Hungry Shark: 1987 Porsche 928 S4
Porsche ownership comes at a cost. First, there is the initial price of the car, which if found cheap usually means many more hondos will be required to bring it up to road worthiness. Next up is the scheduled & yearly maintenance costs…not for the faint of heart if you can’t turn wrenches yourself. Lastly, the potential cost of a relationship when your significant other finds you cuddled up in the garage next to a voluptuous 320 HP beauty tinkering with all her quirks. Find this 1987 Porsche 928 S4 for sale near San Diego, CA for $4,900 via craigslist.
The 928 was Porsche’s first ever 100% in-house developed automobile. The car was literally built from scratch (drawings that is) as a brand new platform. In it’s day it was considered ground breaking technology. To this day the 928 still seems modern in design and engineering. This example is the first year of the S4 body style and the same model Al Holbert took out to Bonneville to set the world speed record for a production car, 171.110 MPH in the flying mile.
The seller offers little details in the ad other than the usual “requires some maintenance” disclaimer. 928’s have a bad reputation for reliability, but I can personally tell you that once required/deferred maintenance is completed these cars will comfortably take you on extended road trips with only minor issues, if any at all. The hard part about finding a good 928 is that many were left to rot once a major repair surfaced. For years the 928 languished at price points well below the costs of maintaining them.
The low-res pictures aren’t great but overall it looks like this car was decently cared for both inside & out. The seller does not supply any engine shots, but by this age a full top-end & timing belt/water pump job would be in order. Flex plate check and replacement of deteriorating rubber fuel lines would be a must as well.
At an asking price of $4900 this could be a very good buy. If you don’t know 928’s that well, find someone in the local area willing to help. If there is one thing I have learned about owning a 928 is that the owners group is passionate and generous with help. Plan on a minimun 5-6K in repairs to bring it into reasonable mechanical condition then slowly chip away at the rest over time while driving the hell out it. Got shark?
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When not receiving complaints of “distracted by cars…again” from his wife, Glenn can be found in the kitchen whipping up exotic cuisine and nourishing nosh.
Don't these (the updated body style s4) sell for a lot of money?
I wish it wasn't such a drive for me to check out.
They can…its all dependent on condition and maintenance records. Good S4's can fetch upwards of 25K+ with a manual trans, GT's are 35K+, and GTS models…well the sky is the limit depending on options and power train configurations.
I was thinking the same thing, Scott. TLC-deficiency or otherwise, the updated rear end cars typically fetch more than this. Silver with the big turbo wheels is a desirable combo, too. Wrong end of the country to allow for a PPI, unfortunately. And, for a while at least, I'm done buying cars without seeing them with my own retinas.
I was thinking the same thing, Scott. TLC-deficiency or otherwise, the updated rear end cars typically fetch more than this. Silver with the big turbo wheels is a desirable combo, too. Wrong end of the country to allow for a PPI, unfortunately. And, for a while at least, I'm done buying cars without seeing them with my own retinas.hungry shark evolution hack android