Tim_944

Hey guys I've had a 944 for many years now as a daily driver and I'm looking to buy another porsche and I've always really liked the 928. I live in the vancouver area and I don't see many cars listed here. I'm also open to going over the border to Washington to pick up the car but I haven't done research on what the process is to bring a car over the border. I heard that you have to leave the car at the border for 48 hours before it can be brought over. And i believe you have to change some things on the car to pass inspection in canada.

i'm not too familiar with the 928s but I have done a bit of research. I would prefer a manual car but they seem very rare. Right now i am open to a nice automatic also. I think i would also prefer the non-interference cars vs the later ones. I think this would only be the very early cars? Also not sure which if only the CIS models had the non-interference engines because i would definitely prefer the later models with efi.

Also wondering how much I should spend for a nice early 928, 928S and s4. i'm not looking for a GT or GTS. I've seen 928s listed from a couple grand to 100k.

dr bob

Tim--

Get out and look at and drive some of each model before you narow your search any. In the wayback times when the 928 first appeared, I liked the look. When the S4 showed up, it seemed like a bit of a perversion of the original classic 928 shape. Later, by the time my S4 landed on me, I quickly learned to appreciate the differences as good. While I do still enjoy the early cars, I have a much better appreciation for the technological advances that the later cars offer. And for me the issue of interference vs. non-interference engines is moot; I don't run them until the belt breaks regardless.

There's a busy 928 community in the pacific northwest. It's worth it to smuggle ourself over the border once in a while to attend a PNW event or gathering. Get to know the cars and some owners, get a feel for the support network you'll quickly become part of.

928 DesMoines

Hey, I am sure that there are more qualified people on this forum to answer your questions. But for importing to Canada from the United States; it is pretty straight forward. If the car is older than 15 years, you are good to go. Google is your friend. Your answers are there as well as a phone call to Canadian customs/border.


In your post; it looks like you are still making up your mind about model years etc. Really, all years have great qualities so it comes down to personal preference and yes, that "bottom line". I can only say that before you decide what 928 to buy; it might be best for you to get out there and start looking at, and test driving different generation model years. It will help your soul.


And good luck to you! Would really like to see what you end up getting.

Tim_944

Thanks for the info. haha I just googled it and you are correct looks like for older cars it's not a big hassle to buy a car form the US. I have never actually driven a 928 but i have seen them in personal and have sat in a couple as a passenger.

I think I'll be patient and wait until I find a car I really like.

Tim_944

Thanks for the info, that would be cool. I'll see if i can go to some events when i get the chance.

I do my own wrenching and I have read that the early cars (16v) are easier to work on and are less complicated than the later cars. If this is true, then I would likely go for an early car unless i found a really nice later car I liked.

MainePorsche

If you do your own work, it wouldn't make a difference between S4 (32v) and pre S4 (16v). Actually I had an 86.5 (the pre S4 32v) and I thought the top end intake work was trickier than the S4 intake tasks.
Doesn't have to be a concours car, but get one from a RL guy who did his own thoughtful work if possible. There will be less surprises, and you can check the Forum to see what issues he had.

Tim_944

oh ok that's good to know. I was just thinking that with the 32v cars you have to also check and change out the cam chain tensioners/pads.

I like both early and late cars but i have never seen a really nice early car for sale. I only see beat up and early project cars for sale. I also really like the rear end of the S4.

I think the biggest issue for me is, that i need to drive an auto / manual car to see how they compare. I'm pretty sure i would prefer a manual.

MainePorsche

On MY 87 and up the cam tensioner pad business is quick work.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...posterity.html

Here's a link to our venerable Dwayne who has compiled these for the Forum. They are excellent and invaluable to many here.
http://dwaynesgarage.norcal928.org

Best Wishes with your search.

FredR

I think you already have the important advice you need. Just remember the 928 is a bag of relatively expensive spare parts and chances are you will need quite a few.

If you can buy from a respected owner so much the better- it will be worth any additional premium you pay.

My only "sensible" comment over and above what I have read to date would be to query whether you need a speedo calibrated in km/hr? As I remember your legislation is metric and the good old boys run in Imperial units- kind of strange considering the two histories.

Fully agree that the interference versus non interference is a non issue to a sensible owner. A new timing belt and water pump puts that to rights all things being equal and if the history of such is not known.

if you can maintain one you can maintain the other and I rather suspect the S4 and later on balance are easier to work on but that is a non expert opinion given I have only worked with the later models.

If you do go down the automatic 32v model read up on thrust bearing failure and educate yourself- it is not to be feared but it is to be mitigated - buyer beware! Most of our Rennlist punters will have taken care of this- sad to say occasionally even they do not despite the many warnings.

Rgds

Fred

MainePorsche

If you look at any late automatics (I would even check the end play on earlier ones too), an evaluation must be done prior to purchase. This would be the crankshaft endplay. Is easy to do. Enter Dwayne - http://dwaynesgarage.norcal928.org/1...0Procedure.htm

If there is no pathologic endplay, two measures can be taken to mitigate the (non) problem. One is easy, and one is more involved. These are the PKlamp and Black Seard (Constantine's) Super Clamp. The PKlamp is installed after you release the flex plate tension. The Super Clamp requires a torque tube take down.

