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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 9
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First timer needs advice... looking at a 78 928
All
A friend of a friend is selling his 1978 928 and I wanted to get some opinions on the price and maintenance on these cars. It is red over tan and has 56K on the clock. The body and paint are in very good condition as is the interior. The car sat in his garage for some time until he decided to drive it again and no surprise the CIS system was all fouled up. He took the car to our local Porsche dealership and had the entire CIS system replaced for $2500, receipt included. The tires have also been replaced and all the bushings on the shift linkage. The AC is dead. The car appears to have been garage kept and is in good condition. Asking price is $4300 I am a very competent mechanic who has worked on everything from Fiats to Lotuses so I can keep anything running. On the other hand I no longer own Fiat's or Lotuses as I actually prefer to drive my cars most of the time. Questions: I have always heard that these cars are a maintenance nightmare. True? I understand that these are considered underpowered? My last Porsche was a N/A 944. That was underpowered. Is there very much you can do to get more power with this model. I suspect not. I still have CIS nightmares from my Audi days. How is the system in these cars? and lastly.... what do you guys think of the price? Seems high for a 1978 but then again everything else I have looked at was a rolling pile of crud. Thank you in advance for your advice. Tony |
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04-07-2009, 10:20 AM
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Network Native
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 10,349
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I would look at specifically what the dealer did and replaced, $2500 doesn't go far with a stealership, and they may have done something stupid like replace fuel injection parts and not flush and clean the tank. I'll make a wild guess they replaced "some" of the fuel injection, not all of it.
CIS seems to work pretty well as long as you keep the fuel clean and fresh. Bad or dirty fuel and you could be replacing the whole thing again. The early NA 944 did feel pretty tame, and the early 928 weighs a fair amount more with only a moderate increase in power, but its a different character entirely, hard to say how you may like it or not. The only practical increase in power is to drop in a complete Euro S CIS based motor, but you could do that for $5k or less if you do the work. Good condition doesn't mean anything to me. Most Porsche owners eventually see things as either acceptable as is or with "detailing" , or needs replacing or rebuilding. Once a part falls in the replace or rebuild category the cost is the same to fix a 2/10 seat as a 8/10 seat. $4300 is a lot for a 78, but not if its really nice with a true mileage of 56k. Really nice early cars with low mileage are NOT common. Main question is do you want it, and why? Unless a 928 suits you, no point in buying it. There are people who do really like the early cars, so I suspect your friend will have no trouble selling at his price, if its really nice, but I don't see enough room to buy and try for much of a higher price. Post some pictures and get the car into the right hands if you decide not to buy it. |
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04-07-2009, 11:21 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 5
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04-07-2009, 07:08 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Buena Park, CA
Posts: 247
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Nightmare is relative. It's not a 5 year old Civic that you'll be able to drive and barely think about changing the oil. I bought a $2000 78 that was not in great shape but ran. It's been far from a nightmare because of the resources available here and RL but it has required work and some cash.
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04-07-2009, 08:33 PM
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Network Native
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 10,349
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Only a handful of owners have more than $25k or so in their cars, what can you buy for that kind of money that does remotely what a 928 does? |
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04-07-2009, 10:00 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 650
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A low mileage 78 in the condition you describe is a good value at that price, IMHO, especially if you do the wrenching yourself. The early models, if properly maintained, will be one of the models (like an 89 CS) that will eventually appreciate significantly in value.
As to being maintaince nightmares, I disagree. They can be, like any other car, but if they have been maintained reasonably well, then the stuff that regularly goes is easy enough to address. It sounds like this car may have been fairly well taken care of (have a ppi done in any event). Also, a $2500 job for a CIS rebuild sounds about right to me from a dealership. You could have done this job for alot less yourself, obviously. Also, make sure you get the workshop manuals - they are available on disk from Jim Morehouse (I don't have the link but somebody else here will - they're only $70 or so). I have only intermediate mechanic skills, and I have been successful addressing a good number of major issues on an 86.5, which is a far more complex system than the early models. You should be fine. Post pictures. I just bought this '78 - http://www.928registry.org/1978-928-0834.htm. Go for it. These are some of the finest cars ever made.
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Ed 85 928 5 spd (guards red over tan) 07 Shelby GT500 6 spd (torch red over two tone black and red leather) |
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04-08-2009, 05:18 AM
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