Do I sell my 928 manual and buy a 996?
Discussion
Afternoon chaps, can I ask for some advice please?
I bought a 1986 Porsche 928 S4 manual about 3 years ago from a good friend. I sat and watched as he lavished thousands of pounds on the car during his period of ownership. New Clutch, cambelt, fuel lines, brake lines etc. At the point where he had fallen out of love with it I did the honorable thing and took it off his hands.
The 928 was one of my bedroom poster cars and it felt fantastic to finally own one. I also have two young daughters so required something with useable back seats.
So what’s the problem? Well I just never really use the car. It sits covered in a heated garage. It gets started every week and driven every few weeks to get everything to temperature. In the three years of owning the car I doubt I have put 1,500 miles on the car. It’s only just gone over 100k.
So here is the question. Would I be better off selling the car to someone who will use it and change to an early 996?
Will I use the 996 more because I will think of it as just a fun car instead of a polished appreciating classic?
Your comments are greatly appreciated.
I bought a 1986 Porsche 928 S4 manual about 3 years ago from a good friend. I sat and watched as he lavished thousands of pounds on the car during his period of ownership. New Clutch, cambelt, fuel lines, brake lines etc. At the point where he had fallen out of love with it I did the honorable thing and took it off his hands.
The 928 was one of my bedroom poster cars and it felt fantastic to finally own one. I also have two young daughters so required something with useable back seats.
So what’s the problem? Well I just never really use the car. It sits covered in a heated garage. It gets started every week and driven every few weeks to get everything to temperature. In the three years of owning the car I doubt I have put 1,500 miles on the car. It’s only just gone over 100k.
So here is the question. Would I be better off selling the car to someone who will use it and change to an early 996?
Will I use the 996 more because I will think of it as just a fun car instead of a polished appreciating classic?
Your comments are greatly appreciated.
Culross Lodge said:
At the point where he had fallen out of love with it I did the honorable thing and took it off his hands.
You're all heart. 
If you like it and enjoy driving it I'd say just use it more - they're much better used than left languishing. It'll have far more presence than a standard (and potentially more fragile) 996 is ever likely to have too.
Culross Lodge said:
Would I be better off selling the car to someone who will use it and change to an early 996?
No. 928 is a classy and increasingly rare beast and very comfortable for long distance cruising. 996 are ten a penny, have dodgy engines and dubious interiors. Stick with the 928. Lovely.with the mileage already at 100k she's way past being a garage queen - thrash the balls off it and fix stuff as and when - half the fun in owning these types of cars is driving them the other is fixing them when they go wrong the other half is looking at them - that's why they are 1.5 times more fun than a modern equivalent!
Funnily enough this is exactly what I did almost 4 years ago when I sold my 928GT for the same price that I paid for it four years earlier (just under £10k) and I bought a '99 996 for £18K.
I noticed "my" 928GT was recently on sale and guess how much? About the same price that I sold it for! And guess what again? My 996 is worth about half what I paid for it.
Now, this thread isn't about depreciation, it's about usage. The 996 feels more like a "sports car" than the 928 (steering, controls etc) but the 928 was ALWAYS more of an experience to drive - it sounded better, more road presence, less rattly, more door-clunky and of course it comes with a V8 soundtrack.
The 996 is a faster, perhaps a slightly blander alternative to the 928. I certainly considered buying the 928 back (as well, to replace my family car) but was too slow.
You need to ask yourself why you don't drive the 928 and would a 996 tick more usage boxes.
I noticed "my" 928GT was recently on sale and guess how much? About the same price that I sold it for! And guess what again? My 996 is worth about half what I paid for it.
Now, this thread isn't about depreciation, it's about usage. The 996 feels more like a "sports car" than the 928 (steering, controls etc) but the 928 was ALWAYS more of an experience to drive - it sounded better, more road presence, less rattly, more door-clunky and of course it comes with a V8 soundtrack.
The 996 is a faster, perhaps a slightly blander alternative to the 928. I certainly considered buying the 928 back (as well, to replace my family car) but was too slow.
You need to ask yourself why you don't drive the 928 and would a 996 tick more usage boxes.
Keep it!!!! I've been trying to sell my 928 unsuccessfully. They aren't selling, unless you offer it for a pittance. A 1988 SE sold for less than £10,000 recently, and it's getting shipped to America. The 996 will not compare to it, and you'll regret selling in a few years. If you want the thrill of a 911, buy a turbo. It's the only thing you'll be happy with after the 928.
Use it more and keep.
This drought aside there is usually loads of opportunities to drive it and not get it all nasty and muddy.
When my lad was really small I used to take him out on daddy days, I got to drive the car and he got a day out at the park or whereever we went. Excellent way of combining both :-)
This drought aside there is usually loads of opportunities to drive it and not get it all nasty and muddy.
When my lad was really small I used to take him out on daddy days, I got to drive the car and he got a day out at the park or whereever we went. Excellent way of combining both :-)
Front engined Porsches are eminently practical cars. I'm commuting from Kent to Heathrow in my 1979 928 manual at the moment.
The stop start traffic is killing me with the manual box (hence i'm buying a Merc W124 wagon) but it's worse in my 964. The 928 is better as it's much more comfrtable, quieter, way torquier so you need to change gear less and carries much more stuff.
Joel
The stop start traffic is killing me with the manual box (hence i'm buying a Merc W124 wagon) but it's worse in my 964. The 928 is better as it's much more comfrtable, quieter, way torquier so you need to change gear less and carries much more stuff.
Joel
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