1981 Porsche 928 Euro model from North America - Comments

Clutch (pressure plate), hoses, timing belt (expected), A/C, alternator.

Wanted one since I was a kid. This one was owned by a doctor who owned two of them, this being his daily driver, it looked brand new. I drove it hard, up and down I95 from SC to VA nearly every weekend. Nothing, repeat NOTHING can replace the feel of down-shifting from 5th > 4th and down to 3rd, still maintaining 65mph, pressing the pedal to the floor and taking off like a rocket.

Unfortunately it only had a 85mph speedo (joke!), I could bury the needle in 3rd gear. Okay, so money problems and high maintenance forced me to release it... I nearly cried when I saw the new owner driving it.

Although I haven't driven a 928, I agree there's no better feeling than needing to overtake, dropping from 4th to 3rd, mashing your right foot to the firewall & glancing down to see ALL the needles jump to the top.

I have a 1981 928 5 speed of which I understand only 768 were made. If you buy one, or even before you buy one, you should contact 928@rennlist.org. I could tell you stories about the acceleration in third, but the trouble is shoving the notchy transmission into gear in order to get there. Most 928s have notchy transmissions. I've heard recent criticism of the synchros in the 928s as "good for the 356 in the 1950s, but lousy for the 1980s." Even if it was good then, you're getting the car 20 years later. Expect to retrofit.

If you're a gear head, your first purchase is a $350-400 nine-volume set of factory manuals to fix all the things that will go wrong with your new shark - they call it a shark, btw.

Some people suggest getting a certified 928 mechanic to check out your would-be purchase, but it's often more inconvenient than it sounds. Especially if it is in a part of the country with which you are unfamiliar.

The biggest thing you are going to want to look for is whether the previous owner (PO) has recently changed out the timing belt and water pump. This is major $$$ and lack of the paperwork should make you walk. Okay, it didn't for me, but I figured in a timing belt and water pump change in the price and it was reasonable.

Don't buy this car because you think it is a cheap thrill - 928s were undervalued by Porsche snobs because they were not "true" Porsches. Dumb %^&^$% crap. Even so the market is relatively undervalued compared to same model year 911s. Don't ask me why 911 owners want greater resemblance between their cars and Dr. Porsche's other air cooled exemplar, the VW bug, but they do. And if it ain't an air cooled rear engine Porsche variant - it can even be 914 or 912 for crying out loud - it ain't "classic" even in the eyes of the manufacturer (see Porsche website on parts-- "classic" is 356, 911, 912, or 914). But it's still a Porsche through and through. The company hand built the 928 along side the 911s in two German factories. And frankly, it was the company's flagship from 1977-93.

Anyway, I digress. The bottom line is that it is expensive to maintain because it is a Porsche, even though it is cheap to buy. Don't use it as a daily driver. Don't buy it to impress chicks in college. It is a jealous mistress that will leave you stranded. Wait until you graduate and buy a Boxster unless the 928 is the dream car you never owned twenty years ago. Love is blind and all the rest is BS.

What are you waiting for? Go out and get her. She's waiting for you. Can you hear that 4.47 L V8 purr? The handling is crisp even after 20 years. The hood on this baby is longer than that of a Fleetwood limousine. It's wide, real wide. And low. Sweet and low.

Last tip #1: make sure your would-be love is not a Euro. The European models are difficult to insure in this country and difficult to maintain without serious funds and expertise.

One last tip: make sure there's no overspray or that the car was never a different color. A good way to do that is to peel back the rear hatch carpet, lift the compact spare out of the trunk, lift off the plexi false-floor between the spare and the battery box and take a look at the paint in there. Also, check out the paint code on the door and run a match with 928gt.com

Don't plan on going to the factory to get touch-up. It's discontinued. Have a local paint store mix some up. Good luck.

BRAVO BRAVO!!!

Doc.

The Porsche 928 is a different animal from the 911 series. I bought one knowing virtually nothing about them except that Tom Cruise drove one in the movie that launched his acting career "Risky Business." After paying the seller for the car, I embarked upon a 600-mile driving adventure back to my home state.

I was lucky. the particular car I bought turned out to be in excellent shape, and made the trip without a hitch, except for a curious refusal of the A/C to cool for more than one hour without blowing warm. Switching off the compressor to allow for de-icing didn't work. The air worked fine the next day... but only for another hour or so. Haven't solved this riddle yet...

As for the 928's personality, I'd say it's not a car for the timid or weak-hearted. The 928 is a robust, masculine machine that feels more like a musclecar than a sportscar. The clutch is heavy, and the gear lever is long and truck-like. But once you get used to it, the car can be a real pleasure to drive, especially on the open road.

The car's handling is tight and stiff, but not so harsh as to be rough. The chassis is well-built and the car is rattle-free, giving the impression of quality. The cabin is quiet enough to enjoy a good sound system, even at high speed.

