billoff966

I am on a search for a 928, I have went to see 2 this weekend…it is harder than I expected. People have these cars have no idea what they are talking about mechanically, let alone a Porsche 928. I have a shop with good mechanics/friends but that is not the problem. I guess my questions are what should I look for wrong, should I get one that doesn’t run but hoping things workout or go for a running car for a few more bucks. I went in to this feeling good but I am starting to get discouraged.

Ispeed

You need to know your stuff and have a 928 expert with you to look at a car.
You need to know just what 928 you want: a/t vs 5 speed, early car vs. S vs. S4 etc, color... Go meet some 928ers at a GTG to see some 928s in the same place.
If it takes you more than 1 928 to get to the car you really wanted it gets a lot more expensive. I went from an '86.5 a/t to an '89 a/t to an '87 5 speed in a year, and wish I had known to focus in on the last car right away.

Mrmerlin

first of all welcome to the shark tank.

To answer a few of your questions and many more it should be required reading to go through the FAQ at the top of this page it takes about 4 days.
once you have completed that task you should be well prepared to look at 928s and possibly buy one.
A few other things you should know about yourself...

How much do you want to spend?

How much do you have in reserve for repairs?

Do you plan on doing the repairs yourself?

Do you have a shop and tools?

Do you have mechanic to work for you?

Do you want a 5 speed or an auto?

Do you like the early cars the middle early cars or the later S4 style or GTS style cars?
What will the car be used for?

Answer these questions and post the answers here and you have your questions answered.

In general the more you spend for a well sorted car the more driving time you will be able to do.

The less you spend on initial purchase the more you will spend on repairs,

and in general the less the car will be worth when you get it fixed up.

Dont be in a hurry,
do the research,
and see as many of them as you can,
also drive as many of them as you can.

following this path will reward you with a nicer car, that you will be proud to own and drive

928man

There is no formula, if you find a car you like buy it. It doesn't matter what the price is, I've bought 2 928's sight unseen just looking at pictures on ebay. the other 2 that I bought, I saw in person, just use your gut feeling, every car you buy is taking a chance unless you have the bucks to buy one fully sorted or one sorted at a bargain price! (rare but it does happen). These cars are losing propositions money wise and you don't buy these cars as an investment but because you like them, no magic just common sense!

Mrmerlin

Bill there is a formula see the above post,
the more you know,
the better the results of your search will be

Fogey1

+ 928. Where are you?

Plus - HAVE PATIENCE!

If you follow this forum for six months after you've read through the FAQs and links above at https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...questions.html, you will almost certainly end up with twice the car for half the $$$.

That will put you in a sorted and reliable 928 by next spring.

There are also the 928 Owner's Club http://forums.928oc.org/vbulletin/index.php
and several other forums to explore. Google "928 forums" and start to surf around in an amazingly competent online community.

I got lucky when I bought but I still wish I'd done it this way instead of getting the bit between my teeth. I'd have paid less for the same or more. Ya'd think I'd'a learned by now. They say God loves fools, he must be _really_ fond of me.

danglerb

Finding a nice 928 is easy.

Finding a cheap 928 is easy.

Finding a nice cheap 928 is the hobby of most on this forum. Some got pretty good at it after a few months, some never have gotten good at it. The BEST way is to have your money ready and hook up with somebody local that knows the 928 on an expert level, doesn't mind looking at them, but doesn't want to buy another one for themselves.

billoff966

You guys are awesome, I am going to sit with my 928 notebook, page 2 .... and start reading and writing these great responses. Thanks a million already!!!

oaros

You've got the hints from the "928 lifers" here some points from someone who has just done a year.

Even after reading around, hanging out here and learing a lot, I didn't really know what to look out for. Good thing was that I knew that, I planned for that - I wanted something to work on. I used to work on cars in my teens, I've got the WSM, there is this great place here. Body work, interior/trim work - no idea - no experience at all. So I picked a car that was presentable (had been resprayed, no tears in leather etc) drove it for two fuel refills and started to take it apart. I budgeted 75% for the car and the rest for spare parts and pretend my time doesn't cost anything.

As you start digging you find stuff. Happiest moment so far - dial indicator showing in spec crank endplay. Worry moment - finding burnt and low ATF levels despite a service a month prior to PO selling car.

So far:
Tank out because I thought it had a leak - wasn't probably necessary as I found out afterwards that sender seal was mangled. Never mind makes it easier to get drive shafts out.
Drive shafts out - clean up and new CV boots
Exhaust off for flexplate check and rebuilding trans cooler hoses - find messed up rear pinch bolt while there.
Replaced dinged engine oil cooler.
I thought - have a look at TB anyway as waterbridge and oil filler need new gaskets. Find loose bolt on tensioner.
I am now starting the intake R&R which was planned for next year.

