924Board.org

[924RACR]

By Warren Brown
Washington Post
September 19, 1986

I HATE IT. I love it. I hate it. I love it. I mean, really, folks, the 1987 Porsche 924S drives me crazy.

This "affordable" Porsche -- a slick collection of shared parts, old parts and fantasies -- is the biggest come-on since the high school dance.

This car promises a lot, and seems to deliver on the road. But when I park it and step away, I get the feeling that I've been had.

Climbing out of this one is like going home alone on those Friday nights long ago, after hours of boogie-woogie: I thought I was having a good time while my feet were moving and the music was playing. But when the beat stopped, all I could feel was sweat, empty pockets and stress from wondering whether the ticket to the dance floor was worth the price of admission.

Outstanding complaint: The maddening ambivalence of it all.

Porsches are feel-good cars, and the 924S does win grins. But certain things about it are reminiscent of prowling the aisles of a 24-hour discount store, searching for that special on Listerine. The all-plastic interior is an example. The woefully inadequate rear seats, the plastic gearshift knob that came off in my right hand in the test model, and the driver-side power window that often acted powerless are others.

There is also the matter of lineage. The 924S is a car with a past. It was introduced to America in 1976 as the 924, a Porsche with Volkswagen and Audi parts. It didn't impress buyers much, but it hung on until it was replaced by the spiffier, all-Porsche 944 in 1982.

Strong consumer demand for the 944 model has boosted its original, "affordable" base price of $18,450 into the $25,000-plus range. Porsche's solution? Resurrect the old 924 in almost identical exterior and interior dress, equip the car with an exact copy of the 2.5-liter, inline, 4-cylinder, aluminum-block gasoline engine found in the 944, add an "S" (for "Super") to the 924 nameplate, and sell the thing for $5,000 less than the 944.

People cry "Foul" when General Motors pulls a stunt like that. But Porsche seems to be getting away with it, all the way to the bank.

Outstanding praise: I suspect that Porsche's marketing ploy is working because, in spite of everything, the 924S is a total joy to drive. It accelerates with undeniable competence. It takes curves with effortless grace. Ah, and it brakes with such precision. Cars like the Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z can overtake this one. And I have no argument with those people who say that the Nissan 300ZX and the Mazda RX-7 offer comparable -- perhaps, even better -- value and performance.

But the Porsche 924S, at least on the road, wins on image. I guess it's the difference between chocolate pudding and chocolate mousse.

Head-turning quotient: People look at it simply because it's a Porsche.

Sound System: AM/FM stereo radio and cassette by Blaupunkt. Superb.

Mileage: About 24 to the gallon (17.42-gallon tank), combined city-highway, running driver only and with minimal use of the climate control system most of the time. The test model was equipped with a fuel-efficient, 5-speed manual transmission.

Price as tested: $21,380, including $657 for the sound system and $823 for the destination charge. Base price is $19,900 until Nov. 15, when it will rise to $21,900.
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype