Thinking of a 928S4
09-20-2011, 05:00 PM
#1
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Thinking of a 928S4
How much more reliable would an 89S4 be to an 83S - have they improved with age(I had one years ago with niggling little problems, espcially electical ones)? Also what is the torque figure? I think I remember HP at 316. I have a 98 Boxster that's given me no problems other than the air bag warning light in 8+ years. I'd keep that one too.
Thanks for your imput. It would be the 5spd. that I'm looking at.
Thanks for your imput. It would be the 5spd. that I'm looking at.
09-20-2011, 05:14 PM
#2
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89 5 spd is a rare car in either S4 or GT trim.
928 is a reliable as you are, speaking of maintenance. The engines are about as tough as they come. Some have put many thousands into getting an S4 current with all the little things that can go wrong with age.
Don't dismiss the S4 automatics. Both of mine are and except fro some very spcific instances I have not missed rowing the gears and lengthening my left leg. There are fans and detractors of both transmissions. Took me awhile to get over the stigma of driving a Porsche with and automatic transmission.
928 is a reliable as you are, speaking of maintenance. The engines are about as tough as they come. Some have put many thousands into getting an S4 current with all the little things that can go wrong with age.
Don't dismiss the S4 automatics. Both of mine are and except fro some very spcific instances I have not missed rowing the gears and lengthening my left leg. There are fans and detractors of both transmissions. Took me awhile to get over the stigma of driving a Porsche with and automatic transmission.
09-20-2011, 06:31 PM
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I think you are going to find that the S4 has a lot more electroncis and thus a lot more little issues with it as it ages than your '83. Nothing like your boxter which was very young. With the electronics it is mostly age, complexity, and condition. With a S4 you have complexity and age against you. Your only hope would be condition.
09-20-2011, 06:51 PM
#6
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Well it all depends which one you buy - and thats partly down to luck... but paying a bit more for well maintained, good service history car will make it a better proposition.
One that lived in a nice dry climate and was kept out of the sun would help even more.
Alan
One that lived in a nice dry climate and was kept out of the sun would help even more.
Alan
09-21-2011, 03:48 AM
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Well I don't regret my S4 purchase, that's for sure. I bought it last fall and it is still a wonderful car, I even drove it to Canada and back this summer. But it still continues to have niggling electrical issues, almost all are caused by aging switches and relays. Basically, you will end up replacing almost every relay in the board over time. And the bad relays cause all manner of unpredicted gremlins in seemingly unrelated circuits. I recently solved a problem where my HVAC head would intermittently die, by replacing the window relay. Still do not know why this worked.
Now I'm going to try a headlamp relay to try to solve a different, unrelated issue.
But aside from that crud, car runs great and is reliable in general.
Now I'm going to try a headlamp relay to try to solve a different, unrelated issue.
But aside from that crud, car runs great and is reliable in general.
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09-21-2011, 09:39 AM
#8
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Well I don't regret my S4 purchase, that's for sure. I bought it last fall and it is still a wonderful car, I even drove it to Canada and back this summer. But it still continues to have niggling electrical issues, almost all are caused by aging switches and relays. Basically, you will end up replacing almost every relay in the board over time. And the bad relays cause all manner of unpredicted gremlins in seemingly unrelated circuits. I recently solved a problem where my HVAC head would intermittently die, by replacing the window relay. Still do not know why this worked.
Now I'm going to try a headlamp relay to try to solve a different, unrelated issue.
But aside from that crud, car runs great and is reliable in general.
Now I'm going to try a headlamp relay to try to solve a different, unrelated issue.
But aside from that crud, car runs great and is reliable in general.
09-21-2011, 10:22 AM
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Thanks all for the feedback! Called the dealership and the car already sold to someone out of state! That went quick. Oh well, I'll read more here and learn even more about them in case another good ones comes up for sale in the future.
09-21-2011, 10:37 AM
#10
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let's see a few pics of that NSX in your avatar - I love those cars nearly as much as the 928.
09-21-2011, 12:29 PM
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Well I don't regret my S4 purchase, that's for sure. I bought it last fall and it is still a wonderful car, I even drove it to Canada and back this summer. But it still continues to have niggling electrical issues, almost all are caused by aging switches and relays. Basically, you will end up replacing almost every relay in the board over time. And the bad relays cause all manner of unpredicted gremlins in seemingly unrelated circuits. I recently solved a problem where my HVAC head would intermittently die, by replacing the window relay. Still do not know why this worked.
Now I'm going to try a headlamp relay to try to solve a different, unrelated issue.
But aside from that crud, car runs great and is reliable in general.
Now I'm going to try a headlamp relay to try to solve a different, unrelated issue.
But aside from that crud, car runs great and is reliable in general.
09-21-2011, 02:34 PM
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Perhaps you should consider all the things which your Boxster might need fixing or replaced over the NEXT ten years, all the service items, the wear and tear of being a car, the risks of being exposed to damage on the road.
Those are similar to what an 88/89 S-4 may have experienced. Often the question is how well was it taken care of how much was correctly maintained. What many have been saying is any car when 20 years old needs a lot of things replaced to be reliable. If you are one who pays other people to work on your cars it is very easy to spend $10,000 on an S-4 getting it back in proper condition with everything working as it should.
For many on this forum having and working on their 928 is a hobby others like myself use it as a track beast with little reguard to how it looks. For years I have observed that many people end up spending around $2,500 per year in repairs so if it has been neglected for a few years it quickly adds up.
Those are similar to what an 88/89 S-4 may have experienced. Often the question is how well was it taken care of how much was correctly maintained. What many have been saying is any car when 20 years old needs a lot of things replaced to be reliable. If you are one who pays other people to work on your cars it is very easy to spend $10,000 on an S-4 getting it back in proper condition with everything working as it should.
For many on this forum having and working on their 928 is a hobby others like myself use it as a track beast with little reguard to how it looks. For years I have observed that many people end up spending around $2,500 per year in repairs so if it has been neglected for a few years it quickly adds up.