928 S Manual / 84 - 86 Models / Any Owners On Here ?
Discussion
Not sure why the S4 is a lot more complex. From my experience (owned an S4 manual until recently) the S4 can be pretty reliable. Biggest letdown was the manual gearbox. Mine had been sorted out really well with refreshed front and back end linkages, it shifted okay, but in the end it remained a fairly agricultural affair and never was a natural or joyful thing to use. If I were to go 928 again would consider the auto.
Dirty gertie said:
Not sure why the S4 is a lot more complex. From my experience (owned an S4 manual until recently) the S4 can be pretty reliable. Biggest letdown was the manual gearbox. Mine had been sorted out really well with refreshed front and back end linkages, it shifted okay, but in the end it remained a fairly agricultural affair and never was a natural or joyful thing to use. If I were to go 928 again would consider the auto.
Thanks, but an auto is totally out of the question, i loathe them, plus it saps power & adds more weight. A manual box makes the 928 far more alive.
I am used to agricultural Corvette Muncie gear boxes, the 911 915 box & the Borg Warner T5 TVR Griffith gear box.
S4 is heavier, has an interference belt, more electrics, more complication & most S4 seem to have a sunroof, which ideally I don’t want.
I dont like the re styled S4 bodywork either, the earlier car has the purer shape.
If you like the 928S style better and want the manual, who am I to disagree. But I think the ownership experience, and potential reliability issues do not differ that much 40 years down the road. Both are old cars, like a drink, and are expensive to fix if they go wrong. You need an indie with 928 experience to avoid spending lots of dough on diagnosing issues specific to the 928. If you have that indie and bought the best car you could afford, then you might be just fine.
My issues with the S4 over 4 years were minor, and fairly 928 and old car generic. Drive them often and they behave almost like modern cars.
My issues with the S4 over 4 years were minor, and fairly 928 and old car generic. Drive them often and they behave almost like modern cars.
I run a manual GT daily (so bit later than your 86 end of period) and have done for 4.5 years but manual is great and nothing like JayEmm described the earlier car's manual. I know why people often prefer the auto in what is a GT car rather than an outright sports car but the manual suits it really well too. Definitely get one that has been, or will be, looked after by Paul Anderson etc.
cirks said:
I run a manual GT daily (so bit later than your 86 end of period) and have done for 4.5 years but manual is great and nothing like JayEmm described the earlier car's manual. I know why people often prefer the auto in what is a GT car rather than an outright sports car but the manual suits it really well too. Definitely get one that has been, or will be, looked after by Paul Anderson etc.
Thanks, i dont watch him Or would take any notice of what he says anyway, all B.S. & waffle.Fortunately ( for me ) the S4 is the more revered & sought after car, along with an auto box, which means that there are less punters wanting a mid 80s and manual S and therefore there are deals to be done.
After a Lot of digging, i have found three 86 1/2 models, two of which that i am going to view. And its only an 86 that i want.
The first & cheapest one isnt my ideal exterior colour, needs some mechanical work ( it was stored for 10 years ) & and also a lot of paintwork. It also has a sunroof, which i dont really want. However, its said to be rot free, which is obviously very important.
Its over priced, but the seller has had zero interest in it, i reckon i can get the price reduced considerably, but a re paint is fortunes.....or, I could get just some of the paint done & run it scruffy, as its bound to get dings etc and i do not want a trailer Queen. I need to see it first to see if i could live with the colour.
The second one is just Wow, its THE ideal perfect for me one, its the colour i want, no sunroof, lower mileage, a cherished clean well maintained car, However, at its asking price, its out of my price range, But, ive no idea how much he will drop until i meet him and negotiate.
The third one is again my ideal colour, v low miles, but way over priced.
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Sunday 20th September 10:57
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Sunday 20th September 11:00
I don't have a manual, but have an auto 'S' and, for similar reasons to you, specifically wanted an earlier car with the purer styling.... and what utterly fabulous things they are!
