The cure for happiness

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by billybek

I admire your sense of adventure, Shaun!

Thanks Bill but someday a lobotomy will be in order.

[Jim Richards]

I have tools, Shaun.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Tower of pain.....well said. But a cool car none the less.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

I have tools, Shaun.

Jim, you are always welcome at Tru6 World Headquarters.

Getting filters and a good used fuel pump tomorrow.

Will try to start it up on Friday.

[sugarwood]

What is the reason of the hostility towards 928 ownership?
Why is it so troublesome ?

[puddy]

What the big deal with 928's? Are they notoriously high maintenance? They recently started to catch my eye...

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

What is the reason of the hostility towards 928 ownership?
Why is it so troublesome ?

No one spoke of hostility. Everyone here knows that you go into the realm of 928 ownership with your eyes wide open....

If it works out, and you play by the rules, the experience could make you a very happy man. If it doesn't, well, chances are, you don't have anyone to blame for your misery but yourself.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Well put!

[sand_man]

Are the engines themselves robust?

[sand_man]

I have actually seen a few 928 track cars and they sound incredible!

[Don Ro]

I always liked its looks. A friend had one and he loved it. I know nothing about the car, however.
~~~~~~~
Porsche Before Its Time: The Porsche 928 - Ate Up With Motor
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Thanks to the Weissach axle and a high polar moment of inertia, the 928 was far more stable than the 911 and was not as prone to the lurid, tail-happy behavior of its rear-engine brethren. That stability, however, made it far less nimble than a 911 or 914. The 928 was predictable and free of vices, but it felt more deliberate than sporty.
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The 928’s straight-line performance was excellent and its handling and braking needed no apologies, but it had none of the exhilaration of the contemporary 930. Its size and bulk — and to some extent, its array of luxury and convenience features — also drew sharp criticisms. The 928 was not nimble or hard-edged enough for sports car fans, but it was a little too stiff and demanding for buyers who might otherwise select a Mercedes 450SLC or a Jaguar XJ-S.
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The final version of the 928, offered from 1992 to 1995, was the Porsche 928 GTS, with a 5,397 cc (329 cu. in.) engine rated at 345 hp (257 kW). Although curb weight had crept up to just over 3,700 pounds (1,685 kg), even the automatic GTS was capable of 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in about 6.5 seconds, while top speed was now close to 170 mph (272 km/h). Unfortunately, U.S. prices now approached $90,000, not including luxury and gas-guzzler taxes. As a result, fewer than 500 928s were sold in the U.S. between 1992 and 1995, with ’95 sales amounting to a meager 84 cars.
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Like most Porsches, the 928 no longer depreciates significantly and good survivors are beginning to appreciate in value. Decent examples are still relatively attainable, although the cost of repairs and maintenance can be very high. Still, with certain exceptions, it has yet to attain the fervent following of the 356 or early 911 on the collector market. We suspect that the 928’s failing as a collector car is precisely that it is so modern. Collectors are drawn to rarity and novelty and in that respect, the 928 disappoints. Certainly, there are rare 928s, like the lightweight 928 CS of 1988-89, but with over 61,000 built in all, the 928 is not as rare as an Italian exotic or even the scarcer American muscle cars. As for novelty, the 928’s styling and character now seem almost orthodox.

[wayner]

I wanted one ever since I saw one lay rubber all the way down the street
I think they look fantastic with modern turbo twist wheels. To my eye the wheels remove the age.

Then I heard about disintegrating wiring harnesses and electrical nightmare. Undeterred I kept wanting one. Then I heard that on track they suffer from oil starvation. That was the last straw.

Risky business alright :-)

[Hugh R]

Drove a 928S4 in the 80's what a witch with her tail on fire!!!! Oil starvation was a problem at redline it sucked up all the oil out of the pan so fast that gravity couldn't get it back in the pan fast enough. IIRC she sucked up all the oil out of the pan and spat it out in about 2 seconds.

I remember pulling onto the I-5 freeway and punching it and at the end of the on-ramp I was at 125mph. My friend who worked for an automotive advertising company had it as a weekend loaner.

[dtw]

Originally Posted by sand_man

Are the engines themselves robust?

They really are - most of them just rack up the miles with oil changes and regular maintenance. Timely replacement of the timing belt is rewarded, as is looking after old vacuum lines, fuel lines, and intake gaskets.

I've got an 'S3' 5-speed that I'll be putting up for sale soon, only because it is a bit of a lame duck since my 996tt has arrived on the scene. It is an amazing car - with some cheap mods, I've gotten a handsome bump in horsepower and an amazing exhaust note. With the 5 speed box, it is just a pleasure to drive. With 300hp on tap, LSD rear end, and the 5 speed, extensive hoonage is possible.

Shaun has already been warned on the potential perils of 928 ownership - he's going into this with eyes wide open.

[aigel]

When I became aware of the 928 it was early 80s and 300 hp was just out of this world. The family sedan had 75 hp and was considered mid sized - so, 4x that!

I would own one, just for the S&G. Challenge seems to be to get one with a stickshift in the US. I did go around Laguna with one in the run group at a PCA event. Stripped down for weight and built up, it was a monster just walked away from me in straights (driving the SC back then). Have fun Shaun and document your work for us to join in on the fun!

G

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by puddy

What the big deal with 928's? Are they notoriously high maintenance? They recently started to catch my eye...

They are a pretty direct car to work on compared to a modern Audi or BMW. The problem with project 928s is that they tend to have been owned by dreamers, and have a lot of deferred maintenance. Once you catch up, they are reliable cars with million mile motors.

Good technical support here and particularly on Rennlist.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

They are a pretty direct car to work on compared to a modern Audi or BMW. The problem with project 928s is that they tend to have been owned by dreamers, and have a lot of deferred maintenance. Once you catch up, they are reliable cars with million mile motors.

Good technical support here and particularly on Rennlist.

Very, very true, and much like the 914 and 944. They are a nightmare if neglected, but can be good cars if loved.

[slow&rusty]

I love these cars especially the later the 32V S4-GTS models. In red they look excellent. I can't see these cars being any worse to maintain than their Mercedes and BMW counterparts (560SEC and 635 / M6).

If I had the space, I would scoop one up!

[jyl]

Wow, it's like picking up a supermodel at rehab!

I'm envious, and also sympathetic.

[304065]

One night Series900 and I are up at his shop and decide to take a dinner break from the final assembly of '065. We pile in to "Goldfinger" one of his collection of 928s, I think an '83, gold exterior, tan interior, and drive to a local restaurant a few miles away.

It still has that big GT feel, power unremarkable (these days minivans have more HP) but still a classy machine after all those years. If you lived in Germany and had a meeting in Switzerland, you didn't take an airplane or the train, you took The Shark.

As we depart the restaurant. . . ignition. . . click, nada. Battery voltage good. Visual check of ignition components good. No excess heat in coils or ignition modules.

By and by we make it back to the shop and get the dually tow vehicle and trailer, drive a few miles to the restaurant, load the 928 on the trailer, cursing. Just for fun we try the ignition again.

And the car starts and runs with no hiccups, no warning lights, just the same as when we drove it there.

THAT is 928 ownership. A beautiful dream that is occasionally a nightmare.