928 vs 911

[harborman]

I wonder how our 928's compare to the 911 handling wise. Anyone here have experience between the two? I find the 928 to handle quite well compared to other sports cars I have owned or driven.

[dtw]

My '72 911 is one of the best air-cooled 911s I've driven - fresh bushings, Bilstein Sports, great ride height, and some of the last S-03s made (probably due for replacement just on age alone, unfortunately). It handles like a go kart and can really be tossed around. My 928 handles great too, but it doesn't feel as kart-like or connected to the road as the 911. I wouldn't want it to; it is a GT car.

The C4S crushes them both - might have something to do with the AWD, Weissach axle, and 295s in the rear

[harborman]

Originally Posted by dtw

My '72 911 is one of the best air-cooled 911s I've driven - fresh bushings, Bilstein Sports, great ride height, and some of the last S-03s made (probably due for replacement just on age alone, unfortunately). It handles like a go kart and can really be tossed around. My 928 handles great too, but it doesn't feel as kart-like or connected to the road as the 911. I wouldn't want it to; it is a GT car.

The C4S crushes them both - might have something to do with the AWD, Weissach axle, and 295s in the rear

Always wondered how they (911) handled. I see many here, mostly all new ones. I heard the 911 had some quirks that could get one in trouble. The 928 has the Weissach rear I believe.

Being in a resort area, I see all kinds of fancy cars in summer. Many Porsche's, BMW, Ferrari, Maserati, occasional Rolls, etc. Vette's a dime a dozen here.

[S4hounddog]

I own both Porsches, a 1988 928 S4 and a 1984 911 Carrera.
Although the comparison is between two totally different cars ( a true GT vs a sports car), my opinion on both is as follows;
The 928 is very predictable when thrown into corners, the suspension is more sophisticated which keeps all 4 tires well planted, I feel that the harder you push the 928 the better it handles (weissach rear axle). The car gives more warning when you've reached the handling limit but the car does feel heavy. The 911 is much lighter and quick to react to changes in direction, as long as you keep the throttle on to keep the rear planted, it handles like a go cart. Although, the rear end will snap out without much warning when limit of handling is reached but I soon learned where this is. Each car requires a slightly different driving style but both cars have spectacular handling in their own right.

[924CarreraGTP]

I would say the handling of the 928 is more predictable, and better overall than most 911's. You can't really appreciated a 928 until you flat out mistreat one in an abandoned parking lot. The car feels heavy, but it's harder than you think to get a 928 out of control. Even when you do, it has the weight to snap right back into control easily. Later Porsche adapted the Weissach axle to the 911 (993) because it worked so well in the 928.
The Porsche 911 is a sharp handling car too as long as you use the power of the car to steer fast corners. Just don't go too fast into a corner and then let off the gas. The 944 has better handling than both, but I'm one of the few to believe that the 928 is not far off from the 944. It's just that not too many people have the cash, or cahones to race a big 928 around.

[dtw]

Originally Posted by 924CarreraGTP

The car feels heavy, but it's harder than you think to get a 928 out of control. Even when you do, it has the weight to snap right back into control easily. Later Porsche adapted the Weissach axle to the 911 (993) because it worked so well in the 928.

I think it was Bruce Anderson that said the harder you push a 928, the smaller it gets. Great commentary, very accurate way to describe the handling under the limits. As far as beyond the limits...well, it is a ton of fun to powerslide a 928.

The mantra of any trailing-arm 911 owner should be "Don't Lift". All of my great white knuckle driving moments have come driving 911s. However, I find it is also the most rewarding car to drive. Once you have a dialed 911 and know how to get the most out of it, it can take your breath away. This ass-engined nirvana isn't an easy place to enter - and it is flanked with ditches, embankments, armco, and telephone poles on all sides.

[Danglerb]

Very different cars, different styles of driving, but put them on the same track at similar levels of power and most of the time the 928 is faster.

I forget which magazine was doing the testing, but they were very surprised that after many more laps than normal their drivers kept going a little faster. That is the 928 in a nutshell, as your skill increases, it goes faster than you might have guessed it would.

[924CarreraGTP]

Originally Posted by Danglerb

Very different cars, different styles of driving, but put them on the same track at similar levels of power and most of the time the 928 is faster.

