This post was written by Mike Frye. Mike is a Porsche 928 owner and a friend from Rennlist. As one of the first people to answer our post requesting guest bloggers for FLATSIXES.com, Mike has served up a great article on the Porsche 928. If you want to get in-touch with Mike you can do so by commenting on this article or using the contact form and we will forward to him.
3 Common misunderstandings about the Porsche 928
- The Porsche 928 is prone to engine fire
- The Porsche 928 is expensive to maintain
- The Porsche 928 is fat and slow
About 18 months ago I found myself in a position to purchase a 1985 928. Over the years I had heard some of these “myths” about the 928, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to buy a car that I had coveted since I was a teenager (when it was the premier Super Car on the planet). Well I’m here to tell you that each one of these myths (like most rumors and stereotypes) has a kernel of truth to them but can easily be avoided with a little preventative maintenance or are not based on complete facts. The following is information I’ve gathered from personal experience or from others I’ve met through the 928 tech forum on Rennlist.com.
So let’s take each one in order and examine where the stereotypes came from and just how true it is.
- Porsche 928s are prone to engine/exhaust fires. Many of us have heard stories or even seen pictures or videos of 928s with an engine fire or the whole car simply burning. Here’s a disturbing Youtube video that was recently circulated showing one:
I chose this myth first and in fact I chose the topic of this article for one reason. A person I know from Rennlist recently had his 928 burn up (within the past month). This person was someone who had recently had a small fire underneath his car and had attempted to fix the problem, but was unsuccessful. The car in question had not had any of its many rubber and flexible lines replaced and was over 20 years old.
The Porsche 928 has hard lines and rubber lines for fuel injection (under pressure), transmission fluid cooling (from the transaxle in the rear, all the way up to the radiator and back) and power steering lines (not only under pressure, but the 928 uses ATF which is flammable, instead of power steering fluid). The fact that there are flammable fluids under pressure in the engine compartment and along the bottom of the car is not the problem, in fact this configuration is common to quite a few cars. The fact that they use rubber or soft lines isn’t the problem; this is also common. The fact that these lines were not replaced in over 20 years and were expected to work indefinitely is the problem.
Items high on the preventive maintenance list for the Porsche 928 are replacement of the fuel injection lines, power steering lines, and for automatics, the transmission fluid cooling lines. If these are replaced every 20 years or so, there is no more likelihood of a 928 bursting into flames than any other car. I think the fact that the body, suspension and engine last so long and run so well in these cars leads to people just driving them until they stop. Most 20+ year old cars would be badly rusted out in the body and show signs of corrosion everywhere else, so the rubber lines would be the last thing to go. In these cars after 20+ years, the lines start to go and it’s sometimes the first indication of aging and sadly, it can be the last.
- Porsche 928s are expensive to maintain. This is a very interesting observation. I think it stems from people who buy a former Super Car for $10,000 or under (when the original retail was anywhere from $50k to over $100k, at a time when a home could be bought for $75k) and then are surprised when a routine tune-up can cost over $1,000 in parts and labor. The car is a Porsche. There are two components that contribute to cost: parts and labor. Parts are not cheap and in fact are going up in value as they become more rare and some are actually no longer available at all.
The majority of Porsche 928s on the road today are over 20 years old and will require some deferred maintenance (maintenance that a former owner neglected to do or put off). This deferred maintenance is usually the part that people complain about and which is most costly. Once the 20+ year old parts have been gone over and the fuel lines, electrical systems, ignition system, suspension and drivetrain have been sorted out, the actual operating costs are no more than any other car of the same caliber.
