THE RIVALS THE 928 HAD TO BEAT

JAGUAR XJS V12

Where Porsche pointed to modernism, the Jaguar was clearly carrying on a more British approach to luxury – lots of soft leather and (eventually) wood. There’s nothing geriatric about the XJS’s pace – especially in its mid-range shove – but it’s not quite as solidly built as the Porsche.

BMW 6-SERIES

The E24 6-series’ interior ambience was even more modern than the Porsche’s. It’s not quite as quick as the 928, even in M1-engined M635CSi form, but certainly comfortable, with quality fit and finish. It’s far more practical, too – proper-sized humans actually have a chance of fitting in the rear seats.

MERCEDES-BENZ SEC C126

Introduced in 1981, the three-pointed star’s take on the big, powerful coupé majored on waftability. Well, most of the time. With a range of straight-six and V8 engines, there was more breadth to the SEC’s range than the 928, which helped volume sales. Again, it was much more practical, but in 295bhp 560 SEC form, not far off the 928’s pace, either.

928 BUYING TIPS

Most 928s are automatics, so manual cars carry a hefty premium. Manual GTS models have been known to push £60k, even with more than 100k miles on the clock.

Though a 928 can wear big miles well, it’s a complex car. Only buy from an enthusiast who’s got a stack of invoices pointing to doting long-term care.

As befitting an expensive GT, there are plenty of eletronics which are well known for failing and for being difficult to locate and sort. Lots have aftermarket alarms and immobilisers that can drain batteries and leave unsightly holes in the dashboard.

The timing belt should be replaced every four years or 45,000 miles, with a fresh water pump installed at the same time – budget £600 for this at a specialist.