Ron_H

Nicole:
Shame on you! Really old !?! I am 39 and next year I will be 39 again...!!
Old! I am just approaching middle age.....and may make it someday. I'm going off and pout now after your post.

dr bob

I bought that first '58 beetle when it was 10 and I was 15. $50, rolled it out of the barn, put some gas in it, rolled it again to get it spiining and away we went. That turned into a winter car when I got my first Porsche at 16, a 'project' '65 SC Cab that had the engine stolen from it. I jammed a 1500cc VW into the cab for a couple years while I saved for a real 98hp P-car motor. Traded 'up' to a Lotus Europa, then another and another, then a '76 SC coupe from new, and now the 928. That's the VW/Porsche history. A few other interesting rides have been through my garage. That '58 beetle was a piece of work though... heater that didn't, no gas gauge but had the kick-valve and the "reserve" tank. Started fine after a bit of early tinkering, and never stranded me. I did relatively little on that one, but the SC cab and the various Lotii really gave me a clinic on keeping cars alive. Starving college students usually figure out how to fix them, or they end up walking instead.


I'd love to have that cab again, assuming the rust devils hadn't taken a big toll on her. I still have a box of rechromed trim bits for that car. Anybody nead a hood handle, head- and tail light trims, those little pedestal reflectors, door handles in and out? Got 'em just in case I end up with another one!


.... the good old days.... Right!!

tuk_928

Hi Leth,

I second GreggK and VirusUnits re: sticking with BAND. Hell, I play trumpet too...so you're in good company here. I'm noticing a trend in the forum membership...trumpet players...928 owners. Hmmm. Anyway, I marched in the h.s. band (section leader...good but painful early experience in the importance of developing leadership skills), played in a brass ensemble through college, and in graduate school played in the university orchestra and pep band (men's and women's basketball games!). I still play my horns (trumpet, flugel, and cornet) and as through the years it has been something I've continued to enjoy. My Dad also plays trumpet (still does!), taught me how to work on cars (American V-8s mostly), lawnmowers, and nearly anything else I'm likely to encounter around the house, including some electronics (e.g., audio/hi-fi gear). You may find out later in life that music and perhaps tinkering with autos (whatever marque ultimately suits your fancy) are forms of relaxation therapy, if you will. Read the book - "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" to get a handle on the concepts imparted within it (note: did I get the title right, y'all?). So, if you cannot take an auto shop class (I never did...like you...was in the pre-college track...no room in the schedule)...not to worry...take one during the summer at your local community college. Also, you'll find folks around town to hang-out with and learn from them and/or with them.

Meanwhile, consider NOT saddling yourself or your parents with a non-running vehicle that need significant mechanical and cosmetic work. It may ultimately frustrating or demoralize you, your parents, and your budget. The worst outcome, IMHO, would be for you to give-up on becoming an automotive enthusiast. So...why not consider buying a decent running and looking Japanese (Prelude, Integra, Supra, Z-Car), American (Pony car, Camaro), Swedish (Volvo 240), or better yet German auto (read BMW ...my personal bias for a German "first vehicle" - e12, e21, e28, e30, e36 chassis) and ENJOY it. For the record, my first car was a hopped-up 1973 Toyota Corona Wagon ("grand prix" white with wood trim "stickers" down the sides...ssswwweeeet!)...it had a 1.8RC engine with a 4-spd manual tranny that I eventually knew backwards and forwards before we sold the car. Boy, that car would really move...no a/c!...but the rear seat folded ALLLLLL the way down (bow chicca wow wow). After 2 years, I upgraded to a 1981.5 Toyota Corolla SR-5 (half vinyl top...early 80's chic, baby!) which got me through college. The embarrasing auto stories continue...but I'll hold short...for now. You guys know too much already ;-) Thanks for tolerating me thus far...

Leth...now take a step back for a moment and think about the the feedback the 928 Forum members have provided you in this rather lengthy thread (Editors: is this a record here?). Good advice and thoughts have been posted here...well worth mulling over (repeatedly). We'll be here. Your turn to get out there and have fun, study hard, and enjoy learning about cars. Just my 2-cents...

Best wishes,
TUK


ps.
BTW, I'm 37 y/o and very thankful to still be counting ;-)

Joe '87 S4

Your registration is $350? I hate to tell you how much my registration is considering our cars are the same model year.


Leth: As much as I love my 928, the repair bills add up really quickly. And contrary to what others have said about Fords... I still have my first car, a 1988 5.0 Mustang, which I bought brand new and it has never given me any problems. All I've ever done to that car in 15 years is change the fluids and belts.