- Porsche 928s are Fat and Slow. 928s are not slow at all. The original design called for a 5.0L engine, but because of the economy at the time they were introduced (1977) the engine was reduced to a 4.5L that was unfortunately not quite enough to provide the neck-snapping acceleration that later models would have. For this reason, the initial offering, though quick, was not ‘FAST’. The 928 never seems to have been able to shake this reputation. Even the later models were not designed for 0-60 or 0-100 acceleration though. It’s not a muscle car. The 928 was designed as a Grand Touring (GT) car, for touring Europe and driving on the Autobahn at speeds in excess of 120mph in style and comfort with enough luggage to last a weekend. For this it was perfectly equipped originally and it only got better over time.
The Porsche 928 is a 'fringe' Model
Its many unique traits have been discussed ad nauseam elsewhere, but having these myths floating around doesn’t help its case. If you’re considering buying a Porsche 928, consider it based on factual first hand experience rather than rumors, stereotypes and hype.
Other Porsche Blog Posts You Will Enjoy
Porsche 928 For Sale
One Of Porsche's Most Enduring Urban Legends Lives On
The "Holy Grail" of Porsche 928s
How a Porsche 928 Saved a Life and Influenced a Career
1994 Porsche 928 GTS Sells for $92,500
If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it using one of the buttons below.
928 Slow? I don’t think so. I own a Boxster, 911, 914/6 with a 3.0L, 914/4, 944 racecar and 3 928’s a 78 and 81 as well as a 86 1/2 S model. I love to take my bone stock 81-928 with the factory competition package to Porsche Parade. In Colorado I ran as fast or faster than a lot of the improved and modified cars. I won the class by over 10 seconds. These cars are not slow you just have to know how to drive them. In a straight line I can beat the new cameros and Mustang GT’s. The automatic version starts in second unless you really put your foot into it therefore most people who drive them think they are slow. My 81 is actually faster than the 86 1/2 with the bigger engine. I constantly beat the GT’s and GTS’s on the autocross. Why? People are afraid to push these cars to their limits. These are a tough car and can take being pushed. I love my 911 and other Porsche’s but for pure excitement and fun I drive the 928 with over 100K and push it to the limits, No Problems. Don’t be afraid of these cars but enjoy them. If you can not afford to maintain one properly then you should go buy something else.
I have a 80. 928 and am having a hard time finding wireing for my gauge clusters would you know where I can find them . Thank you
928INTL has gauge cluster circuit foil for the early 928’s I don’t remember the asking price.
@Jeff,
Very well said, especially the part about maintenance. The cost of deferred maintenance is huge (on any Porsche)!!!
Same applies to people 🙂
Mike,
Loved this article. The problem as I see it is people buy these wonderful cars because they were not as popular as a 911 and were a Porsche. Being not as popular they can be picked up relativly cheap in a lot of cases but are in need of work. Most people do not realize the automatic versions start out in second gear unless you put your foot in it therefore feeling slow on the start. I own a 78, 81 with factory compitition package and an 86 1/2 S. The 81 is the fastest of the 3 and I love to autocross it and track it. Bone stck just add racing tires. I have been instructing DE’s for years but last year tok the national certification course and used my 928. The intructor who tested me used my car and after 30 minutes on the track he told me that was the most fantastic car he had ever driven. He could not believe the power the car had in all the gears and how well it handled. He has a 944 racecar and a supercharged Boxster and said he enjoyed driving the 928 more. The car was on a set of Khumo Victro Racers with a race alignment on it. The 2 biggest problems with the 928 are simple. First off people do not know how to drive them or are afraid of them because of the power and torque and secondly the biggest problem I have had is second gear syncronizers. Every 928 I have know with a 5 speed has had a second gear syncro problem. I just learn to drive it with the problem and go on. last year for Parade I was Honeymooning at Keystone. My wife and I packed the 928 up and drove from Chattanooga to Keystone with every thing we needed for the 2 weeks we were gone including 4 autocross tires in the back of the car. 25 mpg average for the trip and many times crossong Kansas with speeds well in excess of 100 and at one point we buried the speedo racing a newer GT3. He was impressed with the car. The 2 most common comments on the car, Thats the Risky Business car or “That’s a Porsche”.
928’s forever.
