buying 928 vs 911....advice needed

ghost1001 · 06-26-2008, 11:14 AM

OK, I am new here and my feeble mind is kicking around the following question:

911 or 928....928 or 911....911 it is.....no, 928...no, no, no 911.

Ok, you get the idea.

I can get a 928 dirt-cheap...911 not so much.

To put this in perspective lets say I have $10k total to spend on a running and drivable "project car".

Now I MIGHT find one 911 under $10k that needs work….I can find quite a few 928’s under $5k and a couple around $2k.

So what is the deal with the price difference is it purely market driven (i.e., more people want the 911) or is there more to it than that.

I have been a little scared off the 928 due to the maintenance issues I have read about.

Are the 928’s more difficult to work on/fix than the 911?

Can I do some of the work myself?

Any good 928 shops/mechanics in northern NJ / NYC area?

Thanks for your help.

Kevin

Danglerb · 06-26-2008, 11:31 AM

With a Porsche the cheaper you buy the more expensive it is to own.

$10k to buy or $10k to buy and maybe $3k for first year fixes?

25,000 or so 928's were sold in the USA, about 16,000 remain, its a tiny tiny market and the demand for "nice" 928's is very high, but thats about 1% of those for sale. Very often a $2k 928 needs $10k in repairs to be worth $5k, be smart and buy the one thats already fixed.

928 and 911 are different enough that a mechanic skilled on one may not have a clue about the other. Mechanics learning and making mistakes are a major portion of the repair cost.

You should be able to do much if not all of the work yourself. 928 owners stick together and help each other.

Lots of active owners in your area, some I am sure will pipe up.

First thing, go drive some cars and get that 911 stuff cleared from your mind.

911blex · 02:16 PM

As Danglerb mentioned, the least expensive part of owning a Porsche is the initial purchase price of the car so I highly recommend that you have a thorough pre-purchase inspection performed by a 3rd party Porsche specialist on any Porsche you are seriously considering buying. You will find that most seasoned Porsche owners will tell you that it is much cheaper to buy a nice car (i.e. pay 10-20 cents on the dollar for the repairs the last owner made and save time/frustration costs) than it is to buy and fix-up a "project".

In my opinion, you would be happier and better-off if you bought a very nice 928 instead of putting your last $20 into a mediocre $10K 911 as buying a mediocre 911 without a ample cash reserves is a recipe for financial disaster. It is important to remember that 1974-1994 911s have brittle head studs that break and replacing them will cost you approximately $6K as this isn't a novice DIY'er job. The synchros in pre-G50 transmission 911s don't last all that long and rebuilding them also costs $1,000s. A lot of repairs on pre-996 911s require that both the engine and transmission be removed, which isn't very fun to do. Don't forget about the 15,000 mile valve adjustments either.

I've owned both a 911 and a 928 and have found that owning and working on the 928 have been more enjoyable for the most part. IMO, 928s are more durable, better designed/engineered, and many items on them are easier to work on than 911s. I firmly believe that 928s unfairly have a reputation for being money pits due to the fact that a lot of them have been badly neglected by non-enthusiasts owners that didn't care or knew how to properly maintain them, effectively making them "studies in deferred maintenance" (i.e. money pits).

Just my $.02

Herr-Kuhn · 06-26-2008, 02:44 PM

I gave $10K for my project 928. The car was in great shape, from southern California. Don't take this wrong, but I've never quite grasped the following for the 911. Quirky handling, air cooled, awkward seating position, unrefined. It's a nice car, but year for year I think the 928 was always the better machine...even including the turbo cars, except for maybe like a 1992 and up 911 turbo.

The 928 was the proving ground for the technology which now resides in all 911s:

Twin cam heads
Rear suspension
4-Piston brakes

It's just a great car that has always been put down by the other Porsche owners. Most people who make those comments have never driven one. or lived with one on a day to day basis. Right now I'm daily driving my 1988 twin turbo 928. 635HP and it is as docile as a lamb to and from work. Comfortable, stylish and just downright fun to drive.

Consider for an equal performing 911 you will spend at least 1.5X the money, likely 2X the money. For the cost of a nice 928 and a boosted system you can have a $25,000 Porsche supercar that will skin almost anything this side of a 1000 cc sport bike.

My advice...go for the 928, stay with 1987 and upwards and if you can find a 5-spd (they are rare), jump on it. Even it it needs a few small things fixed, the 5-spd car will hold value much better than an Automatic will.

Komenda Fan · Komenda Fan's Garage

I'd recommend starting not with which car so much, but deciding what you want out of the experience. My experiences with the two cars lead me to believe they are very different machines, and so I would suspect that the decision needs to consider what you want the car for. My car, for example, is a go kart, very raw and visceral. Great fun for a weekend blast, lousy as a daily commuter. Have you driven both cars?

I was drawn to the 911 for the simplicity. Its such a basic car, with very little time with it you will know what everything is and how it works. That appealed to me as a first classic car. The 928 seems to be a great car too, just much more modern.

Komenda Fan · Komenda Fan's Garage

I'd recommend starting not with which car so much, but deciding what you want out of the experience. My experiences with the two cars lead me to believe they are very different machines, and so I would suspect that the decision needs to consider what you want the car for. My car, for example, is a go kart, very raw and visceral. Great fun for a weekend blast, lousy as a daily commuter. Have you driven both cars?

I was drawn to the 911 for the simplicity. Its such a basic car, with very little time with it you will know what everything is and how it works. That appealed to me as a first classic car. The 928 seems to be a great car too, just much more modern.

