Porsche 928

OMG, yeah, like worse than an Eldorado!

Run, don't walk!

 

I would have thought the 928 is a smaller car. I drove the GTS only once and found it feeling heavy but well planted on the road. The handling is rather good, the engine a bit under power for such GT car. I love it!!!! It has always been one of my fav dream car, but it's so rare in Thailand and the running cost and headache for semi-classic like GTS make me keep it in my dream only....

Now, I drive the 575 for the past one year... I gotta say that I feel it's a bigger car than the 928. The cabin is less cosy (or cramp???) than the 928 but much more classy. The car feel a tad lighter on its feet than the 928 but the 575 does roll quite a bit. It's nothing too alarming though as driving on the road here, we never touch the limit of any car unless you wanna die quickly.

But I wouldn't say the 575 drives like a dinosaur... it's rather good, exceeding my expectation for a GT car.

 

Well, as I recall, the late great LJK Setright made that comparison in an article printed in Automobile Magazine if memory serves, circa 1996?

I owned a 928 for many years and I often make the same comparison when I am motoring in my 550. The 550 feels like the 928 except it has a lot more power. However, the 928 felt more refined, everything about it was designed for fast effortless driving. The 550 is unique, and I quite like it's personality and appreciate it's lineage, but I still miss the 928 from time to time.

 

I've had 2 928s in my past. The last was a 1993 GTS 5 speed. The 575 has way more soul and is far more comfortable. I don't miss the 928 at all.

 

Wayne- Most of the high performance sports/GT cars have about the same dimensions: Vettes, 911s, Ferraris, etc, except possibly height. It just takes about the same amount of space for four big wheels and tires, an engine, and room for 2 or 2+2 seating.

The 928 was first introduced in 1976 and the Maranello in 1996, so there were two decades of improvements in technology between the two cars. Yes, the Maranellos feel different from a 928.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Taz,

The 928 was designed in '70 but not introduced till '77 as a '78 model year. I have a BUNCH of 928's and love them dearly.

Most comfortable cars I have ever been in. I have been in a lot of 550's and 575's and not one of them was I able to get comfortable in. Much more room inside a 928 too. Not sure where someone was saying the interior felt smaller in the 928...has rear seats (that an actual small adult human can sit in for short periods of time) AND space behind those even.

They are under powered by today's standards for sure, but for their day they were quite powerful with only the V12 F-car bettering them.

They are heavy and sometimes feel heavy too. I find the early OB (Original Body) cars to be MUCH better balanced and MUCH lighter on their feet than the later GTS cars. That said I like them all. I think the best buy today in GT cars is the 928 S4 (probably 87-89) as nice ones can be had for a song (say $15k will get you a concours winner, at least at local shows) and they are fast and quite reliable if you buy them correctly (same as for F-cars from that stand point). There has never been a better time to own them either. The aftermarket is SWELLING with parts and options for these cars. Touch screen center consoles that are built in and look like the BELONG in the car, Super Chargers, Turbos (single and twin; front, mid or rear mounting) suspension options never before seen, interiors to die for...the list goes on and on...

That said, I'd love to add a 456 or a 612 (or 360 spider or Cali) to my collection of 928's!

 

I was the one who said the 928 interior felt smaller than in my 575. I drove the GTS for about an hour only though. And I wasn't concern about the rear seats. I just felt that 928 is a bit more clustophobic inside in term of driver's space. The 575 feels a bit more airy eventhough the 928 has loads of glass room and rear seats (for me).

Still, it was a lovely car to drive. But there ain't no 928 specialist in Thailand and parts can be a problem... so I backed off and kept it in my dream only.

928 was the very first exotic car I saw. And it was the 928 that started my passion for car. So, it has a special place in my heart.

 

I sold my 928 S4 and bought a Mondial t.

The ferrari has more "soul" and it more of an event to drive, but I don't know about describing the 928 as "underpowered". Maybe compared to modern "hypercars" with 500+ bhp it would feel slow.

The main problem for me with the 928 was maintenance costs. The thing was ALWAYS needing £500-£1,000 spending on it for some failure or other, and mine was one of the best in the country. I spent £4,000 in 9 months and a previous owner had spent TWELVE THOUSAND on it in 18 months of ownership.

However it was 20 years old with 120,000 miles on the clock and not a speck of corrosion anywhere, not like my 24,000 mile 1990 Mondial t that needed the sills/floors etc rebuilding seven years ago.
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I, for one, always enjoyed my 928's. I owned 5 starting in 1986 with a 928S and probably owning every model thereafter ending with the 1996 928GTS.

