Autotrader for quite a while, one owner, 62k miles, 5 speed, sport seats, special order Hellbronze paint, and pinstripes the 1st owner added. Before I go any further let me just say - I love this f***ing car!!! And I love this forum!!! Before I bought it I spent a lot of time here lurking and learning, so by the time I was ready to buy I really felt like I knew what to look for, without this forum I would have been a good deal more clueless and probably wouldn't have bought anything. So thanks!
After much negotiations with the seller I paid $35k for it. Had it shipped here to southern Oregon. The orginal owner hardly drove it for the last ten years, so while well cared for, it needed a few things. First was new tires, the ones on there had good tread but they were dry and dangerous, so new tires, and a new stereo, the original cd had stopped working and terrible radio reception. Even though the original speakers are light on the bass, I kept them because they are all in perfect shape and I want to keep the car as original as possible. If you turn up the bass and the treble down a bit the sound is not bad. MP3, USB, and Ipod are welcome additions as well.
Next I needed a good mechanic, thought at first I would take it to the nearest Porsche dealer 200 miles away, but then found what turned out to be a really great mechanic only ten minutes from my house. I had: Timing belt and water pump replaced including PK tensioner (had to wait a month for this part), new valve cover gaskets, new oil pan gasket, new motor mounts, alignment, new hose on the steering fluid reservoir (slow leak), new transmission gaskets, new big black front calipers, new front rotors, pads, new rear rotors, pads, new misc. belts. Grand total for all that was $6k, which I think was very reasonable, the timing belt and oil pan are pretty big jobs. Glad I didn't go to the dealer, hate to think how much more it would have been.
Ah yes, the pinstripes. They were painted on, and I was scared to death that removing them would f*ck up the paint, but I saw a guy on YouTube remove painted ones with some Meguiars fine-cut cleaner and a dremel tool with a little felt wheel attachment. thought I could maybe live with the pinstripes, but they bugged me every time I looked at the car, so I finally dove in - It was a scary feeling when I first started to grind on it but it worked - horribly tedious, probably took me over twenty hours of mind numbing work, but totally worth it! There's a reason you don't see Porsches with pinstripes, they don't need them! Maybe a '75 Grenada o.k., but not a Porsche.
So all told I have about $42k invested in the car (not counting the transport cost). Not the bargain of the century, but then again not too bad either. I figure I could have bought a brand new car for $42k, but then what would I have in ten years? My gut was right when I was 17 and thought that car is sweet, and someday you'll have one. Everytime I look at the car I think of that old song "Somthin' Else" and I smile - (the Stray Cats' version rocks!)
Thanks again, and happy to be in the club!
Cheers!
Ken
05-03-2010, 06:18 PM
#2
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Hi Ken, welcome to the group! I think you did good on the $ for your car. It's a one of one in terms of color. I love it and congrats on getting rid of the pin stripes. I'll bet it looks great in person. I'll list it as sold on my site. Do you mind if I post your info and pics with the car? Congrats again and welcome.
05-03-2010, 06:19 PM
#3
Basic Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Hi Ken,
Welcome to the 928 World and that is one awesome car and I love the color.
Sport seats as well.
That was a heck of a deal.
Roger
Welcome to the 928 World and that is one awesome car and I love the color.
Sport seats as well.
That was a heck of a deal.
Roger
__________________
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission?
George Layton March 2014
928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission?
George Layton March 2014928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
05-03-2010, 06:26 PM
#5
Fantastic car and a job well done.
Welcome to the crowd.
Welcome to the crowd.
05-03-2010, 06:42 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Deep in the Heart of Texas!
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
4 Posts
Wow, nice GTS, isn't it great having a special color you don't see everywhere you go ;-)
I have done most of the same catch up work on mine, but it's taken three years. I even had pinstripes on my car when I got it ... LOL. I think I like your approach better!
I have done most of the same catch up work on mine, but it's taken three years. I even had pinstripes on my car when I got it ... LOL. I think I like your approach better!
Trending Topics
05-03-2010, 06:44 PM
#8
Nordschleife Master
Ken,
Welcome to GTS ownership! It does not get much better than this! Great car and it looks WONDERFUL!
I think you are in it for the right amount of money... a really good up to date GTS for anything under $40k is a STEAL (in my book...see Big's car for an example of one that can be STOLEN) and under $45k is probably market correct in my mind. Many folks think you should be able to get cars like Big's every day for under $30k and they are DREAMING! GTS's are to rare for that!
I agree with your assessment on the work you had done. When I read it cost you $6k I was impressed! That was a lot of time consuming work and some of it was NOT CHEAP on the parts front too!
Well done and please post more pics! Love that car! Now you need an '85 (that seems to be the most common year for that color) to go with this one!!! Man they would look GREAT in the garage together! Not to mention you could probably pic up a decent HB '85 S for about the cost of the WORK you had done to the GTS!!!
Welcome to GTS ownership! It does not get much better than this! Great car and it looks WONDERFUL!
I think you are in it for the right amount of money... a really good up to date GTS for anything under $40k is a STEAL (in my book...see Big's car for an example of one that can be STOLEN) and under $45k is probably market correct in my mind. Many folks think you should be able to get cars like Big's every day for under $30k and they are DREAMING! GTS's are to rare for that!
I agree with your assessment on the work you had done. When I read it cost you $6k I was impressed! That was a lot of time consuming work and some of it was NOT CHEAP on the parts front too!
Well done and please post more pics! Love that car! Now you need an '85 (that seems to be the most common year for that color) to go with this one!!! Man they would look GREAT in the garage together! Not to mention you could probably pic up a decent HB '85 S for about the cost of the WORK you had done to the GTS!!!
05-03-2010, 06:49 PM
#9
Three Wheelin'
Wow, I love that car. Great job on the pin stripe removal. Looks so much better. I did my old Benz with lacquer thinner, soft towels and more hours than I can remember. Well worth it though.
05-03-2010, 07:05 PM
#12
Team Owner
you got a terrific car , the color is awesome, dont worry about the money as what else could you buy at twice the price for what you have now??
05-03-2010, 08:00 PM
#14
Not the sharpest tool in the shed
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Glad someone bought it that was brave enough to take on those dastardly pinstripes. Congratulations on a very unique GTS. Looks like a 5 speed.
Be sure to REPLACE all the dangerous lines on the car, fuel, trans, oil, etc. Despite its relatively low miles these things still age. Also be sure the timing belt has been replaced at the recommended intervals. Any failure of one of those lines or abroken TB will ruin the car and the wallet. The fire potential is real. If you've been lurking here for a while you have read the horror stories of tveltman and styx's burned cars.
Welcome and look forward to seeing your shark some day. Where are you in So Oregon?
Be sure to REPLACE all the dangerous lines on the car, fuel, trans, oil, etc. Despite its relatively low miles these things still age. Also be sure the timing belt has been replaced at the recommended intervals. Any failure of one of those lines or abroken TB will ruin the car and the wallet. The fire potential is real. If you've been lurking here for a while you have read the horror stories of tveltman and styx's burned cars.
Welcome and look forward to seeing your shark some day. Where are you in So Oregon?