How was it as an Autocross car? My old 0146 Has won about 400 Autocross TROPHIES – INCLUDING 5 NATIONAL scca TROPHIES.
well this articleand reactions just helped me further
i am going to buy me a 928.
i also heard lot of rumours,
i also could not understand the low prices for some 928s
i think some people just cant afford the maintenance ; lett all small problems come together , getting a car out of shape, and want to get rid of it.
i drive my american luxe muscle car overhere in europe,,a 71 buick riviera for over 8 years now (as a weekendcar) and even in those american car scene most people just drive and drive without having a deasant spark at there sparkplugs,,using the same oil year after year (the think that if they dont drive often that the oil is good for ever) and the same coolingwater in an old radiator clugged up. they dont have a clue wat is going on in the engine, they dont have a simple tempgauge and oilpressuregauge.they never change the brakefluid!!!!just a fill up. all they can is do a burnout and smoke tires.
when i drive my 39 year old car i know everything works like it should be.
i hope i can become the same with my porsche. i hope to find me a good maintained one soon and keep it in shape and safe and on the road for many years to come. .
.
I have a 78 928 and it has 64,000 miles on it. I bought 6 months ago and it is in very good condition. It is a 5 speed and there is nothing slow about it and it is a dream to drive. If you know how to work on them yourself you can find the parts on ebay at a good price and maintain them very resonablely . I injoy my 928 very much!
I have and 89 928s4 and an 05 996 c2. I prefer teh power of the 928. It is faster than the 911. You just have to know how to drive it.
I bought a 1986 1/2 928 (5 speed) in 1995 for $14,500. I sold it in 2002 for $14,000. Sure I spent around $12,000 in maintenance, but compare the total cost of ownership to a brand new Honda Accord, with depreciation. I drove a world class super car for less. Still one of the most luxurious and comfortable cockpits of any car, of any era.
Slow? Top speed was around 155. Pretty fast in 1986.
Hey, Rusty,
What are you driving these days? Welcome to our site and thanks for taking the time to comment!
I’ve got an 84 928S, 5 spd. with a salvage title that has been neglected. I’m not sure what people mean by expensive to maintain. These cars are simple to work on and parts can be found relatively cheaply. They are well built and fun to drive. In the early 80’s, they had nearly all the luxuries of a current BMW, where technology would allow. I never feel like I’m chasing a phantom as I slowly restore mine. Everything falls into place logically. I love 928s. I think I’ll buy my sister one, too!
JUST A WORD FROM AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN : Knowing what little I’ve learned from reading theese post I yearn for the days of old when I worked on and dorve the piss out of my own version of a sports car.As a young man I (don’t laugh too hard) owned about three M G midgets . Now as an older man I think I’m ready to step up to something more luxurious .But what could be more exotic than the the feeling of accomplishment in a young mas heart who had finally conquered the gremlins in a 25 year old machine.I,m almost 60 and I’m going to buy a 928 so I can feel 16 again
awesome comment! I also own a 1986.5 928 and the best part is that its red for that exotic sports car look and I too feel like a teenager when I drive it…sadly im 40 but nothing beats the exotic lookin front end and the aggressive lookin rear end that sayz…fuk off!
I own 2 928’s – a 87 S4(the first month of production, special order) and a 91 S4 with PSD etc.
The 91 is my daily driver in Dubai which I purchased of a lovel young Emirati who was taken into the ‘spell’ of the 928. Everything about it is somehow….different, yet beautifully engineered and functional.
My white 87 is a ‘one previous owner car’ from Japan (new delivery). It is absolutely like it left the factory and was driven by a gentleman. It is tight, quite and super responsive.
I fell in love with the 928 when I was 8 years old (in 1978), I remember the exact moment!
I was sitting on the toilet reading my fathers ‘Auto, Motor & Sport’ Magazine (from Germany). I read this very magazine for years (no joke).
