Kicking around buying an 84 928 S looking for advice
10-11-2010, 11:41 AM
#16
Rennlist Member
For $1200, if engine and trans are basically tight and runnable, you are way, way ahead.
They don't all need great paint and interiors to be fun, especially on a track. A better-than-corvette performance car for the price of a used racing kart. Break-out the sheepskin covers and a couple cans of primer --- have fun.
No brainer.
So long as the mailman or the brown truck visit Montana, you should be good to go.
They don't all need great paint and interiors to be fun, especially on a track. A better-than-corvette performance car for the price of a used racing kart. Break-out the sheepskin covers and a couple cans of primer --- have fun.
No brainer.
So long as the mailman or the brown truck visit Montana, you should be good to go.
10-11-2010, 12:12 PM
#17
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I would have LOVED to have a GTS experience. but many of us of modest financial means cannot afford it.
I am totally satisfied with the 928 experience I do get out of my 84 auto. once I get the last of the mechanical refresh done, maybe a 50-75 hp shot of nitros to occasionally increase the smile factor.
curious, your avatar does not look like a GTS.
I would have LOVED to have a GTS experience. but many of us of modest financial means cannot afford it.
I am totally satisfied with the 928 experience I do get out of my 84 auto. once I get the last of the mechanical refresh done, maybe a 50-75 hp shot of nitros to occasionally increase the smile factor.
curious, your avatar does not look like a GTS.
10-11-2010, 03:52 PM
#18
Drifting
More often than not these cars $(1200 examples) end up being financial pits, what does JB always say it's $10,000 away from being a $5,000 car. And at 1200 it has to be ratty inside and out. Something so neglected should be put out of its misery. UNLESS you have the skill and resources to to do this - https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ofication.html
It took me close to 25 years from driving in a 928 and wanting one to being in a position where it was responsible for me to buy one. No one is entitled to own anything let alone an expensive to maintain exotic. That's why the country fell apart. If 1200 is a stretch for anyone buying a car, then I am sure there are many better ways to use that money.
As for my car - I used the GTS name to avoid sounding like I will sound now, my 85 euro is one of the best 928's you could have. Optioned out the ***, relatively low miles, awesome paint, all leather, and the best sound you can get out of one of these thanks to the custom exhaust.
It took me close to 25 years from driving in a 928 and wanting one to being in a position where it was responsible for me to buy one. No one is entitled to own anything let alone an expensive to maintain exotic. That's why the country fell apart. If 1200 is a stretch for anyone buying a car, then I am sure there are many better ways to use that money.
As for my car - I used the GTS name to avoid sounding like I will sound now, my 85 euro is one of the best 928's you could have. Optioned out the ***, relatively low miles, awesome paint, all leather, and the best sound you can get out of one of these thanks to the custom exhaust.
10-11-2010, 04:10 PM
#19
Rennlist Member
More often than not these cars $(1200 examples) end up being financial pits, what does JB always say it's $10,000 away from being a $5,000 car. And at 1200 it has to be ratty inside and out. Something so neglected should be put out of its misery. UNLESS you have the skill and resources to to do this - https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ofication.html
It took me close to 25 years from driving in a 928 and wanting one to being in a position where it was responsible for me to buy one. No one is entitled to own anything let alone an expensive to maintain exotic. That's why the country fell apart. If 1200 is a stretch for anyone buying a car, then I am sure there are many better ways to use that money.
As for my car - I used the GTS name to avoid sounding like I will sound now, my 85 euro is one of the best 928's you could have. Optioned out the ***, relatively low miles, awesome paint, all leather, and the best sound you can get out of one of these thanks to the custom exhaust.
It took me close to 25 years from driving in a 928 and wanting one to being in a position where it was responsible for me to buy one. No one is entitled to own anything let alone an expensive to maintain exotic. That's why the country fell apart. If 1200 is a stretch for anyone buying a car, then I am sure there are many better ways to use that money.
As for my car - I used the GTS name to avoid sounding like I will sound now, my 85 euro is one of the best 928's you could have. Optioned out the ***, relatively low miles, awesome paint, all leather, and the best sound you can get out of one of these thanks to the custom exhaust.
10-11-2010, 04:23 PM
#20
Three Wheelin'
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At $1200 you can't go wrong. It's a great year to work with. I've owned a few and can tell you that as long as they are running well, I've received equal enjoyment out of each one. Don't let anyone tell you that you need to spend a fortune to have a good running 928, or that you aren't worthy because you don't have a ton of cash to spend. Just because it's only $1200 doesn't mean you should skip an extensive inspection. I'd have a professional PPI done just to be safe, but you can probably get your money back and then some if you end up parting it out. I say go for it.
Photos?
Photos?
10-11-2010, 06:39 PM
#21
Drifting
How many threads go into the average cost of keeping these on the road and how much a prospective owner should have in reserve for the first year. On a decent car it is 3,000, that I have heard for catch up maintenance. That's w/o major problems.
The OP asked for opinions, I gave him mine on this car in my first paragraph. I say this could end with nothing but problem after problem and give him a bad taste of the 928 seeing as he already has a capable fun car. What kind of fun is it to have a neglected money pit?
My 2nd 2 paragraphs were addressed to Bob, I do not know if his nice looking car started off as a 1200 example with lousy paint and an interior in need of repair. But most cars that start off like this one do not improve much. A gutted track car seems the only way this car will provide fun w/o costing a fortune. There have been enough threads here with problem cars. I say buy a well maintained version, many available at very reasonable prices.
