Porsche 928 S4 : Tim's Enthusiast Garage Episode 16 

I love the 928, and later versions like this one still look much cooler than many more recent 911s, IMHO.

The 928 has been my dream car since the early 80's when I was a little kid. It was love at first sight. Thanks.

Thanks for the great video. It's good to see a review of the 928 from someone who actually understands the car. You have to live with it for a long time to really "get" what it's all about and where it shines. Only a short time with the 928 usually leads to misunderstandings.

I totally agree with your explanation of the 928. I have one myself, a stock 1986.5 5 speed, sport seats, garnet red with matching interior. I've owned the car for over 15 years and has been very reliable. Starts every time, even after a winter layover.

I always knew the 928 will be recognized as one of the best Porsche design ever made. My '89 928S4 is so quintessential to look at just standing still.

Beautiful car for sure! A bit hard to work on with the front fenders being so wide which really cuts off the accessible engine bay area. Make sure you have a very good set of fender covers when working in the engine bay. Classic design for sure.

The Porsche model that hooked me as a kid! Also had the 944T- an awesome car too

Great video.....as always!!!!

Headlamps are a thing of beauty.

Nice INFORMATIVE VIDEO on the PORSCHE 928. THANKS.

Great seeing another video!

Awesome video....I love the Porsche 928.......

I had the MatchBox toy version of this as a kid. I looooooooved this car. What a brilliant example of such an iconic car. Nice video!

Awesome video! Love 928s!

Great looking 928 and video!

An absolutely brilliant review. I agree. Thanks for the video.

Beautiful

I had a 1987 Porsche 928, back in 1993. I would drive my twin neice, and nephew who were 6 1/2 in the back seat, and drive on the car pool lane, here in los Angeles county. I would ask them to say, "Bye, bye suckers!" while hand waving to the other drivers stuck in traffic.

Enjoyed your review. Own an ‘87 S4 guards red and yes, the untimely upshifts to be careful Awesome V8 sound and LOVE the suspension!! A great cruiser Seattle to AZ - would take this car on long road trips anytime!

Everybody freaks out about those headlamps and there's usually a mention about the transaxle but it's actually the build quality and design features that made this such an incredible automobile.I bought my'88 S4 in the early '90s and have mainly taken out of the garage for cross country road trips in the summer.What this car,to me,is an almost perfect and trouble free road monster;eating up to miles with comfort,speed and most of all confidence.This thing has turned out to be so dependable I could call it "bulletproof" without feeling it's an exaggeration.If a person can find a clean example without modifications and/or abuse issues they'll probably get something close to a perfect long range road car(or Grand Touring machine!)...

I loved 928s the moment they came into existence. I bought an 87 S4 as a flip project and had a very hard time turning it loose. I drove it from the east coast of NC to Louisville and back. So great through the mountain turns! Sideways a lot in Louisville. I made some good money on it, but miss it. I'm shopping for one now. I like the rear end of the 86 better than the 87 & up.

Nicely done. Looks exactly almost like my 5spd GT

Great video. I think you did something great with the camera angle in this video

I still have my first Acura, an '03 Acura CL-S, six-speed. Not as quick as the later 4-valve 928s, but in 157,000 miles I've only changed the timing belt/water pump once.

Hi Tim, a very civil and well formed response thanks. This is a lengthy reply, which i justify on the basis that if the kids are interested in what happened 30 years ago they might be willing to read a little more about it.....so, I am not surprised you object, but it is worthwhile looking at these things for the sake of the enthusiasts now who (perhaps unlike me) were not actually around at the time and involved. As well as having been there and being involved with cars/motorbikes, I benefit from being in the EU and (if if mattered) being qualified in International Law so very attuned to the actual company reasons behind these changes. They were, at the time, 'paper published' material which the internet doesnt capture and given the power of the internet it is worth public commentators being exact in what we saw. We should accept that the actual 'reason' for the change was the requirements of the EU regulations and I offer you that correction to take on board and popularise more - if we dont change what we think we will never improve it. The 'reason' for the change is that no air-cooled vehicle could have passed the new EU noise regs. The 'response' from the company is a different matter. We can comment (and editorialise) about that response all day long but the reason was the introduction of EU vehicle noise regulations. As a result of this, any development of the rear engine platform at that time would have required a 911 with an even heavier water-cooled engine at the back which would not have worked (until we later saw newer technology/design allied to Pinky Lai and the 996). So yes, its is certainly a matter of LAYOUT (your emphasis) in RESPONSE, but it is not a matter of layout in REASON. The reason, the requirement for change, the imperative, remains the introduction of the EU Regulations. You would, for historical interest, also see exactly the same development in motorcycle engineering at the time and also in killing off VW air cooled vehicles in the EU. So, it remains wholly correct that the 'reason' for the change was the Regulations. A secondary reason might (we could reasonably observe) be the business reason of allying the Porsche company with the VAG group (reflected in the 924 development). Speculatively, a tertiary reason might be the production engineering (allied to the move to align with VAG) because the unitary nature of the 911 power plant would not facilitate multi-site and multi work-station production the way the transaxle does. The response that the Company had was the 928 (and 924) and while Porsche may (and do) now say what they wish about the choice of the transaxle the reason for the change was the EU Regulations, simple as that. I had the choice at the time and I chose water cooled transaxle over air cooled but the point of my comment was/is the 'reason' for the change, not the response that resulted. You are mistaken in terms of your comment is to say that you "know many people like yourself like to think of Porsche as the 911 and other models". A risky gambit, I am afraid, because chum, that you certainly you cold not know that about me. My friend, you could not be more entirely mistaken if you said the Porsche crest was composed of crossed Bratwurst lol! I come straight from the heart of the water-cooled transaxle world and drove transaxle Porsche for over twenty years and was enthusiastic enough about transaxle as to prepare a 924 for the Historic Monte Carlo Rally (where all us young kids were delighted to remember seeing the transaxle 924 win first time out in 1979 driven by Jurgen Barth). When I went to buy my first Porsche in Europe over thirty years ago I looked at an air-cooled 911 and thought it was a laughable thing compared to the water cooled transaxle...upside down pedals, hopeless heating/ventiltion, compromised rear end design. So no....you dont "know many people like yourself like to think of Porsche as the 911 and other models". Still, no harm done in your being mistaken, the only mistake lies in not graciously about it. Standing corrected, you can be sure that you are correct. David Thompson

