Bilal928S4

You guys are focusing on the engine only. What about all the other consumables and interior for a car with 230K.

Mongo

Those seats look better than mine.

hacker-pschorr

Most $10k cars have a list of consumables, so what?

What else can you get for $2,500 (assuming he gets it for that)? A rusty old VW? I'd rather have a high mileage 928.

The only part that cannot be replaced is a damaged chassis, everything else can be replaced or repaired. It just takes time and money, which is what makes it a hobby.
We are not discussing 401k options here. Unless you plan on cashing in the 401k to fund the 928 obsession......but that's another thread.

Do any of you guys own boats?? 928's look like a sound retirement plan by comparison.

69gaugeman

EXACTLY!

syoo8

I've seen the paint work first hand and yes it looks original.

IIRC the owner was a wine vendor and did his trips in the 928. The interior looked pretty nice from what I remember.

Don Carter

I still have the 88 rebuilt heads for sale...$850

hacker-pschorr

It's funny, locally the people that question the money I "waste" on my car hobby all drive new cars, own snowmobiles and boats.

At one Christmas party I pointed out they all lost more in depreciation (much less interest) on their new car than I have into any one of my 928's.

Meh...maybe that's why I'm not invited to many parties

SeanR

I'm seeing something there that makes this worth $4k as it sits. I have a good engine, I don't have an extra $4k sitting here. Damnit.

Oh, it's black too. If it was blue, I'd be looking for that $4k.

Besides, how do they know it has a cracked head? This one needs a drop in engine and a bit of love and it will be good to go.

docmirror

Drop in engine. I like the way that sounds.

Black - yuch.

RangerRN4

Black is what I am looking for, and an 88 5-spd is perfect. You guys have specificified replacing the motor, but what about a head job and top end refresh?

Too much project for a newbie? I know the best advice is to buy the best example you can afford and go from there but sometimes you just want to get in the game.

Jfrahm

It'd be an engine-out job in whatever case IMO, too much of a pain to attempt head replacement otherwise. I'd have my druthers with a buttoned up running S4 motor with a new timing belt, water pump, a few gaskets, maybe cam chain pads and the usual intake off refresh, refinish, etc. I love a factory built long block and they last a long, long time (obviously check crank endplay).

If you did the work yourself and you were pretty committed to driving it for like 5 years it'd probably be worth doing. Otherwise there are easier ways to spend money. Total up the cost of this project car plus the motor plus transporting a car (that might not run well enough to drive onto the transporter) across the country.

If it was close to me I'd be tempted to get it and put the motor from my blower car in it, use the bad motor parts to replace the missing stock bits from the supercharger kit, part out the rest... I don't have the energy for that.

-Joel.

Spun

Talked to them today. It is sold.

Hilton

The cracked head may not be that serioues - the early revision S4 heads (87/88) were prone to stress cracks around the corner head bolts. 89 onwards the factory thickened up the bosses and used long head bolts all round.

The crack doesn't penetrate the water jacket, so no oil/water mix, and I know one 928 owner with an 88 who just used some stop-leak and carried on driving (he has a spare set of heads already).