After doing a ~500 kms in the GTS Im starting to think that Porsche had most matters correct when I compared to my modified S4.

The GTS suspension works very well, brakes are solid and quiet, engine is smooth and gearbox shifts very well.

Not trying to do a direct comparo but its interesting what we believe are 'improvements' are perhaps not much better than factory....

 

Porsche has always been about constant improvement along the marque's lifespan.

It's often an improvement, but sometimes doing so sacrifices or compromises something else, ie. additional weight for for additional safety features.

There is no question the GTS is a much better car, techincally, than the '77 debut car (heck, they didn't even have AC). Look at what was lost in the process (a sense of sporting purity, IMHO), and look at what was gained (HO 5.4L 32V).

As polar opposites as they appear to be, I'm sure are opinions on this topic would be as polarizing.

 

Yep, sometimes "less is more" when it comes to mods. Like I am one to talk!

I like the late model 911 guys that take off their stock exhaust that was painstakingly designed and tuned by Porsche and put on something that makes their car sound like a souped up VW bug!

The GTS was the last of the breed and certainly the most refined in the NVH department.

 

100% agreement. The 928 is an exceptionally designed car. Most cars that are modified extensively are usually deficient in some area (chassis, suspension, brakes, powerplant, transmission). The 928 has the basics so well covered there isn't a lot left to improve (other than power). I am not an 'edge' driver but a 300 HP car that handles and stops as well as a 928, and cruises as comfortably as a 928 is a treasure and joy to drive..

 

Most modifications seem to be done to satisfy a particular owner's tastes or needs. More power, a more-race-car like ride or handling. Different colors, different looks, different wheels and tires. Each to try and personalize a car. Oh, and let's not forget that cars do wear out with miles and age, so the opportunity to save money with substitute replacement parts exists. The substitute parts may fit and may make an improvement over the worn condition of those they replace. The reality is that most folks have not had the opportunity to drive a 'new' 928, and the gradual deterioration of the one they love isn't recognized until they ride in an unmolested, well cared for and maintained example.

I purposefully avoid driving new cars, because it points me to all the things that my car lacks. I had a Benz rental for a month last year, and was ready to go buy one. Fortunately I was still on a project and had time to gather my thoughts a bit and forget how well it worked before I signed any purchase agreements. There really are some cars that are better than my 23+ year old 104k religiously maintained 928. As long as I can avoid driving them, they will belong to others.

 

Yes Jadz the 77' debut car was much more basic, when compared to modern standards but come on, look at what was standard in a 1977 car back then... I remember seeing a program about various old cars where "Carpetting" was listed as a "standard" feature! In 77' the 928 looked so out of place! I also watched a sort of documentary on Porsche that was probably done in the mid 80's and some scenes showed a 928 driving in downtown New York, you should have seen all the other cars on the road at the time! It was really amazing to see the car in it's time setting, it was well, timeless!

 

 

^^^ , Here's more!

 

Oh, I completely get it! I should have mentioning in my post that I understand there was 23 years btw the first and last (used in my comparison)... not including 5 years or so of development.

I appreciate the purity of the early cars very much. So much so that I'm willing to put more money into them (#1 in particular) than what one might pay for a GTS.

Very cool! That is one thing I'll never be able to do. But I've researched to the point where I have a pretty good sense of it.

Would've also been neat to the see a GTS in the showroom in '95.

 

The thread title may be misleading.

You OP refers to a modded S4 vs. stock GTS.

But, if I use "stock is best" and compare the early brakes to the 'S'... I'd say no way.
And this would be an upgrade I'd perform on most early (non-S) cars, aside some ones that require to be original/stock.

I guess what I'm getting as is this topic could go in many directions, at once... like it already has.

 

This was that documentary i was talking about. Lots of old footage of 928's in their prime and 924/911/944's owned by typical 80's rich businessmen! Some of their responses are actually comical. There's also some footage of 928's being assembled in the factory and short interviews with the factory workers. Watch it all if you can, very cool video.

 

Most modifications can't be "test driven" you have to buy the mod and install it to know what its like, and in most cases there will be some hit and miss. I think with Porsche and the 928 its very easy to "think" you know why the engineers did something, see a great way to improve it, and be totally wrong.

Plus even with as sociable of a group as we have, nobody is that anxious to announce what dumb move some expensive mod they have tried might be.

OTOH I'm glad we have people still trying new things and looking to improve the 928, some have turned out pretty well.

 

My stock set-up (other than an add-on oil separator/breather) has served me well, since I fixed an irregular idle (vacuum leak) by replacing the TB and flappy roller bearings with new bearings that have seals on both sides.

I have recently added an oil separator/breather set-up which keeps my intake free of oil and oil vapors.

During my last road trip my records show me that on the Highway I get 25+MPG cruising at 75-80MPH and 17+MPG when driving it hard.

So I’m very pleased with these results with a rock steady idle of 675RPM and a smooth running engine with great fuel mileage I believe stock is good.

Happy 928 motoring

 

That is one mysterious area I would like to improve on my 86 (the Crankcase breathing/Oil in the intake issue). The solutions I have seen so far have been outside my budget ...

 

Salut Malcolm,

Even though I have never driven one, I think that you now understand why they say that the GTS is simply the best of the 928!
I may repeat myself, but enjoy your beautiful GTS as mutch as you can.
Beautiful car.