The OP asked for opinions, I gave him mine on this car in my first paragraph. I say this could end with nothing but problem after problem and give him a bad taste of the 928 seeing as he already has a capable fun car. What kind of fun is it to have a neglected money pit?
My 2nd 2 paragraphs were addressed to Bob, I do not know if his nice looking car started off as a 1200 example with lousy paint and an interior in need of repair. But most cars that start off like this one do not improve much. A gutted track car seems the only way this car will provide fun w/o costing a fortune. There have been enough threads here with problem cars. I say buy a well maintained version, many available at very reasonable prices.
10-11-2010, 06:55 PM
#22
Rennlist Member
Who would a person even posture to or flash gold chains at in Montana?
No ivy on buildings out there.
If it runs, buy it and have a blast out there with it.
I've got a stripped one, a real sleeper, love driving it.
No ivy on buildings out there.
If it runs, buy it and have a blast out there with it.
I've got a stripped one, a real sleeper, love driving it.
10-11-2010, 07:44 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
IMHO - 84 was a good year for the 928. Last of the 16V with 4-speed auto and S-brakes.
$1200 is a good price, but the car is 26 years old so expect to replace several hoses, wires and just plain worn out parts.
Good luck,
$1200 is a good price, but the car is 26 years old so expect to replace several hoses, wires and just plain worn out parts.
Good luck,
10-11-2010, 10:19 PM
#25
Drifting
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Small world... My mom grew up in Helena...
Still have some family up in Billings.
Anyhow, on to the 928 advice.
If the interior and exterior is in poor condition, that probably means everything else is in poor condition. Meaning things like engine hoses, engine gaskets and seals, electrical sensors and connections, suspension bushings, etc...
It may run and function fine, but my own experience is that all those small problems add up. One sensor stops working, and the car won't run properly. Then the next month something else breaks. Then the windows won't roll up. And so on. By the time you fix all the little problems, you will have spent thousands...
Now if you just want to roll the dice, buy it, toss on some seat covers, and do a cheap repaint, then have fun. It will be a fun car to have for a little while. But if you want to get it into normal running condition, with no problems, it will probably take a decent amount of time and cash. And as other people suggested, it's better to buy a $6000 928 where someone already replaced all those items, did all the differed maintenance, etc. If you don't want to spend $10,000 on repairing things, just drive it for a year or so, and then sell it. If you plan to keep it for the long haul, either be prepared to spend some money to get it up to snuff, or just buy one that's already in excellent condition.
Still have some family up in Billings.
Anyhow, on to the 928 advice.
If the interior and exterior is in poor condition, that probably means everything else is in poor condition. Meaning things like engine hoses, engine gaskets and seals, electrical sensors and connections, suspension bushings, etc...
It may run and function fine, but my own experience is that all those small problems add up. One sensor stops working, and the car won't run properly. Then the next month something else breaks. Then the windows won't roll up. And so on. By the time you fix all the little problems, you will have spent thousands...
Now if you just want to roll the dice, buy it, toss on some seat covers, and do a cheap repaint, then have fun. It will be a fun car to have for a little while. But if you want to get it into normal running condition, with no problems, it will probably take a decent amount of time and cash. And as other people suggested, it's better to buy a $6000 928 where someone already replaced all those items, did all the differed maintenance, etc. If you don't want to spend $10,000 on repairing things, just drive it for a year or so, and then sell it. If you plan to keep it for the long haul, either be prepared to spend some money to get it up to snuff, or just buy one that's already in excellent condition.
10-11-2010, 11:48 PM
#28
Scared to Look
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I say for $1200 bucks just change the oil, fill it up with petrol, and drive the **** out of it , when it starts falling apart ask $2500 for it as a parts car.
10-12-2010, 01:51 AM
#29
Track Day
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Thank you everybody for your input!!
It sounds like the minor amount of $1200 is well worth it as an intro to the 928 experience.
Perhaps I should have detailed for some who responded that I am both a mechanic and have owned over 40 cars, some of them fast and some slow, many of them money pits. My 914 was a venture in buying cheap, trying to fix cheap and spending a fortune before giving up (rust...).
I also forgot to mention the person selling me the car is a friend (hence the discount) and is already 5k into the seals, sensors, and other parts I listed in the first post. Most of the initial work has been performed, besides the leaky seal I inquired about.
I figure it's worth it in parts alone, and if it does turn out to be good, the performance specs are close to my C2 so that's not bad at all. Considering my daily commuter is a Subaru Justy, even driving a mini van feels like the "GTS experience".
Thanks again everyone!
It sounds like the minor amount of $1200 is well worth it as an intro to the 928 experience.
Perhaps I should have detailed for some who responded that I am both a mechanic and have owned over 40 cars, some of them fast and some slow, many of them money pits. My 914 was a venture in buying cheap, trying to fix cheap and spending a fortune before giving up (rust...).
I also forgot to mention the person selling me the car is a friend (hence the discount) and is already 5k into the seals, sensors, and other parts I listed in the first post. Most of the initial work has been performed, besides the leaky seal I inquired about.
I figure it's worth it in parts alone, and if it does turn out to be good, the performance specs are close to my C2 so that's not bad at all. Considering my daily commuter is a Subaru Justy, even driving a mini van feels like the "GTS experience".
Thanks again everyone!
10-12-2010, 10:25 AM
#30
Drifting
The last 3 928's I have seen and that is 2 years of time have all been beaters. So depressing. It just seems to be the equivalent of all the eyesore single-wides that pock parts of the South with the last 2 washer dryer sets in the front yard and any number of cars on blocks rusting away.
There is nothing cool about that mindset/situation. Nothing to be proud of.
If you are going to do something - Do it right.