Porsche 928

Porsche 928: which version to buy

For a Porsche 928 there is only 1 generation (1977–1995, Coupe). The catalogue lists 16 versions; 12 of them have full specs here. If the goal is the strongest measured 0–100 and the most torque, buy 5.4 MT (350 hp, 500 Nm, 5.7 s, 275 km/h, 1620 kg). If the goal is the lightest kerb with high specific output, buy 4.7 MT or 4.7 AT at 310 hp (1450 kg, 4.68 kg per hp, 6.2 s, 255 km/h).

For a Porsche 928 there is only 1 generation (1977–1995, Coupe). The catalogue lists 16 versions; 12 of them have full specs here. If the goal is the strongest measured 0–100 and the most torque, buy 5.4 MT (350 hp, 500 Nm, 5.7 s, 275 km/h, 1620 kg). If the goal is the lightest kerb with high specific output, buy 4.7 MT or 4.7 AT at 310 hp (1450 kg, 4.68 kg per hp, 6.2 s, 255 km/h). If the goal is all-wheel drive, the only AWD cars are 5.0 AT at 320 hp and 5.0 MT at 320 hp. Fuel use, tank, CO2, eco class and wheel sizes are not measured on every version below.

Generations: what one generation actually changed

There is no second generation to compare. Every version below is 1 generation, 1977-01-01 to 1995-12-31, body Coupe. What changes is displacement, power, gearbox, drive and kerb weight — not a new generation name.

Arithmetic on those changes:

• Displacement steps: 4474 cm³ (4.5 AT, 4.5 MT) → 4664 cm³ (both 4.7 AT, 4.7 MT) → 4957 cm³ (all 5.0 AT / 5.0 MT) → 5397 cm³ (5.4 MT). That is +190, +293 and +440 cm³.
• Peak power: 240 hp (4.5 AT) to 350 hp (5.4 MT) is +110 hp.
• Kerb: 1450 kg on every 4.5 and 4.7 → 1580 kg on every 5.0 (+130 kg) → 1620 kg on 5.4 MT (+170 kg vs the 4.5/4.7 cars, +40 kg vs the 5.0 cars).
• Ground clearance is 120 mm on all listed versions.

Which engine and specs to pick

All listed engines are Gasoline, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, boost No, Front, longitudinal, Central injection (single-point or single- point). Valves per cylinder are 2 on 4.5/4.7 and 4 on 5.0/5.4. Use the names exactly as in the catalogue; identical names are split by horsepower and by drive.

hp per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 4.5 AT 53.6; 4.5 MT 53.9; 4.7 AT 301 hp 64.5; 4.7 AT 310 hp and 4.7 MT 66.5; 5.0 MT 288 hp 58.1; 5.0 AT 320 hp and both 5.0 MT 320 hp 64.6; 5.0 AT 330 hp and 5.0 MT 330 hp 66.6; 5.4 MT 64.9. The densest engines in this set are the 330 hp 5.0 cars (66.6 hp/l) and the 310 hp 4.7 cars (66.5 hp/l). 5.0 MT 288 hp is the weakest 5.0 by specific output (58.1 hp/l) even though it is larger than any 4.7.

Compression: 8.5 on both 4.5 cars; 10 on 4.7 AT 301 hp; 10.4 on 4.7 AT 310 hp, 4.7 MT and 5.4 MT; 9.3 on 5.0 MT 288 hp; 10 on the other 5.0 cars. Bore × stroke as recorded: 95 × 78.9 (4.5); 97 × 8.9 on 4.7 AT 301 hp, 4.7 MT and the 5.0 cars; 97 × 89 on 4.7 AT 310 hp; 100 × 85.9 on 5.4 MT.

Performance and mpg: what the extra displacement buys

City, highway and combined consumption, CO2 and eco class are not measured for every version. There is no mpg figure in the data to rank economy.

0–100 km/h and top speed that are measured:

• 4.5 AT: 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured.
• 4.5 MT: 7.2 s, 230 km/h.
• 4.7 AT 301 hp: 6.6 s (−0.6 s vs 4.5 MT), 250 km/h (+20 km/h).
• 4.7 AT 310 hp and 4.7 MT: 6.2 s (−0.4 s vs the 301 hp 4.7 AT), 255 km/h (+5 km/h). Same 0–100 and top speed for this AT/MT pair.
• 5.0 MT 288 hp: 5.9 s, 270 km/h. Versus 4.7 MT that is −0.3 s and +15 km/h, despite −22 hp (288 vs 310). Kerb is +130 kg.
• 5.0 AT 320 hp AWD, 5.0 MT 320 hp RWD, 5.0 MT 320 hp AWD: all 5.9 s, 265 km/h. Same 0–100 as 5.0 MT 288 hp; top speed is 5 km/h lower than that 288 hp car.
• 5.0 AT 330 hp and 5.0 MT 330 hp: 5.8 s (−0.1 s vs the 320 hp 5.0 cars), 275 km/h (+10 km/h vs 320 hp, +5 vs 5.0 MT 288 hp).
• 5.4 MT: 5.7 s (fastest measured), 275 km/h (tied with the 330 hp 5.0 cars). Versus 4.5 MT: −1.5 s and +45 km/h.

Peak rpm where measured: 4.5 MT 241 hp at 5250 rpm, 363 Nm at 3600; 5.0 MT 288 hp 5750 / 2700; 320 hp 5.0 cars 6000 / 3000; 330 hp 5.0 cars 6200 / 4100; 5.4 MT 5700 / 4250. 4.5 AT, both 4.7 AT and 4.7 MT: rpm not measured.

