Trip..

3k should be enough to get me into a running car that I can at least drive while it's being restored, correct? If not, this may be a problem. I have heard all kinds of answers from 3k is plenty, to 3k is a down payment. I know this is a difficult question to answer, but I can't have a 3 thousand dollar lawn ornament.

I have a total of $4,000 cash in hand, that's for the car, insurance, plates, shipping, parts and anything else. Is this going to be enough, or should I just walk away and buy a nice mid-90's F body? Please note the 4k is just the money I have sitting in my next project account. I will be throwing MUCH more money into it, but after I can at least see if the car is my Cup-O'-Tea. I have no idea if I'll even like a 928, I have never even sat in one. I know I like the way they look, but that's a horrible way to start a marriage. (Ask me how I know)

I'm not looking for a Pebble Beach car or anything even close. I'm looking for a decent 10 footer that runs well enough to enjoy the car. I expect the interior to be a mess and the paint to be flawed, I am hoping for a minimum of electrical gremlins because electrical is NOT my strength. Mechanical and bodywork are my strengths. So IF I can find one with good electrical with the aforementioned weaknesses I am a happy camper. I've read many times (Before I made my first post) that I should buy the best car I can afford and I should still leave some extra $$'s for a cushion. That's why I was thinking an 83-84, because they appear to have the lowest collector value. I've also read that a Euro car is also in my price range? Where should I be looking?

Am I on track, or am I nuts?

On a side note, I've seen the prices of these cars fluctuate considerably on C/L. I've seen parts cars for 10K and decent looking runners for 2, is this range of dollar figures from uneducated people, or is there really a method to the pricing? I know as soon as I read "Rare" I know the car is going to be flogged to death and the price is in the atmosphere. Usually at a dealership with 2 gallons of "Insta-Shine" dumped in the engine bay. Sound about right? I worked as a Porter at a Ford dealership back in the 90's, I know how a dealer "Preps" a car...

I'm a little apprehensive about meeting all the local guys, because I'm sure I'm going to see a bunch of really nice cars and If my first experience is in a car that's 10 times higher than my budget, I'll have a hard time being "Satisfied" with a car in my price range. It's like losing your virginity to a **** star, once you've had that, a normal girl just seems bland. Make sense? I would hate to have my first ride in a 928 to be a Murf stage 3 with a 150 shot blasting at a buck fifty down 96 with my eyeballs stuck to the back of my skull. After something like that, a 210hp auto is going to seem like a ride in golf cart.

Anybody local have a low Hp 4.5 or 4.7 to show me what the car in my price range feels like?

Thanks to all the guys that have PM'd me c/l ads and and links to their own cars, I really hope I can seal the deal on a 928 and have it be sitting in my garage for me to stare at. I am so tired of watching Risky Biz, "I'm about to throw up, I'm about to throw up on you, Joel" I have that movie on Beta, VHS, DVD and my financial advisor (the wife) just bought it on Blu Ray for me a few months ago (My first Blu Ray disc) Take a wild guess what's playing in the background as I type this...

Trip..

Trip..

I will be all over that! As far as the woman making it.... We'll see. It's about time to upgrade to a newer model if ya catch my drift. The Porsche thing has got her panties all in a twist.

Wrenchin for beer, that is a definite possibility. I've got lots of tools, and a taste for expensive beers.

dr bob

Let her know the the design group that did the 928 was led by a GM Corvette group escapee, hence the similarities to those cars. Meanwhile, I don't know customs or costs in your part of the world. In my neighborhood, a $4k war chest might be down payment on the tax on legal and settlement costs associated with aforementioned 'upgrade'. If ya catch my drift. Letting the badge on a project car upset the home apple cart may not be the best plan. I'm a relative short-timer, but I can do the $$ math.

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There are PLENTY of early cars waiting to be rescued. I have no idea what it costs to paint and trim out the interior where you are. Interior guy Rob Budd is close by you, so there's hope. Just saw that Crazy Mike (Sailmed) in Florida has a 86.5 5-speed that needs paint, a great choice as the last/best of the early body style. There are others I'm sure. Just need to find an example that has needs matching your strengths. Finding one without any electrical gremlins, regardless of appearance, may be your challenge. There's lots of support from the group, and by the time you are done, electrical stuff will for sure be on your list of strengths. Or you will have an empty beer fridge and some new 928 friends working on it for you.

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Before you buy, spend time with the different cars to see what they are like. My pre-purchase experience was limited to a look at a ratty example parked on a street near my hose. Fortunately the one I bought sight-unseen from a few states away tuned out to be way different from the one on the street. But I've stiil only ridden in a handful ('82, '85, 88, and a couple GTS's), and my list of driven cars is just a few long, even with hosting 928 clinics at the house and all.

928Shane

Hello from the west side of the state. Hopefully get over to some of the gtg's this summer. Have to get car sorted out first. New to the 928's so learning as I go. Here are a couple pics of what you can find in your price range (not sure if thats good or bad!) I do have some catching up on the maintenance to do from car sitting for a few years. Shane

Trip..

