1980 Porsche 928?

[THE1ST3]

Anyone have any experience with these? One is about to fall in my lap. My research tells me there is a HUGE difference between restoring "a Porsche on a budget" and setting aside "a budget for a Porsche." I'd be curious to know of any personal expereinces...while I am dreaming...

[TobyB]

Don't restore it, just fix it up and drive it.

They're odd cars- mostly VW/Audi parts with some clever engineering

(transaxle in back is the most impressive)

Excellence is a very good P-car mag- they gave it to me when

SCI tanked.

t

[boxy02]

After it falls into your lap, get it to your favorite Porsche mechanic and have him inspect it. It will give you an idea if you can "just fix it up to drive it" or move it along down the road for someone else to deal with. These cars are usually driven into the dirt and not maintained correctly during their lives (like 944s). They can get expensive ...fast. However, if it is in excellent shape, drive it into the dirt! 8^)

I don't recall if that year is CIS injection like the 78-79 years or EFI. If it's EFI, it's a better, more easily tuned motor (provided it was maintained). Have fun, let us know what shape it's in and maybe post a pic?

[c.d.iesel]

.go buy a book - a few books....read :

http://www.amazon.com/Porsche-928-Essential-Buyers-Guide/dp/190478870X#noop

David Hemmings. A small investment in this book could

save you a fortune. With the aid of this books step-by-step

expert guidance, youll discover all you need to know

about the 928 you want to buy. A unique point system

will help you to place the cars value in relation to condition.

This is an important investment-dont buy a car

without this books help.

Paperback - 5-1/2"x 7-1/2" - 64 pp - 100 color

Format: Softbound

Pages: 64

Length: 5.5w x 7.75h

ISBN-13: 9781904788706

ISBN: 190478870X

Catalog ID: 139515AE Price: $19.95

Porsche 928 Takes On the Competition

Author: R.M. Clarke

This information-packed guide contains comparison

tests telling you what to look out for; how to compare overall styling, handling and performance; and how to rate cars one

against the other in terms of overall desirability and

value-for-money. The full range of 928s are pitted

against the Mercedes-Benz 450SLC, 420 and 500SEC,

the Jaguar XJ-S HE and XJR-S, Audi Quattro,

Porsche 911, Corvette, Lotus Esprit Turbo,

Lamborghini Countach, BMW M635CSi and 850i,

Sierra Cosworth and others. Sftbd., 8"x 10 3/4",

140 pgs., 250 b&w ill.

Format: Softbound

Pages: 140

Length: 8w x 10.75h

ISBN-13: 9781855204119

ISBN: 1855204118

Catalog ID: 129373A Price: $24.95

Road & Track Porsche 928 Portfolio 1977-1994

Author: R.M. Clarke

Articles from leading enthusiast magazines covering

road tests, new model reports, comparisons, performance

data, technical analysis, specifications and track tests.

"For the serious enthusiasts, the Portfolio Series is an

excellent reference for collecting, restoring or buying

the car of your dreams," Thos. L Bryant, Editor-in-Chief,

Road & Track.

Paperback - 8" x 10-3/4" - 136 pages - 198 b/w

Format: Softbound

Pages: 128

Length: 8w x 10.75h

ISBN-13: 9781855206090

ISBN: 1855206099

Catalog ID: 135626A Price: $19.95

[02for2]

The car was made iconic in the 80's by Tom Cruise and 'Tony Montana' and has been much maligned and misunderstood.

The mainstream Porschefiles instantly rejected it as the 911's successor (it's intended purpose) because of the front engine, water-cooling.

Secondly, about 65% of all production were Automatics (made by MB and VERY robust).

The design didn't suit everyone's taste - you loved them or you hated them, but then again, the same can be said of the bug-eyed 911. It is a true GT cruiser capable of all-day 100+ MPH cruising. In fact, when the S4 was introduced in 1987, Porsche set a top-speed record for a production car at the Bonneville Salt Flats of 171 MPH.

They're labled as Maintenance Hogs, which is true only to the extent that the drivetrain is so tightly packaged that engine removal is required for such things as cooling system component repair and timing belts/tensioners. As with most cars of the era, these had short service intervals. Other than this, the drivetrain experiences very few actual failures. Most of it's issues involve electrical switchgear, window motors and the rear bearings are weak (and a b*tch to replace).

Add to this that the term Cheap Porsche is a true oxymoron - I own 3, meaning that I am well-schooled in the fact that everything from a bolt to a filter to a switch costs 4 times what the rest of the automotive world pays.

Because of the suspension setup, the car eats rear tires at a rate of 2:1 vs the fronts.

A common misconception is that they have a generous helping of VW DNA (like the 914 & 924) - absolutely untrue, every aspect of the car was designed and produced by Porsche (save the MB slushbox).

