Ninespub

Yep, Been there, still there. I started off 3 years ago with a paid-off '91 that I've owned for almost 11 years. I don't have the time or ability for most mechanical, electrical and body things that it needed so I have slowly dumped well over 10K into the car in the past 3 years and it still needs another 10K. When (if) its done I'll be happy, but as they say: I'm only 10 grand away from a 10 grand car. Listen to the boys above little grasshopper.

fraggle

Mind you I don't feel bad in the slightest about my "investment". Over the past 7 years I've lost a lot less money and made a ton more friends than my peers who played the stock market.

danglerb

When cars have a LOAD of things that would be day to day drive issues, it makes me wonder what exactly may be fixed, likely nothing, and thats an expensive path of discovery.

Do keep these posts coming, makes some of us fell a lot better about our own purchases.

Ispeed

My S4 looked good, ran smooth and had cold a/c and I still threw $20K in parts and 200+ hours of labor into it. Buying even a slightly neglected S4 could cost you a fortune if you don't do the work yourself.

Gordak

These are the photos of the car in question http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a102/ww2aa/Gordak/s4/

EspritS4s

So this post is about your car? Did the OP already buy your car and is now unhappy, or is he negotiating the price down?

I hate when someone posts something like this but doesn't include the whole story. This car looks much nicer than what I was expecting based on the original post.

Hilton

Based on the description of issues in the opening post, without knowing more, I'd assume its a pretty average 928.

Nothing you're mentioning sounds like significant issues - you say the ABS wiring is "exposed". Question - does the ABS work? Or does the dash show an error? A good amount of the rear harness sheathing gets hard and cracks off (e.g. around the rear hubs and up to the battery box), so exposed wires are easily fixed with some new sheath.

The only concern is the general "wiring issues" - but if by that you mean the items that aren't working, that may be as simple as some fuses, relays and cleaning the grounds. If there are visible hacked loose ends around the CE panel, then $$$ to fix.

It all sounds pretty average for a general market 928. If you're scared by those issues, you really need to spend $15k+ on an 87 5-speed to get a really good example (which is generally sound advice for 928's in general.. unless you want to work on it for fun - which would be a fair few of us here)

Paying shop rates, figure on minimium $10k to get the basic mechanicals sorted out (TBWP, intake refresh, leaks, engine mounts), but that's true of almost any S4 you come across for sale anywhere - ones which don't need those basic items are very few and far between.

If you're looking for a bargain 928 and you're going to pay a shop to work on it, stop looking now. There is no such thing.

edit: Looks like you're in the process of beating down on price.. have to say this isn't a great place to do that. Your list of issues shows you're trying hard to find faults, and don't really understand the cars (clue: do not roll the front fender - figure out why the front wheel is rubbing - most likely is the wheel offset)

Ask Mickster about finding a good 928.

Gordak

thanks guys, I also felt it was a pretty average 87 928 and a good price for a 5 speed. There is no argument and I've issued a full refund on the deposit. Im actually a bit excited to have the car a bit longer, I just felt like it was massivly misrepresented in this thread.

Everything works, the "Wiring issues" is electrical tape on the fan wires and the temp sender. ABS works fine, I think they mean the wrap that goes around the clusters of wires is cracked.

-Sam
78 Euro 5speed
87 S4 5speed

Tampa 928s

Man up and do it:

Now ongoing: https://picasaweb.google.com/tampapi...eat=directlink

Old project: https://picasaweb.google.com/tampapi...eat=directlink

Better do it your self !

karl ruiter

Ha! That's a great example of a car I wish I had bought for 10K+ instead of the one I bought for 4K-. Was it on ebay a while back? I think I was looking at it. Nicer than your average S4 I would say.

panchosouth

Gentlemen;
I didn't point out who owned the car, because I hadn't asked Sam if I could include owner information with regard to this post.
No, I don't recall saying anything about the price. I was happy with the price of the car, and was more concerned about what it would cost to get the car sorted. Since it is not practical for me to wheel the car into my garage and throw a wrench on it (work, Saudi Arabia, car North America), and I will only be in North Amecia on leave for a month, I wanted to get the major issues sorted. My major concerns were the rear end issues (shock tower damage?) and the wiring issues....The car would have been spending the summer in Ontario, Canada. Had I not been able to get the car plated in the US, then I would have had to import the car, and in doing so, pass a safety inspection to get the car plated. Not interested in have to pay some shop in Ontario huge chunks of money to import parts etc into Canada.
Now, I'm used to seeing people flame others on this site simply because they think their current opine is the bitch du jour. I posted this report simply for info, because I had already asked the shop that wrote this report (the shop that the current owner suggested) what it would cost me to get this sorted. I'm half way around the world, and forgive me if I want a clear idea of what I'm buying site unseen.
I'm not looking for a majic Porsche. Nor do I expect to buy a 928 for 8K and think that Im not going to sink a chunk of moolah into it. I am however expecting to at least be able to drive it when and where I want with as little agro as possible.
In my email I told Sam that we needed to revisit the car. It was not my intent to dicker on the price, rather to discuss what the shop was talking about. However, here we are, instead of commenting on the what the shop said, I'm getting kicked in the ghoulies as owners circle the wagons in a flame party.
Sam- For the record, I like the car and still do.Thought you presented it in an honest fashion. Don't like the thought of the car being in the shop my whole vacation...

panchosouth

sigh. 'magic', not 'majic'.

ender928

So the issues found were all what the shop said after the PPI?

panchosouth

Sam advised on A/C and sunroof. I think that the shop, as normal, was adding CYA items in there. Again, my second post to the original post clearly says that I'm concerned with the shocks and electrical, not the maint/cosmetic issues.
My post above might be an over-reaction, and as such I apologize to those who offered sensible advise and mechancial thoughts.

ender928

Not at all. The list you posted was long I mean you have to know your turn signals work before you can sell a car. I don't think that was mentioned in the F/S ad.