Are 928 owners drawn towards quirky cars?
#34
Rennlist Member
#35
Burning Brakes
I think I inherited the "quirky car" gene from my Dad - he had a SAAB 90 2 stroke that he bought new in Europe, multiple VW's that he kept running on a shoestring, Chevy Corvair, Dodge Dart and Mercury Comet, I crashed his unbelievably awesome Mazda Rx-3 when I was 15 with no license (he never fully recovered from the pain of that). Also had a love for Peugeots and Citroens as he grew up in Belgium near the French border. He was an engineer and loved oddball and innovative "engineered" cars. He would have loved my 928's....
I've had a few oddballs as well, '58 "Frogeye" Austin Healey Sprite was my first car (given to me by my Dad, of course - was his DD even in Rochester NY winters!), followed by a Meyers Manx Dune buggy. Recently have owned '09 Dodge Challenger SRT 6 spd, '04 GTO, '88 Toyota MR2 Supercharged (talk about engineering!), '91 SAAB 900SE Convertible, and now 4 928's. Wife even has a oddball car - 2008 Tahoe Hybrid...Garage getting full again, may have to thin the herd soon, to allow for more oddballs....
I've had a few oddballs as well, '58 "Frogeye" Austin Healey Sprite was my first car (given to me by my Dad, of course - was his DD even in Rochester NY winters!), followed by a Meyers Manx Dune buggy. Recently have owned '09 Dodge Challenger SRT 6 spd, '04 GTO, '88 Toyota MR2 Supercharged (talk about engineering!), '91 SAAB 900SE Convertible, and now 4 928's. Wife even has a oddball car - 2008 Tahoe Hybrid...Garage getting full again, may have to thin the herd soon, to allow for more oddballs....
#36
I mean this in a nice way. "Different drummer" and all that.
This is on my mind as I fuss over my latest acquisition, a 1995 Saab Turbo Convertible. The key is between the seats, but the large American company that is not to be named means it is not so quirky as the '82 and '86 Saabs I owned long ago. But I badly needed a convertible for my collection, something with three pedals, and something with color.
Perhaps Adam Henderson can chime in.
This is on my mind as I fuss over my latest acquisition, a 1995 Saab Turbo Convertible. The key is between the seats, but the large American company that is not to be named means it is not so quirky as the '82 and '86 Saabs I owned long ago. But I badly needed a convertible for my collection, something with three pedals, and something with color.
Perhaps Adam Henderson can chime in.
I recently picked up a new SAAB. A 08 9-5 aero combi sport.
Congrats on the 95 vert. ��
Last edited by Adamant1971; 06-10-2015 at 10:46 AM.
#37
Rennlist Member
It all started when my father brought home a 1962 Austin Healey 3000 tri-carb in the late 70's. I drove (and fixed) it as a teen more than he did.
My first new car was a 1987 Acura Integra 5-speed, a more sensible choice over the Alfa Milano that I was considering. Other notable daily drivers include a 1996 VW Passat VR6 5-speed, a 1992 Nissan Pathfinder SEV6 5-speed, a 1996 Range Rover, a 2002 Audi allroad 6-speed, a 2011 Jetta Spotwagen TDi 6-speed, and my current BMW X-5 diesel.
Toy cars have included a 1965 Karmann Ghia, a 1972 MGB, a 1977 Alfa Spider, a 1983 911SC, and my current 928.
Even my wife can't drive mainstream - she had a 1992 VW Cabriolet when I met her, replaced by a 1991 BMW 325iC convertible, then a 2003 Mini Cooper 5-speed and her current 2011 Mini Cooper S 6-speed.
I can't imagine ever owning a Camry, Accord, Taurus, etc. even to just drive to the train station.
My first new car was a 1987 Acura Integra 5-speed, a more sensible choice over the Alfa Milano that I was considering. Other notable daily drivers include a 1996 VW Passat VR6 5-speed, a 1992 Nissan Pathfinder SEV6 5-speed, a 1996 Range Rover, a 2002 Audi allroad 6-speed, a 2011 Jetta Spotwagen TDi 6-speed, and my current BMW X-5 diesel.
Toy cars have included a 1965 Karmann Ghia, a 1972 MGB, a 1977 Alfa Spider, a 1983 911SC, and my current 928.
Even my wife can't drive mainstream - she had a 1992 VW Cabriolet when I met her, replaced by a 1991 BMW 325iC convertible, then a 2003 Mini Cooper 5-speed and her current 2011 Mini Cooper S 6-speed.
I can't imagine ever owning a Camry, Accord, Taurus, etc. even to just drive to the train station.
Last edited by BRB-83-911SC; 06-10-2015 at 11:04 AM.
#38
RL Community Team
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Rennlist Member
Man, it looks like we need to start a survey thread - How many 928 owners currently own or have owned a Saab?
I'm in that category - had an 84 900 Turbo in high-school, then moved up to a 900 Turbo SPG after college (Red with the dark grey body cladding) and custom painted 9000 Aero wheels, boost mods, etc. It was a great car. I sold it to my Dad at 180,000 miles back in 2002 and he still has it with 235,00 mi on it now - original Turbo.
We also had a '72 Coupgar Convertible with the 351 Cleveland growing up.
I also have a 914 which is a bit quirky in the Porsche circles, and if 928s aren't quirky enough on their own, mine is a Spyder (covnertible).
