It's Back!
04-03-2013, 09:38 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
It's Back!
In 1995, I bought an '89 S4/5-speed while we were living on Long Island. I owned the car until 1997, and sold it. Don't ask me why, because I really don't have a good reason other than I mused about selling it, and my friend Paul (PAR Porsche) called saying he had a buyer, and willing to pay a handsome price for the car. Paul felt it was one of the nicest 928's he'd come across.
Plenty of cars and years have intervened, not to mention a move to Virginia in 2008.
A few weeks ago, while running errands, a 928 pulled out from a side street, and apart from rarely seeing 928's anymore, this one was familiar. I shouted "that's our car!'. My wife offered "oh, a 928 like ours?" Emphatically, I said "no, THAT is our car!!"
I caught up with the car at the next traffic light, signaled the driver to lower the passenger window and informed him that "he was driving a car that I sold in NY 16 years ago!". We both were astonished, and exchanged cell numbers. Indeed, a little worse for the years and the wear, it was my 928. And he wanted to sell it.
I happened to be in the midst of selling an F355 that I'd bought with the proceeds of our NY house sale in '08, and finally realized that I could not afford to keep it. I could easily service the car myself, but the F-car crowd devalues any car not serviced regularly by the dealer every 3 years. I'm talking over $6,500 a throw....
Well, the S4 is back where it belongs. There's much mechanical work to be done (timing belt, water pump, belts, hoses, power steering pump and hoses, cam cover gaskets/seals, oil pan gasket) but I'm up to the task as I did the belt service myself back in '95.
Here's a Porsche certified pre-owned ad from back in '95 that, once again, has application here:
Plenty of cars and years have intervened, not to mention a move to Virginia in 2008.
A few weeks ago, while running errands, a 928 pulled out from a side street, and apart from rarely seeing 928's anymore, this one was familiar. I shouted "that's our car!'. My wife offered "oh, a 928 like ours?" Emphatically, I said "no, THAT is our car!!"
I caught up with the car at the next traffic light, signaled the driver to lower the passenger window and informed him that "he was driving a car that I sold in NY 16 years ago!". We both were astonished, and exchanged cell numbers. Indeed, a little worse for the years and the wear, it was my 928. And he wanted to sell it.
I happened to be in the midst of selling an F355 that I'd bought with the proceeds of our NY house sale in '08, and finally realized that I could not afford to keep it. I could easily service the car myself, but the F-car crowd devalues any car not serviced regularly by the dealer every 3 years. I'm talking over $6,500 a throw....
Well, the S4 is back where it belongs. There's much mechanical work to be done (timing belt, water pump, belts, hoses, power steering pump and hoses, cam cover gaskets/seals, oil pan gasket) but I'm up to the task as I did the belt service myself back in '95.
Here's a Porsche certified pre-owned ad from back in '95 that, once again, has application here:
Last edited by gcthree; 04-04-2013 at 03:15 PM.
04-03-2013, 09:55 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
Cool story and welcome, you meant to say the car was sold in 97 right not 87 and bought it in 95 not 85?
89 5 speed cars are kind of more sought after compared to the 87-88 5 speed cars. Does this one have LSD in the transmission?
89 5 speed cars are kind of more sought after compared to the 87-88 5 speed cars. Does this one have LSD in the transmission?
04-03-2013, 10:25 PM
#4
Race Car
Monday?
Wasn't Back to the Future a DeLorean? 
"In 1985, I bought an '89 S4/5-speed while we were living on Long Island. I owned the car until 1987, and sold it."
"In 1985, I bought an '89 S4/5-speed while we were living on Long Island. I owned the car until 1987, and sold it."
Last edited by SMTCapeCod; 04-03-2013 at 10:55 PM.
04-03-2013, 11:44 PM
#5
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Duh, yeah, I meant 1995 and 1997. Yes, it has a limited slip.
The previous 2 owners also kept the stock parts that I passed along with the car. The most recent owner kept them in the trunk of his Toyota Avalon. Seems like a good enough place, no?
The previous 2 owners also kept the stock parts that I passed along with the car. The most recent owner kept them in the trunk of his Toyota Avalon. Seems like a good enough place, no?
04-04-2013, 12:15 AM
#6
Three Wheelin'
I can see it says S4 on the back bumper but any chance this could be an 89 GT. Do you know the engine number? Its stamped on top of the block next to where the big S shaped top radiator hose goes to.
Trending Topics
04-04-2013, 09:31 AM
#10
Drifting
Nice looking car and cool story. The neighborhood looks nice too. But what caught my eye are the Williams F1 and Camel Lotus on the wall. Any info about them?
04-04-2013, 10:53 AM
#11
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Good catch! They were a couple of promotional photos sold by RJR/Camel back when they were in F1 with Williams. Cannot recall where I bought them. The top photo is Nigel in the FW14, and the bottom shot with the FW12C is the trivia question that no one ever gets. It is a shot from an F1 test for a rising star on the American motorsports scene. He acquitted himself really well that day, but elected to stay back in the USA in the IndyCar series.
The driver?
Al Unser Jr.....
The driver?
Al Unser Jr.....
04-04-2013, 10:56 AM
#12
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
04-04-2013, 11:09 AM
#13
Drifting
Good catch! They were a couple of promotional photos sold by RJR/Camel back when they were in F1 with Williams. Cannot recall where I bought them. The top photo is Nigel in the FW14, and the bottom shot with the FW12C is the trivia question that no one ever gets. It is a shot from an F1 test for a rising star on the American motorsports scene. He acquitted himself really well that day, but elected to stay back in the USA in the IndyCar series.
The driver?
Al Unser Jr.....
The driver?
Al Unser Jr.....
04-04-2013, 11:32 AM
#14
Race Car
Now the 928 on the other hand--I don't drive agressive but I have seen the speedo rise from 40-100 or more in a blip....