Bob I just read through James' $3500 85Euro and just about crapped! That is out of my range at this point in time I do believe! Now if I could find the ugly twin sister to that 85 Euro, I'd be perfect. Maybe one riddled with acne and bad feet?

I have to keep the "Trade-In" speak to a minimum, I was just annoyed. Tired of hearing the same stupidness. We don't have enough money for me to go buy a mid-life-crisis-mobile, but she can go out and blow money all over town buying crap like food and paying the cable bill. Women, they have no sense of of "Proper" money spending. Any family can have things like Electricity and running water, but not just any family has a Euro Porsche in the drive.

Trip..

Shane thats a nice looking car, have anymore pics of it?

I would really like to find a 5 speed car, as long as the trans isn't blown out. That's the only thing that scares me; I know how Americans shift gears, like it's a Borg Warner T-10 with a Hurst shifter. Side stepping the clutch or just skipping the clutch all together and power shifting... I would imagine the Porsche trans will not be a long lasting trans being power shifted at 6 grand!

I bought an 89 Turbo RX-7 and I drove it like I drove my 70 SS Nova, needless to say the first 3 tranny's didn't last too long... Ha Ha.

I had that little turbo Wankel spinning every bit of 15 grand, with the warning buzzer screamin at me, Bam stuff it into second... 10 seconds later, hot red tranny blood and thrid gear, all over the street. Time for 'nother trans... Only took 100 bux and 45 mins to change. lol


Anybody that wants to blow this thread up with car pics, (928's of course) that's fine with me, only stipulation, they have to be cars in my price range of 4k!

Trip..

smudaaar

I paid $1400 for my Euro "S" and it took another 2-3k to get it on the road alll sorted out up front. I still need to do a trans refresh, replace the 30 year old struts...... also would like to jump up to dual 3" exhaust off of my headers. Funny how a $1400 car can turn into a $7-8000 car. I really kicked around selling it....... but the thought of my 4yr old son running into a brand new $35000 350z vs my $6500 928with his bike doesn't sit well. I think I'll just keep the brown turd for a few more years till the kid is a little older or have a second garage?

EspritS4s

There are deals out there. However, as has been mentioned, patience is key, and by patience I mean months sometimes. About a year and a half ago, I bought an '86.5 and a bunch of parts for $1500. It didn't meet your stated standards because it was partially disassembled and I did not have the opportunity to test if it ran. However, once I got it home and checked the fluids and timing belt, it started right up. I put the car back together (mostly interior and the rear brakes), and then sold it, now running, to a Rennlister for $3000 (still under your budget). I was able to sell the parts that came with the car for more than I paid for the whole package. There are a lot of other examples like this here. They are definitely out there, but it can be tricky for someone new to 928s to tell the difference between a bargain and a money pit / parts car. The other good thing about patience is that it may give you the opportunity to save up more money for the initial purchase.

BTW, part of me wishes I had held on to the 86.5, but the wife was giving me a hard time about too many 928s in the driveway so I let it go as it had cosmetic issues that would have been pricey to fix (read new paint job).

Trip..

I know you say that car is brown, but it sure it the blackest brown 928 I've ever seen!


Espirit, Anything I buy will have to AT LEAST make it to my house before it dies. I 'm looking at an 84 auto in Ma, I emailed the guy tonight, we'll see what he has to say. It looks like something right up my alley. http://southcoast.craigslist.org/cto/2266882742.html I'm going to wait until I hear back from the guy. Maybe I can get someone to take a look at it for me?

I understand what you are saying about being patient, because I have been waiting for the past 3 years to finally make a decision. The hard part is going to figure out a POS moneypit from a doable project car. How the hell do you tell them apart?

Most sellers have no idea about the service history of their car. Of course there are some very educated sellers, but 95% ofthe 400+ 928 ad's I have read in the past 2 days, have all said the same thing. "fast Car" "Scareface's Car" Burns rubber etc... When you call them or send emails asking about TB and tensioners, all you get is "HUH, I put a new belt on the ps" or something stupid. Not to mention also, the more uneducated the schmuck is, the higher the price. Or the Dealers that put up a listing daily screaming "Fast, won't last long, buy now" or whatever and when you look at the ad, its a bucket with a flogged interior and a clear coat made of chalk, but the price is 9k!

I just need to buy from a Rennlister, but I have to find someone willing to sell one.

Trip..

Anybody else from Michigan?

chris0626

I am! Pontiac to be precise.

I still don't have a 928 yet... life has a funny way about changing your priorities. But, things are looking much much better for me right now, so the 928 (85-86 preferably) is back on the list.

Great group here

Trip..

What year/s are you looking for?

Big Dave

I was until 12/2009.

Make sure you get to one of the monthly gatherings in Royal Oak.

Trip..

Yup I was there the other night and shot some vids...

smudaaar

I met Shane yesterday...... His 928 brings me back to how my car sat 3 years ago! I will try to get a video up asap of my euro.... Maybe a launch or just some exhaust noise