911 vs 928 -or- why should I switch

[frogman]

I am currently driving a 1980 928 that I got at a good price, fixed the mechanical stuff and now I'm ready to paint. When finished I plan to upgrade, but here is my question. For the money I spend getting into a 87 to 90 928s4 what kind of 911 can I expect to find ?, or why would I want to......Hmmmm ?

[masraum]

How much are you looking to spend. 928's are generally cheap to get into, but murder to maintain.

'78-83 $10-18K
'84-'89 $14-25K
'90-94 $22-40k

The thing to remember is that they are completely different cars, they won't feel anything alike to drive, so what are you looking for? Drive a 911 and see which you prefer.

[thrown_hammer]

Wouldn't it be great if you lived close to someone that had a 911 that wasn't disassembled and strung out on sawhorses?...

[1fastredsc]

Big difference in driving feel, and that includes the difference between 911 years as well. Early, light and agile. Later, higher speed cruisers with power steering. Plus there's the rear engine thing which takes getting used to (or so i'm told since i haven't DEed my car yet).

[cowtown]

I'm guessing a 928S4 would cost you in the 15-20K range?

For that money, you would get a very nice 82-84 911SC, or a higher mileage but still nice 84-88 Carrera. Or a ratty 964. 993 is probably out of the question.

What do you use the car for? The 911 is not as comfy a highway cruiser. But if you have several hairpin turns on your way to work, you will get there faster in a 911.

[frogman]

My budget is 10-12k, and when I say upgrade I mean performance not curb appeal. I am not afraid to drive a fast ugly car.

[frogman]

Your right, an s4 will be about 15k

[masraum]

What sort of performance? the 928 makes a good dragster and highway hauler, the 911 isn't designed to be a dragster, but will probably drive circles around a 928

For 10-12K you will get an early SC which will put you in the low to mid 6's for 0-60 if you really hammer the car.

Upgrading performance by going from a 928 to a 911 is like trading in your yacht for a sailboat or maybe even more accurately trading in your learjet for a high performance acrobatic plane, they are both fast, but in completely different ways.

[quaz]

I have both a 928 Euro S2 and a 71 911. All I can say is both are so different. My 928 is very very fast (stayed right next to a modified 930 on one of our club drives), very quiet and very comforable. However my 911 is quick, light nimble, and loud. I like them both, but I am thinking the 928 may go in spring because I just have more fun driving the 911 and you can't drive that fast on public roads in the US.

On the other hand the low slung exotic look and feel of the 928 is very cool. Although more people recognize the 911 and acknowledge it as a Porsche. What I always say is drive both on the same day and there won't be a decision to make. You will know which one you want.....or you will get them both. :-)

[speeder]

Originally posted by frogman
I am not afraid to drive a fast ugly car.

This definitely increases your choice of vehicles!

The 928 GT is very nice and very overlooked.

5 speed manual, 330HP.

[john walker's workshop]

i'll stay out of this for a change.

[dickster]

928 was my dream car for years following "risky business", i would still love to have one.

depends what you're after, a comfortable tourer, or a more focused sports car?

[masraum]

The manual trans 928's can be a real pain to find, most of the 928's that I see are automatics.

I'd love to have a manual 345hp 928 GTS, but I have other things to get before that.

[GeorgeM]

I had an '86 5 speed 928 for two years. I loved it. It was a third car, but I ended up driving it a lot because it was so fun and comfortable, especially with the manual tranny.

I wouldn't call it a pain to maintain, just not cheap. Mine wasn't any less reliable than my current 911, it was the parts prices that got me.

Everyone is right, they are very different cars. I would love to have both, especially here in Germany. My 911 is nothing special on the autobahn, it's a machine for the twisties. A 928 would be perfect (ideally a GTS). I miss it a lot.

[Bill Verburg]

982S4 and 928GTS are very appealing cars. It would take a very special 911 to be a lot more appealing.

[frogman]

This is proving to be much more interesting than I imagined.

[Jdub]

I have always loved the look of the 928.

But isn't this an apples and oranges argument? It is GT versus skateboard. Cush versus spartan to some degree.

If I were you, I'd drive as many 911s as you can, longhoods to Carreras, and get a sense if you like to wrestle with the 915 trans, etc.

Certainly there is a wealth of information on the 911 and parts have got to be easier to find used in good shape, so you'd have that going for you.

But try the 911 and see how it fits. You may miss the stowage space and arm room.

Best of luck,
John

[quaz]

Actually if performance is your goal stay away from the S4 manuals. The gearing in the S4s isn't great. The 82-85 Euros and the GT/GTS had the better final drive which made them more fun at lower speeds. All the 87-89 S4s I have driven in manuals have been dissapointing because the 2.21 R&P just kill first and second. Now if you just want the newest 928 you can afford and like the newer looks go for the S4s. They have that updated timeless look. However, if you plan on supercharging it like some of the guys are doing now you would probably want the S4 for the taller gears.

As for the cost of parts, I would say with the big three (928 intl, 928 sp, and Devek) the cost of owning a 928 is coming down. Not to mention there are a few savy 928 owners that are either making parts themselves (and reselling them) or have found many aftermarket adaptable replacement parts. As long as you or your mechanic sources parts through one of those venders the costs are about on par with 911 parts. If you go to the dealer you know the story. Just like any other commodity once the supply exceeds demand the prices fall.

BTW one of the guys on the 928 list just dynoed his stock 87 S4 with a vortec charger and turned 512hp at the rear wheels. I had a ride in a similar car last year and lets just say I was impressed.

Edit for P Porn

[goat]

Two different cars.
Gotta drive both & read up on their histories.
I remember or at least I think, that at one point Porsche advertised the 928 as the alternative to plane travel. (for short flights at least)