As is always the way with cars nearly 40 years old, you have to buy on condition and check everything works. And I mean everything! These were complicated cars for their era and didn't share much with other models / makes, meaning parts can be expensive / unobtainable. Something as simple as the headlight adjusters not adjusting the lights becomes a significant issue when you realise they're hydraulic....
They're mechanically tough though and the engine is under-stressed, coming alive as they rev.
Check for corrosion on the body and underneath carefully - they can and do rot.
If you've found one that is absolutely your ideal spec I'd be tempted to push your budget to buy it, so long as it's a fundamentally good car. There's not a massive amount of choice and you'll probably end up spending more bringing a cheaper car with issues up to standard than you would by just buying the best you can find to begin with.
Project forward a few years to future you and ask yourself if you regret not buying your perfect car for the sake of a few £thousand.....
If you've driven one and you like it, you owe it to yourself to buy the one you really want.
As is always the way with cars nearly 40 years old, you have to buy on condition and check everything works. And I mean everything! These were complicated cars for their era and didn't share much with other models / makes, meaning parts can be expensive / unobtainable. Something as simple as the headlight adjusters not adjusting the lights becomes a significant issue when you realise they're hydraulic....
They're mechanically tough though and the engine is under-stressed, coming alive as they rev.
Check for corrosion on the body and underneath carefully - they can and do rot.
If you've found one that is absolutely your ideal spec I'd be tempted to push your budget to buy it, so long as it's a fundamentally good car. There's not a massive amount of choice and you'll probably end up spending more bringing a cheaper car with issues up to standard than you would by just buying the best you can find to begin with.
Project forward a few years to future you and ask yourself if you regret not buying your perfect car for the sake of a few £thousand.....
If you've driven one and you like it, you owe it to yourself to buy the one you really want.
larrylamb11 said:
I don't have a manual, but have an auto 'S' and, for similar reasons to you, specifically wanted an earlier car with the purer styling.... and what utterly fabulous things they are!
As is always the way with cars nearly 40 years old, you have to buy on condition and check everything works. And I mean everything! These were complicated cars for their era and didn't share much with other models / makes, meaning parts can be expensive / unobtainable. Something as simple as the headlight adjusters not adjusting the lights becomes a significant issue when you realise they're hydraulic....
They're mechanically tough though and the engine is under-stressed, coming alive as they rev.
Check for corrosion on the body and underneath carefully - they can and do rot.
If you've found one that is absolutely your ideal spec I'd be tempted to push your budget to buy it, so long as it's a fundamentally good car. There's not a massive amount of choice and you'll probably end up spending more bringing a cheaper car with issues up to standard than you would by just buying the best you can find to begin with.
Project forward a few years to future you and ask yourself if you regret not buying your perfect car for the sake of a few £thousand.....
If you've driven one and you like it, you owe it to yourself to buy the one you really want.
Yes, totally right, the cheaper will swallow money, it needs paint, isnt a colour i like, has a sunroof which i dont want, plus also needs an AFM, fuel pump & more. As is always the way with cars nearly 40 years old, you have to buy on condition and check everything works. And I mean everything! These were complicated cars for their era and didn't share much with other models / makes, meaning parts can be expensive / unobtainable. Something as simple as the headlight adjusters not adjusting the lights becomes a significant issue when you realise they're hydraulic....
They're mechanically tough though and the engine is under-stressed, coming alive as they rev.
Check for corrosion on the body and underneath carefully - they can and do rot.
If you've found one that is absolutely your ideal spec I'd be tempted to push your budget to buy it, so long as it's a fundamentally good car. There's not a massive amount of choice and you'll probably end up spending more bringing a cheaper car with issues up to standard than you would by just buying the best you can find to begin with.
Project forward a few years to future you and ask yourself if you regret not buying your perfect car for the sake of a few £thousand.....
If you've driven one and you like it, you owe it to yourself to buy the one you really want.
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