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- 1980 Porsche
928
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- The 928 was
and still is much maligned as not a true Porsche. Having owned
this car for 20 years I am either lucky or the critics are wrong
- possibly a little of both. It has been one of the most
reliable high speed touring cars I have owned. Even with an automatic,
it is used mostly at PCA driving events and for long road trips.
At both it performs well and with gusto. One of the best kept
secrets are the seats, making it my wife's favorite car for long
trips - an Audi A6 Quattro is her daily driver.
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- Body / Chassis
- The transaxle
design gives it near perfect weight distribution. The "Weissach"
rear axle as it is called, results in flat and stable turning
on those winding or mountain roads. Although many of the exterior
body panels are aluminum, the underlying structure is solid as
a rock and doors close like new 25 years after manufacture. This
early model does not have the front air dam and rear wing and
sometimes lift is an issue at high speeds where this car loves
to be. The Tony Lapine design is timeless to many and styling
cues from it were picked up by many lesser cars of the time.
If you want something that holds it's value or even appreciates,
forget this, but if you want a GT at a bargain, look for a good
used one and you won't regret it. If you like speed and comfort
on long interstate sections or curvy mountain roads - this is
the the best kept secret in the Porsche world.
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- Engine /
Transmission
- This single
overhead cam is not the screamer that the later S models are,
but it appears to be bullet proof. A set an Ansa or Borla aftermarket
exhaust give it a nice V8 rumble. At
 speed it is designed
like many Autobaun cruisers - 0 to 60mph - nothing special, 60
to 120 mph hold on and enjoy. Cruising at 100 mph + is effortless
and quiet. About that automatic! Well I put this one on a dyno
and ran it up to redline - 110 mph in second gear. Transmission
is a heavy duty Mercedes unit used in the "Grosser Mercedes"
sedans and limos of the era.
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- History of Car
- I bought this
car from the first owner in 1985 with 11,000 miles on odometer.
When I asked the Porsche mechanic who serviced it what it need,
he said "a wash and vacuuming". Exhaust and tires,
plus regular service since. I added a 170 mph speedometer (delivered
with 85 mph). Got tired of being the last to know how fast I
was going. Up until recently Montana had a "Reasonable and
Prudent" speed limit, so the only problem was a Warning
Ticket when clocked at 134 mph. Not bad for an old car.
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