5 Nov 2018
The Porsche 928 has always distinguished itself from its rear-engined cousins despite being created to replace the 911 but eventually serving a totally different purpose. The 928 was a far superior grand tourer than the 911 ever could be because to its four seats, ample luggage room, and big V8 engine under the hood.
When it was introduced in 1978, it was a truly revolutionary vehicle, and after winning the European Car of the Year award, the future of the design appeared promising. This front-engined, V8-powered coupe was the result of a lot of effort and money on Porsche’s part. It was such an innovative attempt and a work of art in engineering.
Because this Porsche was so advanced when it was introduced, the 928 was produced for about 17 years with essentially no changes to the fundamental design. The 928 has undoubtedly changed over the years with the addition of spoilers, more accessories, and more power, but its core ability to move quickly and comfortably across the range has remained unchanged.
Even though the 928 was a really impressive package, the traditional 911 purchasers were just not interested, hence the 928 was never replaced.
What is there to dislike? The standard responses are “Thirst and intricacy.” Although 20 mpg is the best-case scenario for any 928, this is less of a concern today that the majority of the survivors are kept as backup vehicles. Even though it seems like there are a lot of engines crammed under the bonnet, the design is actually rather simple and can achieve very high mileage.
Of fact, the 928 had high initial costs and therefore high maintenance costs. Although this trend has slowed in recent years, today’s independent specialists charge more affordable costs and are easier to get used components. Unfortunately, many good cars have been disassembled for track day or race use.
Although its racing prowess was only recently found, the 928 was always promoted as a GT, and around 80% of those sold had an automatic transmission. The 928’s large V8 is perfectly matched to an automatic ‘box and provides a comfortable drive, even if manuals are now sought after on track days.
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The Porsche 928 was more dependable than you may have imagined.
The Porsche 928 has a notoriously bad reputation as one of the least dependable automobiles from the 1980s. Critics charge the vehicle with a variety of crimes, including having a subpar cooling system and dripping oil like a broken offshore rig. These allegations have followed the vehicle throughout its whole existence, and regrettably, in the world of automobiles, it takes a lot of work to overcome a reputation, whether it is positive or negative. To clear up any confusion and protect the one, the only, the greatest, Porsche 928, we are here.
Porsche 928: the verdict from Classic & Sports Car
There are still some fantastic Porsche 928s out there, but you will have to look harder than ever to find a nice one due to decades of neglect brought on by high maintenance costs, poor valuations, and frugal owners.
High-end vehicles, which are constantly in demand, have probably been taken better care of but might cost significantly more.
- A properly maintained 928 should be dependable and worry-free, offering tremendous rewards while being a relaxing tourer.
- Most problems can be fixed by specialists, and they frequently cost less than you might anticipate.
- The cost of repairing past damage can be much higher than the classic’s overall value.
We Wouldn’t Buy One: The Repairs Will Put You In Debt
Overall, the Porsche 928 is technically sound, but because to the car’s high initial cost, replacement parts can be exorbitantly expensive when something goes wrong. Even some seemingly simple repairs can end up costing much more than you would anticipate.
Additionally, a lot of owners have discovered that the complicated systems frequently malfunction due to the aging electrical components, which requires a lot of time and money to analyze and rectify before another issue rears its ugly head.
Budget and upkeep
The financial rabbit hole on the 928 can be long and black, and you MUST be prepared for it in advance, I can tell you as a guy who has a soft spot for old MOPARS. As a result, a basic rule of thumb is to treble your budget after determining it. Not only is that not a typo, it also applies to both new construction and planned, preventive maintenance. Thank goodness I put this idea into practice with my car, and let’s just say it didn’t let me down. I started out by purchasing the best car I could afford. It was beautifully painted, had a gorgeous interior, and 98 percent of the systems worked as they should. While the previous owner did his best to maintain the car, there were still some things that were either done wrong or neglected because of a lack of knowledge and/or resources.
The truth is that a lot of the work wasn’t done in accordance with 928 professional standards. To make the car suitable for regular driving, there were a lot of worn parts and some shortcuts that needed to be fixed. That implies that it had to hold up to a day spent in traffic with the A/C on. The electronics, switches, and lighting had to be fully functional. It needed to be dead-nuts dependable, free of squeaks and rattles, and capable of being used to its utmost performance capacity.
There are some things that even the best PPI (pre-purchase examination) won’t find on a car like the 928. More importantly, many of those problems might not become apparent until you really begin driving the car—I’m not talking about the occasional 10-mile trip to Cars and Coffee. It takes miles—thousands and thousands of miles—to sort through every old car. Whoever is in disagreement simply hasn’t built or restored a car before. (Recommendation: Having Hagerty Plus Roadside Assistance is a wise move at this time. Wink-wink.)
All Porsche 928s, regardless of year, require certain repairs. Keep in mind that the oldest 928 is approaching 40 years old, and even the youngest is more over two decades old. Every five years or 60,000 miles, components like the timing belt and water pump must be replaced. Then there are numerous vacuum lines, difficult-to-find cam pulleys, tensioners, gaskets, switches, and those finicky wire harnesses that deteriorate over time. This is not to indicate that these items cannot be located; rather, as a potential owner, you must realize that repairing and/or maintaining a 928 requires more work than simply visiting your neighborhood NAPA. Keep in mind that this is a German grand touring automobile, and that some of the costs you deal with may reflect this. You shouldn’t buy one if it lacks the necessary papers, which includes a record of its previous maintenance history.
