1986 Porsche 928 S
Typical asking prices*: $6,500-$10,000
Collector status: Buy and drive

At its introduction in 1977, the Porsche 928 was intended to be the Porsche of the future, ultimately replacing the 911. From its conception however, the 928 was more GT than true sports car and the two co-existed quite well until the mid-90s when the $100,000 928 GTS was hard to justify vis à vis the newly introduced, more GT-oriented 993. While externally the 928 remained for the most part unchanged, with updates to spoilers, taillights, wheels, etc., its drivetrain continually evolved, culminating in the 350-bhp GTS. These models, when mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, can easily fetch $40-$50K, even in today’s soft market. Values for the 928 S4, which preceded the GTS from 1987-1991, are also starting to climb upward. A year or two ago, a decent S4 with a much more common automatic transmission would’ve made this list. These days, one would be hard pressed to find a good example under $15K. The first generations (S1 and S2 if you will), are not hard to find under $10K and are a safe investment, but if we look right at the cusp, we unearth a real gem. In 1986, the 928 was kitted with a 5.0 L, 32-valve V8 producing 288 bhp, as well as what would become S4 supsension and Brembo brakes with ABS. While the S4 introduced a year later put out more power (316 bhp) and had updated styling treatments, it was 200 lbs heavier and the updated engine electronics required additional and more expensive maintenance, which would eventually be the 928’s Achilles heel, along with its high sticker price. That makes the 1986 928 S a standout pick no matter how you look at it, which isn’t hard to do.