Dimensions and weight: kg per horsepower

Tank volume and wheel sizes are not measured on all listed cars. Ground clearance is 120 mm on all of them.

Kerb and kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp):

• 4.5 AT: 1450 kg, 6.04 kg/hp. Gross not measured.
• 4.5 MT: 1450 kg, 6.02 kg/hp. Gross 1870 kg (payload 420 kg). This is the only gross weight in the set.
• 4.7 AT 301 hp: 1450 kg, 4.82 kg/hp. Gross not measured.
• 4.7 AT 310 hp and 4.7 MT: 1450 kg, 4.68 kg/hp. Gross not measured. Lightest kg/hp among the 1450 kg cars.
• All 5.0 AT and 5.0 MT: 1580 kg. 5.0 MT 288 hp 5.49 kg/hp; 320 hp cars 4.94 kg/hp; 330 hp cars 4.79 kg/hp. Gross not measured.
• 5.4 MT: 1620 kg, 4.63 kg/hp — the lowest kg/hp in the catalogue, 0.05 below the 310 hp 4.7 cars, with 170 kg more kerb.

Front suspension is Independent, spring on every version. Rear suspension is Independent, spring except 4.5 AT, where rear is not measured. Front brakes Ventilated disc on all. Rear brakes Disc except 4.5 AT, rear not measured.

Which version to choose

Buy 5.4 MT if the ranking is torque and 0–100. It is the only 5397 cm³ car: 350 hp / 257 kW, 500 Nm (70 Nm more than any 5.0, 137 Nm more than 4.5 AT), 5.7 s, 275 km/h, Manual, 5 gears, RWD. You pay +40 kg versus every 5.0 and +170 kg versus every 4.5/4.7.

Buy 5.0 AT 330 hp or 5.0 MT 330 hp if you want the 5.0 with the highest power and the joint-highest top speed without the extra 440 cm³ of 5.4 MT. Both: 330 hp / 243 kW, 430 Nm, 5.8 s, 275 km/h, 1580 kg, RWD. The Automatic is 4 gears; the Manual is 5. Versus the 320 hp 5.0 cars that is +10 hp, −0.1 s, +10 km/h, same 430 Nm and same 1580 kg.

Buy 5.0 AT 320 hp (AWD) or 5.0 MT 320 hp (AWD) if drive is the filter. These are the only AWD rows. Same 320 hp / 235 kW, 430 Nm, 5.9 s, 265 km/h, 1580 kg. The Automatic AWD has 4 gears; the Manual AWD has 5. There is no AWD 330 hp or AWD 5.4 MT in this data.

Buy 5.0 MT 320 hp (RWD) if you want that same 320 hp / 5.9 s / 265 km/h package without AWD. Versus 5.0 MT 330 hp you give up 10 hp, 0.1 s and 10 km/h; kerb stays 1580 kg.

Do not pick 5.0 MT 288 hp for peak power. It is the mildest 5.0: 288 hp (−32 vs 320, −42 vs 330), compression 9.3, 410 Nm. It is still 5.9 s, and its 270 km/h is 5 km/h above the 320 hp 5.0 cars. Versus 4.7 MT (310 hp, 1450 kg, 6.2 s, 255 km/h) you lose 22 hp and 130 kg of lightness and gain 0.3 s and 15 km/h.

Buy 4.7 AT 310 hp or 4.7 MT if kerb 1450 kg matters more than a 5.0. Both: 310 hp / 228 kW, 400 Nm, 6.2 s, 255 km/h, 4.68 kg/hp, compression 10.4, RWD. Automatic 4 gears vs Manual 5 gears; 0–100 and top speed are identical. Versus 4.7 AT 301 hp that is +9 hp, +15 Nm, −0.4 s, +5 km/h, same 1450 kg and 4664 cm³.

Buy 4.7 AT 301 hp only if you want Automatic 4.7 without the 310 hp tune: 301 hp / 221 kW, 385 Nm, 6.6 s, 250 km/h, compression 10. Versus 4.5 AT that is +61 hp and +22 Nm at the same 1450 kg; 0–100 and top speed for 4.5 AT are not measured, so that gap cannot be timed from this set.

Buy 4.5 MT if you want the smallest engine with a full performance row: 241 hp at 5250 rpm, 363 Nm at 3600, 7.2 s, 230 km/h, Manual 5, RWD, 1450 kg, the only 1870 kg gross. Versus 4.7 MT: −69 hp, −37 Nm, +1.0 s, −25 km/h, same kerb.

Buy 4.5 AT only as the lowest-power Automatic: 240 hp / 177 kW, 363 Nm, Automatic 4, RWD, 1450 kg. 0–100, top speed, rear suspension, rear brakes and gross are not measured. Versus 4.5 MT the power gap is 1 hp; gearbox is Automatic 4 vs Manual 5.

Problems, reliability, and what this data does not decide

Problems, reliability, service cost and asking prices are not measured here. Fuel consumption is not measured, so a “cheaper to run” pick cannot be made from mpg. Wheel sizes and tank are not measured, so a tyre or range pick cannot be made from this table. The remaining catalogue count is 16 versions in 1 generation; 4 of those 16 have no rows above.

Short list: fastest and most torque — 5.4 MT. Highest 5.0 power at 1580 kg — 5.0 MT 330 hp or 5.0 AT 330 hp. Only AWD — 5.0 AT 320 hp and 5.0 MT 320 hp AWD. Lightest high-output — 4.7 MT or 4.7 AT 310 hp. Smallest engine with a timed 0–100 — 4.5 MT.