I KNOW this is a somewhat biased area to post this.. but would anyone even consider comparing them as cars. Would a 911 be a better comparison? If you were shopping for one new, would the other be on the radar? Just curious per a discussion I had on Rennlist.. Many thanks..
Both are heavy V8 GT cars. Of course the 928 is a 4 seater. I think the Ferrari is less dated on the inside. But I've never driven a 928, only sad in a couple. 928 I hear is a better car with the auto transmission. A quiet comfy cruiser, the Ferrari more involved. Most Porsche/Ferrari comparisons would apply.
I remember a while back... like in the 80's... Road & Track did a comparison between the Ferrari 308 qv, Porsche 928, 944 and corvette. I think the 944 won out - Ferrari was the fastest, but finished 3rd in the rankings... but in the what would you want to take home at night - it won. The 944 won on practicality, overall speed, ease of use etc... it was suprising to say the least.
No one here loves a 308 more than I do and I mean no one at all. Go check out my posts and see for yourself But I bought a 928 last year (1983) and it is an amazing machine. Like it or not it is everything a 308 isn't. Easy to just drive to the store, comfortable, room for bags, etc. etc. I just think it is fantastic top to bottom.
+1 I had a rare 5 spd for a few years, sold it and bought a Euro QV. The 928 is a luxury GT, more comparable to the 612, IMO. It's an all around awesome car. I know I'll buy another one in a year or two. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I remember a Ferrari club member in Los Angeles that had a Daytona and a 928 when both were current cars. He comented favorably to both but saw them as night and day in their approach. The Ferrari had all the passion whereas the 928 was like a workshop manual. The biggest problem with the 928 was the appearance. Great running gear and platform looking for a deserving body. Even listened to Tony Lapine defend the body design once but it still didn't change the general consensus on it. What the 928 did do historically was convince GM that the Corvette should remain front engined. Jeff
Do you don't like how it shifts or do you just prefer the conveniences of the auto better? I drove several 5spd OB's and didn't like them either. The S4's with short shifter is amazingly good, besides the TBF issue scares me.
I love that M & M green color that the 928 had. With the bubble butt, it can very well be a four wheel M & M. Ace
Ive got an 89 928 S4 (my second one an auto) and an 85 QV. Apples and oranges (which is how I justify having them both). I love them both and dont disagree with much of what has been said. A few additional thoughts The 928 is a more complicated car and believe it or not, finding an experienced mechanic may be more difficult than for the 308. Make sure you look into this factor wherever you live. Having the 308, I saw no need to look for a manual 928. I drove a number of them and they just werent very inspiring, versus, say a gated shifter! The auto suites its personality well. One more not insignificant point the entry fee into 928 is a heck of a lot less than a 308. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I've got an '87 944 naturally aspirated. While it is very practical with that hatch back and can hold so much stuff, it is grossly underpowered with about 150 HP. The engine is a 2.5 L slant 4 cyl. Nothing happenes until you hit 4,000 RPM, so performance is minimal at a relatively high RPM - compared to American or Japanese cars. The 944 engine is exactly 1/2 the engine of the 928 - at 5 litres, same sized pistons as the 944. While practicality of the 944 is huge, as is its comfort and ergonomic layout (I've driven a solid 7 hours without stoping only to think I should get out for safety purposes and a bio-break), with it's 80 litre tank, I've covered a total of 1200 KM highway driving (had about 2.5 litres left in the tank) by sticking to 100 KM/hour. Pretty economical! So some good points for sure. It doesn't surprise me to see the 944 "win" the so-called challenge between the other cars. 928 owners comment on the ease of operation, and they actually like the auto trans, as most cars came with the automatic. HOWEVER, I'm looking for a 328 Ferrari as there is something about the look, sound, and culture of a Ferrari - just don't know how to explain it. It's evolution of the driver.
I love my GTB but could never do without my GTS. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks guys for the responses! I love my 928.. but it's a GT. Apples to oranges. Guys on the list arguing that back in the day the 928 was comparable and a better deal than the 308. I like my 928.. but she lacks the magic of my 360. Just nice to get a second opinion on things.
I know the 928 still has a lot of fans- I've owned both a 308 and a couple of 928s- For me the 928 NEVER did it for me- I always found it too plasticy, too nose heavy, too "Dull" both in terms of handling and just plain excitement- But I always felt confident driving the 928s long distances and in the rain and even in the occasional snow. I've wrenched extensively on both cars and I really find the 308 an easier car to work on. 308s are fiery beasts, with a real personality and slot car handling, and there's just no comparison. In my experience fixing V8 Ferraris is FAR easier than fixing 928s, but maybe I was just unlucky. I LOVE 80s 911s, and I really would have a hard time choosing between a great Carrera 3.2 and a great 308 GTB... My 88 911 is really stout car with tremendous "feel", something the 928 just lacked for me.
what does tell you? i say 911/308, one of each. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks guy for the feedback. I had similar feedback from TR owners when asked the question for comparison. I still have my 928. I love her for what she is.. a world class GT that is home on the highway doing 100 for hours. But, I wrench on my own cars and she has inadvertently made me a european car mechanic! My 360 is a piece of cake by comparison! Drop a wrench in the engine bay of a 928 and its lost, replacing the 928 clutch master cylinder the biggest contortionistic PITA.. and that doesn't include bleeding the system. (shudder) Pardon me.. bad memories.. I do appreciate the feedback guys and many thanks! I'm thinking a nice 308 (even GT4) might be fun to add to the collection if my wife allows it in the future to keep my 360 company, and if I can make it one day a Dino as well.. ;-)
The GT4 is an absolute blast to drive- can't wait till mine is back in the garage- The problem with the 928s is always when i get out of that car and back into my daily driver E350 the new Mercedes is so much better at everything- it handles better, faster, cruises faster and quieter- there's nothing really to recommend the 928 other than it's a cheap and funky car that you don't see much on the road. (And that it used to cost $75K) On the other hand- a 308 offers the sound, the road feel and the slot car feel that is still tough to find on any modern car. And getting out of even the GT4 and back into a new Mercedes you really miss the visceral experience of the Ferrari. I'm quite sure the E350 would dust any of my 80s cars in a drag race, but that's not what it's about. My 88 Carrera 3.2 offers some of the same sensations, but I've never found them in the 924/944/928 family.
But.... I do miss it a little bit... This was my 1990 S4, before that I had a couple of 5 speeds- I do find the auto is better suited to a 928. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Let me preface my next statement with the assurance that I absolutely LOVE my 308. A modern car with amenities like working AC, etc. and the slot car feel and nice sound = P Cayman / Boxster. The Cayman S is a blast. With the 911 becoming more like a modern day 928 - a GT Crusier, the Cayman has the potential of becoming Porsche's main sports car.
I've driven a 928 GTS extensively and it never really did much for me, but the same can be said for the 456. I haven't driven a 308 so I don't have much to compare it to.