Harpo

Well it is begining to sound like I'm the really old geezer here. (at 55) So I'm going to put in an old geezer comment.

A thrashed 928 sounds like a great father/son project to me. First of all the $ is handled with father participating. Second by the time you have the car ready to drive you (may) be mature enough to handle it. Third-- like you-- I wasted my school career on academics. The 928 is still a super car but old enough that it is practical to actually work on yourself.

Of course this is all assuming you don't actually want to DRIVE the car for a good while.

Mark

bcdavis

It's a lot more fun to "hot-rod" and "customize" something that runs, rather than spend all your time and money on something that has major mechanical problems. You will probably have more fun painting a car, getting a cool stereo, sweet wheels, and a big exhaust tip, than rebuilding a dead 928 engine...

But someone should go buy that hunk of crap car, and use the flares for their racecar 928.
Rubber is king, and those flares look pretty huge.
Could make a world of difference...
Compared to the prices of other body kits, $600 is a deal.
Plus, you can part out the rest of the car, and we would all
benefit from that!

Lizard928

Leth I am only 19 yo, 20 on the 18 of nov,
i agree with the other statements about starting with an easy car, and a CHEAP one, the 928 is not a cheap car to run, right now with 1 mill liability, comprehensive, and collision, at a 20% discount, and the discount for the factory alarm I pay $3800 per year, this works out to around $320 a month,

LethargyTM

Thanks for the advice. I will stick with my academic activities. I never wanted to fail or stop trying on school work cause that's the only thing I could boast about, how smart I am. But me and my friend, we want to just buy a good car to work on for the next 1-3 years or so, not like a daily thing but 2 or 3 times a week thing. Maybe I should go with a mustang....

Cheers
-Leth

BC

I used to play the trumpet. It doesn't get you many chicks.

Having a cool car will though.

I'd still go for a 928 or something exotic like that.

LethargyTM

TAking you guys advices, I maybe should reconsider on the 928 and buy it after college. I have found a local car, 260z supposedly a V6 and only costs $600. I will check it out, and report to you sirs!

or maybe even a 924z down in Florida, only 2 states away.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6431

Cheers
-Leth

bcdavis

924 or a Z would be good.

But I would avoid the 260, and look for a 240 or a 280.
The 260s were made back when they were first learning how to do emissions restrictions.
The 260s are slower than 240s, because they are restricted badly.
The 280 is more power than both, but heavier car.
So take off the bumpers, and it is a lot faster than either a 240 or a 260...

An old Mustang or Camaro, or some sort of muscle car would be cool,
but they can't be found as cheaply anymore, and if they are cheap,
it will take a lot of parts, and work, to get it working nice. And even
when you do, it is still an old car, with a choke, and drum brakes, etc...

Or get a motorcycle.

Great gas mileage. Cheap insurance. Fast as hell. Chicks like them.
Just wear a helmet and gear.

Mark

Leth - Maybe your academics didn't include geography....LOL

VA
NC
SC
GA
FL


In fact - Vienna, VA to Lauderdale (where that 924 is) is OVER 1000 miles!!

LethargyTM

I always failed Geography part in History. I always and still am everything else but those freaking states.


Guys what about a 240z?? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6187

its local enough, and can check out the car before buying. as you guys said, a 240.

tresamore

I don't get a warm fuzzy from the pics of the red 240 on e-bay. They say never look at a car in the rain or at night. The pic of the Z is in the rain and it looks like they stood as far away as they could when it was taken. Plus I would want to see the rust spots they mentioned. 1 dark interior pic and 1 far away body shot isn't enough to decide with and it makes me a little weary of the seller if that's all they want to show you of the car. I've owned a lot of cars and dealt with even more sellers. Some of them, especially dealers and mechanics, like to stretch the truth and dance around the issues when you call them on it. The car could be full of bondo, but technically only show 2 "rust spots". Get more pics and go see it if you can. Check everywhere for rust and bondo and I mean EVERYWHERE. The seller has no feedback, there are a lot of cars in the picture w/ the hoods open, the sellers name is "transautogr" sound like someone in the auto biz to me. I would think that if they know cars they would show a lot more of it unless there was a reason not to. Either that or they're honest and are considering it a cheap car to just move quick and don't want to invest the time. Either way be cautious. Also hit some Z car sites. There's got to be a forum similar to this that can give you specifics. Good Luck.