924Board.org

Glemon · Joined: 05 Jan 2016 Posts: 267 Location: Lincoln, NE

I have sold my 924, thinking about getting something different, was thinking something Italian, or maybe even Swedish (Sonett), but I miss the 924, liked the car, and would have kept it if it had a little more oomph. I have not had the chance to drive a 924 turbo, I do know 80s turbos tend to both more peeky and not the torque monsters modern turbos are. Anyway, road tests from prior US spec turbos are all over the map for performance. Seat of the pants how different does a turbo feel from an NA car?

BTW, my car friends think I am crazy, but maybe some will get it here, I just don't care much for the looks and the overall vibe of the 944. There was one local to me, all records from new, clean, low miles, recent T-belt, but I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger or even contact the seller, must have been a deal, it is gone now.

I would certainly consider an S too.
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88 924S
68 TR250
02 IS300

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

A good running S is a joy. I love the 2.5 platform... Porsche basically did everything we tuners strive for on the 2.0 (EFI, four wheel disc etc) plus eliminated the vibration. The engine is silky smooth.

Having said that, there's really nothing like boost, and I enjoy my 931. Would I restore another one? No way.

Test drive a few S models... best Porsche bang for the buck right now, hands down.
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Toofah King Bad

WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

I am not as big a fan of the S as others. In stock form, I still feel like it lacks oomph, even the 1988 version with the higher compression. However, the mods that I've done to my SE version definitely make quite a significant difference, and the car is (in my opinion) on par with a well-sorted 931 in terms of driving fun.

The 931 has *way* more performance potential, and personally, I much prefer the rarity of the 931 along with the non-linear acceleration. In stock form, it might not be any faster than the S, but it *feels* faster, and I enjoy that experience a lot more than the flat torque curve of the 2.5L motor.

If you go the 924S option, don't even bother with the '87 model. Hold out for the best condition 1988 model you can find. Update all of the dampers, do the timing belt service, and install the Rogue Tuning MAF+NATune. You'll be quite happy.

For the 931, you will almost certainly have much more work to do to make it a reliable driver. There are so many tradeoffs between the S1 and the S2, I don't feel one has an advantage over the other. But the same general rule applies. Buy the best example you can afford. Once you have the 931 sorted, the best bang-for-the-buck mod is a boost controller and a Stage 2 water-meth injection kit. I have this setup on my "941" and run at 12PSI all year long. It has been extremely reliable, and it's a hoot to drive.

And, FWIW, anyone who makes the trip out to Ideola's Garage is more than welcome to take all of my variants out for comparo runs. I have a bone stock S1 931, the 941, the 937, the Club Sport, and a highly modified 924S SE. Each car is completely different in terms of the driving experience and character.
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

Glemon · Joined: 05 Jan 2016 Posts: 267 Location: Lincoln, NE

Thanks Dan, I have driven a couple 944(s) as well as an 924S, but it has been many years. My recollection of the performance was adequate, but not overwhelming by any means, I hada first generation Sentra SE-R at the time, all things being relative, it was about the same as the Nissan. Most all the Ss I have found so far have been 87s, I think they sold more that year.

I sure like the looks of the Turbo, I was looking at the one I think you posted from Nashville in the FSW section, which is in my price range (but a little out of the geographic range) with some dollars allocated for repairs as well. I assume if it has 5 lugs that means it has the M030 or whatever the code was sports suspension option.)

If I were closer to you I would love to take you up on the driving around the models option.
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88 924S
68 TR250
02 IS300

Johann · Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Posts: 240 Location: Netherlands

The Turbo's are lots of fun. The boost is addictive and it is pretty fast, even by today's standards. It is nowhere near as fast as my 964, but on the fun factor I would say they are close.

Problem is though, they are expensive to get right. Mine was a barn find (Mothballed for 20 years after 13 years on the road with only 115k kilometers on the clock), I paid €10K for it and I have put another €10k into it to get it to where it is now. I think it is very good now, 98% as good as new, and in some ways better. There are some cosmetics and some small details I still want to address.

I am enjoying this car way more than I thought I would. It is just wild enough to scare you slightly and N/A cars will not do that

Fasteddie313 · Joined: 29 Sep 2013 Posts: 2596 Location: MI

Carrera RSR · Joined: 08 Jan 2010 Posts: 2312 Location: Somerset, UK

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

Glemon · Joined: 05 Jan 2016 Posts: 267 Location: Lincoln, NE

Here iz an interesting comparison between a 931, Alfa GTV6 and a Datsun 280zx Turbo. The Porsche loses, but the Alfas are even harder to find and scare me a little as far as reliability. http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0SO8yhOaXxYpR4A4tdx.9w4;_ylu=X3oDMTEybTVzaGRiBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjMzMDlfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1484577230/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.gtv6-156gta.be%2fGTV6198107USART.pdf/RK=0/RS=JzDyXY_7spA0owW4xyw5jmzB9z8-
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88 924S
68 TR250
02 IS300

Cedric · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 2787 Location: Sweden

Johann · Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Posts: 240 Location: Netherlands

Carrera RSR · Joined: 08 Jan 2010 Posts: 2312 Location: Somerset, UK

RoW 931 is far quicker than in those test results

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1980 931 - forged pistons, Piper cam, K27/26 3257 6.10 hybrid turbo, 951 FMIC, custom intake, Mittelmotor dizzy & cam pulley, H&S exhaust, GAZ Gold, Fuch'ed, Quaife
Now www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=34690
Then www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=31252

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

924RACR · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 10:41 pm Post subject:

Fast it ain't - you'll still get pulled by minivans off the line. But yeah, it's a bit faster than the NA. As already mentioned, the fun is all in the non-linear torque curve and the opportunities for tweaking it up.

When I have mine finally properly running post-rebuild and debugged, I'll be dropping in the (951) intercooler and adding one of Dan's boost controller kits, crank that puppy up to 1.0 bar and let 'er rip...

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Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

Carrera RSR · Joined: 08 Jan 2010 Posts: 2312 Location: Somerset, UK

The only elements on paper that the RoW S2 had on the S1 performance was the bhp went up from 170 to 177bhp and its in gear spool up helped it feel less laggy. The misconception is that the S2 was 'better'. Both have their pros and cons.

(feedback - confusion reins on this forum on RoW v's US spec facts. Often confusing the lay person. Including me which thought that US turbos were strangled at 143bhp and not 150bhp+)
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1980 931 - forged pistons, Piper cam, K27/26 3257 6.10 hybrid turbo, 951 FMIC, custom intake, Mittelmotor dizzy & cam pulley, H&S exhaust, GAZ Gold, Fuch'ed, Quaife
Now www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=34690
Then www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=31252