curt_928

Exactly. The only people that make comments about the "unreliability" of FCars are usually people that have never owned one. I was expecting questionable mechanical reliability coming from my 928, but the italian engines are pretty darn robust. The biggest problem I see is that people don't get a PPI done when they buy one.. then are surprised when something isn't working well. Just like when someone buys a ratty 928 on ebay and then gripes when it's too expensive to fix. Well there is a difference, when you put $5k into a $15k 308, it really is worth $20k when you're done. I wish I had that experience with my 928. ;-)

"I used to want a 308 until I found out they had NO horsepower."
"And what little they have comes above 4k rpm."

Really? Like my 79 has to struggle to keep up with Hondas? Like any vintage US 928 of comparable year is any better? Given 928 Low end torque = larger displacement.

catamount

As for the sales dropoff in 87. I seriously doubt the restyling had that much to do with it. Remember the massive stock market crash in Oct '87? That crash had been building for the better part of the year. Consumer confidence continually weakened over the course of the year and an election was just around the corner.

So, buyers had a lot on their minds at the time, a good bit of negativity existed. Plus there was the beginnings of discontent towards "YUPPIE" attitudes and consumerism.

BTW, I graduated from college that year, it was a tough job market for college grads that year. It was probably the first year where having a great degree wasn't a guarantee you'd get a great job.

tv

Yes I remember that period quite well, I gradgeeated in 85, BUT stock market crashes don't build, they crash. AND most importantly that was when the 1988 928 was on sale.

The 1987 928 was on sale in Fall 86. The change was not embraced.


I just remembered, I was in the Boston Porsche dealers showroom that fall checking out the cars they had and I still remember staring at the brand new Guards Red 87 S4 they had. It looked cool to me at the time.

A few months prior to that I was in Montreal for the F1 Grand Prix. Of course there were all kinds of cars in the city and in the parking lots around the track. I saw one of the first AMG mercs that weekend, it beat my new Mustang GT badly from a red light. In the parking lot were all kinds of sports cars, I walked past a red Pantera and a 930 Turbo and lots of others including 308's. The best parking space on the entire island was a roped off VIP area right next to the pedestrian bridge over to the track. Just a few cars in this special area --- the coolest road car of the weekend - an all black (windows tinted) 928 S2 euro. The most desirable car at the Montreal GP.

hacker-pschorr

• MSRP jumped almost $8,000 for 1987 (per the registry)
• 1986-1987 the long anticipated 911 Turbo was finally re-released in the US (1987 930 was the same price point as the S4). The 86 Turbo’s were not easy to come by.
• 1986-1987 the 911 convertible & targa re-introduced
• 1986 The 944 Turbo was introduced for $20k less than a 928. If you don't think the 15,000+ 951's sold in 86/87 had in impact on 928 sales your fooling yourself.

The economy / market crash, as previously mentioned, you don't think had anything to do with sales? Let's look at the Corvette production numbers:
1985 - 39,729
1986 - 35,109 (convertible was re-introduced this year)
1987 - 30,632
1988 - 30,632
1989 - 26,412
1990 - 26,412 (which included the ZR1)
1991 - 20,639
1992 - 20,479 (introduction of the LT1 as the base engine)

Any Corvette expert will tell you how much better each year was, especially the upgrades for 1986.

Yea....the body style is the main reason the 928 sales tanked

tv

As previously mentioned by ME. Also I mentioned the DM currency exchange rate change that resulted in the price increase, but that hit all models.



I was driving new 911's at the time, was in the showrooms, was into cars more than most. I am not reading this **** I lived it. The 944 turbo buyer and the 928 buyer were different people. Roll your eyes all you want

tv

a pic of an old car buddie's 308

curt_928

I agree with TV on this one. Different price point, different demographic. 951 may have eaten more into 911 sales.

tv

Since I mentioned the 1986 Montreal GP, it's a good time to share this video I found the other day. The Honda Collections Hall in Japan keeps and maintains some classic race cars. The Williams in this video is one of the best race cars in History. The most powerful year in Formula 1 1986 1200+ bhp in qualifying.

It was also the absolute height of Porsche coming off 2 dominating years in F1, still dominating endurance racing, and of course the 928 at its sales peak.

I played this video in a crowded apple store recently to see how it looked on their largest screen, and there was young couple on the other side of the table. As soon as the girl heard the Williams pull away she burst out laughing with a smile and said to her BF "that will get you going". I asked her if she liked it and she said enthusiastically YES. I told them to come over and watch it and they liked it a lot.

Watch this in 1080P and those with nice screens and speakers should really enjoy this. I saw these cars for 6 sessions that year real close. Unbelievable experience. First time I have seen 80's F1 turbo's so clearly in 26 years.

Vilhuer

Currency fluctuation between DM and US$ in late eighties was probably biggest reason for slow sales in US. PCNA raised prices at least twice a year on worst years.

Art_Z

$8k in 1987 is a boatload of money. Nail in the coffin right there.