I forget which magazine was doing the testing, but they were very surprised that after many more laps than normal their drivers kept going a little faster. That is the 928 in a nutshell, as your skill increases, it goes faster than you might have guessed it would.

Well said sir.

[Cobalt]

Interesting question. One of those ask 100 people get 70 different answers.

None of my cars are stock however there are major differences between them. Even my C2 handles very different than my turbo and nothing like the older long nose 911's I have owned and driven.

As much as I love my GTS it is more of a hatchet than a scalpel. After all it was designed and is a GT car and drives like one. Incredibly capable but ancient technology. My GTS has up sized sways and GT sport suspension. I have had numerous GTS owners drive it and they all claim it is tighter and more precise than stock but I find it lacking in some ways. The back end is not as planted as I would like it is more vette like with the back end and is not as planted as my other Porsche's. It is well balanced and gives less feedback when reaching its limits as 50/50 weight balanced cars have a tendency to do. Unlike a 911 it pivots at the center instead of the rear like the 911. Easy enough to break the back end loose although better now than when it was stock. Tires make a huge difference as well.

The turbo is more like the 928 on steroids it is more of high speed sweeping turn car than the C2. The turbo rear trailing arms are big and slow at responding but if I had to put them head to head for handling I have no doubt the turbo would win. I base this on years of AX all my cars. It is a far more exhilarating ride and feels like the GTS when the GTS is pushed to the limits all the time with the rear bias of a 911.The C2 on the other hand is very precise and scalpel like. A far more hyper car to drive, Quick turn in and easy to play with the back end. Requires more interaction and shifting. Lifting and getting the back end to come around in a controlled fashion is easy and fun and can do things easily neither of the other cars can do at normal speeds. It makes for a great track toy and with proper suspension can do amazing things.

With that said if you put a truly professional skilled driver behind the wheel I am sure he could come very close in times for all three on a dedicated course no matter which he is driving.

BTW if you want an amazingly easy car to drive buy a new boxster or Cayman my wife just picked up a 14 boxster and it is so easy to push and will handle road surface changes with ease. It will make an unskilled driver seem like a pro.

[cali4sun]

I would agree with what others have said. The experience I have had is unique to each vehicle.

[Pete R]

I was always interested in 911's. Then we took our Ford Escort Zx2 to a PCA auto cross and beat every single 911 there except the GT3's... kinda lost interest after that

[harborman]

Originally Posted by Cobalt

Interesting question. One of those ask 100 people get 70 different answers.

None of my cars are stock however there are major differences between them. Even my C2 handles very different than my turbo and nothing like the older long nose 911's I have owned and driven.

As much as I love my GTS it is more of a hatchet than a scalpel. After all it was designed and is a GT car and drives like one. Incredibly capable but ancient technology. My GTS has up sized sways and GT sport suspension. I have had numerous GTS owners drive it and they all claim it is tighter and more precise than stock but I find it lacking in some ways. The back end is not as planted as I would like it is more vette like with the back end and is not as planted as my other Porsche's. It is well balanced and gives less feedback when reaching its limits as 50/50 weight balanced cars have a tendency to do. Unlike a 911 it pivots at the center instead of the rear like the 911. Easy enough to break the back end loose although better now than when it was stock. Tires make a huge difference as well.

The turbo is more like the 928 on steroids it is more of high speed sweeping turn car than the C2. The turbo rear trailing arms are big and slow at responding but if I had to put them head to head for handling I have no doubt the turbo would win. I base this on years of AX all my cars. It is a far more exhilarating ride and feels like the GTS when the GTS is pushed to the limits all the time with the rear bias of a 911.The C2 on the other hand is very precise and scalpel like. A far more hyper car to drive, Quick turn in and easy to play with the back end. Requires more interaction and shifting. Lifting and getting the back end to come around in a controlled fashion is easy and fun and can do things easily neither of the other cars can do at normal speeds. It makes for a great track toy and with proper suspension can do amazing things.

With that said if you put a truly professional skilled driver behind the wheel I am sure he could come very close in times for all three on a dedicated course no matter which he is driving.

BTW if you want an amazingly easy car to drive buy a new boxster or Cayman my wife just picked up a 14 boxster and it is so easy to push and will handle road surface changes with ease. It will make an unskilled driver seem like a pro.

