951 vs 928 S4

[chitown944]

So I may have any opportunity on trading my 951 for an 88 928 S4. What are significant characteristic differences and what to expect. Thanks for any input.

[MPDano]

V8

[Dean_Fuller]

I would say there is more room to work under the hood of a S4 than the 951.

No lag on the s4.

s4 is MUCH more comfy on a trip but the 951 is FUN.

Is the s4 and auto or 5 speed?

Is the s4 is running well I think you will like the low RMP torque.

[5l32v4c]

Maybe check out the price & availability of parts. Depending on your budget (including how much you want to spend on fuel) the 928 might not make sense as a daily driver - this depends on many other factors, but it's worth considering.

I ignored pretty-much every rule in the book when I recently bought my '85 928 32-valve and went on my gut instinct. Watch out for my post later this year entitled "Never purchase a 928 based on gut instinct".

I like the 928 so much that nothing else would do. For me, it wasn't a case of owning "a Porsche" but a case of owning a 928 and this was an opportunity that I simply could not pass up. The 928 is not everyone's cup of tea but, for me, there was "no substitute".

Maybe take one or two for a drive and see what you think. I did read that many 911 owners did not like the 928 when it first came out because it was a completely different type of car altogether. If you've already accepted that a "real" Porsche can have a front-mounted, water-cooled engine, you're already half way there.

Good luck!

[chitown944]

Yeah this situation seems a bit like yours. Its an opportunity that has presented itself and want to explore it. I already know their different car in many ways but will I lose the fun factor with a 928 as far as ride handling performance.

[Danglerb]

The cars are yin and yang. If you know the person why not trade for a week, should cure both of you.

[riber.bentsen]

Originally Posted by chitown944

will I lose the fun factor with a 928

Big, fat NO

[Fixer]

I drove my friends '87 944 turbo a lot. It was back in the early 90s and the car was very new and clean. He was and is a professional mechanic and had it in a high state of tune.

My US '83 928S is not as quick for sure but more fun imo. I remember the 944T being so good and so comfy i was bored, and i drove it at 120 plenty.

I agree with the above.

[Fixer]

Originally Posted by Danglerb

The cars are yin and yang. If you know the person why not trade for a week, should cure both of you.

I could never do that, i'd be worried sick visualizing my synchronizers disintegrating,
"yeah i changed my mind"

[Pete R]

I have both, though my 928 isn't an S4. Dean nailed it pretty good. The 951 for me is MUCH more fun. With the turbo the 951 has that extra system that is pretty complex and another thing to break, so the 928 is better in that respect. There are less suppliers that have 928 parts. There many more aftermarket part for the 951 as well especially if you are into tuning at all. The 928 sunroof doesn't come off like the 951. The 928 is much larger and nicer if your just cruising around or using it as a dd. You have a better chance of getting people in the back of the 928. Another thing that you may want to thing about is depending on your driving style you may be getting 5-10 less MPG with a 928.

[Fixer]

Originally Posted by Pete R

I have both, though my 928 isn't an S4. Dean nailed it pretty good. The 951 for me is MUCH more fun. With the turbo the 951 has that extra system that is pretty complex and another thing to break, so the 928 is better in that respect. There are less suppliers that have 928 parts. There many more aftermarket part for the 951 as well especially if you are into tuning at all. The 928 sunroof doesn't come off like the 951. The 928 is much larger and nicer if your just cruising around or using it as a dd. You have a better chance of getting people in the back of the 928. Another thing that you may want to thing about is depending on your driving style you may be getting 5-10 less MPG with a 928.

Pete, is your 928 a 5-speed? Very nice. I remember Brando complaining about the terrible fuel economy of his 951. He had a lead foot though and still does. He installs custom superchargers on MB only in Colorado.

[Pete R]

Originally Posted by The Fixer

Pete, is your 928 a 5-speed? Very nice. I remember Brando complaining about the terrible fuel economy of his 951. He had a lead foot though and still does. He installs custom superchargers on MB only in Colorado.

yes, I put a 84-86 Euro in it and a later model gear box.
My 951 gets 7mpg at the track, but it's real good on the street (guessing 23mpg ish) when you keep your foot out of it and off boost. I remember when I first got the car a was trying to run the old gas out.. it took forever. My 928 generally gets 16, it will get 19 but I have to be on the highway for the whole tank

[Danglerb]

Assuming the OP is the same person on Rennlist, trade was made and both seem happy.

[Fixer]

Originally Posted by Pete R

yes, I put a 84-86 Euro in it and a later model gear box.
My 951 gets 7mpg at the track, but it's real good on the street (guessing 23mpg ish) when you keep your foot out of it and off boost. I remember when I first got the car a was trying to run the old gas out.. it took forever. My 928 generally gets 16, it will get 19 but I have to be on the highway for the whole tank

Your 928 sounds awesome. How long did it take you to get it to what it is now?
Any additional info or pics of what you learned doing the motor/transaxle swap would be appreciated.

[Pete R]

Originally Posted by The Fixer

Your 928 sounds awesome. How long did it take you to get it to what it is now?
Any additional info or pics of what you learned doing the motor/trans axle swap would be appreciated.

About 20 years and $80k. I also have S4 brakes and suspention in it
I have no pics of the swaps, I finished it a few years ago. It really wasn't difficult though, it was just a matter of taking out what I had and replacing it with a different part. The beauty of a 928 is everything still bolts up. The chassis never really changed. You just need the correct parts. For instance to put a later tranny in a 79. the torque tube (?) shift linkage and tranny cradle had to be changed as well because the two trannies weren't dimensionally the same. It would have been a lot easier with forums like this but they weren't around (or I didn't know about them) when I started so I had to figure a lot out on my own.

[Fixer]

Originally Posted by Pete R

About 20 years and $80k. I also have S4 brakes and suspention in it
I have no pics of the swaps, I finished it a few years ago. It really wasn't difficult though, it was just a matter of taking out what I had and replacing it with a different part. The beauty of a 928 is everything still bolts up. The chassis never really changed. You just need the correct parts. For instance to put a later tranny in a 79. the torque tube (?) shift linkage and tranny cradle had to be changed as well because the two trannies weren't dimensionally the same. It would have been a lot easier with forums like this but they weren't around (or I didn't know about them) when I started so I had to figure a lot out on my own.

So to swap a later trans you needed a later torque tube (and interior) and later shift linkage and everything bolted up without any problem?

The $80K shows, that is one nice Porsche, RUF wheels are killer. It's lighter being a '79 MY, must be very quick.

[Pete R]

Originally Posted by The Fixer

So to swap a later trans you needed a later torque tube (and interior) and later shift linkage and everything bolted up without any problem?

The $80K shows, that is one nice Porsche, RUF wheels are killer. It's lighter being a '79 MY, must be very quick.

I'm not 100% sure about the tube, I may have just done it, nothing on the interior changed, though I did cut and take out a few inches of the giant 2 foot high shift lever. I don't know the years that the change happened but a 79 tranny mounts about 3/4 of an inch off what the later ones do, which requires a few different items.