924Board.org

[Eturbo924]

Yeah yeah I know... apples and oranges... kind of.

But I have been thinking about getting out of my Forester XT (0-60 in 5.3 sec) and getting some thing that might be more frugal on gas and or that I could have very low payments... or even pay cash for.

So entry level is the 924S. Would try to find a 1988 with the 160hp motor. Figure between $3-$4K for a nice one.

Then there is the crazy side of me that says... Hmm $8K could get me a nice 944 turbo. There is one local to me with crazy low miles 36K! and around $8K for it.

Then there is slightly more practical but maybe still crazy me that says... well 968 is less complicated than 944 turbo and the pinicle of 924 family. This is around $10-$12K. I would skip the first year of production since the factory had an issue with the pinion bearing that year.

Figure the 1988 924S is the cheapest, least complicated and best gas mileage. At the other end of the scale is the most expensive 968 but most modern.

Also I am picky on color. Would not want black or red. White silver or amethyst metalic! I recall reading an article in car and driver on the 968 when it came out and that was the color... purple metalic... ah it was cool.

Anyone seen one for sale

Eric
_________________
1982 924
1992 968
2003 C4S
Parts Parts Parts and More parts.
E-mail me for parts you need!
Drive Fast!

[Chrenan]

I bought an 87 944 Turbo, but for different reasons. Just wanted something with more power than the 924, and the 951 is the most upgradable platform of the front engined cars.
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

[Eturbo924]

Very true that was the other thing I was going to say. More power quickly available with the 944 turbo. Then of course there is a 924 turbo as well. There is one local to me for around $4K that has 40K miles on it with the engine rebuilt in the last 10K. Hmmm.
_________________
1982 924
1992 968
2003 C4S
Parts Parts Parts and More parts.
E-mail me for parts you need!
Drive Fast!

[Chrenan]

The aftermarket support for the 944 Turbo is amazing, not so for the 931.
_________________
1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

[Eturbo924]

I guess one other car to consider is a 944S2

My friend has one he is selling.
It is a 1989 944S2 with approx 133K miles on it.
It has the upgraded sport suspension with 245 rear and 225 front tires, koni adjustable shocks, bigger bars and upgraded front brakes.

It is red (not my first choice) with black leather interior. 5 speed of course.

It had its clutch done around 120K miles, other odds and ends here and there but will need a belt service in about 3K miles.

He has kept it real nice, never goes out in the winter or rain for that matter, garage kept under cover, everything works except the pop up roof. I do have the parts to fix that though.

What would you pay for one like that? From what Excellece says these cars have gone up each year for the past 3 years.

Of course Excellence says my car is worth $7K in mint condition. So... I only put so much into that.
_________________
1982 924
1992 968
2003 C4S
Parts Parts Parts and More parts.
E-mail me for parts you need!
Drive Fast!

[968rz]

My signature says it all.
_________________
Rick
79 924 coupe Petrol Blue 3spd auto (wife's DD)
93 968 coupe Amazon Green 4spd Tip (my DD)

[edh]

so does mine
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current - '90 944S2, '00 986S,
ex - '90 944 turbo '86 924S, '88 924S

[morghen]

i'd take the 944 turbo S because its the most beautyfull and the fastest.
_________________
Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

[Eturbo924]

Well Turbo S no doubt the fastest unless you put in the 968 Turbo... which I have no chance in H-LL of ever affording nor getting my hands on.

Anyway 944 Turbo S... people want way to much for those. Even more than the 968.

Lets say this.
1986 944 Turbo with 32K original miles in nice shape with new clutch and turbo for around $8K
Vrs
1989 944S2 with 133K miles recent clutch but needs belt service soon for $7-$8K
Or jump up to 968 for around $10K with around 80Kmiles.

Ah same answers I bet

Oh and it will be an every day car. Not a weekend warrior.
_________________
1982 924
1992 968
2003 C4S
Parts Parts Parts and More parts.
E-mail me for parts you need!
Drive Fast!

[Maybe924]

If I was in your position with a friend selling his obviously well kept S2, I go for the S2. I'm partial to turbo cars and so a 951 would be my top choice but that S2 was certainly tempting.

The only problem is the FOE service it needs. A good shop is gonna end up being around 2K once all is said and done. I'm assuming they'll do the waterpump and some seals while they're in there, plus ramp and tensioner.

I'd say the car is worth $8500 with the work done, so for $6500 I'd say go for it.
_________________
1981 931 GT (CGT Intercooled)
1985 911 Targa Carrera (Sold)

[Eturbo924]

Do you think the WP needs to be done at each belt service? The pump was replaced at the last front end service.

It is a hard one. I like the S2 but red is not my first choice and I really like the looks of the 968.

Ah well no money at the moment anyway. Have to sell the forester first and oops... get a job.

Hmmm.
_________________
1982 924
1992 968
2003 C4S
Parts Parts Parts and More parts.
E-mail me for parts you need!
Drive Fast!

[Mike924]

Je$u$! I'd snap up the 968. That's less than half what they go for here.

An 80k mile example would be close to the equivalent of US$25k in the UK.

Not fan of 944s (turbo or no) - too ugly (sorry, Morghen).
_________________
1985 Porsche 924 'Lux', Kalahari Beige (my ex)
1993 Porsche 968 Coupe, Midnight Blue, 6 spd

'There is no substitute for a little grease under your fingernails.' - Chrenan, 924board.org

[Matt Norton]

I have a friend in a similar position. We have been shopping around looking for the right Porsche for him
for under $12,000. We have looked at the 914 (great little cars couldn't test drive the one we saw though
as it needed some work) 928 and now we are looking for a 944 turbo to test drive.
Also we are considered the 968 and standard 944 or 924S (he sold me his 924S a couple of year again.

