The Porsche 928 was never meant to coexist with the 911—it was designed to replace it. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Porsche viewed the 911’s rear-engine, air-cooled layout as outdated and instead bet on a luxurious, technologically advanced GT. The result was the 928, a car so forward-thinking it became the only sports car ever to win European Car of the Year.
This manual 928 S4 represents the concept at its most mature. With 315–320 horsepower from its V8, revised aerodynamics, and a rear-mounted transaxle for near-perfect weight distribution, it was engineered to be refined, fast, and stable at speed. Manuals are rare—especially in the UK—making this example a genuine treat to drive.
On the road, the S4 feels heavy but impressively precise. Steering is accurate, feedback-rich, and confidence-inspiring, while the engine is smooth, rev-happy, and effortlessly flexible. It’s not a pure sports car in the 911 sense, nor is it a soft cruiser like a Jaguar XJS. That middle-ground identity ultimately hurt it when new.
Yet driven today, the 928’s qualities shine. Even with very high mileage, this well-used example feels balanced, engaging, and beautifully engineered. The irony is clear: the 928 didn’t fail because it was bad—it failed because the 911 was too distinctive, too iconic, and left just enough space in the market to survive.
Source: Number 27
