Thinking of buying a 928 - thoughts from 996 perspective?

Looking at an '87 928S4 to go along with the 996 and 951. Have had the 928 bug before, about 10 years ago, until I drove one. Granted, it was an older model with a 3 speed automatic, but it drove like an old Camaro. I love me the look of the 928 though. Now, I'm looking at a newer model with 4 speed auto, but have not driven it nor any S4. It appears to be well maintained, and it's reasonably priced. So if I hate it, I can just sell it and probably get most of my money back. Have been perusing the 928 board, and man is it scary! Kind of like looking at the Cayenne forum. Maybe there's not the catastrophic time bomb that the IMSB hysteria here on the 996 board would have you believe, but seems to be lots of problem areas to deal with apparently. So, for those of you here with 928 experience, please share your thoughts from the perspective of a 996 owner. Yes or no on taking the plunge? BTW, we really enjoy the 951. It's not a 911, but still a great car that I'll probably keep forever. Does the 928S4 have the same potential, or is this a nightmare waiting to happen? I have average wrenching skills with a decent set of tools and a 4 post lift. I'd be fine with spending $2,500 a year on maintenance, and would put no more than 5,000 miles a year on it. But, I don't want to spend all my free time under the car. Your thoughts please.

kc I don't have experience with a 928, but I too have owned 944s and I definitely understand the way you feel about your 951. In fact I am already missing my last 944 (an S2 cab) so much that I am actively looking for a 968, it being the ultimate evolution of the 944. I look forward to the responses on this thread about those who have owned 928s.

I haven't tried the 928, but I come from 944. I like the look of 928s, and they are supposed to be really nice GTs. BUT, unlike the 4 cylinder 944's, the 928's are a pain to work on and a lot more difficult I hear. Rarer parts and more expensive. It will not be less than your 951 from what I hear, most likely more. Cool cars though, the later models are really nice. Wouldn't mind owning one. That's it from me

I have a 996 as a daily driver and a 964 and 928S4 as weekend drivers cars. The 928 is not like any other Porsche I have ever owned! It is a true GT. Incredibly comfortable on a long journey ( which for you guys is a trip to the stores!! ) I have the auto version, but to enjoy the car you have to use the box manually and never use 4th gear, it's for cruising!!! As for maintenance, everything is tricky to get to. It is a very tight engine bay!

I have a 928 and a 996. They are not as bad as people think to maintain or work on. Tons of info is on the 928 forum on how to fix them. They are pretty complex cars but very simmilar to the 944, just have twice as much of it. If you really want to get thr true 928 experience, find one with a manual transmission, those are the ones to get. They are a totally different animal than the automatics. Howecer, get one that is in good shape with lots of service history.

I owned an 1982 black/black 5spd and loved it and as noted above not hard to work on. My buddy had a 1987 S4 for over ten years and it served him well with regular maintenance. I will probably pick another up at some point= great cars.

I own both a 928 and 996, both wonderful cars with very different personalities. 928's are incredibly well built and are very sure footed on the road, with that said they are not quick. I have driven both as daily drivers and the 928 is much more comfortable and the 996 is funner. From a maintanance standpoint they both have their pro's and con's, I have done timing belts on 928's and IMS/AOS on the 996. Both cars are rewarding and its a blast to decide which to drive. Good luck, Danny

I've owned several 928s and 911s. I love the 928, the last one I owned was a 1991 S4, just love the heck out of that car. Within an hour after I sold it to a guy in Texas, I regretted it. I still miss it to this day

Great input from everyone - thanks very much. It's good to hear the positive about them. If choosing between two cars, all else being equal (color, condition, mileage), an S model with a 5 speed or a slightly newer S4 model with an automatic, which way would you go?

As in most cars the 928 got better in later years with the 5spd the way to go but at a premium in price. That said I prefer the older S models as I'm older and a little nostalgic lol. Buy the newest best example you can afford.

I bought a 87' S4 in 1995 as a daily driver for 17.5K with a sticker price of 64K with 40K miles.It had the rear AC but never got cold enough for me after several shop visits. Had a couple fo transmission problems, same issue, some sort of bearing, was a loud roaring sound, sry, don't remember the part. Steering rack went bad and had to replace, other than that, no problems. No engine trouble after about 100K miles. My interest in the 911's wasn't until the 996 model. I really love my 996 but after 7 years with the 928, I was glad to see it go. Go with your heart, 928's are great touring cars. Best of luck.

I loved my 951 Looked exactly like the one pictured here. 928's on the other hand while I agree that even 36 years after they made their first appearance repair costs make our 996's look like Civic's.

