Montychristo128

That's why they invented Google Translate . Close to Montreal, they will probably speak passable English.

DreamCarrera

WOW, these prices are depressing. I paid well over $40K for my 2000 C2...then again that was many, many moons ago...

FRUNKenstein

Agree with Slakker that if you are patient, you can get a nice Mk I 996 in the $15k- $17k range.

Also, the past 3 months have been the seller's market time of the year. Wait about 10 weeks until after Labor Day and you will see prices come down about 10 percent and good cars sitting on the market longer (more inventory to choose from).

leo1977

That is a sage advice kind sir. Gives me more time to ponder. Maybe i will get a boxster after all. So many options so little money

safulop

Well now, I have been running my 1988 S4 as a daily driver for 5 years. It cost me $14K back in 2010. By this point it has cost me a lot of maintenance even though it supposedly was "sorted" at the time I bought it. My shop, the only credible choice here in Fresno, is no longer willing or able to deal with the many problems that the 928 presents. They are pushing me to get rid of it and buy a 996. They are actually helping me to find a suitable 996, because that's what they feel like they can work on without endless drama and guesswork. I have decided to take their advice and sell my 928 this year, and get in to a 996 or possibly 997 if I can afford it. I'd say it depends what kind of thing you are going for. If you require a daily driver that shops can fix for you, the decision is a no-brainer in favor of 996. If you are interested in a hobby car that you keep in a garage and work on yourself, I'd say a 928 can be a great option.

leo1977

Another excellent asvice. Thanks. What about boxster vs 996 to save a buck or 2?

Triple Black

I've had both a 986 and now my 996. The 986 was by far the more reliable and economical car for me. The 986 is an extremely fun and well balanced car, but I found it a bit lacking as a track car. The 996 excels on track so if you plan on going to the track my advice is get the 996 because you will be disappointed with the Boxster. If you want a car strictly for the street then go for the 986 (just ignore those that say it's a hairdressers car - it really is a great P-car).

leo1977

Thanks! No tracking for me. You think I can get a decent manual 986 for around 10? What year should that be for that price. Hard to get my head around prices. Also, S or regular (what's the price difference).

Captain_Slow

Really? I must be living in a dream world. In my 6 years of 928 ownership I've found my 928s (plural...I've had a few) to be reliable if looked after.

The 1988 S4 I have now has been extremely reliable. I've had to fix some things that non-mechanically inclined types would be scared to attempt, but nothing that stopped me from driving the car. You don't need to be an excellent mechanic to start - but you do need to be willing to become a good one unless you have lots of disposable income (thanks to Rennlist 928 forum). I love working on the 928. There's something about defying the legendary myth of it's complexity and improving its condition that adds to the pleasure of owning it. Fortunately, almost everything works on my 88. I prioritize what needs to be fixed, ignore things that can wait (remote hatch release) - and drive it! All the rubber and plastic is original and generally in very good condition - exceptions are under the hood where some plastic bits are getting brittle. Not bad for a 28 year old car.

You do need to buy the nicest example you can find. You will be better off buying a nice one (owned by an enthusiast) and paying $20k+ than thinking you'll buy one for under $10K and fix it up for less than another $10K. Mine isn't perfect, but it's a great driver. It's probably a $15K to $17K car - and will likely be $2-3K more by next summer. I paid $11K 3 years ago.




You can't be afraid to do this kind of thing...

Diving into the dash to replace HVAC vent actuators (and remove a lot of wiring added by previous owners)


And put it all back together again...


Replace motor mounts...



and perfect time to replace the OPG since the cross member and suspension are partially removed..


And these are just a few of the kinds of things the typical 928 owner wants to do themselves (with great support from Rennlist)...and because it's not a good idea to let mechanics who've never seen a 928 on a lift learn on your car).

There are many 928 owners who are brilliant and are true 928 experts. I appreciate how freely they share their knowledge on Rennlist.

Other aspects of 928 ownership that I really enjoy:
- they are unique and interesting (make a great hobby)
- 35+ years ago Ferry Porsche said it is a "timeless" design and he was right
- rarity - I almost never see another 928 on the road.
- the community of owners

leo1977

What an amazing post. Makes me understand that this wonderful automobile is not for me. I am not mechanically inclined and this would be a disaster for me. Plus wife would throw me out of the house. I spend little enough time with family as is (job). Oh well it will have to be a more ordinary Porsche for me most likely. Too bad. I love this thing.

Cuda911

A friend of mine recently bought a high mileage (I forgot the number, but close to 200K) 996 for 10K. I looked at the car, and it is in pretty good shape. He is pleased with it. But, for the most part, cheap 996s will turn out to be expensive 996s.

leo1977

Understood. What's a reasonable price then? Not 10k ...15k. Or is that still too low and will be a beaten up thing ?

Cuda911

If you budget low 20s, you should be able to find a decent 996. Be sure to have a 5K reserve for "unknowns." You may need to tap the reserve, but you may not. I know you said you need rear seats, but if there is any way around that, you can find a good Boxster for under 10K.

DeWolf

After owning a bundle of Porsches from 944's to 951's to a 930, 996 and seven 928's I can say I am always drawn back to the 928. I currently have 2. The fact is it's a Porsche and if something effs up it's going to cost you. If you can't burn $100 notes by the handful then one these cars may not be for you. There are guys on this forum that have bought 996's and Boxsters and a week later they have had a total engine failure. There goes $15-20K.
In saying that, you only live once and you may as well live large.

RKD in OKC

I've owned and daily driven a 914, two different 944 Turbos, and two different 928s a GT and a GTS, a Boxster S and several other non-P cars. My opinion is no matter what kind of "sport car" you get it is going to cost you money for upkeep period. Both in maintenance and upgrades, and you will always want to do upgrades. What you need to decide is if you like the looks of and more importantly how it drives. Then the costs of keeping it running as a daily driver become moot. After driving the different models and choosing the one you like most, get the best example you can afford and set back some money to take care of some repairs once you get it. As a normal rule people don't sell cars with nothing wrong or some sort of maintenance that has been deferred or neglected.

The 90 928 GT was the cheapest sports car with a back seat to maintain and was my only car daily driven for 2 years.