If you don't mind, I will offer you a suggestion. Take it or leave it, but I think it is good advice.

If you are serious about buying a Shark, and you are bound to eventually get one. I would join Rennlist as a full member. The advice that you will get from this forum cannot be found anywhere else. I was a lurker for a long while, and then finally signed up and spoke up. I have learned more about 928's from the guys on this forum, than any book or other website. As a member, you get access to the For Sale and Classifieds. Guys come on here constantly and post sweet 928 finds from all over the country. It could help you locate a car. In the meantime, the knowledge that you gain will make you a smarter 928 shopper. Stick around. Dig in. It will be worth it.

 

It is good to be educated, but sometimes the first car you see is the best deal. Now granted I work on the older cars so perhaps I do not benefit from what is good on say and S4 and perhaps I do not have the expensive S4 parts bill. Also I tend to want to restore from the ground up so a bad car is not much worse from a good car. Unless the GT had a salvage title or had been in a serious accident I would take a chance on this car. What you save on purchase cost can go towards fixing up the car.

Probably the least reliable 928 is one that is a good well cared for car. By tearing down the car and going through it from bottom up you can take messures to make it more reliable than the car was when new. You can get rid of a lot of "ready to fail' Porsche parts and do things like replace German rubber with silicon.

If you do the work yourself you can get away with under $4000 without tires and do a reasonable job. Paint if you just buy materials $1000 - maybe $3000 if you pay someone to block and shoot the car. For a couple thousand more you can trick out the interior with some nice leather. In the case of the GT you could sell the wheels and put the stock wheels back on for probably a profit.

After you end up with a very nice GT worth in the $20K range and you end up with the car you want with no compromises.

 

Good points but I have yet to see a 928 for sale that did not require a substantial cash infusion even ones with only 20K miles. Things rot.

Do not discount the older cars for a first 928. They are easier to work on, used parts are much cheaper, have less to go wrong and in my opinion much more fun to drive. I helped a friend buy a 1979 five speed. He had an auto S4 before and ended up in an accident. He paid $3900 for the 79 and then took it to a shop and had the things done that it needed. After he had money left over from the insurance settlement. The result has been years of trouble free driving.

The 78 and 79 US cars and the 80-83 Euro S cars are the ones to have. The 80-83 Euro S cars are probably the best 928 for the buck that Porsche made. With 300 hp they are as or more responsive than the S4. The lower gearing also overcomes the 220 gearing of the S4 - (BTW the GT has the lower gearing) and gives a lighter feel to the car.

Or better yet look for a $700-1000 running clunker. Drive the crap out of it and learn about the cars and then just dump it when you know more and are ready to buy the "right" car. You could even part it out, make a couple of bucks and learn from taking it apart.

 

For a couple of thousand more, there are cars that would be a much better starting point:
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...731060469.html
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bn...718877878.html

 

Except they are in Vancouver, Canada, and the OP is in Florida...

 

I was just trying to point out that there are going to be plenty of 5-spd s4 cars in that range. Maybe better, maybe worse condition. Also, he planned to have the car shipped. It would be more , but probably only $500-$1000 more.

 

Wish I had bought Scott Anderson's 91 S4. First car I really looked hard at...

The advice here is sound. I only lost a few grand buying one that needed work at a time when I had no time to have it done...thankfully it was bought by someone who joined Rennlist and has taken the time to slowly bring it back to safe and drivable.

 

I do not see how one can compare a 87 S4 with a 90 GT. They are different cars. Most important the 220 final drive and the quality difference between the 87 and 90 model years. The 90 also has an air bag.

Under 25 years requires DOT work when bringing the car into the states. It looked like the GT was not US compliant.

 

sboschian,

IF you want a well taken care of car, the one that is for sale on Rennlist now in Boston area is excellent. A very dedicated owner, some mods that are quite nice. Check out the 928 Forum thread "my car for sale now - not sold".

Gary Knox

 

Maybe you can confirm a rumor for me.

I have a 1988 Guards Red, 5-speed, Option 220. I have been told that these were test beds or "pilots" for the 1989 GT. Is there any truth in this?

This auction shocked the hell out of me this week. This is an identical twin to my car, with a few less miles.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988-...item5890fc03e3

 

Option 220 was limited slip.
No truth to your rumor. The precursors of the 89GT were the club sport models (87 through 89).. Basically stripped down lightweight cars with the enhanced engines (cams) and I believe the 2.73 rear..

 

I'm guessing you are shocked at the asking price. I think that was a "price" not an auction, so there was no interest between .01 and 17.5K. It has a very extensive maintenance list done. Very extensive. Seller is testing what he thinks is the upper limit for this car. Sometimes they sell for a lot less after a test period. Kinda high for this time of year, but I guess he has storage space.

 

I kinda merged two subjects into one post. I should have clarified why I was shocked, but out of expeditiousness, since I am at work when I posted this, I sort of cut it off.

Yes, I was shocked at the asking price. That auction had multiple bids, but now shows ZERO. The dude is high. He is putting a bit much of an emphasis on that LSD option. I have the option, and the previous owner didn't even know that it had it. A mechanic told me after looking at the car to do a trans fluid swap, and then checking against the option sticker.

I guess there is no harm in trying to get maximum buck for your car, if you can. No harm at all, in trying.

 

Yeah. He's in Salt Lake City!

or did you mean something else???

It's always a two sided coin here. We want re-sale up if we're not the buyer.

 

Sorry for the absence guys! But I was in South Africa for work! very cool! BTW that's where the only 928 with 360 HP resides! I wish I could have seen that car. I have taken everyone's advice, but I have to tell you I'm a go getter kind of guy, I don't sit in the fence too long. I see what I like and I get--within reason of course. I had the same attitude in real estate during the boom and I made a lot of monay but I also lost some money! I think I really have that darn bug! it feels right! I have ridden a couple of them and it feels likle a million bucks! Perhaps not for you if you have had it for a while, but when you first get in, especially a 5 sp one, it's a rush! Thanks everyone for the advice on the purchase and please feel free to pass along any lead......remember I'm in Florida.,

Sal