'88 S4 here, Venetian blue 5MT with factory LSD and goes like a stabbed rat. I've had it eight years and love it.

Tim thanks for the new video

Easy going review, calm and relaxed. Just like our 1980 928 - spirited, but relaxed when you need it to be. We'd like a bit more oomph (4.5 l 3 spd auto), but we're focused on suspension, first. Fortunately, the aftermarket it still very strong for these cars, so adjustable suspension and a bolt-on supercharger are both accessible. One can still build these cars up to a respectable and fun level. IMHO 928's were sort of overlooked; forgotten...which is all the better for those of us who can appreciate just how fantastic they really are.

Love the video! But the sun is never in the daytime sky one place very long.

The first sports car I got to drive properly was a 928 GTS. It was also the first car I ever went over 200 km/h in.

Lovely. Inwould go for the manual box.

Love this review, very insightful and expertly displays the greatness of the 928. I have an 84 and love it to death. I love the majority of Porsches , other than the suvs😂 which are nice but not for me. I have always loved the 928 and am in the market for another. This S4 is exactly what I'm looking for. What year 88?

Hello Tim! Thanks for the new video! I have the same car same colour as well in perfect condition. I found mine in Taiwan a few years ago with very low miles (I am a German expat in Taiwan). Mine is an automatic as well. However, I can feel a lot of drag in my S4 which is coming from the gearbox. Do you experience the same? I have as well an S class Mercedes from the same area which doesn't let me experience any drag. I have the feeling that a manual 928 would drive more vivid like my 968 (manual). The automatic transmission in the 928 is for me the only thing which I think steals a lot of potential from the car. What are your thoughts? At the same time I am looking forward to seeing your next video. I can tell you put a lot of effort into making them. Best wishes Andreas

And apologies for any typos it is very early in the AM here in europe..

My dads owns one, and I love it! 🚗

I’ve owned GT with the 5-Speed for 20 yrs and LOVE IT! I always own a 71 911t which Im restoring and a 996, the 928GT is the best of them all! I bought the GT from the original owner with 3500 miles, he’s a trust fund baby and got it as a wedding gift ($100k+), he had his choice of ANY car and picked the 928GT, with his bride they drove it from Boston to Beverly Hills where it was serviced at BH’s Porsche, then put it on a ship to Maui. He lost the keys , then one of the power windows wouldn’t go up so it set in his garage for a years, I met him through our Weekley poker game and every time we went to his house I’d see it dusty and covered with boxes in his garage, I keep telling him jokingly that I’d get it out of his garage for him any time he wants. One day, for some reason his monthly trust fund check didn’t come thru on time and he need money and called me, I got it for a song and have owned it ever since. A few years ago I shipped it to the mainland, picked it up in LA and drove it to Vegas the long way, one of the best drives I’ve ever had! It’s now in my Garage in Arizona with 18k on the clock, haven’t got it licensed yet, but i have a large driveway and keep the juices flowing Weekley. I hate to part with it, but might take it to the Scottsdale auction this year, been really wanting a GT3?

