1989 Porsche 928 S4

Having been the ‘poster car’ of his childhood, this Baltic Blue 1989 928 S4 was purchased by our vendor around five years ago, and has been garaged throughout his ownership as part of a modest car collection spanning three countries.

The first year to boast an instrument pod incorporating a digital readout, this UK supplied ‘89 S4 was sold new to a businessman in Northern Ireland, before being brought back to England in 1993 and transferred to a British ‘F’ plate registration. The 5-digit cherished registration it currently wears, is nothing to do with Covid testing, but show the initials of the third owner and adds to the appearance and value we feel.

Used as a ‘sunny day leisure car’ and for the occasional trip out to various 928 and Porsche gatherings, it has been used sparingly throughout our vendor’s time with the car, hence the low accrued mileage since 2016 as evidenced by the MOT history.

That’s not to say it hasn’t been maintained, however, with our vendor taking care of any known issues and carrying out preventative maintenance also, including the fitment of a flex-plate clamp from Ritech Engineering, which should put any 928 enthusiasts at ease. Speaking of which, during their time with the car, Ritech commented that the bottom-end of the engine is in “great shape” and shows “no sign of thrust bearing issues” which is music to any potential bidders’ ears.

In addition to this, the vendor has also had the cam belt and water pump changed in mid 2018 less than 2,000 miles ago, a wheel alignment carried out, and had the Porsche dealer immobiliser professionally removed, as they are a known ‘headache’ with these cars. In total, our vendor has spent over £8,000 on the car during their ownership, ensuring it remains in top condition throughout.

The Baltic Blue bodywork and paint on this example is in generally good condition throughout, with the paint being particularly notable.

The front end is in surprisingly good shape with minimal stone chips and wear for a car of this age and mileage, whilst the pop-up headlights are in excellent working order. The bodywork appears to be free of any impact damage and dents, though there are a few areas of trim which need attention such as the rubbing strip on the nearside rear wing and along the roof gutters.

As far as we can see, there is no damage to any of the lenses, lights or glass on this example, though the window trims have deteriorated and we would suggest having them replaced, along with having the wheels refurbished due to a corrosion issue, on the offside rear wheel.

Inside, the Marine Blue leather interior has stood the test of time well, and boasts a few considerate upgrades courtesy of our vendor.

The eagle-eyed among you will note the genuine 928 ClubSport steering wheel, whilst a Pioneer head unit with Bluetooth Handsfree capability has also been installed, though this is the extent of the modifications and the original steering wheel is included with the car. 

The seats have worn well, and the leather is in generally very good condition, particularly in the rear. The outer driver’s seat bolster displays some heavy wear, but this is about the worst of the wear to the cabin.

The carpets are in good shape all round, even around the usual high-wear areas such as the transmission tunnel and rear seat divider. Lifting the boot carpet reveals the original spare wheel and jack are with the vehicle but the hessian backing is frayed. Up above, the headlining is in great shape and taut throughout and the sunroof is working perfectly.

As far as we could tell, all systems were working perfectly, though the electric windows are a little slow. The vendor also notes that the air-conditioning is not working correctly - a common 928 issue - but this has never bothered him enough to resolve, as between the sunroof and windows it has never been an issue.

Our vendor notes that the car has never been used during the winter months when salt is on the roads, in order to keep the underside of this transaxle GT car in the best possible condition. Well, it would seem this has paid off, judging from what we can see underneath.

The engine bay, too, has evidently been the subject of plenty of cleaning and fettling, with the block and ancillaries presenting in fantastic condition.

Out on the road, the car handles fantastically and performs well, with no noted issues, untoward noises or driving behaviours. The temperature and oil pressure all remained strong, with the latter only fluctuating slightly on idle.

During our inspection of the engine bay, we noted a slight rubbing noise coming from the front of the bay which the vendor informs us is intermittent and from the electric fan. 

Elsewhere, we can’t see any signs of oil leaks or fluid misting issues, nor any particularly concerning signs underneath beyond some surface corrosion commensurate with the car’s age and mileage. The latest MOT - dated 09 July 2021 - showed no issues, and resulted in a clean pass with no advisory items.

Impressive history folders are always a welcome sight here at The Market, and this 928 S4 is certainly no exception.

From our vendor’s time with the car, there are numerous invoices totalling up to around £8,000 including those for the aforementioned cam belt and water pump change, and the flex clamp fitting in December 2020 along with new engine mounts and a sump gasket. This invoice also includes the comments from Ritech Engineering regarding the condition of the engine bottom end.

Further evidence of maintenance is also present, including a new gearbox oil cooler line, alignment and miscellaneous work taking place in July 2021.

Alongside this, we also have the OE service handbook, maintenance book, manual, and extensive documentation from before our vendors ownership including numerous invoices from OPC centres such as Dick Lovett Swindon, among others.

There are stacks of old MOT certificates, along with a set of new genuine Porsche centre caps and wiper blades included with the car, as well as numerous keys including the ‘red key.’

Evidently cherished, enjoyed and maintained throughout our vendor’s five-year tenure, this 928 S4 is in very good condition throughout, but leaves room for the next owner to enjoy and fettle the car throughout winter, should they wish to do so.

How much is it worth? Well, how long is a piece of string? With an impressive enthusiast following and given the condition of the car, we estimate the hammer will fall in the region of £13,000 to £17,500.

Viewing is always encouraged and as stated this car is located at THE MARKET headquarters near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.