1987 Porsche 928 S 5.0L Petrol · D4 PTG

Across seven MOT records covering the period from 2017 to late 2023, this 1987 Porsche 928 S shows a roadworthiness pattern defined less by outright failures and more by a cluster of older advisories pointing at the suspension and braking systems. The most recent test on 22 November 2023 returned a clean pass with no defects recorded, and the two tests prior to that, in May 2022 and May 2021, also passed without comment. However, an earlier 2021 entry on the same day shows a straight failure for a non-working rear fog lamp, which is a relatively simple electrical defect rather than a mechanical concern, and the 2018 test produced a fail on both front wipers not clearing the screen effectively, again an electrical rather than structural issue. The more telling items sit in the advisory column from 2018 and 2019, where brake disc wear, brake hose corrosion and split suspension bushes were flagged. No advisories of this nature have appeared in the four tests since, but the absence of comments is not the same as confirmation that those components have been renewed. The recorded mileage of 117,672 miles over a 39-year life equates to an annual average of roughly 3,000 miles, which is notably low for a car of this age and certainly low for a model whose front-engine, transaxle layout is mechanically complex. The MOT record itself is sparse, with only seven entries spread over a six-year window of testing, and several multi-year gaps are visible, most notably a long absence of tests between mid-2019 and mid-2021. That pattern is consistent with a vehicle that has either been used very sparingly, stored for extended periods, or only recently returned to regular road use after a lay-up. Mechanically, low annual mileage on a 928 of this vintage carries a specific set of risks that differ from those of a high-mileage car: rubber components such as coolant hoses, fuel lines, drive belts, brake hoses and suspension bushes deteriorate through age rather than distance, and seals in the V8 engine and transaxle can harden and leak after long periods of disuse. The 2018 advisories about split suspension bushes and corroded brake ferrules are exactly the kind of age-related deterioration one would expect to see on a car that has been standing. For a prospective buyer, the priority items to inspect should mirror the components that have already been flagged in the MOT history. On a test drive, listen for clonks or thuds from the front and rear suspension over uneven surfaces, particularly from the lower wishbones, trailing arms and anti-roll bar bushes, as the 2018 advisory noted splitting across all bushes; any vagueness or knocking through the steering on bumps would suggest the bushes have continued to deteriorate. Brake feel is equally important, so check for a firm pedal without sponginess, watch for any pulling to one side under moderate braking which can indicate binding calipers, and inspect the discs for an obvious lip on the outer edge or scoring across the face, since pitted discs were recorded across all four corners in 2018. The brake hoses and their metal ferrules at the caliper ends should be physically inspected for any green-white corrosion, swelling under pressure or cracking, and a thorough check underneath the car for any brake line corrosion along the chassis rails and fuel lines for signs of perished rubber is strongly advisable given the age. Beyond the flagged items, several test-drive symptoms warrant close attention on this particular model. With the V8 idling from cold, listen for any rough running, misfire or timing chain rattle from the front of the engine, and look for any signs of coolant leaks around the back of the cylinder heads and the water pipes running along the V, as these are known weak points on the 928. With the car warm, check for any oil misting from the cam belt covers or any drips from the sump and rear transaxle, both of which can indicate hardened gaskets and seals from low usage. The automatic or manual gearbox should select cleanly without clonks on changes, and the clutch on a manual example should be tested on a hill to confirm it is not slipping under load. Finally, given the long gaps between tests and the low recorded mileage, a pre-purchase inspection that includes raising the vehicle on a ramp, checking for subframe corrosion, inspecting the condition of the fuel hoses, coolant hoses and drive belts, and confirming brake fluid freshness would be a sensible precaution before committing to purchase.