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I wanted to get the opinion of the board as I consider my exit strategy out of 928 ownership.
Back story
Owned a ’85 red 5 speed since 2003. Have done a ton of work and dumped a ton of $ as everyone else has. Over the last 6 or 7 years I have rarely driven it and it has been more of a chore to take out for a drive (I know, I know). I have not started the car since March or April and it has been sitting in my garage unloved. I know someone would enjoy the car and it’s ready for the next chapter.
Options I’m considering:
A: As is sale – Bring a trailer and cart it away. I don’t want to start it at this point
B: Pull it apart make sure the engine turns, tensioner has oil, replace the TB, etc.…etc.
My issue with “B” is it will be another dose of the 928 drug. Before I know it I’ll be ordering ½ priced Xmas parts from Mark, along with Carl’s latest component and back “in the life” again. Unfortunately the high just doesn’t last long enough anymore.
Thoughts and opinions or alternate options are welcome
BTW
Catching up on some of the post, it's good to see so many of the OG's are still involved and helping the community
Two strikes... Carl is gone, and no holiday sale this season at 928 International. You'll have to fix it yourself and drive the money out of it.
You've bee a very long time supporter and owner. Life takes odd turns and situations change. Somtmes the 928 love fades. After watching other long-time owners go through the afte-sale remorse stages, I urge you to give a lot of thought to the questions. I also know some who have just decided it needs to go and they never look back.
My "thinning the herd" (from 2.5 928's) took approach "A", and I am glad it did. I believe my logic could be relevant. I wanted to focus on my silver 928 (perhaps it is other aspects of life in your case). If I went route B, I figured it would be at least another year before I could get to the silver car, due to competing life priorities and difficulty finding good shops (my mechanic retired). I didn't want to wait that long before I could focus on the silver 928. When good friends and favorite cousins die around you, it also starts hitting home that Life is short!
However, I also didn't want to sell it to just anyone looking for a bargain Porsche due to high mileage and deferred maintenance, and would end up in over their head. I wanted it to go to a good home. So, I got in touch with a fellow 928er that had continued to show interest in my particular 928 combo (white/black 86.5 5-speed) and offered him a very fair deal. He was not ready for another 928 at the time but had a good friend that is a car guy and nearby that was ready for a project (to do with his son, to boot!) and the deal was extended to the friend. When the friend sends me updates on the work he (with help from his son, age 11, I believe) has done on the car, I am overjoyed to see it getting so much focused attention!
Could I have gotten a balance of more money if I had gone approach B., done some of the deferred maintenance that otherwise scares people away and then offered it up on BaT or elsewhere? Possibly, but I also recognized that slippery slope of WYIT's and that luring aura of perfection the 928 brings with it (or, at least, projects to me). I knew one year might be the minimum of time I would spend "getting her ready to sell".
Again, I am very glad I went approach A. the way I did. If you go that route, I hope it works out as well for you!
Well it certainly sounds like it does in fact start and run. Running in the spring isn't that long ago, after all, so I suspect it runs fine. Fire it up, drive it a bit to loosen things back up, and then sell as is. It does not sound like you are trying to grab a premium on it, but to just move it out to the next caretaker and move on. Oil change, run the tank empty, add new gas and Stabil, and then sell. Run some injector cleaner through too, like the Chevron stuff. A detail first too (take it to a detailer and spend a few bucks to have it professionally done). I would not invest any money in it at all.
I have a red over tan 5 speed, and it is a great car. Post some pictures.
I had a 93 GTS, drove it home from my divorce hearing and bent the valves. Took it to Sean for the repairs. While Sean had it I bought a used 2012 911 C2S, with PDK. I was blown away with the new car and all the features and improvements. The biggest thing was I wasn't futzing with something on the 928 every single weekend (yes, I'm a bit **** about my cars). Sean finished the 928 and I put it for sale on consignment with a friend. Bottom line; I'm one who never looked back. I'm in the DFW group and I'll never leave the group of guys and gals but I'm over the 928's.
You have to like the car hobby to own a 928 or any old Porsche for that matter. If you don't like having a number of projects line up in front of you and just want to have a nice car to drive when you want to drive it, then it's time to move on. There will almost always be something to do on a 928 - not always something that keeps you from driving it, but always something. For example, my dash lights stopped working a year or so ago - big deal as I don't really pay much attention to speed and know from the sound of the motor what my RPMs are. At some point, I'll take the pod apart and fix it, along with installing a now foil I've acquired on the gauges and switching the bulbs to LEDs and replacing the cruise control stalk with a fresher one that actually has visible writing on it that someone gave me. My 914 needs the blower defroster contact repaired. Old Porsche will always need something.
I have 2 more modern 997s and a Cayenne Turbo and they need very little work, so like Jim M, I've moved newer, but will continue to keep the 928 for the hobby aspect of it and because I really enjoy driving the car and taking it to the 928 get together. In fact, the older I get and the more the auto industry "progresses" the more I like and appreciate my 40 year old cars - I'd rather drive them than any new rental car I could get in that have 20 driving assistance aids, no sound, no soul, and no character. If you're past that phase, sell it as is. If you go option B, you'll likely not sell it once you've spent that next round of time with it again and then start driving it, and that's OK too.
As Dr Bob points out, 6 or 8 months is not a 'long time'.
How old is the TB/WP? Is it due?
If not, I'd just take a look through the intake tube vent holes, and if it looks good, fire it up.
Change the oil, fresh gas, maybe coolant & brake fluid (depending), and drive the 'sit' out of it.
If you've got all the records of what you've done, that will command a premium.
Put it on some of the 928 focused FB pages, so it will be more likely to go to an enthusiast, rather than 'some schmoe'.
I go through this every winter. I store the car for the winter and contemplate if this is the year I sell it. Then in the spring I drive it. This spring I will also do the TB/WP service and get the AC sorted and it will be perfect. So I will go through the sell/keep thing all over again as I just don't drive it as much as it deserves to be driven. I do think that you should do the TB service if you are going to sell. It will most likely be the first question that anyone asks regarding the car maintenance history.
hmmm.
Tough love. If the car's not "fun"... then why bother?
These are supposed to bring some level of basic enjoyment...
Get out of it as efficiently as possible and move on.
Best of luck in your decision !
dan
Appreciate the advice, as usual solid guidance. Connected the battery and it growled to life . A quick spin and some photos.
I'll be listing it here in the next week or so. Like many others ... a drivable project.
12-07-2020, 11:14 PM
928 Exit Strategy
. A quick spin and some photos.
