924Board.org

9magazine · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:50 am Post subject: Picking a 924

9 Magazine is shopping for a 924. We want a N/A for the easy of maintenance and we hope cost of maintenance.

Any year better than the rest? The early cars I know had drum breaks on the rear, can they be replaced? Are the autos long lasting, or just opt for a stick?

Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated and will be used for an article on buying a 924 scheduled for 2005.

Brian Minson
9 Magazine
http://www.9magazine.com

Paul · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:34 am Post subject:

Just my opinion, but I would look for an 82 with the M471 option. This option provides the 5 lug wheels, vented disk brakes on all corners, etc.

This is a rare car, however.
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

9magazine · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:44 am Post subject:

Paul,

How are the motors and trannies in the 82s?

Brian Minson
9 Magazine
http://www.9magazine.com

Paul · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:53 am Post subject:

Both the motor and the tranny are almost bullet proof.
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

The 1980 and later cars are more refined, as they have the benefit of years of the removal of some lower quality VW parts that the early cars did not get in Porsche's rush to market.

The 1980 cars saw the addition of more sound insulation, and the Audi based five speed manual transmission, 3-way cat with the removal of the smog pump, upgraded interior, and the second fuel pump.

The 1981 and 1982 cars are the best with the 82 cars sharing some improvements were continued on the 944. 82 cars got the reinforced roof, 944 front swaybar, and the improved ventilation system used on the 944.

The early cars 76-79 have different ignition, distributor, fuel, and emissions systems. If you are looking for a car to do projects on, and write articles about, you would probably find a larger audience with the earlier cars, as their were more of them made (for the U.S. Market, than the later model years).

I suspect that the overall ownership costs are similar when comparing early to late production cars. While there are some shared maintenance challenges, the early and late cars have some problems unique to each production period.

9magazine · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 12:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys! If one of you would send me photos of the front, sides, rear, dash, and engine so we can develop a Buyers Guide!

Brian Minson
9 Magazine
http://www.9magazine.com

Khal · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:32 pm Post subject:

You could do what Classic & Sports Car magazine did and basically say "buy the 924S, it's better."

And don't buy the Turbo, too much can go wrong and they're too expensive to repair...

_________________
'80 924 Turbo

9magazine · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:49 pm Post subject:

I have a friend who bought a 1981 924 Turbo and he seems to be just having really bad luck with it.

I think going for a early 924 would benefit our readers with DIY projects.

Brian Minson
9 Magazine
http://www.9magazine.com

morghen · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 9095 Location: Romania

ALWAYS go for EURO 924's....better...stronger faster ! late models are quite fast and reliable.
_________________
Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

9magazine · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:48 pm Post subject:

Morghen,

What about all the Federalization that needs to be done to bring these cars up to date with DOT? Or are there enough over here already that have had quality retro's done?

Brian Minson
9 Magazine
http://www.9magazine.com

D Hook · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3158 Location: Omaha, NE

Car and Driver had a very good article on bringing in euro cars. IIRC, the cutoff for meeting feds rules is 25 years, but don't quote me. I think, in CA, it would still have to pass smog, as in other states maybe?
_________________
'80 924 n/a SOLD

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

9magazine,

Morghen is in Europe, and does not know anything about importing cars into the U.S.. The fact is, cars that are used in Europe suffer harder lives in most cases thatn cars that live in the U.S. Any car that old recently imported to the U.S. is going to be wornout and rusty.

To Federalize a car you still need to replace all of the glass, the headlights, install side marker lighting, install door safety beams, raise the car to meet U.S bumper height and 5mph standard, then bring the car up to U.S. emissions standards. The least expensive way to do this is to get salvage parts from a U.S. market car from a self-service junkyard.

There are some later than 82 model year 924 cars running around the U.S. that were privately imported. All the ones that I have seen are the same platinum metallic that my 81 924 Special Edition is painted. Infact, if you look inside and under the cars, they look like early 944 cars with 924 engines dropped under the hoods.

These cars have the 944 sway bars, and 944 ventilation system, same as the late 92 U.S. 924 with the same type of uprated hose and vacuum line materials that I have seen in/on my 87 924S.

You might consider commissioning an article on how to federalize and import an older car (like a 924), but I think that is a separate subject from how to choose, purchase, and restore a decent 924.

9magazine · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:23 am Post subject:

Gohim,

I agree with you on the age and wornoutness of bring in a Euro 924 today. Thanks for your reply.

Brian Minson
9 Magazine
http://www.9magazine.com

Blas · Joined: 05 Nov 2002 Posts: 227 Location: Illinois, USA

I've got a 1979 - 924 available if your interested - PM me...