The Boxter looks nice, however I am 6'3" and I don't think I can fit in the car very well. At least in my 928 I can stretch my legs out, have room for two sets of golf clubs!

[XLR8928]

Personally, I've owned two 928's, and I think I would like to own a 911 as well, some day. Just think of the fun of making your buddies squirm!

[Danglerb]

That's what a setup 914/6 with a 3.2L motor is for, making others humble as your little rust bucket walks away from them at the track.

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by harborman

The Boxter looks nice, however I am 6'3" and I don't think I can fit in the car very well. At least in my 928 I can stretch my legs out, have room for two sets of golf clubs!

I am 6'1" and I fit in the boxster better than the 928. In fact the 928 is the tightest fit of all my cars. My head is just skimming the roof. I wish they made more 928's with sunroof delete for extra headroom. I can actually drive the boxster with the roof up and a helmet on and still have room, not the case in the 928.

[harborman]

Originally Posted by Cobalt

I am 6'1" and I fit in the boxster better than the 928. In fact the 928 is the tightest fit of all my cars. My head is just skimming the roof. I wish they made more 928's with sunroof delete for extra headroom. I can actually drive the boxster with the roof up and a helmet on and still have room, not the case in the 928.

Well, I don't have any problem in my 928 without my Stetson hat! But a friend bought a new Volt. It actually has 4 doors. In order for me to get in the rear of this junk, I had to twist my legs and feet sideways, then slide inside. But the 928 is quite comfortable for me, no problem. I don't sit in the rear however!

[Yellowb1rd]

This really applies to pre-997 911s...

Owning and having a lot of driving xp with both, I have to say that they are BOTH incredibly good at what they were designed to do, and both can cross each other's worlds with the right input. Although I will always love my 911, I can say the same for my 928. I have to say that a 928 barreling through not only high speed turns, but sharp/tight ones, can be very confidence inspiring. In both cars, I feel like the more I give, the more they want, and each makes you feel like a better driver than you really are, but BOTH will bite you if you aren't careful. Each vehicle demands a certain measure of finesse and respect that is unique to said vehicle.

I will say that I find most of the newer 911's are owned by folks who don't care about the vehicle's rich history, and that bothers me. When a new Porsche owner drives by, there is never a wave, but the classic Porsche folks (I consider older than 2005) mostly wave back. Maybe that's being a bit sensitive, but I feel like we Porsche guys/gals are a different breed - coming from all walks of life, backgrounds, and cultures, with a fast little (ok sometimes not so little) German sports car bringing us all together like family. In the hands of the right owner, either car will SMOKE the other.

In the hands of two drivers, each fully capable of exploiting their car's strengths, that would be a VERY good race. I'm referring to pre-997 911s, particularly. With 997-present, even idiots can drive them like (semi) pros, and experienced drivers (not to mention the 996/997 GT3 and GT2s).... good night 911 and 928 alike. The 997, and ESPECIALLY the 991, are TRULY at the top of the food chain.

[aluminum]

Owning Both a 1990 C4 Carrera ( C4 all wheel drive ) its simple :
the C4 911 is a all out race Car . Ruff ride until over 60 MPH a flat out racer
Also owning a 1980 928 and driving it daily I can say with this experience :
the 928 is a touring Car > Yes a Hi End touring Car but not a race car > Smooth Ride / Good cornering for a touring Car , However you can feel the weight when pushing into the cornering the car leans and feel heavy unlike the 911
Those who say they are 2 completely different Car's are Correct except to say the name PORSCHE

[aluminum]

Owning Both a 1990 C4 Carrera ( C4 all wheel drive ) its simple :
the C4 911 is a all out race Car . Ruff ride until over 60 MPH a flat out racer
Also owning a 1980 928 and driving it daily I can say with this experience :
the 928 is a touring Car > Yes a Hi End touring Car but not a race car > Smooth Ride / Good cornering for a touring Car , However you can feel the weight when pushing into the cornering the car leans and feel heavy unlike the 911
Those who say they are 2 completely different Car's are Correct except to say the name PORSCHE

[syoo8]

It depends totally on which 928 and which 911- what year, etc. Too vague a question to answer, really.