$6k 1989 Porsche 928

The 928 is the unloved child in Porsche history. It was conceived under great turmoil in the 70s. Volkswagen/Porsche assumed European governments were on the way to banning rear engines entirely. They also felt they had perfected the air-cooled 4- and 6-cylinder engine. Volkswagen unveiled the front-engine, front-wheel drive Golf and Scirocco as their solutions. Porsche turned to development of a new front-engine, rear-wheel drive flagship car.

The resulting 928 which debuted at Geneva in 1977 was so impressive that it later won European Car of the Year. The body was a combination of galvanized steel and aluminum. It was styled brilliantly, looking every bit Porsche but more grown up, and roomier, too. I particularly love the rear, which looks like an upscale AMC Gremlin, and I mean that in the best way possible. It's still bold and futuristic looking today.

Underneath the hood was originally a 4.5-liter water-cooled V8 good for about 219 horsepower in US versions. A transaxle helped balanced weight to 50/50 front/rear, ensuring the 928 handled just as well, if not better, as a 911. In 1987, a refreshed front nose and rear taillights made the car slightly longer but smoother looking. A new, larger 32-valve V8 was also added, boosting horses to 288. The earlier engines are said to provide adequate performance but easier to maintain, while the later engine are known to be difficult and expensive. Both are gas guzzlers. That said, the 928's real strength is as a Grand Tourer, eating up long stretches of highway like nothing. I've heard the build quality and ride is Mercedes-Benz-like, too (the four-speed automatics were from MB) which can't be said of the rougher 911 from the same era.

The seller is scant on details but says it has 130k miles and is 'super clean and super fast'. The high mileage is a good indicator, meaning it should be through with most of its major tests. You can't go wrong with the black/black color combo, and the seats look mercifully spared of the usual rips and tears. The exterior also looks good from what the photos show. But the most important question on an any old Porsche is maintenance. Records are really a must. The next pressing thing is accident history. Along with Corvettes these things are often driven irresponsibly and wrecked. Accident damage is a big turn off for me unless the car is heavily discounted. Cars are usually never the same after they are wrecked. The last big thing is rust, although the 928's steel body has held up surprisingly well, the doors and hood are aluminum and sometimes have rust around them.

If it all checks out, you have my sincere envy.

Available here on craigslist for $6k or 'just make me an offer'.

1980 Porsche 928 Convertible

Summer isn't over just yet and neither is the point of having a convertible.

This particular topless cruiser is another unique custom piece like the Testarossa I featured recently. In some ways it's even more peculiar.

The front-engined 928 of course is already a controversial car. Intended to replace the 911 it actually ended up being sold alongside it from 1978-1994, before being discontinued without a successor as the 911 continues to this day.

The 928 wasn't a bad car. In fact, it was a pretty cool one. The engine was a big powerful V8, Porsche's first, and the styling was awesome. They sold in respectable numbers and the automotive press admired them regularly. They are expensive to maintain if driven harshly or never taken care of, but they are pretty solid and reliable overall, with the build quality being noted by many owners as superior than the 911. But despite being Tom Cruise's epic ride in Risky Business, the 928 never earned the respect it deserved. It didn't help the vast majority were made with automatic transmissions, even though several noted reviewers have remarked they like the auto better.

Part of what made the 928 so attractive though was the sexy sloping rear, which, despite housing nothing more two small rear seats and trunk space, emulated the roofline of the rear-engine 911 and invaluably tied the 928 to the brand aesthetic.

For this funky convertible, however, the roof has been complete hacked off and the trunk is now covered by a flat body colored panel. To deflect from the odd surface shapes, a spoiler has been added for extra flair and it works.

This is an early pre-facelift 928 with an automatic. It does not have ABS, which came on US cars in 1986. The seller says it's also a European import, which is a plus, with the deleted side markers, extra rear fog light, and presumably a small horsepower bump over the US version. They state the odometer is in kilometers but equals about 110,000 miles.

Mechanically, the seller says it starts, runs and drives strong. Cosmetically it needs some work like a new soft top and perhaps paint (both rather pricey fixes).

This is a rare car however, and while I wish we had more details on how it came here, who owned it and when the roof was subtracted, it's still pretty notable to see one on the market. It could easily be a headturner at the local German auto clubs.

Available here on Ebay in Tampa, Florida.

Under $10k: 41k-Mile 1988 Porsche 928 S4

These are the unloved sons of the Porsche world.

The 928 was intended to replace - gasp - the 911. Porsche was gearing up for rumored legislation outlawing - another gasp - rear engines in Germany. They also felt the 911 had reached its maximum potential, and could no longer be improved upon (really?). Porsche envisioned replacing it with car that did what the 911 could do, but more comfortably and practically. After the engine regulation never materialized, the 928 was followed through but simply sold alongside the 911 for 18 years. Consumers got the best of both worlds.

I like these a lot. Porsche hit a another home run in the styling department. Just as the 911 was an iconic automotive shape for the ages, the 928 added another new classic profile to the lineup. In some ways it's just a stretched 911. Sloped rear-back, elongated front, round headlights.

In 1986, the 928 got a lot better looking than earlier iterations. New smooth front and rear ends were added, along with corresponding turn indicators and taillights. The dinky little spoiler was ditched in favor of a larger and more aesthetically serious piece. It just got so much better looking.

This particular example looks great in light gray over blue.

The key difference from the 911 is that the 928 features a front-engine layout. But this was no bow to conformity. The engine still powered the rear wheels. And this time, there was more power than any factory 911 could generate: a huge 32-valve 5.0 liter V8 pumping out a very healthy 316 horsepower. I imagine this is a blast on highway on-ramps, glued to the road with effortless acceleration. The ultimate autobahn grand tourer.

Porsches are among the most expensive cars to fix in the world. Parts are rare and expensive, and garages assume you're an endless well of money if you own one. I'd make sure to get a full history on this. Number of owners? Accidents? Maintenance records? "Porsche guys like their Porsches perfect" my boss John likes to say. Which means that there are a lot of imperfect Porsches hanging around on the market waiting to be snatched up at good prices for the rest of us, IF they check out.

I spotlighted this one because it's got an under $10k asking price and low miles. For a car that was originally $70k, that's quite a depreciation, and now it's a lot of car for not too too much money. Porsche made a lot of them over a long time, so they are not rare, and not as desirable as the 911, so they are always available. But again, previous ownership and maintenance is key. If it passes, you have my envy.

Available here on ebay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for $9,999 and the Make Offer option.