Thoughts on vintage Porsche's
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Thoughts on vintage Porsche's
I don't know why but at times I find myself browsing the internet for vintage Porsche's. If I look at old 911's and 924's they just look really dated to me. However if I look at 928's, 944's and 968's they look really cool to me. Is that common among 928 owners? I don't tell my wife this but I have thoughts of selling my 07 Boxster and buying a really nice 944 or 968. Is this normal? Thoughts?
Here is a for instance. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsc...#ht_500wt_1182
This car looks really sweet to me.
Brad
Here is a for instance. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsc...#ht_500wt_1182
This car looks really sweet to me.
Brad
#6
The pre 993 911's do have a more dated look. If you like 944's there is a Turbo in the For Sale section here that is one of the sweetest I have seen! You will have to be a paid member to view it though.
https://rennlist.com/forums/for-sale...-10-000-a.html
https://rennlist.com/forums/for-sale...-10-000-a.html
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#8
Rennlist Member
#9
928 Collector
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Here's the sad truth about vintage Porsches. They are better cars than the 911 series of today. Why? RMS and IMS. Really stupid, makes it so I will never buy a 911 from the 996 onwards.
#11
928 Collector
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Rennlist Member
Boxsters are wonderful little mid-engined convertibles, and are ten a penny these days. Selling yours would not get you much. There are thousands of them for sale at 8k. A really nice 968 will cost you more than you may think, same for a really nice 944 turbo or cabriolet. Maybe up in the high teens or more.
#12
Chronic Tool Dropper
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Looked at a 356 in GB's shop a while back that had a thinning and ventilated pan. and a lot of corrosion on the suspension and suspension mounts areas. The Good News is that the pan damage is common enough that there are aftermarket pieces for them. If you aren't a stickler for originality but like the early-911 styling, later underpinnings can be included in an early 911 chassis rebuild just about as easily as the older stuff. And later used parts tend to be in better condition too.
To the OP's question, a lot has to do with taste and enthusiasm, particularly enthusiasm about driving and maybe depending on an older car. Is your Boxster your daily driver? Do you have room in the garage for a project or a Queen? When you look at older cars, remember that they are OLDER cars. They tend to be low-milers that look great but have deferred maintenance needs, cosmetic queens with deferred maintenance needs, or project cars that need cosmetic work but have deferred maintenance needs. There's a common element here. You need to decide if you are ready for that.
Your 2007 Boxster is likely still a pretty reliable car, one that you can take to a dealer or independent shop for anything. It may still be covered under an extended warranty so repair costs are still acceptable. Now consider that the last 928 is almost four times the age of your Boxster, and long past any warranty period. 924's haven't been new since the 1970's, 944's since the late 1980's, and the 968's disappeared to make room for the Boxster at about the same time as the 928 production ended in 1995. These are all OLD cars!
I happen to enjoy my older 928 as a hobby as much as anything. It's hardly economical in the instant picture, even doing all the work on it myself. It's my DD but is not a commuter car, and sits in a stable-climate garage under a cover when it isn't being driven. 4-5k a year maybe is what it gets driven. As it passed 100k last year, a new collection of needs popped onto the calendar and into the budget. The brakes will get overhauled this year with close to $1k in parts costs. Did the intake refresh with all new bits, close to $1k in parts cost. Timing belt and water pump, probably with cam gears this year will be a bit north of $1k in parts costs. For the first time in a very long time, all four tires will be replaced together, at a cost a bit north of $1k. That pegs my parts costs, beyond normal maintenance stuff like fluids and filters, somewhere in the $1/mile neighborhood for the year. With suspension done recently, I expect the next three or four years will be relatively low-cost in mechanical parts. So the interior will get more attention, starting with new seat leather. Point is, it's a never-ending carousel of needs. My funding is adequate so I don't get too excited about it. But...
Neighbor kid drove up in his new E350 MB sedan, leased for $400/month with full maintenance included. Cheap compared to total 928 costs. My favorite local parts purveyor showed off his well-scored supercharged AMG SL last week. Another local owner mentioned that his wife got mad at her Honda and ended up with a CPO Benz hotrod for a pretty reasonable price, and that it outperforms his 928.
So if you want an "interesting" car, and don't mind that they can be sinkholes for cash, an older Porsche may be perfect for you. If you need a car that will start every time and get you where you want to go every day, that older car will be less perfect. Got a great DD, extra cash, and just need a hobby? You came to the right neighborhood!
