I just spent an hour or so searching and reading posts looking for typical expected yearly ownership costs of owning a later 928 likely an s4 1987-1991 range.
Initial purchase price varies widely based on the usual things, but if a reasonably sorted out car, everything seems to work, car drives fine, and has some decent maintainance history, What kind of budget should one reserve to maintain it?
My experience with my 944, and with my old Datsuns has been $1k per year to maintain it and $2K+ to get ahead and restore/upgrade.

Thoughts?
BTW This is for a person with reasonable tools and mechanical experience/ ability, a garage, and the car would be a toy only, and last but not least, zero Porsche knowledge. (no this car would not be for me. I have too many already I'm just looking for some guidance for a friend who asked for it)

Cheers!
Scott.

 

It all depends on what condition the car is in when you buy it. I don't think there is a way to put any resonable value to it what it will cost eash year.

There is an early 32V for sale for $8500 that doesn't need anything. You buy that and the yearly cost will be minimal.

 

Initial cost for sure, t-belt; oil leaks; shocks; tyres; fix small things. Depends.

Annual, after that .... oil change; replace water pump and belt every 5- - 60k or so.

 

Imre hit it, but I suspect you want more numbers. The market is thin and wide. You may find a well cared-for '85 5-sp for 8,500. Which would be a very good price IMO. And there are people asking 14K for similar S4 A/T. You have to also consider PPI, travel and/or shipping since the car your friend wants, probably isn't nearby.

By well cared for, I mean nothing would have to be done immediately. If you are doing your own work, $1K to 2K /year would be a reasonable average. Example, new fuel line kit runs about $100 from Roger. Some, but not all parts are expensive, and the best PPI cannot tell you how sticky the idle control valve is. The common relay "53" is under $10 (Porsche wants $25 or so), but there is one in there that is hundreds, can't remember which it is.

 

There are a whole series of costly jobs that eventually should be done on a 928 ... so kinda depends on what you mean by 'maintenance'. For example, the 'intake refresh' job is probably needed around 100k and parts alone to do that could be over $1,000. A person could let it ride and not spend the money, and their car would still run, so is that maintenance? Same thing with your engine mounts and so on.

If your intention is to keep on top of all these things over time, then I would think more like $2,000 a year average.

 

I'm gonna say that the maintenance cost is going to be inversely proportional to your friend's interest in the car. If he likes it and feels it's worth his time and money then he'll want to dive in and fix every squeak and rattle that isn't going to get dinged on a PPI but will drive him crazy when he's looking for things to fix. Someone not so interested is going to let that go.

If he wants to keep the car and drive it he'll do things like bushings and hoses because they are 'starting to look aged' or 'there are no records of when they were done' rather than waiting until they go bad and then reacting.

Bottom line:
If he's the kind to react to things that go bad, then it's going to start low (maybe $1k/year) and then escalate until he throws in the towel.

If he's the kind to do PM and look for things that 'should' be done ahead of time and does all related things when he's in there (WYAIT) he'll probably find that within a year or two his costs will go from $2.5k+/year down to the cost of oil, wax, and some other fluids between TB/WP service intervals.

 

Between $1K and $2K seems right, if its well sorted out. Depends on how much you do yourself. The PO on my car spent $20K (yes that's $20,000) over two years taking care of deferred maintenance and 25 years of aged parts. However, in my 3 years it has been around $1K a year (AC motor, resistor, clutch slave cylinder, power steering hoses / resevoir, alternator, and most recently the radiator). I generally order parts from one of the forum sponsors and have an independent Porsche tech install them - twin toddler daughters doesn't allow gararge time that I used to have.

 

This calls for a poll

 

You can easily DOUBLE your annual costs of the datsuns or 944 per year. There are those on this forum who have spent $ 5,000- $ 10,000 just getting there 928 into being a reliable driver with presentible paint and interior.....some far, far more. And I personally spend very little and it shows !!! I do not count tires and track fees

 

My 944S cost me more in six years than both of my 928's combined over 10 years.

It was a low mileage, two owner car with full records.

 

Expect the unexpected!

 

You gotta separate "maintenance" from "restoration" from "repairs" from "improvements." Then there's DIY costs versus paid mechanic costs.

Maintenance alone will average less than $500 per year over 5 to 10 years if you do the work yourself. If you drive it a few thousand miles a year, figure another $500 in repairs each year for DIY.

 

In my experience about 3K a year. That's also based on what I want to spend per year and based on the time I have to wrench on the car.

 

it all depends on the condition you get the S4 in.....IF and its a HUGE IF it is in good condition to start....then $1-2k annually easy, probably less.....

IF you have to "Catch up" on maintainence then its massive amounts of $$$$, since any 928 that is not maintained, clearly its owner will also be behind in many other aspects of its care...... these are the "deals" you see out there....a 928 that might look nice, but "needs a TB-WP".....which uncovers all kinds of other problems and your "deal" of a $5k S4 now will cost $10k to get right....and you end up with a nice $10k car you have $15k into.....

BY FAR the best way to get into 928's is to find a medium mileage one (100K +) that has been cared for properly...... Don't be afraid of high miles, if properly cared for......be AFRAID of super low mileage cars.....since they could become very expensive replacing lots of dried out rubber bits.....unless the owner can document replacing many underhood items...or they still feel pliable and correct

 

I have owned my 928 for 15 years. Bought it as a one owner 1989 S4 in 96 with 23K miles. Currently has 94K miles and I have spent $18154 on maintenance over the 15 years. ( don't tell the wife!).

I have had TB/pump done three times by indy shop , had LH brain repaired, ISV, shocks, brakes, MM, OPG, CV and steering rack boots, belts, hoses, regular fluid changes ( oil, coolant, brake fluid, trans service) , plugs/rotor caps, etc. Car runs great.

This includes multiple tires, alignment, balancing, and also had AC converted over to 134.

This does not include new wheels, stereo, and other cosmetic expenses .

So that's $1200 per year maintenance or $.257 per mile, with a smile every mile. $100 a month to drive a 928, no brainer!