Gordak

I own both (78' and 87') (...ok the 87 isnt exactly a late car but its close), they are very different cars in my opinion. I even get very different reactions from the general public concerning them. Probably the most interesting thing is that all my friends and family who have known the cars for some time now, unanimously agree that if I ever had to sell one, I should keep the 78 euro.
Originally the thought having to make that decision made my guts twist, but over time I have come to agree with them. Another thing, unique to 928s, 78’s are only heading up in value.

-Sam Johnson
78 Euro 5 spd
87 s4 5spd

Maleficio

Old body for the win.

redpathtribe

Amazing words of wisdom as usual from Mr. Bailey... and right on about GT's !!!

I KNEW I loved this guy...

cold_beer839

Just sell a kidney and one of the kids and get a GTS.

Iwanna928

GTS is amazingly beautiful. You could also do what Blown87 has done and put a GTS rear on a S4, simply stunning!

tlsmith1999

I own three, 78, 79 and an 89. For long cross country drives, I like the S4, but for everyday fun, the OB 5spds are better. When given a choice, I much prefer to work on the OB's over the S4. I have found that the maintenance/restore costs are about the same, maybe a little higher on the S4 by the time I get the top-end refresh done.
Find a nice OB with great original paint, and the rest can be fixed up easy enough by a DIY with help from this community.

Chuck Schreiber

I've got the 79 and the GTS.

Bone stock vs Bone stock 79 is way more fun around the twisties. I've had her on the track and am amazed at how a 30 year old car performs!! The car fits around you like an old pair of jeans, you can "feel" the road in her for sure!! Problem is, my Chrysler Pacifica could beat her in a drag race!!
But I will say at 130, the 79 does not rattle, is smooth as silk, and you can literally keep 1 finger on the wheel and you are good to go!!

The GTS is comfortable and you feel the road a LOT less!! The looks of the GTS are like no other, especially with the big meats out back!!! With the X-Pipe and the RMB, there is NO substitute for what you feel and hear when you hit the loud pedal!!!

Bottom line, we can go round and round with this, but each model year has it's pros/cons.
Pick the VERY BEST of the year you can afford, do all the preventative maintenance on it, then Modify or enhance it to make it your own!!

scargo70

Although I love the GTS's and think that they are very special I am leaning towards a early car (78 or 79) especially one with those plaids seats and phone dials.

Alan

A really clean very early car or a really good GTS will both be very hard to find (the GTS probably harder) - but the GTS will also cost you a whole lot more money.

So starting with a 78/79 is a very rational choice even if you think they are equivalently desireable....

...Of course I love my GTS though... driven every day...

Alan

pcar928fan

I have them all...have had most of the model years covered even. I am in a wheelchair, so ALL of mine are auto's because of need. If you can and want to have a 5spd then I can't really comment, but when talking about the auto cars:

First choice: GTS...hands down, always and forever... Get a good one and it will cost you a minimum of $35k. Really good ones will be $40k+ and full on collector SUPER LOW miles cars will be almost as much as they were new...over $65k and probably closer to $75k. IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD A NICE GTS, read on...

Second choice: '89 S4/GT...old dash new gauge cluster, 95%+ of what you get with a GTS but not the sexy flanks and body colored wing and aero mirrors.

Third choice: '88-'87 S4...Great car, just a bit older than the '89, but every bit the same car. My first 928 was my '88 S4...freakin' awesome!

Fourth choice: OB...'80-'82, no spoilers (ie. OB...not to be confused w/ an S or a Competition package '81/'82) or a EURO S ('80-'86). I'd pass on the '78/'79 as they have even MORE vacuum operated stuff than the newer cars and that can be a real nightmare. They don't even have the center cassette storage unit (mistakenly referred to as an arm rest...but used as such and thus most have broken tops.) Unless you are a collector, then '78/'79...you can even find your beloved PASHA interior (I like it too) in '80 cars and maybe even '81, but better yet, you can get a newer car and have Paul Champagne do his Pasha treatment to a LEATHER SEAT...YUMMY!!!!

Fifth choice: '83-'84 US S...just because it does not have an interference engine and they are cheap.

Sixth choice: '85-'86...now there are MANY here who LOVE this engine and I have seen them tuned to make some damn good power, so there is something to be said about them...I am just not a big fan of the S spoilers.

Here is another thing to consider...this is anecdotal, but the '90/'91 GT's that go to the track regularly end up eating their engines for some reason... I am not sure why, or how universal this is, but I know some really good drivers that have had GT's for some time and they have all had to rebuild their engines after track use...the 5spd S4's (and GTS's) just seem to keep going and going on track! If you are looking at Auto's, then the '90/'91's would be right behind the '87/'88's in my view.

As noted in an earlier post, everyone has their own opinion on this topic and the above is mine and mine only! You may flip it over completely, but after owning a whole bunch of these cars and currently having 8 of them these are my experiences.

As Chuck noted the early car (probably because of the non-staggered tires) feel VERY WELL BALANCED, more so than the later cars for sure...I think if you put wider tires and wheels on the front of a later car and keep the rears pretty close to stock you will get better feel, but the newer cars do seem to have more numb steering then the early cars for sure.

Good luck on your quest!

docmirror

Look inside youself, then get what you really want. The cost difference to buy a GT or GTS far outweighs any added expense in keeping an OB in good shape. If you like an OB with 5 speed then get that. If you want the advancements of the GT/GTS, then get that. The cost differential in keeping any of them running right isn't much, but generally the GT/GTS will cost a lot more up front.

sweet928

I wouldn't trade my 79 for all the tea in China! I could have easily bought a GTS and didn't. Always wanted a GTS too, but when it came down to it I didn't see any point to spend tripe or quadruple. You just don't get triple the car. If I was making a collection of 928's then hell yeah, I would have to get a GTS. But my plan was to have a weekend fun car. If your going to be using it as a DD then newer would be better. I just have to chime in because it seems like most here ignore the OB and desire only the newest models they can afford. Having had two S4's and a host of other high line cars -- I feel I must shout from the roof tops. My 79 ROCKS! I can't believe this much fun can be bought for so little. Money CAN buy you love. Only thing I would like more -- is a total leather interior. Roof, rear quarters, visors, headliner, etc. Of course Paul can make that happen, but it would have been great if my car came that way. Still my leather dash gives me a smile every time, What ever you pick my, advise is to buy the best example you can find, Find a car someone poured their heart and wallet into. BUT Whatever you do make sure it has a LSD!!!!!!!

scargo70

What is the advantage of the LSD?

blown 87

You seemed to pull on most of the S4's, I will give you that.



I was too upstanding of a citizen to try to keep up with you.
That old blue car will go, no doubt about that.

Damn old car would have run off and hidden from mine

Mike LaBranche

Here's another vote for the old stuff. My 78 5psd was a _ton_of fun to drive. Quick and nimble. My 84 AT is fast. The S4's feel big to me, but they have great brakes, plenty of power, pita to work on compared to a cis 78. Never had the pleasure of wringing the neck of a GT or GTS. For the money, you can't beat a 78-84 in my book. Once I get this 80 sorted out, I'm sure I'll prefer it to my trusty 300k mile black beast.

Mike
84 black
80 white