The first smart thing you did was joining the landshark list.
Here you will find loads of information, technical assistance, moral support and/or sympathy. As for purchasing the `right' car, let me attempt to set out a few pointers for you.
Criteria No. 1 : Obsessive Compulsive Character You are a person with a fixed vision of what you desire in personal conveyance and will not be diverted from your ambition by social, ecological, economical, family or peer-group morays. Criteria No. 2 : Financial Solvency You are fiscally endowed to the extent that you can budget around $4,000 per annum to be expended against maintenance and insurance. If you spend less, then you are both lucky and that much in front. If you brace yourself in advance the pain is much less, and far outweighed by the day to day pleasure that 928 ownership brings. (BTW – the 928 is the only car I've driven with a fuel gauge calibrated in dollars !) Criteria No. 3 : Investment Potential Never, never purchase any vehicle as an investment or a hedge against inflation. Having said that, the 928 is unique in the market in terms of its undervalue probably because of its unloved cousin status against the 911. Perhaps I could insert the term `affordable supercar' here. All 928's are now beyond their initial depreciation fall-out (except for later GTS's). Across all year models the market value seems to settle at around 30% of the original purchase price, except for the years 1987 through 1991 where the market value is currently on or under 20%. Criteria No. 4 : Read, Search, Drive, Inspect Look at and drive every car you can. That means dealers and private offers. Always inspect the service books to understand the history of the car. Pretty soon you will be able to evaluate value for money on your own. Obviously you are looking for the best car for as much as you can afford. 928's are slow movers, (they sell slowly) except for true bargains. So when you see the `one' move fast. Buy private. You will pay less initially of course, but be prepared for initial expenditure on fix-ups and make goods of around $2000. If you spend less, then you are both lucky and that much in front. Criteria No. 5 : Pre-purchase Evaluation Get your prospective purchase checked out by an experienced 928 workshop (expect to pay up to $150 for this service. If the vendor hesitates about your insistence here; walk away, don't look back. Your choices are: Melbourne Porsche Centre. (previously known as Hamiltons) Auto Art (Collingwood). Michael Gardner – 9416 2931 (Highly recommended) Auto Coupe (Eltham). Why do I recommend Auto Art? Consider this: You need the services of workshop experienced in older porches. Michael Gardner brings the benefits of a current knowledge of older cars and a simple Aussie resourcefulness to the task of maintaining a very complex piece of engineering. (Get comparative quotes for cam-belt [and water-pump] replacement/service and you'll see what I mean)
Criteria No. 1 : Obsessive Compulsive Character You are a person with a fixed vision of what you desire in personal conveyance and will not be diverted from your ambition by social, ecological, economical, family or peer-group morays.
Criteria No. 2 : Financial Solvency You are fiscally endowed to the extent that you can budget around $4,000 per annum to be expended against maintenance and insurance. If you spend less, then you are both lucky and that much in front. If you brace yourself in advance the pain is much less, and far outweighed by the day to day pleasure that 928 ownership brings. (BTW – the 928 is the only car I've driven with a fuel gauge calibrated in dollars !)
Criteria No. 3 : Investment Potential Never, never purchase any vehicle as an investment or a hedge against inflation. Having said that, the 928 is unique in the market in terms of its undervalue probably because of its unloved cousin status against the 911. Perhaps I could insert the term `affordable supercar' here. All 928's are now beyond their initial depreciation fall-out (except for later GTS's). Across all year models the market value seems to settle at around 30% of the original purchase price, except for the years 1987 through 1991 where the market value is currently on or under 20%.
Criteria No. 4 : Read, Search, Drive, Inspect Look at and drive every car you can. That means dealers and private offers. Always inspect the service books to understand the history of the car. Pretty soon you will be able to evaluate value for money on your own. Obviously you are looking for the best car for as much as you can afford. 928's are slow movers, (they sell slowly) except for true bargains. So when you see the `one' move fast. Buy private. You will pay less initially of course, but be prepared for initial expenditure on fix-ups and make goods of around $2000. If you spend less, then you are both lucky and that much in front.
Criteria No. 5 : Pre-purchase Evaluation Get your prospective purchase checked out by an experienced 928 workshop (expect to pay up to $150 for this service. If the vendor hesitates about your insistence here; walk away, don't look back. Your choices are:
Melbourne Porsche Centre. (previously known as Hamiltons)
Auto Art (Collingwood). Michael Gardner – 9416 2931 (Highly recommended)
Auto Coupe (Eltham). Why do I recommend Auto Art? Consider this: You need the services of workshop experienced in older porches. Michael Gardner brings the benefits of a current knowledge of older cars and a simple Aussie resourcefulness to the task of maintaining a very complex piece of engineering. (Get comparative quotes for cam-belt [and water-pump] replacement/service and you'll see what I mean)
When you get as far as the pre-purchase evaluation, being an obsessive compulsive character you will have already made your decision to buy. So the only benefit you will gain here is a knowledge of how much you will to spend in the de-bugging phase. Of course anything you can turn back to the vendor for the purposes of roadworthy certification is a benefit to you.
Here's a tip: Oil leaks (which are road worthy dependant item) can be found everywhere on 928's. Getting in and out to eliminate the leak can be an expensive process. You can employ the "while you're in there" theory to perform fix-ups that would otherwise be prohibitive.
I reckon owning a 928 is a bit like owning a "Spitfire" ( or maybe an ME-109) fighter: extremely advanced performance, very complex engineering, strict maintenance regime ... but oh ... the sensations to eyes, ears and backside.
Stephen Begg, '90 928 S4
