Is a cheap 924 feasible?

[groomi]

I'm in the market for a £1k runaround for a few months and have always found the 924S appealing - more so than a 944 TBH, just because its a little less obvious.

There seems to be quite a few around now for under a grand, does this sound feasible to run or would I be walking into a whole heap of trouble?

Alos, are there any known issues to look out for?

Any help appreciated.

Iain

[silverback mike]

Definately feasable. However, the engine isn't the same as the 944, there are subtle differences and isn't as powerful - although not by much.

Parts are cheap via eurocarparts, very little goes wrong, but you must check the belts, as failure is expensive.

I think their bad press is a bit unfair, as they are very robust cars and do go very well.

I have had two 944's, which have proved to be faultless, and would definately have another water cooled porker.

[groomi]

Cheers Mike, Sounding hopeful...

What sort of bill would you expect from a specialist to replace the belts?

[silverback mike]

groomi said:

Cheers Mike, Sounding hopeful... What sort of bill would you expect from a specialist to replace the belts?

Not really sure groomi, £700 ish for cam and balance belts, plus tensioners etc. That's the whole lot, which is best.(That's a 944 though)

However, I changed them on my 944. It wasn't a horrendous job, just gaenacologist's fingers and a good bit of patience.

What I would say is that a good source of suitable cars are found at the rear of 911 and porsche world magazine. Very rarely do they go over £1000, and some with belts etc done, most with a good service history. They are normally enthusiast owned.
But, they are pretty unburstable, even I haven't broken one

I like the 924 dashboards, they are like the earlier 944's, with the cowled instruments and yellow dials, very nice indeed.

Um, what else......rear hatch seals leak a bit, as do sunroof seals....but that really is it, I don't know why they get a bit of a raw deal, I guess that it was always a bit of a runt of the litter with it's audi/vw underpinnings but that isn't a bad thing.

I think if audi had marketed it, it would be a 'classic' very much like the earlier audi coupe's are now regarded.

Just thought of another thing....check the rocker gaskets, and camshaft oil seal at the top/back of the engine, they do tend to leak a bit, then dribble down the back of the engine.
Rocker gaskets are a bit of a bugger as you have to take the top off, containing camshaft and all associated gubbins to change them. If you do change them you need a small dab of mastik in the rear corners as they are little buggers to change.

I'll have a root around and see if I can find my 911 and porsche world buyers guide for the 924, I think I gave it away but it may be somewhere.

Any news on the XJR? - Must admit, that is one car I still have an itch to scratch on!

Regards. Mike

[rich 36]

quote;
I'll have a root around and see if I can find my 911 and porsche world buyers guide for the 924, I think I gave it away but it may be somewhere.

Any news on the XJR? - Must admit, that is one car I still have an itch to scratch on!

Regards. Mike





Judas!

[groomi]

Cheers guys, really useful advice. Just need to shoparound for a decent insurance quote (Second policy so no NCB to carry over ), then I can get looking

Mike, the XJR sure is a great car. It really is an amazingly capable machine. Something that size and weight really has no right to handle so well, grip so well, be so fast etc. etc. Sadly, despite years of enthusiasm and research I still manaed to by a shagged one. If I can get the warrnty company to replace the engine (having already done the gearbox, diff and propshaft) then I'll have a really good example. Pretty confident I will beat them into submission.

In the meantime it's out of a decent 1.9 205GTi, Mki MR2 (To compliment the missus' MKii) or a 924S for a runaround and possible track toy after the Jag is sorted... every cloud an all that jazz

[dogsharks]

Hi guys, I thought the 924s had the same engine as the 944 (at least in the US) and just had the older style body. Of course, the INITIAL 924 had an Audi motor and it was a good handling car but not as capable in the power department as it could or should be.

Having said that, with Audi power, it should be a generally reliable unit with great handling.

regards, DS

[iguana]

Dogs- Euro & US were a bit diferent, in typical Porsche fashion US 944s had less power than euro cars, over here the 924S has less power than 944 (same as US 924S & 944)- 150bhp vs the euro 944s 163bhp due to lower compression. 10.6:1 for euro 944 vs 9.5:1 US 944(9.7:1 for later uS cars & euro 924S)

For 1 year euro 924S (1988) had same engine as 944 but both were slightly down on compression than the earlier 944 lump.



A decent 924S for a grand would be a steal.

[rubystone]

924S at the right money is a fine car indeed - add classic insurance into the deal and it's even better. Funnily enough Iggy and I talked one over a while back - an interesting example at £2500 but then Integrales reared their ugly head...and then I bought a 308