Fantastic cars the 928 and to me the original car 1978-79 is the best looking version. The Euro 240hp in manual is a gem👌 5 years has passed since you did this, values has risen alot and now mint examples of the really early and late GTS cars are the most expensive. Best buy is probably a late Euro S or S4 in manual. Great review

So, how did you solve the hatch lock problem? Is the driver's door handle hinge cracked too? When I bought a 1985 928S a few years ago I was surprised by the use of these cheap (no other word accurately describes them) pot metal parts in a car that cost $44,550 (or $101,000 in today's dollarettes) and by the astonishing prices for replacements. Consequently, I am seeking the means to cast these parts in brass, or some other material stronger and less brittle than the Porsche-specified pot metal.

You convinced me to go out and make a purchase... so where did you get the Bentley jacket?

Porsche should have twin-turbo’d the 928 in it’s final years to get 400 hp and 0-60 in under 4.5 sec.

Interesting comparison to the 996

I think the automatic suits the vibe of the car but I would prefer a manual

Suddenly my impulse purchase of a glacier blue 1984 928s 5spd with 93k miles, needing only a transaxle rebuild for the paltry sum of $500 seems like an even better deal. Maybe I will rethink its future as a Gambler 500 car.

924 turbo, 944 S2 or turbo and 928 GT and S4 are one the best cars in car history

I loved my 928 and should never have sold it!

Great channel, Tim! What is the maintenance cost for a Lotus Esprit in comparison to the 928?

Ahh I still see the 928 as the car only its mother could love. Like you said they tried to do a next-level 911 and weren't sure whether the car was a sports or tourer or luxury, it was more targeted to the US market, they tried to do too much and ended up not doing any of it really well. The famous "911 whiteboard incident" kinda proves the 928 is not where Porsche's heart lies. I do agree it was a good experimental step to developing the 996, that's an interesting and insightful observation. You look stuffed into this one, it must have a super small interior, even an FC RX7 can seat someone your height. I don't like all the cars you do but I still love seeing how passionate you get about these old and often-unloved cars and the reasons why, your channel is so enjoyable. Lots of different video shots and a few different speech tones made this particular video really good, it felt more like snippets of a cool conversation between good friends than a formal "review" and the result is really nice.

The manual 928s are lighter, quicker, and have faster top speed, however PITA in LA traffic. I own a manual 1986 Porsche 928 32 valve which has the old classic look with the 5.0 engine and much lighter.

I found the steering to be.. Overly heavy, WHICH! I can understand when you going at 200+ Km's an hour...on the auto bahn .

Wow 350HP in the 70s must have been awesome

Thanks for making one of the best 928 videos on YT (I’ve probably watched every single 928 video)! This is a must-watch for anyone considering to purchase one (like me). Do you still own one?

Aren’t most slush box equipped?

I would love to get an old 928, and toss a 500HP Cayenne turbo V-8 and running gear under the body.

Please install the original 16 inch rims on the car.

What’s up with the Bentley blazer when featuring a Porsche. Ha ha

942 was built for Ferry Porsche

I have an 81 in manual

Their plenty quick, easy on the eyes, and handle like their on rails. A muscle car in a tuxedo. But some say not quick enough, those that have not ridden in a supercharged or TwinTurbo'd 928. lol Wanna smoke a Veyron SS in the 1/4 mile? No problem.

help me guys. I can buy me one now but must i or must i not ?

@15:15 OIL OK?

Tim, I really enjoyed your episode on the 928S4. So much so I'll be sure to take my almost identical S4 in featured in the video on the PCA fall color tour this weekend. I have owned my car for 7 years this fall and loved every moment of it. Manual with tan / black interior. I'll include a link that the PCA produced during the 2015 French Lick Porsche Parade so you can see how close the featured car is! And I also have a silver 2002 996! Agreed on the stalks! What were they thinking? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RdzfXBnfum0.html

Thanks for the extensive review, you've touched a lot of the subjects many reviews have not even come near... Keep it up! Subscribed, you might like to check out some of my videos as well by the way. ;) And oh, I've got an important question. How is the rear seat space compared to a 996, a tad bigger or similar? I have a 996 and a 2,5 year old son, so if I cannot make him sit at the back like in the 996, it is a deal breaker for me. Thanks a lot in advance. Cheers!

It's not a GT though. It was meant to be the replacement for the 911. Its just most American's are too lazy to shift gears. Why buy a sports car then??

Comparing the 996 to the 928 is just stupid.

The headlights are like the frog’s eye

It seems Gen 1 Acura NSX took borrowed a lot of interior cues.... I mean stole from this beautiful beast.

No. Porsche did not have to design the 928 to "change the weight bias" and Porsche did not have to "change the cultural norm of what people thought of as a Porsche", Tim. What you say is simply not true and it is disappointing to hear people misinformed. What Porsche required to do with the 928 was produce a water cooled car because European Union 'static' noise regulations meant that an air-cooled vehicle like the 911 could no longer pass the legal requirements and the 911 could not be converted to water cooling at that time.

Too much camera focus on the dude, not enough on the vehicle which is way prettyer.