924Board.org

[gohim]

The first few years that I was married I drove into downtown LA, or past downtown to Culver City. That was 160 miles a day, just to go to work. Depending on traffic, the driver time was between 1.5 and 3 hours each way, everyday.

I did that for three or four years (early to mid 80s), in my 77 924 (had over 100K miles on it when I bought it). The only problems that I had were a blown headgasket (that I didn't know about when I bought it). It cost me $300 (all new valve guides & 4 valves) to have the head serviced by Competition Engineering, and another $100 for the headgasket set, waterpump, and timing belt.

After that I found the battery/starter wiring harness corroded and crumbling (stranded me on the Santa Monica Freeway at rush hour), and got towed to Downtown LA Porsche. Don't ever take your car there for service.

After that, no problems driving the car for five sets of mid-grade performance tires (over 200K miles). I would still be driving that car if it wasn't severely damaged in an accident in 1987. The car had over 300K miles on it when I sold it, and it still had the original clutch.

I got sick of adjusting the rear drum brakes every few weeks.

If it was necessary, I would not be uncomfortable driving any of my cars (73 Porsche 914 2.0 with 103K miles, 81 Porsche 924 with 100K miles, 96 Ford Taurus Wagon with 136K miles), (including the 924S, 72K miles and getting a rebuilt engine) 150 miles a day to work, everyday. I have total confidence in the mechanical condition of my cars. That's something that you get from doing the work on yourself, and knowing that it was done right.

[Stu2j]