DanielDudley · 06-26-2008, 04:37 PM

You really need to be careful buying a 928, and you need a good mechanic who knows 928s up front. You need a pre purchase inspection before buying.

A good 928 is a joy. A bad one will make you broke and crazy. It is the same with 911s but there is much less to check out.

Most of the happy 928 owners are hands on, but not all. If you are a decent mechanic, you will not find hem too hard to work on. If you are not, they are not great cars to learn on.

You need a 928 buddy in your area. IMO, you could get badly burnt without one.

As in no money, no running car, and unable to sell said heap. If you buy a 928, choose carefully.

ghost1001 · 06-26-2008, 04:57 PM

Wow, that was exactly what I was looking for...thanks to all.

Ok, so if you really want to know it goes like this...

I have never driven either car (I have driven 944 and 968 my mom had those), I grew up around 911’s and 928’s the 928 always stuck in my mind as the “better” car whatever that means to a 10 year old….fast forward 20 years

About a month ago my wife and I decided to have a second child this threw me into pre-mid-life-crisis mode and I announced that I wanted a “sports car”.

OK, this is common, but it gets better….we are by no means broke, but not rich either, I soon realized that I would not be able to blow 40k on a “non-practical” vehicle…so a compromise was made, we bought a really nice and surprisingly fast Benz E550 (0-60 in 4.8sec).

So I am happy, but a “sports car” it is not, as I start to discuss the various modifications I plan to make to the car I start to get the feeling that it is not really “my” car anyway, it is now “our” car.

Now my brain kicks into analytical mode and I start to think what car is:

fast
cool looking
handles better than the benz
can be tracked
has club with like minded people
can be had for under 10k
i can mod if I want to or restore if that is in order
basically do and drive how I want
I know …

PORSCHE!!!

Long story short, I like the idea of the v-8 and the 50/50 weight balance as a platform far better that the 911, so I was only talking myself into the 911 anyway. The kids will fit better in the 928? Right?

Now if can only get 650bhp out of it, hmmmmmmmmm, that may be out of the budget for now.

Anyway that is what brought me here, now I need to find some 928’s to drive.

Kevin

Alan in AZ · 06-26-2008, 05:18 PM

Well it sounds like you made up your mind already ...

For me the 928 is much more car for the money - and thats both a good and bad thing. It has more features, space & comfort but also has more complexity. A well maintained 928 is a very reliable car and can handle high mileage without many issues. of course many weren't well maintained...

When there are issues it is expensive & complex to fix and there are rather few mechanics that know how to work on the car well. Likely you will have to do a lot of work yourself... esp the complex & somewhat fault prone electrical system. Once up to snuff even this is reliable - but many have seen a butchers touch...

The 928 is a much more refined & comfortable experience than a 911 for long distance GT driving but its much less sports car nimble and off the line accelleration suffers primarily due to weight.

Different cars - different purposes - both are great at what they do - they don't really cross over that much... make sure you buy the one that can best deliver what you want to get out of it.

Alan

Herr-Kuhn · 06-26-2008, 07:14 PM

Alan...I have the solution for that off the line slugishness you are referring to.

Alan in AZ · 06-27-2008, 08:13 AM

John - I know you do

Alan

Mule · 06-28-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan in AZ

Well it sounds like you made up your mind already ...

For me the 928 is much more car for the money - and thats both a good and bad thing. It has more features, space & comfort but also has more complexity. A well maintained 928 is a very reliable car and can handle high mileage without many issues. of course many weren't well maintained...

When there are issues it is expensive & complex to fix and there are rather few mechanics that know how to work on the car well. Likely you will have to do a lot of work yourself... esp the complex & somewhat fault prone electrical system. Once up to snuff even this is reliable - but many have seen a butchers touch...

The 928 is a much more refined & comfortable experience than a 911 for long distance GT driving but its much less sports car nimble and off the line accelleration suffers primarily due to weight.

Different cars - different purposes - both are great at what they do - they don't really cross over that much... make sure you buy the one that can best deliver what you want to get out of it.

Alan

I don't get this deal about 911's being quicker & more nimble. Maybe at an autocross, at Road Atlanta, the 911 is toast. As for off the line, 911's are just as slow.

Danglerb · 06-28-2008, 11:45 AM

Thats it maybe in a nutshell, short track or parking lot AutoX favors the 911, longer tracks or high speed driving favors the 928. Call it nimble vs stable or whatever you want, I don't get the urge in a 928 to get sideways like I do in a 911.

If you have some question about which you want, 911 vs 928, then chances are good the 928 isn't for you, its a demanding car I can't see anyone owning that doesn't crave it above all others.

WuzzaPorsche · 06-28-2008, 01:54 PM

The answer to your question is yes. And yes again.

m21sniper · 06-29-2008, 06:15 AM

I friggin love my 928.

What else can i say to convince you?

Mule · 06-29-2008, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danglerb

Thats it maybe in a nutshell, short track or parking lot AutoX favors the 911, longer tracks or high speed driving favors the 928. Call it nimble vs stable or whatever you want, I don't get the urge in a 928 to get sideways like I do in a 911.

In a 911 you better want to drive sideways, 'cause that's the only option. In a 928 you can drive sideways (very controllably) but it's not the only option. The first time my 928 stepped out I was exiting an entrance onto a bridge at about 90 (while abusing a 996). The back end gave me a little nudge & then started to step out. I stayed in the gas and pointed the tires down the road. As it straightened out I was reminded of sliding a beetle around in the rain, only a lot faster. 928's are one of the most amazingly controllable cars I've ever driven. The 996 guy didn't seem all that keen on it though.