Info for a first time 928 buyer

bigsteve · 02:10 PM

I have always loved the look/performance of the 928 but have never owned a Porsche in my life. Needless to say I have a few questions before buying one, fist thing would be that I'm 6'4" tall 250lbs and would like to know if I can fit into the car without a shoe horn? Next would be what to look out for when looking at these cars?

Also what engine oil (weight & synthetic or conventional) did Porsche originally spec for thes engines?

JhwShark · JhwShark's Garage

Thanks for considering a SHARK as we sometimes refer to our 928's.

I do not think that you'll have a problem in the car, the seats have a lot of movement so your legs should fit. Since we have roadster seating your height should not be a factor, I'm 5'11" and have a lot of room above my head.

The following link may help for the pre-purchase routine; it is very thorough maybe to much but...: PPI

I started a post about "what do you feed your SHARK" a while ago, so look for what is used...not sure about the factory recommendation (99 octane I believe) but the higher the octane the better; I dont think they used synthetic on concept.

Jon

adding...you will find the folks on this site are very helpful!

Danglerb · 11-04-2009, 03:14 PM

Find an early non sunroof car and the 928 is great for tall people. One of maybe a handful of cars ever made that works in all respects for the tall.

Shop with care, take your time, ask questions, take along an expert in the 928.

What area of the world are you in?

EIPtuningR32 · EIPtuningR32's Garage

as people will warn you, this is not a car to try to find a good deal on and fix it up (as i found out the hard way) you want to buy the nicest 928 you can in the best shape with the least amount of problems possible. this will hopefully (probably not) help you to avoid falling down the money pit that Porsche incorporated around the drivers seat. the thing that sucks though is when you fall down, Porsche engineers grease the escape ladder with love/passion lube so its quite difficult to get out.

bigsteve · 04:08 PM

Hi All,

I live in SE Massachusetts about 1 hour from Boston. I have seen some on Craig's list and scouted some on ebay also just to get a feel for conditions and asking price. thats for the Tip about the sun roof that definitely removes the cars with that option off my list. I'm sure glad to here that have room for us bigger guys. I have a 69 Camaro that I've had since High School and had to put seat extenders on the drivers seat to get my long legs in and with manual brakes the pedal is even higher the normal! So as you can tell I definitely want to stay away from a car that is comfortable for me. I'm not looking to flip the car as you can ask my wife once the car enters my drive way they usually never leave! Also I figure thjat I would like a 5 speed model rather then the automatick transmission, would this be a good choice?

tedward515 · 11-04-2009, 04:53 PM

Like Danglerb said, if your tall you want to try and find a non-sunroof car. Also the manual seats sit an inch or two lower giving you that much extra headroom. As far as auto vs manual it mostly down to your preference, although I think 5 spds are the best

bigsteve · 05:19 PM

I like the 5 speed also and like you said it gives me more head room. What kind of milage can you get out of these engines before needing an overhaul?

Do they also require European spec engine oil?

Anyone using Classic aut insurance on these cars?

DMRK · 11-04-2009, 05:06 PM

As with any Porsche buy the best one you can afford. That doesnt matter as much if you are able to work on it your self.

Like Danglerb said no sunroof gives more headroom. Also I think the manual seats do too when compared to the power seats.

The 5 speeds are rarer and more sought after so they command higher prices. It limits your choices for sure. Try driving both if you can.

DMRK · 11-04-2009, 05:07 PM

at least 300k miles if maintained

bigsteve · 05:35 PM

Are the brakes 4 wheel disc ABS on these cars? Are these cars prone to electrical problems?

Mrmerlin · 11-04-2009, 05:35 PM

Steve the car has 4 wheel disc brakes.
If you can read an electric diagram and are handy with wrenches then you can maintain the car yourself, as there are quite a few people here that will assist you with your questions, good luck on your search

dkkim81 · dkkim81's Garage

I just purchased my 84 928 S one month ago. I believe the car had been sitting for quite some time because the fuel injection hoses were cracked and many other vacuum lines were very brittle during some repairs. Make sure to check the rotors and brakes. Check the A/C and heating to see if it works. Switch from hot to cold and cold to hot to see if there's a change in temperature.

Keep in mind that these Porsche parts can be pricey!! The rotors were about 90-100 bucks each!

But now that I've done a lot of delayed maintenance, I should be cool for years to come!

vandenham · vandenham's Garage

I have a 1978 928 without a sun roof. My son has driven the car and he is over 6'6". The car has electric seats and with them down as low as they go, his head just clears the ceiling. He had no problems with his long legs either.

Rick

Danglerb · 11-04-2009, 11:30 PM

People almost never willingly sell a nice 928. Almost all the cars on the market at any time will be cars with problems, often with many years of incompetent repairs and neglect, bought and sold by one owner after another dumping money into them. Its essential that you have any 928 inspected by an expert in the 928 prior making any offer. Advertised prices don't mean much, prices and condition vary too much.

Nothing special in oil required except you should not use the SM rated low zinc oil that is specced for cats on newer cars.

Classic insurance works for some, depends on state and carrier.

928 are a mix of aluminum and steel, keeping the electricals happy is part of routine PM.

All are 4 wheel disc, ABS became an option in the mid 80's, and std in the late 80's.

Were you planning on buying one soon, and braving the winter, or parking it to fix until spring?

bigsteve · 11-05-2009, 12:52 AM

I have a garage and access to a friends shop that has plenty of room for a winter project, so I guess the answer would be when the right car comes along.

dewolf · 11-05-2009, 02:17 AM

Pay the premium for a good car. These cars in good stock condition are becoming a rarity. I just bought my second 928. Have owned several other Porsche's like most folk here on PP, (944's,944T 'S', 930 and 911) I waited two years and looked at plenty of cars, for the right one. If you pay the extra for a good car to begin with, it will pay dividends in the long run. There is no such thing as a cheap 928. Good luck, and be patient.

morriss · 11-05-2009, 02:09 PM

Yeah, don't worry about not fitting. I'm 6'1'' and I fit fine. My 928 has elec. seats and a 5 speed (no sunroof), and I have pretty long legs. The only thing I have to worry about is my shoes. I have to wear my narrower ones to keep them from rubbing each other in those instances when I have to brake and push the clutch in at the same time. Head room is fine too.

bigsteve · 11-05-2009, 02:59 PM

Thats good to know! Did all of these 928 cars have AC as a standard option.

rhjames · rhjames's Garage

yes, A/C was standard as far as I know.

this was a luxury grand touring car of the day.....most available modern features were standard, depending upon year model.

as others have said, if you're over 6 foot, a NON-sunroof/manual seat car is the one for you....that said, it lumps you into one of the earlier models, something you may not be interested in (unless you like a challenge).

happy hunting---

--Russ

bigsteve · 02:26 PM

Is there a year that I should stay away from or just the older the car the more problems are likely? What is the diference between European model and others? Also I'm pretty hand around car so I will be doing most of the work myself, its the parts price that scare me.