944 Turbos set the standard for sports car handling and performance in the 80’s and still hold their oun
today.
They also seam to hold their value better than the standard 944 or 924S.
It is also hard to find one that doesn't need work at least in my area. If you can find a well maintained one
in your area I would go for it. They are lots of fund and and a lot of power. There are several after
market kits out there that will give you 400 + HP making them very competitive with more modernized
cars.

The 924S gives you the advantage of the proven reliability of the 87-88 944 but with the less expensive
suspension and body of the early 944 and 924. For The cost of a 944 turbo you could probably invest in
upgrading the 924S suspension to outperform a stock 944 Turbo.

A 924S with a couple hundred dollar performance chip and a few other small upgrades can get you
around 170-180 HP. Even in stock form the car is a lot of fun to zip around in. I have a Stock K & N air
Filter replacement and Bosh +4 plugs. I Just installed Jacobs Energy Core wires. Now the car really kicks.
Second gear will throw you back in you your seat and 3rd gear takes you from 60-80/8 5 MPH in passing
other cars without any effort. I can hardly wait to get a new chip and get rid of some weight.

However they do have some issues with the gas tanks rusting out at the top and gas slopping out if you fill
all the way. Some people have fixed them with a welded patch. (a 1986 944 Turbo has a plastic tank.)

My AC has a leak. replaced the condenser and found another leak behind the compressor. I think it is
getting plugged up some where too as last time I had it filled it put a big strain on the engine. AC
pressure levels were reading high too until it all leaked out. But it is a 21 year old car. I am debating on to
just taking out the AC or continuing in replacing it's parts. Just be ware that a dealers claim of ice cold
AC on any car of this age may be misleading. Mine will blow ice cold for about 3 weeks before needing to
be refilled again.

The 968 is a rare breed with many advancements. Some of which have been borrowed for use in the
corvette. It answers the call for buying one of the newest Porsches you can afford. However it's limited
production despite it's development from the 924 , 944 breed leaves it with some drawbacks. Unlike the
924S who shares a short production run similar to the 968, the 924S parts can all be found on either a
924 or a 944. There are plenty of used and new after market parts that will work in the 924S. So it is
relatively easy to find parts for a reasonable price. The 968 does share some parts with the earlier cars but
it also has some very unique parts including it's transmission. If the transmission goes on a 944 or 924S
you can pick up a used one for under $400. If it goes on a 968 you may be out thousands of dollars. I ran
into a couple at an Autocros event that were running a 968 (I forge the year) at the event. They told me
they had run the car on the track for DE But lost the transmission the last time they tracked the car. It
ended costing them allot of money.
Not sure if it was just a strange occurrence but there word to the wise is not to track the 968.

I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to own one if it came along and I had the founds. But it is not at the
top of my list of cars to buy. I find the 944, 928, and 924 to be better looking cars IMO. (But I am a child
of the 80's More than the car I think I would rather have the 3.0L engine in my 924S or in a 944.

I think over all it all comes down to personal choice and priorities. If acceleration and unlimited tuning
possibilities are top priority than go for the 944 turbo. It will give you one heck of a thrilling ride.

If you are looking for a unique car that doesn't show up at a lot events than go with a 924S, 924 Turbo or
968.

If things like powers seats and tilt steering are important to you than go for the 944 turbo or 968.

If you want a simpler yet still stylish car that still out handle many of today's modern cars. A car that is
relatively inexpensive to run yet still offers many of the characteristics including the performance of a
classic Porsche than the 924S or 924 turbo is the way to go.

If you want nice power with a more modern driving compartment and modern styling. Than the 968 is the
car for you just know that if something big goes it could cost you more than the other cars and it may be
harder to find parts for.

IMO the 924S and 924 turbo offer the most bang for the buck in terms of pure driving pleasure. IMO they
turns more heads than a 968 too.

What ever you get the biggest factor should be how well has it been maintained as that will be the biggest
factor in determining the cost of ownership. Nothing worse than having car payments and expensive
repairs. Get a car that you can afford to maintain and make payments.
Or better yet pay cash. I purchased mine for $2,500 but I have probably well over $8,000 into it and still
have a ways to go to fully restore it.
For me I enjoy working on the car and it is still cheaper than payments on a new car. It is a good daily
summer time driver and when finished it will be a one of a kind custom car that I can proudly say is mine.

Another thing to consider is investing in a set of special tools for whatever car you do go with. after
market tools work fine. A set of the most important tools will only run you around $300. For me this was
the best way to go as Porsche Dealers are well over an hour away. And I found that most of the shops
around that have done the front of the engine service use there fingers and not a gauge to check the belt
tension. Even the closest Porsche tech admitted that he doesn't do many of these type of jobs so it made
sense for me to get the tools and learn how to do it right. If I decide I don't want to do it my self next
time at least I can take the tools to my local small-town family run shop and loan them the tools to do it
for me. I know most people don't trust their local mechanic but I have the luxury of living in a small town
with a very competent family owned family run shop. The head mechanic collects European cars and can
be trusted to make it right on his own time if need be.

Any how good luck.hope this was helpful.
_________________
Red 1987 924S with plans for D Productions Kit
From American International Racing.

[Rasta Monsta]

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Toofah King Bad

• WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

[Matt Norton]