[Porsche tech]

32 valve engine is no fun to work on (IMO) and even less fun to drive with manual trans. I have worked on MANY back in the day and its an expensive ordeal especially if you're paying someone else to do it. '84 928 with automatic was the last good one for my money. Real early ones were the worst--'78, '79.
I never was a fan of the 968 (especially the convertible). As others have said, same issues as 944 and both were real money makers for me but between the 2, I'd rather have a 944 S2. My 2 cents.--Dave

[Spike]

Thanks Guys!

[racer]

Maybe this one? http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1986-5-porsche-928s/

[Richard Curtis]

Darryl Nichols of Odds and Ends Detailing in Chantilly owns at least one 968 and possibly two. He also hosts an annual meeting of 928s each autumn, and their numbers are really big (30-50?), and they come from all over the U.S. You should talk to Darryl. Taylor Chapman of Chapman Autowerkes in Chantilly also does work on 928s and would be a knowledgeable mechanic to do a PPI.

[joep]

Originally Posted by Richard Curtis

...and their numbers are really big (30-50?), and they come from all over the U.S.

Try 60-100! The 928 FRENZY! is one of two BIG 928 events nation wide each year. Last year was the 20th anniversary! http://928frenzy.org/

[ausgeflippt951]

I've always wanted a 928 GTS. It's a damn shame Porsche didn't make more 928s with manual transmissions. Contact Gary Baker (Gary Ganoo on Dorki); he's been a longtime 928 owner.

[jsheiry]

I have owned a 944 NA and currently rebuilding a 1995 968 with tiptronic. As much as these cars 944-968 are the same they are entirely different.

In my research and attempts for knowledge on the 968 there just were not that many cars built and the depth of knowledge remains with a few. You ask a question on any of the forums as it relates to any 944 variants and you will get a hundred answers within 24hrs...ask something about a 968 specific and you may get 2 over a weeks time.

The head, the maintenance of timing belts, timing chains is critical and has ruined many engines including the one I purchased(was aware at purchase) In all my reading it seems that this is even more critical on this car than the 944 variants.

Be sure to pay for one with great maintenance records or take an appropriate amount off the purchase price and due the timing belts, chains, sliders before driving much...

You will pay a premium for 6 speeds, Tips and Cabrio Tips seem to be in good supply and more readily available. There are also some great colors out there for the 968's, dont buy the first red one you run up on (just my opinion, have seen enough guards red 944's-968's to last me a while)

Feel free to hit me with a question or thought or happy to let you look over the one in my garage if you want to see one up close.

Good luck
John

[Eplebnista]

I have a 928 and can make several observations.

1. In normal driving the car feels heavy and certainly not nimble. The more you flog it, the better it gets. One of the contradictions of loving a 928 is that you almost have to beat the crap out of it to discover how good it can be. It excels as a Grand Tourer, which has its drawbacks because we have speed limits and the car is geared for inter-stellar travel.

2. Maintenance and reliability - Follow the old adage of buying the best car you can find and afford and budget a reserve. In the 85 and up cars, timing belts are critical because the 32V engines are interference engines. Fuel lines are critical replacement items on any 30 year old fuel injected car. If you buy a 928 that hasn't been maintained, catching up with deferred maintenance will be costly. If you can't or won't do the work yourself, you will go broke unless you find someone who really knows these cars. Like any Porsche, factory parts are obscenely expensive.

The good news is that the 928 crowd has a great presence on rennlist and the depth of knowledge, willingness to help and member wrenching ability is unparalleled. If you need to fix something, you will find five people who have done the same thing already and can give excellent advice.

I bought a car that had been pretty well cared for. I had to do the timing belt and water pump, replace fuel lines and replace some coolant hoses that were new on the car when it was built in 1986. My only electrical issue was a taillight that went out when the bulb monitoring module developed a bad solder joint. Otherwise everything works as it did in 1986, including the AC. If I keep the battery charged over the winter, it starts whenever I want it to and runs like a moose.

If you want to buy a 928, now may be the time. Although 928 owners have been musing for many years about whether prices have hit bottom, there are signs that market values, particularly for well sorted cars - are one the rise.