1988 Porsche 928 S4 Coupe

Description

The European Car of the Year for 1978, Porsche's spectacular new 928 was a complete break with tradition, having a front-engined layout and futuristic styling. The changes didn't end there, with an all-new 90-degree V-8 engine under the bonnet and a luxurious cabin combined to make the 928 a grand tourer par excellence. Designed for high speed autobahn driving, the vast majority of 928s were specified with an excellent automatic transmission and was a great long distance cruisers. However, the rear transaxle and near perfect weight distribution endowed the 928 with fantastic handling and it is worth mentioning that the majority of Porsche's test drivers, when given a choice of company car, chose the 928 over the 911. In 1980, Porsche gave the 928 a significant revamp with the V-8 enlarged from 4.5 to 4.7-litres and the cams re-profiled to boost power to 300 bhp. Launched in 1987, the next variation on the 928 theme was the extensively reworked S4, with a 5-litre four-valves-per-cylinder engine, developing 320 bhp at 6000 rpm, with a useful jump in torque as well. The bigger engine, combined with a more aerodynamic shape, significantly raised the top speed of the 928 S4 to 265-270 km/h, the fastest Porsche production car yet. Inside, the cabin was improved and on-board diagnostics enhanced - the S4 was the first car in the world offered with a tyre-pressure monitor. For several years the 928 has been widely touted as a supercar bargain but values of the best cars must surely begin to appreciate as the number of surviving examples thins out. In the meantime, the fortunate 928 owner has the satisfaction of having one of the all-time great GT cars in the garage, perfect for weekend cruising but more than capable of being used every day.