NoVector

Some have to die so others can live. Or in the words of Spock, "the needs of the many out-weigh the needs of the few, or the one." E.g. the GTS in South Dakota.

Captain_Slow

I bought one of those 928s that shouldn't be bought. I'm doing the math regarding fixing it or just walking away. Taking a picture and framing it with the caption "Never again". I'll probably hear from the shop today regarding the TB/WP, tensioner, etc. etc. Don't know how this will turn out, but most effective way to cut my losses is likely outcome.

Mike Frye

IMO, the 928 is a very poor candidate for paying someone else to do the service if you're at all considering 'cutting your losses'.
<snip>
Yup, if it's just a math equation the only way to win is not to play (obligatory obscure 80s reference anyone?)



+1

That was beautiful man. *sniff-sniff*

jwillman

Hind sight is 20/20! - not so obscure reference.

There are tons of cautions on this site about what folks are getting themselves into cost wise if they pick up a project car and especially if they can not/ don't want to do the work themselves.

I am glad I bought my project car more for the community and Camaraderie than the joy/ pain of a 32 year old 928 that was neglected. I knew what to expect thanks to so many of you and have been able to work through my issues with the help of this same community.

When I finally walk away i can say "Thanks for the memories"!

brutus

If you are "doing the math" and paying someone to work on the car.....we all know how this is going to turnout ! Many new 928 owners make one trip to the shop learn how much it really needs and sell the car ! While owning a $100,000 plus "super car" is a big carrot paying to repair one if neglected (and many are) can be a very painful exercise. You need to really LOVE 928s and be emotional not logical or rational because it never makes sense when you do the math. If having one makes you smile that is the only real return on investment.

Cosmo Kramer

This is the way of the automotive world, not just 928's. Anyone buying an old vehicle that needs considerable work (especially paint!) with the hope that they will break even is living in a dream world. Look at the last Barret Jackson, beautiful custom cars going for 30K that cost 50K plus to build.

The only exception to this rule would be a car that is nicely restored or preserved and needs an engine or transmission. You can buy them cheap because of that and do a transplant and stay in the green.

+928. The best way to preserve these owners is to get them on this board. People here have helped me out of countless frustrating situations and I have been able to keep my car going without breaking the bank. If I didn't have the help I have found here, I probably would have given up long ago.

nuts4porsche

i got a cash offer on my 80' with all S options and the Comp. package,$1500 bucks-no thanks!

Begood

I have already put a boat load of money into my 928 over the 25 years that I have had it. I know I can never sell it because I will take too big of a hit, so it is the one wife I can never divorce.

hernanca

Only the black (special paint), family-edition, Weissach's - unbelievably rare!


Regarding the topic, I believe it is a matter of seeing through the illusion. A $10K 928 is not the same as any other $10K car. It is considerably more expensive than most of those. How much more depends on 1) it's maintenance history, 2) it's current condition, 3) the skills you have to do your own work.

Someone with a $10K budget for a car, should not look at a $10K 928.

Agree that we need to preserve happy owners. Setting accurate expectations goes a long way towards that goal.

All that being said, my white 86.5 with 243K miles is still available to Rennlisters for $4500

Captain_Slow

It's getting fixed...then I'm going to drive it like a Camry for as long as it goes with nothing more than oil and filter changes. I can fix switches, vacuum leaks, etc. borrowing a friend's garage for a day (right now everything but the cruise control works). It's car #2 until I need something else. If I get a few good years it's a win.

I would like to work on the car myself. I've owned a few Unimogs. You can't find a mechanic to work on Mogs if you wanted to. I've done a number of big jobs (replaced a clutch in a 404 myself (taking apart the cab floor and moving the engine forward to do it.....outside in the snow). I rebuilt a starter because I had no choice but to do it. I had a garage and lived on 5 acres...didn't matter if I left a Mog in pieces in front of my house. But where I live now I'm not allowed to even add oil. My mistake was not considering the lack of place to work on the car (impulse buy). I'll post the report from the mechanic in my original thread relating to the TB. He told me to go out and buy a lottery ticket because it was just moments from disaster.

Landseer

I'm interested in saving 928 cars that were used as transportation by adults and are ready for refresh.

I try to avoid anything that looks like it was abused by an immature adult or teenager, also, those that sat with interior open to the weather for an extended time.

The equation for me is rescue, diy mechanical, achieve reliable driveability, consider interior refresh.
Insurance coverage is liability only. Final or resale value is nowhere in the equation.

By spreading the money across a set of cars instead of focusing on a single car we have been able to get 7 adults in the family driving them, at least on a part time basis.

So the ones "worth" saving for us are the ones that can be made 8-10 in reliablity with refreshes, while starting at at-least 4 cosmetically.

I think the ones to part are thrashed, badly hit, burned or infested.

The longer you can delay parting one, the more it will be worth later.

rgs944

Best answer yet, but I would be more picky and start with at least a 6 cosmetically. especially original paint.

bradartigue

Most importantly you have to have a certain number of either extra or missing genes to want to fool with old cars, especially old high performance cars, and especially those of limited production numbers, and most importantly those that were hand built.

Another consideration is you simply have to want to work on a car. This isn't unique to 928s or Porsches. The cost of having a mechanic solve old car problems can add 400% or more to any repair. Success is relative to how much you're willing to work or how much you enjoy the work. I don't mind a car that needs a near complete mechanical refresh or paint or interior. I like that kind of work. A car that is rusty, had a fire, wrecked beyond a ding or two, or had serious PO conversion work (a Chevy engine) is out for me. They take too much to get back to a good baseline.

All this from a guy (me) who has a 928 that formerly resided under a tree with a view of I-12...

Ghosteh

Weissach's are rare, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are desireable. I've had one, and the only differences (along with the color & interior) were the "S" spoilers & suspension. No other mechanical differences. They had the full leather interiors and two-tone seats, along with a little gold plaque (that many are missing). They also came with a set of matching leather luggage (extremely rare to find that). While the leather interiors must have been beautiful back in '82, nowadays most have suffered from the deterioration common to all early 928s. Replacing a full leather interior literally would cost much more than the car could be bought for.

Unless you run across a Weissach that's unusual (yeah... the notorious 6-speed) or in an extremely high state of original preservation (and there are a few), don't think you're getting anything with collectible value.

Most manufacturers have always made "limited edition" models that were basically trim upgrades. Years later, the cars that truly maintain or increase in value seem to always be the ones that were performance focused, not cosmetics.

JohnKoaWood

If it turns south, I am pretty sure you can find someone localish to either A) buy it from you or B) do the work at a discount from the quoted price at the shop!