I've had a Pklamp on for years and check the movement and flex plate every other oil change (I put only 4 lower bell house bolts back). I have had absolutely NO movement in 5 years and many miles.

Here are pics of both.

GlenL

Tim,

You're in luck. The earlier the car the more likely it's a manual.

What are you thinking to spend going in and where are you on the quality spectrum? Project, driver or concours?

docmirror

I've owned a GT stick, and several autos. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool stick shift guy for performance cars, but I have to say the 928 auto is a fine way to go. If you find out you can live with the auto cars, the 928 four speed trans from about 84 and later is excellent driving. Also, if you just have to have a stick, the early cars were more common with 5 speeds than the later cars. By the GTS time, about all you could find are auto, so the chances of getting a stick go up as you go older.

Finding an older 928 that has been taken care of is often a problem. You'll need to find one that's been pampered and the prices are going to be steep but the early lighter cars with 5 speed are good value right now as I suspect they are going to start going up slightly in value. I'd look for a Euro 78-81 with 5 speed and drive it a bit then try an 88 S4 auto and see what you think.

Martin's928

Imported my '88 S4 to Canada about 7-8 years ago. I think it was a good way to go as the US car title system gives you the ability to do a title search and check the vehicle's history…..something that's hard to do in Canada. There are a lot more 928's in the US than Canada and finding a good one was easier for me too. Disadvantage is you have to pay all the sales taxes and some duty. For me, it was worth it: I wanted a 5 spd S4 and just couldn't find one in Canada.

To transport the car, I picked mine up myself. You can have it shipped but I didn't look into it as the car was relatively close. Pricey to ship I think but there are companies which take care of all the paperwork for you.

To self drive, you need an insurance card from your local jurisdiction (I think a 10 day card here in Sask cost me less than $25) which you show to the DMV where you bought the car and they'll sell you a temporary registration card when they transfer the title (I bought in Montana and I think a 3 day registration was $10). Car can then be driven home.

It's not hard on the Canadian border at all: you pay federal sales tax and whatever duty at the border (duty wasn't much) based on the sale price. The only snag I had was a written sales receipt from the seller wasn't enough. I could put them on to the e-bay listing which confirmed all the info and they were happy. Check with Canadian border services on what is considered an adequate proof of sale price.

When you get home, the car has to be safetied by a local shop licensed to do this by your provincial licensing agency. Cost me about $250. Car has to have a wheel alignment here which was included in the fee and no faults were found: car ready to plate and drive! When you buy plates, you pay provincial sales tax on the car.

The hassle came in registering the car as legally exported with US border services. I'll let you look into not doing this as you can just drive on by. Not worth it in my view unless you will never, ever, return to the US with the car. If you do and anyone does a check on the car, it's impounded and you face heavy fines for illegal exportation. Really not worth it as registering carries no fee!

However, it is a bit of a hassle. Your seller has to send several documents to the border crossing station where you will be physically crossing the border. There is a time window on these: they have to receive them at least ?3 days before you cross and then they're only valid for a few days. If the seller gets it wrong, you're hooped! There was a fellow at the border when I was there who's seller hadn't sent something and technically the border services could have told him to go away. They cut him some slack though and allowed the seller to fax the document. They don't have to do this and you cannot count on it. A helpful and competent seller is required. Probably buying through a broker or dealer would help with this.

You thus have to find the address and fax number of the US border crossing station where you will cross. Not necessarily as easy as it sounds. I got the run around from US border services on about 4 separate phone calls. If this was representative of the kind of service American citizens/tax payers get from their gov't services, I understand why most Americans seem pissed at their gov't agencies.

It was kind of ridiculous (and they didn't know I wasn't a tax paying citizen or why I was asking for info). One woman, in the appropriate office, when asked if she could give me the info on the border crossing on the interstate #xx from Montana into Canada (the name of which isn't on the maps online) responded:"sir, do you know how many border crossings there are!?" click, bzzzzz….seriously. Anyway, I finally phoned Canadian border services and within 30 seconds they gave me the name, address, fax and phone number of the US border crossing station in about 30 seconds. I would be pissed at paying taxes for the kind of service I got from the US agency. The Canadian agency people at least seemed to realize they served the tax payer…..

Anyway, I ramble. Bottom line: I found importing the car myself kind of fun and interesting plus it gave me a little adventure story to start my life with my new car. Driving it home was one of the best drives I've had with the car and was a very satisfying experience overall.

jcb928

The U.S/IRS has another step now,

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...258064351.html

"The rule requires electronic export information (EEI) to be filed for any used "self-propelled vehicles" -- any automobile, truck, tractor, bus, motorcycle, motor home, agricultural machinery, construction equipment or any other kind of special-use machinery designed for running on land -- through the U.S. government's automated export system (AES)."

So a $10k car in the States would be $13,800 CAD + 12% GST/PST + 6.1% duty + $100 enviro fee = $16397 CAD imported

Euro cars are cheaper here now.

johnu

No duty is payable on cars that are 25yrs old. I had to find this somewhere on cbsa website and print it out because 99% of border agents in Canada are unfamiliar with this.