|
Dear sir
I have a couple of constructive I hope comments on your excellent 928 market update. Its excellent in part because it shows 928s are on the up! That is surely because a well set up 928 is uncannily like a brute force older cousin of a 996 for about an eighth of the price.
Firstly, I can't go along with your generic recommendation of Automatic Transmission for the 928. Sure, the original market of senior company executives chose automatic 80% of the time when ordering new and of course many people love their autos. But its not your only choice. Automatic 928's require *even more* care than a manual 928 on cold wet UK roads to avoid nasty unexpected kickdown 'moments' and additionally require yearly inspection to ensure maintenance has been done to avoid a depressingly catastrophic thrust bearing failure. This doesn't rule them out but its a factor in the decision making. Manuals are rarer - around 20% of production in the UK, and are becoming sought after especially for track days and competition.
Secondly, I disagree with your highlighting the GTS as the ultimate 928. The GTS probably helped to kill of the model. In our experience here in the UK the GTS has had a large number of quiet engine replacements due to massive oil consumption believed to be caused by linerless engine block defects. GT's and late S4's burn almost no oil in comparison. If a GTS hasnt had a new engine by now then why not? GTS build quality is also much more variable it seems. Less cars being made perhaps being a factor here. GTS cars look great and to some the final model will be irresistable but they are in the UK overpriced and over rated.
Given that Ive made these comments I better make my own recommendations.
Based on my experience interacting with hundreds of UK 928 owners the kind of people who are buying 928s today are not the same demographic audience to whom they were originally marketed. Many of the over 450 owners on my 928 mail list and web site specifically are simply people who love the Porsche V8 and see that its a true supercar thats also an underrated bargain.
To this kind of person, for whom the 928 has often been an ambition since being in a set of 'Top Trumps' cards, my recommendation would be to take the time to find a 928 GT manual from 1989 to 1991 in a colour that you like, with an interior colour that you like, and in the condition that you can afford to buy. GT's are about 10k pounds in the UK and you must be able to find about 2k pounds per year to keep up the maintenance and tackle projects. There are more 928s around than it seems so its worth waiting for the specification you have always wanted, since its almost certainly going to be a third car that you are going to keep and look at every day. If you are looking for a track day car I would also try to find one with no sun/moon roof too as the extra headroom for a crash helmet is very worthwhile. If you cant afford an 89 or later model then you can look back as far as 87 but wont have the digital dashboard or tyre pressure warning system (perhaps a maintenance headache removed...) I would still look for a manual car, but on these older S4 manuals the sports shock absorbers and limited slip differential was optional and would be a good thing to have!
Me? I have a 1988 928 S4 SE, the stripped out UK only predecessor to the 928GT that was based on the rare club sport model - but the 89-91 GT is more readily available worldwide in a wider set of colours and is just as good!
Angus Fox
webmaster - 928.org.uk - home of the 928uk mail list |
Letters 
