928 v. 996?

E Brown wrote: : I'm considering going down to two cars, a luxury sedan and a : Porsche. Now, I rarely need to haul passengers, which is how I've : gotten by with 3 Porsches for so long, so I could get some older : people carrier like a used 5-series/E-class and get a 996, or a nicer, : newer people carrier (I'm liking the E46 330i) and a 928S4. How did I : end up comparing these cars? Here are their specs:

: # Car:_______928_____996 : # Wheelbase: __98.4_____92.6 : # Length: _____178_____174.5 : # Height: ______50.5____51.4 : # Width: ______72.5____69.5 : # Weight: _____3505 ___3031 : # Horsepower: _316_____296 : # Torque: _____317_____ 258 : # Top Speed: __172_____173 : # Seating: ]____2+2_____2+2 : # Acc. to 60:__ 5.5_____5.2 : # Brkng from 60: 137_____122 : # Cargo capacity: 20.5____4.6 : # Fuel capacity: _22.7_____ 17 : # Fuel consumption: 16/22__16/25

: The pros of the 928S4 are: less expensive, possible for me to work : on (what could I do with a 996?), more cargo space, and I'd get a : perverse pleasure in staying in the rear view of someone with a newer : pricier Porsche. The S4 has likely reached it's depreciation nadir and : so will only cost maintenance and insurance to run. Maintenance on an : older car might be higher, but the 996 is still depreciating and : maintenance in the dealer network wouldn't be cheap. : Pros of the 996 would be: all the latest features, better handling, : better braking, lower miles. Cons would be: terror of the rear main : seal problem, serious depreciation continuing for a few more years, : and depending on others for maintenance beyond oil changes. : Thoughts and comments? : -- : 1983 Porsche 911 Guards Red/Black : 1983 Porsche 944 Guards Red/Black : 1983 Porsche 928 Guards Red/Black

Hey... I work with a guy who has a 928S4... he had a heck of a commute last friday during the snowstorm... too wide of tires and not enough weight in the back... otherwise, it's a nice car to ride in (he's been buying stuff from Devek to pep it up a bit).

Still got the rolls? (I was looking at a 2 tone blue '73 model but think I've faded on the idea)

4 cars is the max most insurance companpes will take (i'm maxed out they told me when I added the latest aqusition... a 2000 focus for my daughter to drive). I replaced the focus's tires (oem ones rated last in snow per tirerack) and had a decent ride home last friday during the storm.

I've had similar problems with the 944, my "winter beater." I procrastinated too long on getting some cheap phone dials and adding snow tires. Last Friday, I left it in the Loop garage we use and took the Red Line home. All my coworkers took 2 hours to get home, and I was home in 30 minutes and didn't have to scrounge around Lakeview for parking during the snow bans.

The Rolls was totaled in an accident at Halsted and Addison last summer - the insurance money is what bought the 944 and 928, I couldn't resist completing the set. I miss the RR, and I'm still a member of the Rolls-Royce Owners Club, but only way I'd get another is if it were a later Silver Shadow I (1974-1976) in black with tan or grey interior. I always regretted not waiting to get the exact color scheme I wanted last time. I get e-mails from RROC friends whenever a black car pops up on the radar.

I'd be selling of the stable of 83s to get the 996 or 928 and whatever, so I'd be down to two! Emanuel (also tempted to get a 330i and 968 and be done with it :-))

don't have an opinion on the Porsche question, but Benz is having serious quality problems (electronics being #1).

I have a 2002 996 coupe. If you opt for a 996, try for a 2002 or later MY - 3.6 engine (320HP), better torque and other improvements.

Re. the rear main seal, I'm not sure how big a problem it is. I had a two or three drop a week leak at about 5K miles, which was cured by the installation of a redesigned seal. Over 23K miles now with no further problem. I don't race the car and my miles are combined city/highway.

The RMS gets a lot of play on Rennlist, but it may be a few people yelling loudly and a lot, rather than a widespread problem......

I'm a Rennlist member and I've been following the 996 forum and see it mentioned there a lot but, as someone there pointed out recently, it's still a fairly small sample size of the 996 population. Then again, I've seen the problem mentioned specifically in the UK Porsche mags I read. Still on the fence. As for getting a 2002+ model, that would mean going to just ONE car; I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of commitment! :-) Emanuel (one car, less than 20 years old? Too unsettling. Maybe if I added a 356 later to even things out...)