Porsche 928 Buyer’s Guide

Many buyers of the 928 will be drawn to it due to its striking exterior or its luxury and speed in S4 and beyond models, but regardless of your motivations for purchasing one you must locate a specialist with knowledge in these complex cars.

An inspection from an experienced 928 specialist will save you significant money over time.

What to Look For

The Porsche 928 is widely considered one of the finest examples from this legendary maker. While some may argue it lacks some aspects found in its sister model, 911, this car still offers unique charm with its rear-wheel drive layout, large aluminum V8 engine, lightweight body construction, great fuel economy and luxurious interior – an ideal combination for anyone seeking an engaging high performance sports car driving experience.

This vehicle first debuted in 1977 and remained in production for 17 years – one of the longest-running models from Porsche. While its basic design remained mostly the same over the course of production, spoilers and equipment were added throughout that time to personalize its appearance and enhance performance.

Buyers looking to acquire a used Porsche 928 should do their due diligence when shopping for one, thoroughly examining it for signs of damage, corrosion and any other issues as well as researching its history to see how well-cared-for it has been over time.

Before purchasing a used Porsche 928, it is crucial to inspect it for signs of corrosion both exterior and under the hood. Pay particular attention to any wheel well areas where salt or other road debris have collected; and where the front fender meet body. Have an expert inspect the car prior to making your decision in order to reduce future headaches.

Examining the interior of your vehicle to ascertain its state is also recommended, particularly its leather seats which should show no cracking or tears and peeling dash panels; furthermore, both shift knob and wheel should be in good condition.

An engine compartment that is clean and organized should also be carefully evaluated, since a poorly organized space may lead to various issues. Make sure to examine wiring as well as sensor and ground straps to see if they have corrosion deposits on them.

Don’t Be Afraid to Drive

A Porsche 928 is an attractive supercar that must be cared for to remain usable, yet neglected for too long has taken its toll. Years of neglect, low values and shortsighted owners has left many in poor condition; finding one may take more work than ever – look for an example with proper specifications and history as your ideal candidate.

Before making your choice, it is a good idea to test drive several 928s. By learning about different models and their performance characteristics as well as witnessing what a good 928 looks like in person, test drives can provide invaluable knowledge. Furthermore, ensure it’s driven on an ideal road and inspect the interior fully as well.

A good 928 should provide comfortable long drives without feeling like an army truck. It should be quick enough for autobahn use but still provide reasonable cruising speeds; its handling and braking should work smoothly while its engine should produce pleasant noises and vibrations.

If your 928 is running rough or unreliably, it could need serious refurbishing – or at the very least some extensive maintenance. Check for oil consumption, decreased cooling air flow or excessive rust. Likewise, review its history as far as electronic systems go; when purchasing used cars for restoration projects make sure to consider parts costs when calculating purchase prices.

A Porsche 928 may never be inexpensive, but investing in one is well worth your while. Do not fall prey to paying too much for a car that needs extensive repair to bring it up to standard; when comparing auction prices be sure to factor in costs for parts, labor, and upgrades as part of the calculation of purchase price. For optimal results it is wise to buy an operating and driving condition car which needs minor cosmetic restoration later if desired in order to avoid getting trapped into costly projects you won’t be able to complete in time.

Don’t Be Afraid to Test Drive

Some purists may claim that the 928 isn’t an “authentic” Porsche; while they might have a point, this car was truly remarkable. Despite its massive size and intimidating presence, it offered incredible driver engagement with an array of settings that allowed users to customize the driving experience exactly to their preference – not forgetting its spacious rear seats and large boot space!

Although not inexpensive to own, the 928 represented excellent value for money compared to other cars of its day. Its 240bhp V8 was relatively efficient and could run on 95 octane fuel; furthermore, its handling capabilities were superior.

Over its 18 year production run, the Porsche 928 underwent some minor modifications; these were only superficial. It remained an outstanding piece of engineering and would have fit seamlessly with either BMW or Mercedes designs, yet only Porsche could have brought it to market.

Before purchasing a used Porsche 928, it’s crucial to test drive it to assess how it handles and feels. Although its size and power make the car powerful enough, its cumbersome manual transmission and heavy clutch take some getting used to. Furthermore, inspect its condition; poorly kept vehicles can become expensive to repair; signs such as oil smoke or mismatched paint jobs indicate improper care taken during repair work and should be monitored closely as such repairs could prove costly in the future.

The ideal 928s will be in mint condition and come equipped with full provenance, including Porsche N0 ratings on original wheels. An owner’s manual, tool kit, compressor, gloves and factory components should all be present, helping to determine their price; manual cars tend to fetch higher premiums; they typically consume around 20mpg on oil consumption too!

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Once every decade or so, a car emerges that forces automotive professionals to reconsider all of their preconceptions and conventional wisdom. The Porsche 928 is such a car; its incredible machine will blow your mind, take your socks off and possibly send your hat flying! Unfortunately not all 928s are created equal – many have been patched together, are good on paper but become unstable at suburban speeds or simply make poor driving experiences for their owners.

Finding an adequate 928 is all about asking the right questions and taking time to consider what you are purchasing. A 928 was an expensive car when new and will require significant investments over its lifespan to keep running smoothly.

Market conditions have since stabilized and better examples are steadily increasing in value – but that doesn’t mean basic rules of purchasing can be ignored. Make sure all doors open and close properly, do not be fooled by low mileage – the engine should have had extensive servicing done by an expert (928s use a lot of oil), replace clutch and steering pump components as soon as they wear out and look for signs of leakage in bodywork (mismatched paint or rust are telltale signs) prior to purchasing any car.

Check that all interior switches, particularly power seat switches and sunroof switches, work correctly – especially those on power seats; repairs for these items can be expensive. Also ensure the vacuum system works, particularly the door locks which rely on it. Lastly, verify tyre age is reasonable and that its odometer reading is accurate before purchasing; otherwise walk away; you wouldn’t expect running a Ferrari on Fiesta money!