Jchiodi

I have both. Never got more comments, questions, admiring looks on any car I've owned than the black/black 928! And it sounds pretty neat too.....

jc

linderpat

The pictures of the car above look pretty good. A bit hard to tell, but the engine bay appears to be in good shape.

SMTCapeCod

Yes, you should.
4 cyl p-cars are not uncommon gateway rides that lead to 928 ownership, I went 924S -> 928S3 back in the day, would never go back.

Dennis Burford

My son has an 84 944 as well. It is his daily driver, and as such, a pretty economical car. We've done the timing/balance belt, water pump, front engine oil seals, radiator, motor mounts, rear axles, as well as a couple of mods - throttle cam, short shifter, and a Dino steering wheel.

Given my experience with my 928, I'd say the 944 is about half as difficult to work on, and half (or less) as expensive. Example: the radiator was $300 new. Go price 928 radiators and you'll see what I mean.

If the 944 is your daily driver, I'd not swap it for the 928 unless you have a back up car. I used my 928 as my daily driver for 3 years, but I have several cars I could fall back on when it was time to climb under the 928. That said, I've retired my 928 from daily dirver to classic car status and will be diving into an extended maintenance period where I'll be doing the timing belt (an water pump possibly) sorting out why my fog lights and horn no longer work, changing out all fluids, doing an intake refresh, chasing down an oil leak (possibly valve covers) etc. etc. Maybe you swap for the 928 but go buy a nice Volvo 744 for $1K. That's my daily driver now, and she has 373k miles on her and still running strong.

heinrich

I wouldn't trade.

Cosmo Kramer

Of course you should!

Although my opinion may be biased.

SMTCapeCod

Lucky, I went with a C70 and its proven to be an utter POS.

928dreamer

I really want a 928 but I need it to me my daily driver for 10-12 months. I have funds that I can put in it overtime. Is there any signs to look for that its a 928 I should NOT get. I want to do some work on it myself, but i would like to be aware of general problems. Comments so far have been great. Thanks.

Dean_Fuller

There is no real "problem areas' on a 1980. Check to make sure what works electrically or not. See if there has been any fuse panel modifications. Manual shifting, if needing work, can be $$$$. Its a non interference motor so the timing belt isn't a major must do right away. Check for power steering leaks, oil leaks, if you could check compression that would be nice.

928dreamer

According to his ad he has put on a new clutch, slave cylinder, and a new shift cuppler. Sounds like has done the majority of the "hard" work already.

EspritS4s

Don't do it. The car will let you down at the wrong time. Then you'll have to decide between paying $$$ to have a shop repair it (if you can find a good one) or doing the work yourself. Working on these yourself is the way to go, but not when you need the car to get to work the next day. The 928 highway is littered with people on limited funds who bought a 928 as their only daily driver. Very few have pulled it off. Most of them who have are probably here on this forum though.

Dennis Burford

Yes, definitely have a leakdown test done! Actually, investing in a PPI (Pre Purchase Inspection) is always a wise move. $100 to $200 depending on shop. They may find a deal breaker, but that's better than ending up with a car that will break you!

Cape Cod - I only do the RWD Volvos. Have had 2 240's and 2 740's. Great cars, easy and cheap to fix, economical to drive (27 highway on my last long run) and well engineered all around. And cheap to buy now in real nice condition, same for the 940's (that will probably be my next Volvo, maybe even with the turbo).

dr bob

There are several resources in Ga. Post the location of the car and see who from the list might be able to join you for an initial inspection.

The 1980-ish cars are generally in the few-$k price range, so consider that trading your running and known-quantity DD 944 may or may not be a good idea. You'll still need a DD for a while until you get the 928 sorted and satisfactory, and the 944 is at least a devil you know. Bottom line: if you go for the 928, hang on to the 944 at least for a while.

I look at any used 928 and see an instant $5k in deferred maintenance just for parts. Others may argue that this is too high but it's still my number. I'm willing to reduce it based on parts costs of major maintenance confirmed done in the last several years. I budget for --all-- the rubber hoses, tires and brakes, shocks, steering, motor mounts, OPG, timing belt and associated bits, radiator, vacuum system, etc. I budget to bring all the fluids current. Then and only then is the car safe to drive, and OK start another budget for the cosmetic stuff like interior parts and maybe paint. I've seen more than a few cars that have been purchased cheap, a few $k put into fancy tires and wheels, and no money left to do all the basic stuff that makes the car safe and relatively reliable. The 1980 car is now over 30 years old. While it may be fun, it will always be a project.

JMHO.


My 1989 car is my DD, but I travel too much and only put five thousand miles on it per year on average. All in, it costs a buck or two per mile to own it. I do my own work, am religious about doing it correctly and completely with the right parts. Car came to me with 22k on it, has 103k fifteen years later. Lives in a rust-free Cali coastal desert climate, in a relatively climate-stable garage virtually all the time. It's reliable enough to go jump in it right now and drive to your house and back without a thought. It's also a hobby, so it gets a lot of casual attention to keep everything working perfectly, without tracking how much time is really spent. Look at the sig lines of other owners, and notice that there are usually "other" cars listed along with the 928. There's a reason.

brutus

Yes this one sign. " but I need it to me my daily driver for 10-12 months."
You KNOW what your 944 is and it is relatively low miles and presumably your daily driver.

Dean_Fuller

Joe...do you do all your work on your 944???

Also...trading your DD thats your ONLY car on ANY OTHER used car will carry some risk. Do you have access to a loaner from someone in emergencies? There WILL be times it will leave you needing a ride...but thats TRUE with ANY 30 year old car.

If you can work on your 944 then you can work on a 928...its just tighter in the bay and lots more electronics. The 928 forums are a TON of help...not sure how the help is over in the 944 side.