Marine Blue

Frank you're right but only partially. I personally like doing my own work but with two kids, a house and a job that consumes more than they average 9-5 of my time it would take years for me to complete a major job. Not to mention how tired I would be.

If my career was winding down and kids were off working and starting their own families then maybe I would do the work myself.

At this point in my life I would much prefer to buy the absolute best available and maintain it using someone I trust. My time is better spent at work/family. It doesn't mean I don't pop over at my mechanics garage to detail all the parts when the car is disassembled, I've been doing that with every job done thus far including the recent A/C service.

As far as the rubber bits, my 90 GT is low miles and rubber is perfect. It has been checked several times and it doesn't need replacing.

tv

VS.














The reason for the great price differential and deference for the GTS is always this ethereal "stuff" that really means nothing in use. Can you say my 928 just took that turn like the last of the breed.

The GTS has one thing going for it - the Hips - which show more in pics than in real life. The mirrors and brakes are easy upgrades for everyone else. The anecdotal evidence I have seen says they are not quicker than a well sorted lighter Euro. Are GTS hips really worth 30K?

A machines life is measured in time used. Lower miles is always better, apples to apples and a GTS is no orange. Who here would not want a new Crate engine if Porsche found a stash somewhere?

SQLGuy

I don't think it's always this simple, especially when dealing with two cars that are both more than 15 years old. There is a lot of stuff that will weaken and degrade over time even without the miles. Rubber parts that age badly but are listed for replacement based on mileage intervals may actually be newer in the car with more on the odometer.

Then there are all the stories of people reporting much better oil consumption in higher mileage GTS's....

tv

Rubber bits are a minor part in the grand scheme and should be a wash between these 2. If anything the frequent heat cycles of the higher mileage car will degrade them faster (if that happens). I seem to remember stories of hardly used rubber bits on well preserved 928's being like new. (and rust is really not an issue )

Ex. the seattle blue car now with James and the 315 mile GT.






EDIT:

this is one quote I remember, may be of help

SQLGuy

In "rubber parts" I also include things like weatherstripping. The DS ledge seal on my S4 is shot, the passenger side one is fine. It's possible the PS side one has been replaced, but I think it's more likely that the car was parked for some time in a location that got more sun from the left. If the PS was not replaced by a PO, then both have the same miles on them... that part alone is like $150.

Sight unseen, I'd guess that the S4 would be in better shape and need less, but that's a very uncertain guess; there's way too much possibility for other factors to overwhelm the whole time versus use thing here. If the question were, "which one would likely need less?" I'd pick the S4; but the question was, "which one would you buy?" I'd still go with the GTS for that.

Differences (GTS vs S4) that come to mind, off hand:

"Aero" mirrors
Air bags
PSD
Digital dash
Extra 400ccs, along with extra torque, extra HP, and extra weight
I believe I'd heard of better EGT data for the ECU in the GTS's
Factory cross-drilled crank
Bigger front brakes
Wider rear end and and more room for wider rear wheels
No PS hatch release
Relay driven windows and sunroof
Better stereo
No oddments trays
Better (IMO) A/C compressor
Newer style clutch release (FWIW)
Tire pressure sensors
Trip computer
Key control to close windows and sunroof when locking the car
Possibly piston skirt improvements (not sure when these were introduced)
No cooling air intake louvers
Factory plastic water pump impeller (at least on mine, though I doubt this GTS has its original WP)

tv

I can only speak of particulars on my model. But it will serve a similar purpose for the cost differential. In general I will take the lower mile car everytime.

Mirrors - easy upgrade
airbags - see Wilhoit and I wouldn't bet my bottom dollar on 16 yo ones
PSD - I'll take my 40% LSD
digital dash - again I'll take my old school VDO's
Engine items - already covered
Brakes - see Greg Gray's stopping a much lighter 928
Wider rear end - hips are nice, but subtle and all cars can take wider wheels
hatch release- ??
relay driven windows + sunroof - Euro has tricky windows that operate when car off etc
better stereo - moot point since we are in 2010
trays - I like the trays a LOT
A/C compressor - ditched all my A/C garbage
Clutch release - What's a Klutz?
Tire sensors - that are inaccurate and always break, I can check my own
trip computer - press the reset
Key control - euro has stuff
pistons - again see engine - Euro LH engines really are the best -compression, intake, cams
last 2 not worth the electrons



OTOH;

Euro 400lbs lighter
usually all leather - mine is
H4's
meaner body


and this does look nice in the sun

tv

I think 928's in general are such great cars that my point is more that the nice examples of the other variants are worth much more than the market applies and that if they were valued more appropriately the differential would be more reasonable between them and the GTS.