Trip..

After debating for weeks, I finally decided on what I wanted, I decided on a 80-83 Euro S with a 5 speed. I don't care about the color of interior or exterior, any color is fine. I have a total of a $3,500 budget to buy a 928, so keep that in mind when you look at the pics of the following car. I know I'm not going to find a gem with such a small budget. If I can find something that can be driven while it's being brought back from abandonment, I would be happy.

AO sent this to me in an email (Thanks Man!) and I would like to ask you all for your opinions.

Here are some crappy C/L exterior pics, and some interior pics that the seller sent me. I'm meeting with the seller to see the car on Sat. Anyone wanna come with me to look at it and help me out?

Anyway, here's the pics.












I know the seats are rough, but that really isn't a problem because I was thinking about swapping them out for some lightweight buckets or a set of 4th Gen F-body (Camaro, Firebird) seats anyway.

The motor is supposed to be an original motor (300Hp). The trans has a slight grind when it's cold but goes away after it warms up. No service history and the odometer quit working, but it doesn't matter because it's a gray market import so the mileage would be wrong anyhow.

The front bumper cover has a large crack and the airdam is also cracked. (This is what the seller has stated anyhow) I have not looked at the car. When I do I will take tons of pics and vids. The front fender has been repainted after it was hit, as you can see the paint doesn't match.

He's asking $3800 for the car, which I've been told is too high. I understand this, but I have to start somewhere for a price. The good news, or maybe it's bad news, but the car has been for sale since November and it's still available. So, he'll either be ready to sell for a lower price, or he's willing to sit on it and wait for the price he wants. Could be a double edged sword I guess. I won't know for sure until I meet with the guy.

I was told the car is reliable and would drive anywhere. Please understand, I'm not taking his word as gospel, just relaying to you guys what I have been told thus far.

So, for my fist drive in a 928, what should I be on the lookout for in this car? I know to watch out for smoke and all that, but I mean is there anything specifically I should watch out for on this car? Headlight motors, rack leaks, stuff like that? Is there anything like: IF the car does BLANK, that means the BLANK is bad, so you should avoid it... Make sense?

I'm not looking for a restoration project or show car. Just something halfway decent looking and reliable. I want to fix it as I go. EDIT, The car is located in the Detroit area

All comments welcome, good or bad.

Thanks,
Trip..

neilh

Get some pics under the hood, and with the tail gate open, that is at best a $2000 max car ( if it was here in Calif.)
Recent sales here in that visible condition here in SoCal have been 1000 - 1500!
See - https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ro-1500-a.html

depami

Did you see this one?

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/2326073950.html

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ro-1500-a.html

Trip..

Yup I sure did, but it would cost me a grand+ to ship it.

This one here may cot a bit more, but I can look at it, drive it and smell it before I buy it. I bought a 78 T/A that smelled like a dead mule, but the smell of death was never mentioned in the Ebay ad.

So this is a $1500 car? I like the sounds of that, I wonder how the seller will take it LOL.

The car is located a bit outside of Detroit, about 35 miles from me.

All comments welcome.

joehelendetroit

I think this is the one Andrew and Dennis looked at a while back.

Trip..

Yes it is the same car they looked at, is there any info on here about it?

Andrew (AO) sent me the link for this.

Thanks,
Trip..

neilh

Trip,
Good luck if you score it, I'm here to help you - as are other rennlisters.

Trip..

Thanks man, that's really great of all of you guys!

Pay no more than 2500? Or do you think that's too high? I know it's hard to tell just by a few crappy shots, but I appreciate any opinions I receive. That's what this thread is all about. The more opinions the better.

I know in Cali you guys wouldn't give much for this because you have so many of them around, but here in Motown, there's not too many 928's running around, plus it's a 300 hp 5 speed. That's gotta make it worth more doesn't it?

Do you guys think the drivers seat could be fixed, or is it trash? The leather dash appears to be in decent shape without any cracks, but I don't know what that black shadow looking stuff is on there. Can the center console be fixed, or is it too far gone?

Thanks again guys, as always, all opinions and comments welcome.

neilh

You can work wonders on the seats with leather restoration products. They will never look like new, but can be made very nice, with some dye also. On may daughters car I had some custom covers made by http://www.wetokole.com/ ( search 928 and the first set they show is her car).as she has a dog that would have destroyed the leather anyway. They have the templates to make more, about $250 a set, and they actually look really good.
The console and dash can be fixed for a price, but will spend a lot of time getting it running perfectly before you are ready to fix those!

Trip..

Thanks for the info on the seat covers, but I think for that kind of money I would be better off to dump these heavy electric seats and buy a set of aftermarket seats or at least a set of GM seats. The GM seats are like 30 bux a pair from a junkyard and I should be able to find something in vinyl that can be dyed to match. It's definitely something to consider. I don't think the car is so rare that I need to worry about originality.

From what I've been told, the car runs and drives perfectly, with the exception of the notchy cold trans, but I've read this is a very common problem.

What should I expect out of this car on the first drive? I've never driven a 928. I've ran everything from 20+sec Dodge K-Cars to 10 second blown big block Chevelle's and about everything in between. How should the power be? Moderate, slug, breaks the tires loose on a moderate throttle application, tire smoker from hell (I doubt that one lol) maybe feel like a mid 80's GT Mustang or Z-28? I'm not going to have the ability to take it to the drags to check the 1/4 mile time, so I guess I need a bit of a reference by which to compare it. Even if you guys tell me an 86 Dodge Caravan, at least I have something to gage it's performance on. Make sence?

I guess that's one of the reasons I was hoping someone would be willing to go along with me to check it out.

Does anyone have a good 0-60 vid that they can show me? I'm not looking for mind-boggling speed out of this car necessarily, I just need to know that it's running and performing properly. And since I've never even ridden in one, that's a hard thing to judge.

Thanks guys!

neilh

Trip, I and have been trying to help you - but a post like this shows you have no idea what you expect from a 928.
Sorry.

danglerb

Rough estimates on how quickly it accelerates are worthless, you would never notice the difference between a car with 100% power and maybe as little as 75% or less, and a small fortune could be required to bridge the gap.

Look for smooth power and good throttle response, and leave the rest to the PPI and things like compression tests.

Middles of those seats look like they were replaced cheaper than Porsche quality. I am imagining seats out of some F body will look lousy in a 928, but I would be happy to be proved wrong.

I put about $12k into my nice condition daily driven, dealer serviced 83 during the first two years, this one looks much more hungry. You are aware an old 928 is going to want some money poured in on a random demand basis? If you don't have a few grand to back up that $3500, it may be parked a LOT.

Speedtoys

Maybe you just need a cheap camaro that rarely needs more than $50 to fix anything.


It's definitely something to consider.


http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/2339870382.html

Landseer

The 928 Recaro seats are fricken works of art, inside and out.
One of the best parts of a 928; as distinctive to the ride feeling as the tail cone is to the look.

Should be fairly straightforward to find original replacements in that color.

LUCKYJACKASS

Well, I paid $3200 for my '83 Euro with automatic with 112k on her. It needed some work, no records, but I drove her home - then 6000 miles before having to park it to due to the coolant system failure. If that thing runs good, offer $3000. If it runs and drives good, maybe a bit more, depending on mileage. You and others may feel differently, but I highly suggest the euro model for your budget. There's less failure items in the fuel system, but the fuel distributor is expensive if it needs replaced or rebuilt. Just my 2 cents, but i was looking in same price neighborhood when looking for mine.

Forgot to add that mine was rear ended. the shocks are collapsed, and the bumper cover and right rear fender have been painted very bady. All things to be taken care of. Maybe I paid too much, but I don't think so...