I have a 928 87 S4 manual and I've rebuilt the engine, gearbox and suspension, it was my second car and I bought it when I was 22! It's still not fully finished. I can tell you the quality (and cost) of the parts are far superior to the 996. Mine has zero rust anywhere, has been driven summer and winter. The characters of the cars are very different. The 928 has smooth power delivery through the rev range, apart from around 4k rpm where it goes a little mental, you can spin up the rear wheels at over 80 if your over zealous with the throttle. It feels big and clumsy at low speeds, but as the speed rises it feels amazingly agile and the steering feel and feedback is outstanding. It's well balanced and very sure footed. I like the 928 and 996 for different reasons, they're very different driving experiences, fast gt versus sports car, but I'd not consider selling the 928, but I will at some point change my C4S for something faster, it is a toy, whereas the 928 is quirky and different and I don't think there's anything I could upgrade it to. The only problem I had was putting it in reverse by mistake (it's where first normally is, dog legged), a bit tricky when switching between two manual cars! Reversing at speed in a queue is not the best! Get one, but get a manual. It's a lot more fun!

Well, dph928, I took half of your advice: I bought one, but it is an automatic (at least my wife can drive it). It's a 1987 928S4, Guards Red over black. 81,000 miles. Paid $9,100 for it. I pick it up next Saturday morning. Actually will be a "drive out (one-way rental car), drive home" trip with my 15 year old son. The cost and schedule for flights just weren't working out, and it's only a 9 hour drive, so I'm paying $150 for a one-way car rental. Flying would've only saved us a couple of hours in the end. I'm buying it from an individual, a Porsche nut. He's had about 50 different P-cars. Very knowledgeable. A Rennlist member (always a good sign). We'll leave after work on Friday and pick it up in Elkhart, IN early Saturday morning. Then we'll head up to the Gilmore Car Museum in Kalamazoo, MI, and on to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, IN. Probably will spend the night in Indianapolis on Saturday and head back to Kansas City on Sunday. I plan to do timing belt/water pump as soon as I get home. The 928 guys seem to be as **** about the timing belt as we are about the IMSB. Porsche put out a TSB a few years ago extending the service life of the timing belt to 10 years, but many RL'ers on the 928 board still think it best to change the belt every 4 years, regardless of how few miles. Mine has been done in the last 5 or 6 years, but an exact date is not known. So, better to be safe. I've always loved the unique look of the 928 and "Risky Business" was in my formative years, so for $9,100 for a nice example, why not? I don't think the value of the car will go down in the next couple of years, so if I hate it, I can always flip it. Life's too short not to have a little fun.

Awesome, you should check out www.928intl.com , I've bought a lot of parts from them in the past. Great customer service, in fact I received things sooner from them than those ordered at the same time here in the UK. There's a significant price hike here on parts. Enjoy! Ps 'Get four wheel alignment done when you can and rear bushes checked out, it made an amazing difference to my car for not much money!'

Congratulations, that's a nice ride! The 928 has always had a spot in my heart. I have to agree with dph918. The 928 was built for cruising at high speeds. You will definitely notice that is where it REALLY belongs! I never owned one, but my Brother-In-Law had one that I was able to drive quite a bit. You will find it extremely comfortable for the long ride home. It is a touring car.

I have a 90GT in red. Welcome to the 928 family. Drop on over to the forum and bring some pics and background. There's a large contingent of knowlegable people in there, and will help with anything 928 related. One check and adjustment that should not be overlooked is the flex plate tension and release. If it's a rennlist member, pretty sure they know about it, and have already taken care of that. You need to get a new uprated clamp to insure the thrust bearing is not damaged by the flex plate migration. It is catastrophic engine failure if not taken care of, like the IMS bearing of the 996.

928rUs is better for new parts. Looks like a nice one.

I know absolutely nothing about them, but that car is hot sex. When I was a kid the Porsche 928S4 ad was the first ad I ever taped to a wall.

Nice looking 928. I've always loved the look of that car...

Thanks guys! I'm excited to pick it up. Let's just hope I'm still happy with it 6 months from now.

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I've had both the 5 speed 82 and a 1991 S4 (auto). IMO, the newer S4 out handles and feels better than the older 5 speed. I would prefer the looks and performance of the S4 Good luck with you choice and please post photos here on the 996 forum

Nice! First time it rains, you have to say "Who's the U-Boat commander"!!

OK, my 15-yr-old son and I are hitting the road right after his football practice tonight to go pick up the 928S4 in South Bend, Indiana. About a 9 hour drive for us, so will arrive around 2 am. We are meeting the seller at the local mall where we'll drop off our one-way rental car at 8:30 am tomorrow morning. Then we are visiting the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend at 9:30 am, departing there about 10:30 am for a quick drive through the Notre Dame campus. Then on to Kalamazoo and the Gilmore Car Museum. After a couple of hours there, we'll head out for the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, IN. After that, we'll probably head for Indianapolis to spend the night Saturday night. Sunday, we'll drive back home through St. Louis and stop in Columbia, MO to have lunch at Shakespeare's with my college freshman who's at Mizzou. Should be a fun weekend. Knock on wood that the 27 year old car we're driving home holds up! What could possibly go wrong?