Claustrophobic?? I never thought so. Drivers area was just fine to me. Excellent viewing position and superbly comfortable. For it's time, especially in 1986, it was quite well appointed. I can still recall the great 15 speaker stereo system with speakers well placed all through the cabin. I could put 2 sets of golf clubs in the back WITH luggage and head out for a great long weekend. I used to put my road bicycle in the back as well after removing the front wheel.

As memory serves the car was pretty fast for it's time. Especially from 40 to 140 MPH. I would almost describe it's power, handling and comfort as a cross between a 575 and SL 550.

I had no complaints whatsoever with the car. Engine was bullet-proof and in all those years I spent nearly nothing on maintenance and never remember a time when the car did not start. They were my daily drivers (averaging 15-18,000 miles per year) and I don't think I could have had a better experience with any other car at that time.

I just saw a white one yesterday and I think it is owned by someone in my community. Might have to track the owner down and go for a ride back in time. All glorious memories.

 

I think with the 928 it was a love/hate relationship for different people. Some loved them and some hated them. I had friends who swore by them and others who quickly traded back for a 911 derivative. I have driven them and apart from feeling bulky and heavy, they were nice cars to drive. Sort of like what you would get if you had all the money in the world to spend on a Camaro.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

i bought an '89 928 gt s4 in 1990, and imported it to switzerland from florida since i knew i could make money on that trade, and that model was the only porsche easily imported and homologated.
i picked it up in amsterdam to drive it back, and fell in love. it was much nicer than i had anticipated, and i ended up keeping it for 2 years, and then selling it for what i had in it. not much difficulty with it except for the time i bottomed out on a dirt road and crimped a brake line, but that was self inflicted.
there were not too many around and in red it was a surprising head turner. it was automatic so my wife could drive it easily as well. all in all it was a nice car, and i have fond memories of it.

but i would still rather drive a 550.

 

Interesting thread. I've owned 928's for 20 yrs now. Love them and will always own one.

Having said that , I've been cruising this forum for awhile now wondering whether a Maranello will be my next car. I am torn between a 550/575 and a 997TT. They seem to be very similarily priced. I love the looks and there is nothing like a V-12.

My main concern is maintanence. Cost and complexity. I've always done all the work on my cars (the 928 can be a challenge) and would want to do so with a Maranello. There is fantastic support for the 928 from the group on Rennlist with some very knowledgeable members.

Is it reasonable to expect to be able to work on these cars with a manual and support from communities such as this one?

 

Steen- Affirmative and all the work is done with the engine in place, unlike the 348 and 355. Also, Durametric is working on a diagnostics tool like their Porsche tools, so that will make things even better. You can go to this website and download 550 and 575M owners manuals and the 550 workshop manual. Might help you make up your mind.

Taz
Terry Phillips

http://www.ferraridatabase.com/The_Downloads/Downloads.htm

 

Taz

Greatly appreciated. Looks like I have some reading to do...

 

If you traded a 928 for a 911 derivative then you totally misunderstood the 928 to begin with. It was never designed to compete with a 911. Just the opposite. It was/is a fabulous road touring car that few if any other cars could compete with in it's intended purpose at that time.

 

Rick- Most of those guys who swapped were 911 owners to begin with. The 928 was a completely different feel they did not like. Have to admit it was much more pleasant driving around town than my old Daytona, which built up a pretty good set of forearms at low speeds. Plus the air conditioning worked like an American car, unlike that on early 911s or Ferraris. Very civilized for its time and, once the four valve engine came out, very quick.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

If you can do the maintainance yourself on a 928, you should not have too much trouble with a Ferrari.

 

Been away for awhile... Taz shot me an email to remind me that I have been absent.

I have been busy with the 928 Owners Club as the International Membership Chair! Any of you guys who love the 928 and/or own them should join us: www.928oc.org

We would love to have you.

I currently have 8 928's...they are nothing like 911's and as noted by many here were not meant to have anything other than a badge on the nose in common with the 911. In fact the old 928 probably has more in common with the 997 and soon to be 991 (probably that one even more so) than it EVER DID with the 911's sold along side it.

I drove one of the GTS's to and from San Antonio last night...what a great car. They are designed to eat up miles like the 456 in the Fcar line up. Probably the 612 would be another apt comparison.

That said, they can also scoot their way around a race track holding their head high too!

 

I presently own a 2003 575 F1 and a 1993 928 GTS automatik.
Comparing the two cars is like comparing apples and oranges.
The only thing similar is the maitenance cost.
The 575 is more nimble and feels more spacious.
Everyting on the 928 feels solid and heavy - because it is.
The porsche makes much more points on the interior. ( absolutely no leather shrinkage )
and the rear seats can only be used by "Mini Me".

 

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The 928 GTS is the only Porsche I ever liked, even though people in general do not have much good to say about it.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-COBUIBY16U[/ame]