The most pleasurable aspect of driving this car is its gutsy V-8 engine, which will set you back in the seat HARD when you punch it. Plenty of low-end torque, too. Hi-way passing is a breeze, even in 5th gear. The car will accelerate smoothly and strongly in any gear with just a little throttle. Flooring it will get you moving rapidly, and you'd better be aware of your speed, as the 928 will top 100 mph effortlessly and quietly. A real ticket getter if you're not careful. If you buy one, do NOT let your teenage son drive it!

From what I've learned about this most unusual breed of car (somewhere between a musclecar and an exotic), I'd say buy one ONLY if you have a love for its odd looks, and can afford to keep it nice. Many examples of the 928 have fallen into the hands of inexperienced and under-heeled enthusiasts who have driven them hard without maintaining them properly. These are the ones you can buy off eBay for cheap, but are also the ones that will frustrate you and cost you thousands in repairs and upgrades.

Once fixed however, the 928 will delight and excite its owner... that is, if that owner can appreciate this car's narrow range of usability. Always a head-turner and a kick to drive on special occasions, one should not buy this car for the daily commute... unless your commute is an hour or two on the interstate, with a few curvy back roads thrown in just to remind yourself that you are NOT driving an ordinary car!

Once the worn out ones have all been finally retired and parted out, I see the 928 as a car that will rise in value as time goes by. The ones that are kept original and in top shape should become classic high performance GTs, and will be highly sought after by real car lovers for decades to come. 911 snobs be advised. This is your DADDY!

The 928, especially the early model, has one other unusual feature not mentioned in previous posts.

While at about 3,300 pounds stock, at least 300 pounds can be very easily removed without violating any smog rules.

This weight reduction improves performance dramatically. The early 220 hp motor does much better with 3,000 lbs than with 3,300 pounds, as does the suspension. My suspicion is that the car was engineered to fit the motor before certain "luxury" items were added.

Replace the stock exhaust, seats, and battery with racing models, then swap the spare tire and tool kit for fix-a-flat, then unbolt the a/c system, and a virtual track car is born.

My son and his girlfriend have a 1981 928S limited, 5spd, v-8 Porsche. Regretfully I never have been "into" porsche so when they asked me what they could expect to get for the car. I was and still am, at a loss. I believe the car has ac (not working). Has a STRONG engine, (according to my son, will really hug the road) power windows with the body in good shape. Regretfully, I haven't even seen this car so I can't honestly say what condition it is in. But, if someone more familiar with these cars would give me a heads up, I could pass it on to them. Thank you for you help in this matter. Just from what I have been able to find on the net, I am guessing they should be able to find a buyer willing to pay something in the neighborhood of $4000-6000. Depending on the over all condition of the car. Again, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time. D. Lewis.

Yes, I think the 928 is a very sweet classic novelty item for the enthusiast who is looking for a more unique vintage. I recently inherited a Champagne 1980 928 with the optional 16" (chrome) Phone Dials, Pascha Interior and 95K original miles. The body and paint are nearly pristine and overall the car looks great! I am currently in the process of doing all maintenance and whatever little things it needs either myself, or done by the repair shop. I replaced the master cylinder myself and bled the brake lines which was a very time consuming process because of the limited space under the hood. This car was actually supposed to be 2" wider on each side, but was scaled down to fit European streets.

I will probably have to invest $3~$4K into it to get it to where I want it after I have all the maintenance done; front engine re-seal, transmission service, new CV boots, etc. I plan on doing everything it needs so that it runs and looks like a Champ. I am a young guy and this is my first Porsche and a nice starter car until I can afford to really splurge on what I really want.

I must give a shout out to the man telling the 911 boys that they need to listen to their daddy! I like 911's, but I like variety and to say that this car is not a Porsche is purely ridiculous and ignorant. People seem to forget that the 928 was Porsche's most expensive robust offering for nearly twenty years. There is also a possibility of the 928 going into production for 2012 that will retail for about $150,000+ along side the Panorama, V8 and all. Watch these old 928's go up in price if a new edition hits the streets as then it will become a hot item.

As far as weeding out goes, and to answer the man's question about what his son can possibly sell his for; it really all depends on the overall condition of the car and how much needs to be fixed. If it needs a whole lot and the body and interior have seen much better days then you will probably get $3K or less. If the car is in great shape inside and out and you find the right buyer you could maybe get $7-$10K (this is probably the '78-87 model range). Either way, they do underprice themselves considering my '80 went for $40,000 when it was new and prices climbed to almost $100K by '95. But hey, cars depreciate and that is generally a fact until they become a sought after commodity.

I will side with the other poster and say be leery of bargain deals - just because it is being sold cheap doesn't mean you are purchasing a cheap automobile. Do not confuse the two as once again just because you paid $4K for a $60K car doesn't make it a $4K car. Because chances are if you buy a $3~$4K car you will spend at least double or 4-times the price of it just to get it up to snuff. It is wiser to shop for one that is maybe twice as expensive as the bargain that doesn't need much and came from a reliable source. I think this is true for anything, however.

Besides, it is cool to drive a car that people don't see every day and a Porsche is a Porsche is a Porsche! Just don't buy a hoopdy OK ladies and gentlemen!