To the OP's question, a lot has to do with taste and enthusiasm, particularly enthusiasm about driving and maybe depending on an older car. Is your Boxster your daily driver? Do you have room in the garage for a project or a Queen? When you look at older cars, remember that they are OLDER cars. They tend to be low-milers that look great but have deferred maintenance needs, cosmetic queens with deferred maintenance needs, or project cars that need cosmetic work but have deferred maintenance needs. There's a common element here. You need to decide if you are ready for that.
Your 2007 Boxster is likely still a pretty reliable car, one that you can take to a dealer or independent shop for anything. It may still be covered under an extended warranty so repair costs are still acceptable. Now consider that the last 928 is almost four times the age of your Boxster, and long past any warranty period. 924's haven't been new since the 1970's, 944's since the late 1980's, and the 968's disappeared to make room for the Boxster at about the same time as the 928 production ended in 1995. These are all OLD cars!
I happen to enjoy my older 928 as a hobby as much as anything. It's hardly economical in the instant picture, even doing all the work on it myself. It's my DD but is not a commuter car, and sits in a stable-climate garage under a cover when it isn't being driven. 4-5k a year maybe is what it gets driven. As it passed 100k last year, a new collection of needs popped onto the calendar and into the budget. The brakes will get overhauled this year with close to $1k in parts costs. Did the intake refresh with all new bits, close to $1k in parts cost. Timing belt and water pump, probably with cam gears this year will be a bit north of $1k in parts costs. For the first time in a very long time, all four tires will be replaced together, at a cost a bit north of $1k. That pegs my parts costs, beyond normal maintenance stuff like fluids and filters, somewhere in the $1/mile neighborhood for the year. With suspension done recently, I expect the next three or four years will be relatively low-cost in mechanical parts. So the interior will get more attention, starting with new seat leather. Point is, it's a never-ending carousel of needs. My funding is adequate so I don't get too excited about it. But...
Neighbor kid drove up in his new E350 MB sedan, leased for $400/month with full maintenance included. Cheap compared to total 928 costs. My favorite local parts purveyor showed off his well-scored supercharged AMG SL last week. Another local owner mentioned that his wife got mad at her Honda and ended up with a CPO Benz hotrod for a pretty reasonable price, and that it outperforms his 928.
So if you want an "interesting" car, and don't mind that they can be sinkholes for cash, an older Porsche may be perfect for you. If you need a car that will start every time and get you where you want to go every day, that older car will be less perfect. Got a great DD, extra cash, and just need a hobby? You came to the right neighborhood!
#14
Rennlist Member
I have a late 944 cab that is a fun little scooter. However, it suffers in comparison to the 928. So much so that it has been sitting waiting for a water pump or 6 months or so. And I worry that it is just gonna keep sitting because if I have a little extra time I would rather put it into one of the 928s.
As for an early 911...if I was going to go in the direction of a rust magnet/chronic project with major design issues for the sake of style I would just go all the way and get a XKE. Love the have a 993, though.
As for an early 911...if I was going to go in the direction of a rust magnet/chronic project with major design issues for the sake of style I would just go all the way and get a XKE. Love the have a 993, though.
#15
928 Collector
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Karl, I test-drove a late 996 recently. I have driven Boxsters and other Porsches before, including 944 turbo, 968 etc. And in my personal opinion, because of low-end torque, once you've owned a 350hp 928, not a lot else will do.
There was a time many years ago I owned a lovely '81 targa and a 944 and 944S, as well as my S4 5spd.
While the targa offered something the 928 could not, ie old-school Porsche sound, nimble handling etc, the 944's ended up not being driven at all. I loved those cars, but once I had a 928, I found myself just not ebjoying driving them as much anymore.
Same went for a bone-stock like-new '85 928 auto I might add ... everytime I drove it, I was wishing I were in my S4 5-speed.
There was a time many years ago I owned a lovely '81 targa and a 944 and 944S, as well as my S4 5spd.
While the targa offered something the 928 could not, ie old-school Porsche sound, nimble handling etc, the 944's ended up not being driven at all. I loved those cars, but once I had a 928, I found myself just not ebjoying driving them as much anymore.
Same went for a bone-stock like-new '85 928 auto I might add ... everytime I drove it, I was wishing I were in my S4 5-speed.