They are seeing a revival right now with the later cars being the most sought after - S4 and GTS. The end of the line 1996 GTS (340 hp v8) was a very impressive car.

Many are doing away with the Porsche internals and dropping an LS1 under the bonnet - smaller (more room under the bonnet) lighter - 60 ', better performance, MPG, lower maintenance costs. A company named Renegade Hybrids offers an LS1 (or 2 or 3, even the Z-06) installation with either 5-speed or automatic, and this significantly lowers the operating/maintenance costs.

The car was often referred to as the 'Euro-Corvette' and with this conversion, it accomplishes that - truly the Best of Both Worlds!

If I had 20 Large fall into my lap, I'd seriously consider finding an Arizona shell and dropping a Z-06 into it!

928's generally fall into two catagories. They either have been poorly maintained (in which case your maintenace costs will easily exceed the car's market value in your 1st 6 mos. of ownership), or they are well-preserved, low-mileage examples, in which case, especially for a DIYer, the costs are palatable. If yours is the former, RUN, don't walk away from it. If it's the latter, with proper maintenance, it can provide a very nice driving experience.

Cheers!

[osbourne]

Yeah, what 02for2 in MSP said. To that I would ad that you should look at the car's service record (and a properly maintained car is likely to have service records kept by it's meticulous owner)to be sure the timing belt & other expensive maintenance items have been taken care of.

As a long time.....45year...... Porsche owner( all 356s), who got to spend a fair amount of time behind the wheel of an early 80s 928, I found the car to be absolutely delightful.....but in a very untypical Porsche manner. Great gobs of power! But, like any Porsche, every other aspect of the car fit in well with the power......in other words, a very well-balanced package. In spite of it's size, weight and power, it still felt like a Porsche.

Good examples are still going for cheap, comparitively speaking. If this is what you want, and you do your homework & are very careful about which one you buy & what you pay for it, you can do VERY well for yourself.

Enjoy!

[WH]

I would second 02for02 opinion. If this is an early car that has not been maintained religiously, RUN don't walk away. It will eat you alive in bringing it up to decent running condition and keeping it that way.

The later S4 is the one to get and I think, only with a manual transmission, that is if you can find one! Not many where made and they are typically not inexpensive cars to buy in excellent condition! A good one is $12-$18K and I wouldn't buy a BAD one!

WH

If this car is given to you.... then you might want it, if you have to pay? I shudder to think of actually buying an early 928 with so, so history and upkeep!

[THE1ST3]

Thanks for the insight, especially 02for02.

I think it goes w/o saying that a non-existent or so-so service history on a car of this caliber is a HUGE risk; but, thanks for the reminder. The car isn't free, but darn very inexpensive (for a 928). It is an out-of-state purchase from a motivated seller (i.e. unemployed) with whom I am newly acquainted on a personal basis. The Big Joker (for the spades players among you) is that the car has sat for the past 4 years and, surprisingly, doesn't start (duh). Actually, it has been in dry storage for the past 11 years. It is from the sun belt and looks great. Nonetheless, there's no way to know what it may need having sat that much. Long story short, for what I would minimally put into it given this kind of history, I will focus on my 02...and pick up another one once it's done.

Again, thanks!

[Harv]

Don't these have a 1500 dollar water pump?

John

[02for2]

Don't these have a 1500 dollar water pump?

John

Now don't go scaring people... the waterpump for the GTS retails for $319, the earlier cars is about $100 and they're fairly robust - not known as a weak spot.

Cheers!

[c.d.iesel]

......yea, car sitting with stale gas for ??? years ?

and no repairs all that time because $$$$$

$200 fuel pump

$130 for each ( x8 ) injectors

$100 for fuel pressure regulator

$800 intermediate clutch plate

The 928 used a complex clutch system that also used

an intermediate plate as an integral part of the clutch.

plus a $800 clutch 'kit'

$200 brake calipers

$250 brake master cylinder

$65 distributor cap

$135 headlight relay

$1,360.oo entire a/c fan switch unit

$650 sunroof motor

$350 wiper motor

$80 window motors

and this willbe your eventual pile-0-PORSCHE

stuff :

they crash well ! :

and built solid :

[Harv]

Now don't go scaring people... the waterpump for the GTS retails for $319, the earlier cars is about $100 and they're fairly robust - not known as a weak spot.

Cheers!

Ah! Must have been the clutch as per CD's post.

John

[skipsfcr]

That stupid rubber centered drive plate...I don't know what drunk German designed that contraption. Engineered to fail.

[c.d.iesel]

of course we don't know if it's Stick, or Auto

so figure in another $1,800.oo for an exchange

scrap yard automatic trans :

it just keeps getting better ?!

and water pump for 1980 is cheep ($100)

and it will be leaking given the history so far:

[THE1ST3]

otto