Congratulations KC! You're going to be right around my old College stomping grounds. I haven't been to the Gilmore museum in quite some time, I've been meaning to see new Lincoln exhibit. It looks like the Model A gathering is happening this weekend. Enjoy the time with your son and the new car. Report back and post a few pictures along the way. http://www.michigan.org/events/model-a-ford-day/

Have a great trip!!! Looking forward to the pix when you get back.

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I hope you post up your itinerary on the 928 board. They have a lot of experts along your way who will do everything they can to get you home happy and safe. I happen to have a Studebaker Avanti, and a Cord Beverly so you are going through some fantastic car country up there. enjoy.

Nice looking 928 KC, you and your son should have a blast together with your new ride.

How did the trip go KC?

Thanks for asking. It was a good trip, but not perfect. First, the car is in nice shape, but A LOT of the accessories don't work either at all or as advertised. But, it's a 27 year old 928, so I guess I should have expected it. I love the looks of the car and I suspect after getting lots of the little bugs sorted out, it will be much better, but I have to say that my '99 996 feels like a thoroughly modern luxury car in comparison. The bad: -The AC did not work and on Saturday, the heat was stuck on. Apparently this is a very common problem due to a complex HVAC vacuum system. We got the heat to subside Sunday, but still no AC. Driving at 80 mph on the highway for 8+ hours with the windows down is not for the faint of heart. Not sure how we did that back in the days before AC was common on cars. -The electric seat adjusters were largely inop. We used a crank tool to manually adjust fore and aft, but height adjustment was inop on both front seats. The passenger seatback was the only thing that would adjust - driver's side was firmly stuck in place. So, if I wanted my lumbar to touch seatback, I had to tilt my head to the right. I could scrunch down to hold my head straight, but then I had no support on my lower back. -The seller said the timing belt had been replaced about 5 to 6 years ago and was recently inspected and good. But, he added that the timing belt tensioner had come on a couple of times and that he saw a few drops of coolant under the car, so he thought the timing belt/water pump needed to be done. Well, the tensioner warning came on 2 minutes after the car was started and stayed on EVERY TIME I started the car. Also, we refilled the coolant tank with about 3 quarts of coolant or distilled water after about every 3 hours of driving time. But, we faced the timing belt/water pump demons and we survived. I kept the RPMs under 3,000 the entire trip (it will cruise on the interstate at 80 mph at about 2,700 rpms). Given the 996 IMSB mentality I've been ingrained with here, I just convinced myself that it's a $9,000 car. If the engine grenaded on the way home, I'd get a rental car and sell the carcass for $3,000 where it died. From reading on the 928 board though, timing belt breakages are pretty rare, and normally when they skip a tooth it's during cold weather. Bottom line, gambled and won. It goes into the shop tomorrow for timing belt, water pump, new fuel lines (precautionary fuel line swap) and brake fluid bleed. -Got a traffic ticket for going 35 in a 30 in Richland, Michigan. Yes, you read that right. Plus, the officer tried to confiscate my driver's license to ensure I paid the fine. I had to pay the officer $110 cash to keep my license. First time outside of Tijuana I've ever had that happen. -Several other little gremlins to repair (brake pad warning came on, dash lights super dim, needs alignment and fronts tires, etc), but I won't make a long post longer. The good: -Got to spend a lot of quality time with younger son, Max. -Toured Studebaker National Museum and Notre Dame University in South Bend, Gilmore Car Museum in Kalamazoo, MI and Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, IN. See attached pics. -Stopped in Columbia, MO to have lunch with my older son, Alex, who attends Mizzou. -Met a Rennlister in Columbia from the 928 board - syoo8, aka Scott Yoo and his lovely wife, Alice (who is a professor at Mizzou). Fantastic people. He dug into the engine bay in the parking lot at the restaurant to inspect my fuel lines and to do a little troubleshooting on the HVAC system. Got to see his 928S4 - a well sorted, tastefully modded beautiful car. All in all, a great trip. I've travelled to pick up and drive cross-country home 3 of the 4 Porsches I've purchased. I would say this was the most challenging trip, mainly due to the condition of the car not being what I expected. The big stuff was as described, and I'm not at all upset with the seller (when Scott Yoo looked at it, he thought $9,000 was a great deal for the condition and 81,000 miles). But, I did not do a PPI on this car based on the detailed description by the seller and the seller's experience having owned roughly 50 Porsches over the years. I did raise the issue with him after the first day that I thought he had glossed over A LOT of minor issues with the car in his description. But, the bottom line is that I elected to forego the PPI. Had I done a PPI, I likely would have still bought the car, but would have had it shipped rather than take the risks we did in driving. I have a pretty long laundry list of minor items to sort out. Lesson learned - with a 928 expect lots of niggling items to keep you busy wrenching. But, the guys on the 928 board, I think out of necessity, are seriously hard core DIY maintenance guys and willing to share their excellent knowledge and experience. I think the 996 board is a little more lighthearted because we don't have near the list of maintenance issues to deal with (and when we get bored of hashing over the same issues time and again, the threads turn to boobies - there are no boobies on the 928 board!).