I am kidding myself that I will drive the car in late summer. Most fun I had in years. The whole thing only works because I like working on cars, to me WYAIT is not a disease, and the final market value of the car is not a factor.

A cheaper and quicker way - find a 928 nut that is selling his car because he is moving on to the next project. I could have bought a car this year that I know has had all the work I am doing already done. Cost would have been a bit more than the anticipated final budget for my car (BTW anticipated final budget only exists for the benefit of my wife)


or just do what Dan suggested but still have a DD.

928man

MrMerlin: I guess my buying philosophy is different than most on here, rather than take the logical approach I buy a car based on whether or not I like it, that is my first criteria above all else, if it needs work I do it & spend the money. If a car has a decent interior & the body is straight I'll consider it, a sorted car is great but not all of us can afford to spend the money up front for one. A well sorted car on the cheap is very rare but if you wait long enough you can find one, but it may be a long wait, someone else may beat you to it! It all boils down to taking the spontaneous approach or the logical approach to buying 928's. Bill

ashmason

Here's my take... I agree with pretty much everything everyone has said so far. Be as logical as you can, but also go with your gut. I read everything I could and mooched the forums for several months before buying. Mine is a second car so for me I was more willing to go with a higher mileage rough diamond, I also wanted a black exterior and tan interior, and it had to be a stick shift. So my choices were already limited.

I did look at a really nice blue 87' S4 with white interior, and it was in really good shape, everything sparkled and logic said I should go for it, but I just didn't fall in love with it on the test drive and it wasn't the color I wanted. Then I found mine over in Colorado Springs and flew over to see it, very much a rough diamond, but the price was right and I don't know it just felt right.

That said I am $5k poorer after new shocks, new steering pump and rack, new motor mounts, new airbag sensors and other misc stuff to bring it back to where I want to be mechanically. And I have not started on the interior which has holes worn in the seats But then that is half my fun, I love restoring things.

Whatever you do, the folks on here are super helpful.

My only real advice is to test drive as many as you can, unless of course like me you end up falling for a particular car and then there is nothing you can do but strike a deal.

mickster

You definitely need to drive a few--and the amazing thing about this group--there are many who will trust you driving their 928's. So wherever you are, share and there is someone within 100-300 miles to be sure! Okay-maybe 500 in some places...and learn from our mistakes and our victories. I'll gladly share what to do and not to do when buying...I learned a hard and valuable lesson ($$$$) because I thought I knew enough...

Once you drive a well-sorted 928 you will quickly recognize one that is not. It might just be a small thing that needs fixing-but at least you'll have a baseline. Poor acceleration, braking, steering, A/C, heat, sunroof or window operation, hatch operation, all seem like small things, but they are critical components of both your driving enjoyment and ownership enjoyment. Idling, holding idle, temperature, knowing where to look for oil leaks above and below...

Plus with an automatic--Thrust Bearing Failure (later models) and with manuals, the dreaded "blue hose of death" also have to be checked. Fuel lines and vacuum lines, brake lines, A/C, all add up...

Good luck!

Michael

joehelendetroit

So, where are you located??

Bill Ball

I would buy the best 928 I could afford, figuring that a fixer-upper is going to cost you a lot more than the purchase price, and unless there is a simple mechanical problem, "restoring" these cars is a waste of money when you can buy a good car for so much less than restoration costs. I bought a one-owner with complete maintenance history in essentially showroom condition. I knew it was a good candidate when I saw it online and exchanged emails with the owner. Not super-low miles as I think there is an uneconomical surcharge for that if you plan to drive the car much. I didn't care about color or options or whatever special feature. That was about 12 years and 165K miles ago. Anyway, I think that worked out well as my car has been ridiculously trustworthy, cheap to own, puts a smile on my face, and seems to appreciate being driven hard. No, it doesn't turn many heads or get oohs and ahs at 928 meetings, but when people see how many miles I have on it without any flaws in the seat leather or other interior parts and learn that it still has the original torque tube and most other parts, untouched motor and drivetrain, they begin to understand why I'm happy with this car. Don't go cheap. You'll pay for it later.

I suppose you may want some details as to what I mean by "best" car. Some of it is obvious cosmetic condition you can assess pretty easily. Although there are some mechanical quirks to these cars, much of the mechanical condition evaluation is stuff common to all cars. And the quirks will come out in a test drive. Good service records is a big plus. There are some common big-ticket wear items. If the car has more than 100K miles, you'd expect them to have been dealt with already or you may have to soon. Those include motor mounts and pan gasket (labor is high), shocks, torque tube (bearings), steering rack, axles, rear wheel bearings, intake refresh (hoses, vacuum lines and gaskets).

billoff966

I am in Hammonton, New Jersey. I found about 4 more that are in my range (300 miles or closer) Emailed 2 guys just now to go look at, hopefully by the end of the week. The responses have been better than I had anticipated. Thanks again....will keep updated.