Preference,GT or GTS...why?

mikeesik · 02-13-2013, 07:49 PM

I'd be so appreciative to own both but reality sets in.

For the money of a fantastic GT and for the money of a fantastic GTS, which of course there is a difference; which machine would grab you and ....WHY ???

Danglerb · 02-13-2013, 11:05 PM

If Bill Gates backed into the side of my 928 and told me he was dreadfully sorry, but had no insurance and if it wouldn't be too much trouble would I be willing to accept any other 928 which he would gladly pay for ... I would be on the phone to Willhoit and my question would not be GT or GTS, it would be what are the best 928's you have right now? For the seriously no money spared, I would find the nicest non sunroof car in a color I liked and let Greg Brown and Paul champagne express themselves on it.

Short real world answer, GT. They are about half the cost of a GTS, all 5 spds, and pretty much 100% of the owners find them a rip to drive.

Longer answer;

GT
89 to 91, bridges the digital dash era and air bags, so you can pick. All 5 spds, 335 hp with a nice cam profile that wants to run. Downside, lots of them have been driven hard, tracked and otherwise messed with.

GTS
Limited production, highest cost, newest models in best condition, most luxury, most weight, only about 20% 5 spds with associated bump in price, very few non sunroof in USA, 5.4L of torque and hp.

My choice is an early body car with an upgraded motor, Euro hybrid or better. Easy 400 lbs less weight, more of a 911 style spartan luxury. Easier to find a good chassis with no sunroof, and by far the lowest cost.

Kiln_Red · 02-14-2013, 08:40 AM

The only thing I like favorably of the GTS over the GT are the quarter panels. A GTS with no rub strips is absolutely gorgeous. For me, I don't care one way or the other whether a car has a sun roof or not. Besides all of that, I think the GT is a better car. The '89 is the most desirable.

I'm an S3 kind of guy though. I think they are the best that you can get in to for the least amount of money. I have an '86.5 with 17K original miles and I'm not even sure an even trade to a GT would talk me out of it. Great car.

silver89 · silver89's Garage

Probably the GT (cause I have one), but seriously, I picked up a 91 GT with 24K miles last summer for $21K. A comparable GTS 5 speed low miles would cost $50K, $60K, more??

After fluids, TB, WP, Tensioner, tires and some other rehab since it hadn't been driven for 10 years, I added another $4K expense, and what a hoot to drive vs the 89 S4 auto I have.

For the bang for the buck, I'd try and find a nice GT vs a GTS.

stepson · 02-14-2013, 01:18 PM

GTS for me. Low end torque is awesome. Ride is excellent. 5 speed would be nice, but Rogerbox is easy, smooth, and bulletproof.

ROG100 · 02-14-2013, 03:51 PM

I own most 928's from 78 to 93 and my daily driver is the GTS with the best option of a "RogerBox" - there is no substitute. My 88SE and 89 manual are fast at accelerating but the torque of the GTS tops them both for street use.

Fixer · 04:03 PM

My choice is an early body car with an upgraded motor, Euro hybrid or better. Easy 400 lbs less weight, more of a 911 style spartan luxury. Easier to find a good chassis with no sunroof, and by far the lowest cost.

Best advice by far Danglerb, Clubsport would be nice too.
I prefer the early lighter car with an uprated motor
Matt

77tony · 02-14-2013, 05:29 PM

Both are great. I do notice people grafting GTS hips on GT's & S4's What does that tell you? T

Pete R · Pete R's Garage

Money aside...GTS, it's the last and ultimate 928. It will probably hold value better too

MPDano · MPDano's Garage

GTS. Worth more. And since I can't afford it, I want it more.

riber.bentsen · riber.bentsen's Garage

I want a 5-speed, no sunroof GTS in Midnight Blue with a Classic Grey supple leather interior so bad, I'm close to selling a kidney - I mean, you only really need one, riiiight?

And this is even though I have what I have heard described as the "white whale" of 928's - a 5-speed, no sunroof, late 86 928 S2 Euro. (Which I will never sell BTW, just need to win the lottery or above to buy that GTS

Danglerb · 02-15-2013, 09:22 PM

One kidney is not going to buy a nice one. I think there is only one non sunroof US GTS, sold recently for over $100k, 5 spd, but I think it was red or something. If I was rolling in money I would have somebody scouting the japan market for me.

77tony · 02-16-2013, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danglerb

One kidney is not going to buy a nice one. I think there is only one non sunroof US GTS, sold recently for over $100k, 5 spd, but I think it was red or something. If I was rolling in money I would have somebody scouting the japan market for me.

You don't have to be rolling in money, just take it to a good paint & body person. T

Danglerb · 02-17-2013, 12:48 AM

You need to be rolling in at least small change and some folding money.

I live in SoCal, same neighborhood as the place Dan took his for restoration and a new no hole lid. I've seen a lot of patched sunroof panels, and its just not that much more money to remove the factory sun roof panel and replace it with a factory non sunroof panel. Figure around $3k to $5k plus whatever paint you had in mind.

OTOH if you are doing a lot of work on the car, all the chassis from all model years are VERY similar, so why not find an early non sunroof car with decent paint and rework the mechanicals and interior? Cheaper I think in the long run, if there is such a thing as cheap in regards to Porsche restoration.

Fixer · 02-17-2013, 10:24 AM

I think you're right again Danglerb, (what's your given name anyway?) restorations cost the same no matter what you pay to start.
I wouldn't want to cut the roof up or bead it closed rather on a GTS. It removes value with the sunroof.
No offense Tony, your GTS is awesome, and it took serious dedication to make that choice. T, Was your GTS hit or damaged in any way when you started? That changes everything.
Having that extra headroom is probably worth it though.

77tony · 02-17-2013, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the fixer

i think you're right again danglerb, (what's your given name anyway?) restorations cost the same no matter what you pay to start.
I wouldn't want to cut the roof up or bead it closed rather on a gts. It removes value with the sunroof.
No offense tony, your gts is awesome, and it took serious dedication to make that choice. T, was your gts hit or damaged in any way when you started? That changes everything.
Having that extra headroom is probably worth it though.

6'4" t

Fixer · 02-17-2013, 01:24 PM

Yeah i hear that i'm at 6'-0 and it's a tight fit.
It doesn't seem like the car could have been originally designed with a sunroof in mind, be cool if the roof removed like a 944.
I saw an Alfa Guila somethin at auction that was vintage raced with the roof cut open for the drivers helmet.

Danglerb · 02-17-2013, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Fixer

I think you're right again Danglerb, (what's your given name anyway?)

You don't think my name is Dan Glerb?

For some reason a few people insist on calling me Mike.

Restoration cost is all about where you start and where you end. Start with a clean body and fixable paint and you knock a good $10k off the total. Take a look at what Greg Brown did for his son Kyle.

Some advice from Podguy is also very true, regarding cosmetic condition anything less than acceptable condition is going to cost about the same to make it acceptable, as in one teeny tiny crack and you still have to refinish the dash or pod if you want zero cracks.

Xlot · 02-18-2013, 02:33 PM

There are two features of the GTS I find I want..

The rear wheel arches (fender flares)
The pollen filter on the AC (found in 94/95 GTS's only).

The odds of finding a full-leather, no-sunroof, 94/95 GTS are very slim.. it would need to be "made" by doing similar to Tony above. However, at that point, it might be just as easy to start with a full-leather, no-sunroof 5-speed 89 S4/GT