Then I grew up and drove all sorts of weird and wonderful cars (I don’t come from a ‘rich’ family). so they were quirky such as 528i ‘M’, or 68 Fiat 125 T – even a 56 Triumph Herald Coupe )
(so I could take the roof off and try and pick up girls in my Cabriolet ::::-).
The 928 Auto Shifter was modelled off the Thrust Lever of a B747 (something I never forget), because I promised myself: ‘One day Steph,…..you are going to be a Jet Pilot and own a 928…!’.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Keith quite rightly put it: ‘.I,m almost 60 and I’m going to buy a 928 so I can feel 16 again’.
I hope he did… because He’s right on the money!
I like traffic jams, and long sweepers, looooong straights through the desert and early morning starts to the airport.
The 928 invigurates, massages and tickles the senses of every man and woman that rides along!
Even here in the Emirates, where supercars are part of life (Emirati love speed and grace – have done for centuries), I get dozens of smiles, thumbs ups and waves (even the odd ‘wink’ 😉 from persons of all walks of life, cultures and age.
It just gives pleasure!
Please, just fix them nicely first – and you’ll be the most reliable, fastest, economically and envioromentally sound supercar owner / driver.
Love the info and threads I’m looking at a 928 this week I’ve just been thinning out my stuff two jeeps and a Saab a ducati I hope to find a relively inexpensive ,929 and set to task on a new chapter
Phil, Did you ever end up making a purchase? Let us know.
I bought an 88 928 with only 52K original miles from the original owner. Unfortunately he died before I could any records.
Now I have electrical problems and in view of the article I will have to replace fuel,power steering and transmission lines just to be safe.
I have no idea what it is going to cost me.
\Next problem is finding a mechanic who knows the 928.. I live in the Palm Springs,CA area
Arthur,
You MAY need to replace them. I think you would be better served having them
Inspected first. Without records you can’t know if/when they were replaced. However, a competent mechanic familiar with the 928 should be able to look it over and let you know where you stand.
Thanks for your help.
Art
I presently own a red 87′ 911 cabrio, and a 08′ 997S. I have owned 12 other Porsche’s, one of them being an 83″ 928s in Stuttgart, where I did aviation working with the Germans. I can only say this, it is not made for drag racing or salom or taking the Black Forest roads, but this I know, on the Autobahn, it would open up and run 175mph all day long, until a cross wind would show up. On long trips in Germany I would enjoy that car, even with the gas mileage
not being all that good. But to enjoy that 310PS =(330HP) it was well worth it!!!
To say that 928 is a marvel of engendering I can’t. All you need to look is to the opposite side of the fuse panel. The biggest problem with 928 which contributes to it less than popular standing among Porsche enthusiasts is it’s monstrous curb weight. In per-suite of “luxury” Porsche over-engineer this vehicle just like many other models. Having water cooled engine did not help ether. Like all early Porsche’s with water cooled engines 928 prong to overheating very easily from performance driving. Many will disagree with me, but 928 owners manual clearly state so. Most 928 suffer from multitudes of electrical problems and massive oil leaks. As far as maintenance cost it does not cost more to maintain 928 in comparison to a classic 911. In the smash, people do not spend enough money to maintain 928 due to it low resale value. However, if you are looking to buy a inexpedience Porsche project restoration car, where you willing to invest your time and a little bit of money, 928 will beat any other water-cooled Porsche restoration project hands down.
Ever since Risky Business- Tom Cruse, I wanted a 928. 11 years ago I got a 1991 S4 Widebody. I loved it! My wife liked it. I said it was a fun investment. Of course an investment means you have to sale it then determine whether it was a good investment or not. I put about 13,000 miles on it. Now it has about 37,000 total miles on it. Do you think the market is stronge enough to sale now?
Are parts from an 84 comparable with an 85. I’m starting my very first restoration and have found a salvaged 84 model with with engine and transmission parts I need. Will they work. Thanks for any help.
