928 AUSTRALIA - Articles - Portland Nelson Frenzy 2008

Tips for buying a 928

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Buying checklist
(original article courtesy of 928.org.uk)

The following checklist represents in large part all the items that an informed buyer should check on any car they are considering buying. Some of these items will be less important to you than others, but knowing what needs replacing or repairing will put you in a stronger bargaining position if you are interested in the car.

Shop around

We would strongly recommend that if you have doubts about any of the mechanical aspects of a particular car, that you walk away from the car. Contrary to what many dealers will tell you, the 928 is not yet a rare car, so there is no reason to compromise on condition.

Drive more than one

If you are considering buying a 928, we suggest that you drive as many 928s as you can which will give you an opportunity both to compare the different models, and to find out what a good 928 looks and drives like. We would also be delighted if you wished to come to one of our Frenzies during your search for your 928, which will give you the ideal opportunity to see and talk to the owners of a wide range of 928 models in an informal setting.

Colour and value

In the end your choice should come down to colour and value for money, and not to condition. Remember you will have to look at it on the drive for years so don't get something you cant stand. That includes the interior. If you can't afford a good S4, then start looking for an S2 rather than get a bad S4.

The engineering of the 928 makes them one of the best sports tourers available but also means that they need regular and timely maintenance to keep them in good condition, both before you buy the car and after.

The Porsche 928 was from its very beginning a precision-engineered car that could more than double the legal speed limit at a time when many standard road cars couldn't reach 100 mph and that performance depends on the precise functioning of all the components. You wouldn't expect to be able to run a Ferrari on Hyundai money so why would you therefore expect to run a 928, which is just as much of a performance car, any cheaper, simply because it's relatively cheap to buy? That said, if you buy a good one, you should not have any surprise bills for a long time.

Independent check

When you have found your ideal 928, then we strongly recommend that you take the car to a 928 specialist for a pre-purchase check. If there is no 928 specialist close to where you live, then all of the official Porsche dealers and many of the independent Porsche garages offer pre-purchase inspections, which will give you a further insight into the condition of your prospective purchase. Also, ask the specialist to give you a costing of all the remedial work they find during the inspection, which will give you a good idea of some of the costs involved in restoring and maintaining your purchase in full working condition. You will have a list of all your projects for the next year. Don't expect any 928 to be perfect. Check with the landshark list whether problems found are common and easy to fix or nasty and expensive.

Precautions

If you buy from an enthusiast, chances are the car will have been well looked after, and you will have the comfort of a stack of service bills to know what has and has not been done to the car. When buying a car privately, it is a good idea to assess the owner. Have an informal friendly chat with the seller (or with the last owner of record if buying from a dealer), to discover what type of person they are. Be wary of someone who will only meet you in, say, a car park or who can only be contacted on a mobile telephone number.

928 Australia - Pre Purchase Assessment Form.

Use this comprehensive check list to assist in the purchase of your prospective 928.CLICK on the icon to view or RIGHT CLICK and 'save target as' to save. (with thanks to 928.org.uk for the original document)

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