I'm in that category - had an 84 900 Turbo in high-school, then moved up to a 900 Turbo SPG after college (Red with the dark grey body cladding) and custom painted 9000 Aero wheels, boost mods, etc. It was a great car. I sold it to my Dad at 180,000 miles back in 2002 and he still has it with 235,00 mi on it now - original Turbo.
We also had a '72 Coupgar Convertible with the 351 Cleveland growing up.
I also have a 914 which is a bit quirky in the Porsche circles, and if 928s aren't quirky enough on their own, mine is a Spyder (covnertible).
#39
Yes, "quirky" to be sure for me. I once owned an awesome 1963 Oldsmobile Cutlass F85 (215 CI aluminum block engine with a 4 barrel) that then led me to the first production turbo-charged car, 1962 Jetfire (same car as the F85 but with the turbo. Required "Turbo Fluid" (think water injection). This led me to the Chevrolet Corvair Monza of similar years (same Garret turbo as the Jetfire). I've also owned various Sunbeam Tigers and odd Ford Mustangs (1967 GTA fastback with stock 390 CI engine). The various British cars I have owned were not due to being quirky, just dumb.
In general, I find I'm drawn to rarity. You don't see many 928's on the road. I just bought a 968, and rarity was part of the attraction. At Cars and Coffee gatherings, Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, Mercedes/AMG and BMW are a dime a dozen. Big yawn....
Hugo
#40
Quirky tastes, yes. Most awesome car you can afford at the time, definately. Piece of crap '75 VW Scirocco that just barely ran but taught me how to wrench on a car. 1985 Dodge Shelby Charger that I miss to this day, that was fun to drive, cheap to own, got great gas mileage until a nun hit me and totalled it. Rarely seen these days, but when I see one, I almost fall over trying to get a better look
#41
Rennlist Member
My first Porsche was a 914... a '74 LE Creamsicle no less... which, of course, I wish I still had. Not much else particularly quirky... '74 911, '84 Supra (still have, but it's about to go - no room in the inn), '93 Corrado SLC (wish I still had), '86 928S... the rest is in the list below.
#42
Burning Brakes
My 1st car was a '59 SAAB 93 - two stroke 3 cylinder. Rinnnng, ding, ding, ding, ding...
Followed by a '62 Jaguar Mark II 3.8 ltr when I was 19.
I've owned a couple of Rover 2000TC's and at one point in time I owned five (5!) of the 1,400 '70 Rover 3500S's imported into the US. Still have one, a bunch of parts and a couple of the aluminium V8s tucked away somewhere....
The only American car I've ever owned was a 1933 Franklin Olympic Convertible Coupé. 4.5 ltr air cooled straight six.
So I've owned an air cooled American car and two water cooled Porches.
James
Followed by a '62 Jaguar Mark II 3.8 ltr when I was 19.
I've owned a couple of Rover 2000TC's and at one point in time I owned five (5!) of the 1,400 '70 Rover 3500S's imported into the US. Still have one, a bunch of parts and a couple of the aluminium V8s tucked away somewhere....
The only American car I've ever owned was a 1933 Franklin Olympic Convertible Coupé. 4.5 ltr air cooled straight six.
So I've owned an air cooled American car and two water cooled Porches.
James
Last edited by jheis; 06-10-2015 at 05:51 PM.
#43
Chronic Tool Dropper
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So to reword the question a little, do any 928 owners consider themselves (or their cars) quirky?
Jim B once opined that he considers the 928 a cult car. Seems rather appropriate. Hoards of blindly-loyal followers convinced that the object of their worship is worthy beyond all others.
My sordid car past has incuded just a few American cars, a scattershot collection of Italian focused on the 246 Dino, a bigger collection of British focused specifically on Lotus. Still have three of those hanging around (literally) in storage. I've owned a few Saabs, but they lasted so well it was hard to justify replacement so not many on the list. Several Volkswagen and several Porsche cars make up the German list. Owned an early Datsun 510 that came alive with easy mods, and a Honda Pilot currently has the DD duty. I think the early 80's $100 Toyota pickup and a late '80's Subaru turbo wagon complete the Japanese car inventory. Also ended up with a trailer load of '80's GP bikes, but that's another story.
Automobiles are by and large one of the more dynamic expressions of engineering as an art form. Lots of us collect art, I just happen to like "engineering art", in its many shapes and badges.
Jim B once opined that he considers the 928 a cult car. Seems rather appropriate. Hoards of blindly-loyal followers convinced that the object of their worship is worthy beyond all others.
My sordid car past has incuded just a few American cars, a scattershot collection of Italian focused on the 246 Dino, a bigger collection of British focused specifically on Lotus. Still have three of those hanging around (literally) in storage. I've owned a few Saabs, but they lasted so well it was hard to justify replacement so not many on the list. Several Volkswagen and several Porsche cars make up the German list. Owned an early Datsun 510 that came alive with easy mods, and a Honda Pilot currently has the DD duty. I think the early 80's $100 Toyota pickup and a late '80's Subaru turbo wagon complete the Japanese car inventory. Also ended up with a trailer load of '80's GP bikes, but that's another story.
Automobiles are by and large one of the more dynamic expressions of engineering as an art form. Lots of us collect art, I just happen to like "engineering art", in its many shapes and badges.