I’ve had a pretty long history with the 928. I’ve probably owned more then anyone reading this, even Porsche dealers. Way back in 1985, my Dad was tired of shifting gears in his 930. The dealer gave him a 928 as a courtesy car. He bought it. Not only have I owned many, some of them from new. My Dads new 85 928S started it all. I’ve tried other sports cars, Ferrari Testarossa and even a 308 (very slow car!). Non have the build quality of the 928. The Testarossa maybe faster, no power steering its a pain in slow moving traffic, the ac is horrible, changing gears is only good after its well warmed up. Simply put its near impossible to find a sports car built as good as a 928! Anyway, I have a mechanic near me who specializes in 928’s. In the past few years, I have sold him two S4’s. One Sat I was at his place 5 928s there for work. I once owned four of them, not including the two I sold him. I currently only own three. I’ve sold three in the last 4 years. As daily drivers I’ve owned both Mercedes and BMW’s, the 928 is no different money wise from those cars. I wont say its cheap, but its not bad either. Never had a 928 that is a money pit. In 30 years of owning 928’s, adding in my Dads experience. I’ve only had two failures on two separate 928’s, both radiator leak problems. Besides the required timing belt changes and oil service. They are pretty normal maintenance wise.
i have a restored 944 non turbo 98000 mi love it also have a 928 which i am currently working on
Wish I hadn’t had to sell mine when business tanked a few years ago. About ready to start looking for another one. Best and most fun car I ever had!
The words “fictions” or “misconceptions” or “falsehoods” would be more apt. Myths can be true or at leas they almost always have a core of truth.
I meant “least.”
I currently own a 1972 Triumph TR6, lovely car and with the roof down I receive many favorable comments BUT man I want a 928. It is like an addiction with me but the trouble here in Australia is to find a low mileage car. Here they are mostly around the 200,000 K’s plus. If you are fortunate enough to find a low mileage car, boy do the owners want big money.The other problem is I have to sell the Triumph for “She who must be obeyed” will not let me own two classic cars. I have the Triumph on the net for sale, but there aren’t many Triumph lovers out there. Ah well, all good things come to those who wait.
It took several years for me to find the right ones. Patience is a virtue and will pay off. Mileage is not as important with a 928 as in a lot of other cars..Repair history is important. Although they are easy to work on.
Getting a 1979 today .not running . I hope I can fix it being a mechanic for few years . Always wanted to own one. Will let know how it goes. Might ask for help . Since its going to be my first.
Welcome to the owner’s club. Good luck with your purchase and restoration. If we can help, we’ll be happy to.
I have a 928 gts 1993 I bought it about 4/5 years ago. It had a bump at rear of the car and Paul Anderson from Stroud Gloucester repaired it for me . He did an excellent job and you can’t tell it has been repaired . I had to have it valued to get it insured. I took it to jasmine porschelink Nelson lancs he informed me it had the wrong wheels on which are off a Boxster 205s on the front I was not happy with his valuation and comments about the car . I met a Porsche club journalist at a track day at Oulton park and he advised me too have it revalued in case anything went wrong as l have done quite few track days . The problem I have experienced is that when I set off from a standing start the car feels like the diff as seized up for a few seconds and whilst on track I am getting quite a lot of under steer going in to corners at high speed any comments or advice please,
I lucked out 6 years ago and found an “Original Matching Factory Numbers” ’83 928EuroS2. A German Domestic Market (WP0ZZZ****) car with a 5 speed manual LSD trans for $3500!!! 310 DIN Hp M28-11 4.7 Liter non-interference engine in a 3300 Lb car and NO Environmental Perfection Crap on it!! It sat on a classic car dealer’s lot for 5 years (that I know of) and I’ve been going thru it ‘nose to tail’ since…I’ve got about $5,000 in parts into it and I’m almost done with ‘Make it safe, Make it fast’ Now to ‘Make her pretty’.. …All I have to do now is rear brakes and change the trans oil, then I’m down to ‘nickle/ dime problems.. Seeing as it’s a Porsche, make that $50/ 100 problems. Like the sun roof and rear wiper doesn’t work…LOL..