911 Porsche
Following a string of faulty British sports cars, David Hemmings, the author of two books on the 928 and current 928 registration secretary of the Porsche Club, purchased one brand-new in 1980 for approximately PS20,000. He then purchased a 1992-reg S4 in 1995 and the first manual 928 to land in the UK, a 1978 4.5, in 2018.
My first 928 struck me with its beautiful aesthetics, sturdy construction (it was galvanized and had aluminum panels), and high level of standard equipment, he says. Naturally, the V8 was fantastic, but it was also dependable, which was a difference.
Early 928s are admired today for their simple design and overall simplicity. The engine expanded to 4.7 litres and 296bhp for the spoilered 928 S of 1980. It was replaced in 1984 by the 928 S2, which was simply an upgraded and more potent S (306bhp). A 32-valve 5.0-liter V8 with 316 horsepower was added to the S4 in 1987, upping the ante. The uncommon 325bhp GT manual followed the 1988 arrival of the limited-edition SE manual (which commands high prices today). As the conclusion drew near, the S4 and GT were combined to create the GTS in 1992, which was powered by a 5.4-liter V8 with 345 horsepower. 1995 saw the final automobiles roll off the assembly line.
Hemmings estimates that between 2750 and 3000 of the 4500 928s sold in the UK are still on the road, which speaks to the popularity and dependability of this distinctive GT. Before costs become unaffordable, add one to your drive.
Can you trust a Porsche 944?
I truly wish I had known this before purchasing the 944, though. This vehicle might not be for you if you’re searching for ridiculous power increases. The one problem I’ve encountered with the 944 is that getting the engine to produce more power is an extremely expensive endeavor that, in most situations, yields little in the way of benefits. Can the 944 engines be turbocharged and supercharged? Yes. Will the price be higher than the value? 100%.
The LS V8 swap is the most popular choice because it is the simplest way to generate a significant amount of power and because it weighs about the same as the stock engine, maintaining balance and weight distribution is not disrupted. Having said that, this car serves other purposes in addition to power. The 944 was created with the experience of the driver in mind and offers just the appropriate amount of power to allow you to have a great time without getting into any difficulty. Because the car is so predictable, you may enjoy testing both your own limits and those of the other drivers without much concern for risk.
That’s all, then! I realize that’s a lot of information, but the point of my article was to share what I wish someone had told me before I made the decision. However, despite my own 944 being a project for the past two years, I have never looked back, and whenever I drive it, it gives me a feeling that I haven’t been able to replicate. As long as you perform routine maintenance and don’t cut corners, these cars can and will be highly dependable. There has never been a better moment to purchase and enjoy yourself an affordable route into vintage Porsche ownership because the 944 has also increased in value extremely swiftly in recent years. Who doesn’t appreciate pop-up headlights, after all? Gratitude for reading! For more, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. If you have any recommendations that you believe we have overlooked, please post them in the comments box below, and we will review them.
Are Porsche 928 repairs expensive?
Cost of servicing and maintaining a Porsche 928. Porsche 928s have a yearly maintenance fee of $765. Costs for repairs and upkeep vary depending on factors including age, mileage, location, and shop.
Are Porsche 928s uncommon?
When discussing grand tourers, Porsche may not be the first brand that comes to mind, yet the German manufacturer once produced one of the most stylish GTs. I’m referring to the 928, a 2+2 V8 coupe that was produced from 1977 to 1995.
The 928, which was once Porsche’s top model, had numerous alterations over time. Despite being produced for 17 years, just 61,000 of this unique grand tourer were made. However, the 928 is a more reasonably priced collectible than the vintage 911. Like this 1984 928 S, which is offered for for $25,000 and has excellent interior and exterior aesthetics.
This is an early variant made to U.S. specifications because the 928 S was released in North America in 1983. Since Porsche launched the larger 5.0-liter engine for 1985, this is the last year for American vehicles equipped with the 4.7-liter V8. With 234 horsepower, it can reach a top speed of 146 mph (235 kph). The 928 S was the quickest street-legal production car sold in the United States in 1984, albeit it may not sound all that spectacular now.
Apart from the engine, this stylish two-door is painted Guards Red. Not only is it one of Porsche’s most recognizable hues, but it also looks great on the wedge-shaped grand tourer. The interior is covered in leather, and everything appears to be in fantastic shape, including the trim, carpeting, and hide. Guards Red exterior paint and brown leather inside are uncommon for the 928.
The automobile has recently had maintenance, and it now has brand-new engine belts, a new alternator, as well as all new seals and bearings. Given that this Porsche is 37 years old, the odometer reads 76,488 miles (123,095 km), which isn’t that many mileage. Given the near-mint state of this automobile, the folks at Garage Kept Motors are selling it for for $24,900, which is a great deal.
It’s also inexpensive when compared to 911 vehicles from the same era, which today can sell for more than $40,000 in comparable condition. If you’re considering an investment, the 928 S is undoubtedly an excellent choice. Prices won’t necessarily soar to new heights right once, but the 928 is steadily increasing in value. Of course, it is a much more useful alternative than calling 911. That is, assuming you won’t convert it into a garage queen.