Hi guys, another 5-speed freak here.
I love the fact that it's a real bear to drive, much like a 1960s musclecar, and far from anything silky smooth like some other cars I've had in the past. It's industrial grade all the way. The first to second shift is awkward, and certainly not what Porsche intended for stoplight racing, something the 928 was never intended for anyway. Many times I take off in second, as the dual plate clutch is brutally strong and there's plenty of torque.
I have an aftermarket exhaust, and you can play the car like a musical instrument. However, there are times when I'm tired and on the way home, that I'd love the big rubber band slingshot of the 928 auto. Its not a normal auto, its one engineered for the flagship of the Porsche line, and it's a good one (actually sourced from Mercedes and adapted into a Porsche transaxle).
The one thing I can say with certainty about my 83, it's not a smooth or lightweight shift, its almost like driving a truck.
Want to see what it takes to rebuild a 5-speed, well it's not all that bad, check out this link
http://www.network54.com/Forum/message?forumid=426130&messageid=1121972820
It could be a LOT worse, you could be spending that cash on a Toyota.
Regards, P