The Major caviet is: If you don’t do at least some of the work yourself, you need deep pockets…..Make that VERY deep pockets if you hire out ALL the work. I’ve worked up the K-Jet system,Fuel lines, brakes ,front suspension & steering rack, motor mounts and everything that looked ‘Iffy” when I did the timing belt/water pump…. I’m a ‘HotRoder’ since High School ( I’m only 71)and working on the 928 is ‘involved but not technically difficult’ on mine because there is NO COMPUTER…It takes 20 minutes to change out ‘part-X’, but first you have to remove parts: T,U,V,&W to get to part-‘X’, and that takes 2 hours. At least I’m NOT paying someone $$$/hr to learn to work on my car…. LOL
Performance? I tell people ” It’s slow as shit but fast as hell. It’s not made for the ‘Stoplight Grand Prix’…” ” First one to hit 150 MPH wins, still want to run?” LOL .14 sec and 100 mph for ‘Da Quadda’ isn’t all that fast.( but that’s in 3rd gear!!) Factory specs state top speed 182 mph* ….”* Actual top speed determined by aerodynamic drag.” I’ve had mine up to 140 on the track one time “just to get the feel of it’ and the car was like: “Well, Are you going to put your foot in it or not??” It can be a real pain finding some parts though and not the ones you might expect..I’ve been going nuts trying to find ‘type 53 relays’…Pep Boys? No, AutoZone? nope, AdvanceAutoParts “You need a what?? Let me check the computer”…..Being a EuroS2 5-speed,a lot of U.S. spec parts won’t fit. Mine has larger pistons, intake and exhaust valves, hotter cams, larger intake spider and plenum, Bosch K-Jet Mechanical F.I. and unrestricted dual 80 mm pipes with NO Cats, ‘X’, ‘Y’, or ‘H’ pipes… (You can keep your screaming 4-bangers and your ‘Turbo-V-6, I LOVE that ‘Big Bore V-8’ rumble.) Parts prices? Well, NEW the car cost about $60k (In REAGAN Greenbacks, not O’Bama Bucks), A new fuel pump cost me $260 but I need one that puts out 3+ Liters / minute at 85PSI…like I said U.S. spec parts don’t fit.
If you get a 928 to build up, drive a few years, sell it on,and make money on it, BOY did YOU shop in the wrong store. “You’er only $10,000 away from a nice $5,000 car” is kind of true…. BUT if you want an absolute MONSTER of a car, with head turning style, and comfort that still ‘talks to you’ AND you can buy outright and work on yourself… , “928… there IS NO substitute” Went to the Pittsburgh Grand Prix this year and that’s what a 928 is really made for: 350 miles out, 2 days of racing, and 350 miles back,and I got 19 MPG for the trip, racing and all. In a 35 year old car with 180,000 miles on it!!
BEST 35 HUNDRED DOLLARS I EVER SPENT ON A CAR!!!!! AND I’M NOT SELLING IT!! EVER!!!!
I have 3 928s. One is a 1980 euro with 240 hp. Number 2 is a 1983 U.S. spec 928s. Number 3 is a 1980 euro 928s with 300hp. number one and two are mostly restored but I drive them frequently when weather permits. Number 3 was bought as a parts car that had not been driven since 1988. Five speed car, replaced the oil and the fuel pump and the fuel filter , drained the gas tank, new gas, blew out the fuel lines, new spark plugs and started it up.
Oh yes also new starter and battery. Total cost so far about 2100 dollars. That includes the price of the car. No smoke, no taps from engine, smooth running engine. Transmission works as it should. Other two run flawlessly and I have put very little money into them. Insure through hagerty for 600 dollars a year and that includes my wifes 1970 monte carlo and my 1987 toyota supra turbo.