Discussion
Bear in mind a 924S is a very different proposition than a 924. The non S uses a VW engine block (hence the pub 'experts' saying it has a VW van engine), the S has a 944 engine and is to all intents and purposes a narrow bodied 944.
The non S will be cheaper to run and parts like clutchs etc are off an Audi / VW iirc but a fair bit less powerful.
Both are great handling cars and should be very reliable
Ben
The non S will be cheaper to run and parts like clutchs etc are off an Audi / VW iirc but a fair bit less powerful.
Both are great handling cars and should be very reliable
Ben
Los Angeles said:
I owned a 924S for nine years and it was utterly reliable, a great workhorse, sat rock steady at high speed on the motorway, easy to use in the city, much admired, and by me personally, lovingly cleaned and polished. It now has a new owner who is just as pleased as I at its attributes, and is expected to have another nine years of uncomplaining use.
At least.
Both are quite old cars now but as long as they have been looked after and serviced correctly there should be no real problem. Sure parts will have worn and may need replacing but there are plenty of second hand and new spares around and plenty of specialist who will not charge the earth to service them.
High mileages should not be a problem. My old 944 (same engine as the 924S, except mine was the 2.7 litre) was very reliable and considered to be just nicely run in when I sold it with 127K miles on the clock. And, again, there are plenty of replacement engines available at places like PH Sportscars of Shardlow.
I would not touch a 924 Turbo - too much potential for things to go wrong and very old turbo technology.
Personally, I would go for the 924S as I think that the extra performance would be well worth having for not much extra cash. Indeed, if anyone has a race repared one for sale then I might be interested!!
High mileages should not be a problem. My old 944 (same engine as the 924S, except mine was the 2.7 litre) was very reliable and considered to be just nicely run in when I sold it with 127K miles on the clock. And, again, there are plenty of replacement engines available at places like PH Sportscars of Shardlow.
I would not touch a 924 Turbo - too much potential for things to go wrong and very old turbo technology.
Personally, I would go for the 924S as I think that the extra performance would be well worth having for not much extra cash. Indeed, if anyone has a race repared one for sale then I might be interested!!
Edited by andy97 on Thursday 27th July 07:56
Total nonsense. Both are good cars, the S has the benefit of being a little bit smoother, as well as using Porsche hubs so upgrading wheels is easier, they are also a bit more modern, but the 2.0l is a smashing car we as a family stuck 180,000 miles on a 924 2.0 lux we had from nearly new, as a business car used by my dad then myself, in its life it used 1 set of brake discs (yes 1!) about 6 sets of tyres, 1 clutch and 1 exhaust.
Every oil change the oil came out smooth and golden, it ran perfect oil pressure, no smoke, perfect compression, no rattles or knocks, basically down to regular oil changes with good quality oil.
However the 2.0l does have a slightly agricultural transmission when mileage gets high, still reliable but over 150,000 its a little bit noisy, not excessive but you can hear it.
If your looking for a starter Porsche depending how much you have to spend £2000 for a nice 2.0 £3000 for a nice S, go and get the best example you can afford, and get an inspection done because it won't lose much if any money if you keep it nice.
If you need an inspection doing let me know.
Every oil change the oil came out smooth and golden, it ran perfect oil pressure, no smoke, perfect compression, no rattles or knocks, basically down to regular oil changes with good quality oil.
However the 2.0l does have a slightly agricultural transmission when mileage gets high, still reliable but over 150,000 its a little bit noisy, not excessive but you can hear it.
If your looking for a starter Porsche depending how much you have to spend £2000 for a nice 2.0 £3000 for a nice S, go and get the best example you can afford, and get an inspection done because it won't lose much if any money if you keep it nice.
If you need an inspection doing let me know.
andy97 said:
My old 944 (same engine as the 924S, except mine was the 2.7 litre)
Someone more knowledgable than me will no doubt be here soon to correct me, but the 924S and the 944S had the same engine - both 2.7, 4-pot 16v. Although I think in the earlier versions of the 924S it was slightly de-tuned, to ensure that the 924 remained a little slower than the 'superior' 944. However, at the end of the production run, the 924S engine was supplied in the same tune as the 944S, making it a slightly quicker car (less frontal area therefore less drag and also less weight). The 944S2 had a slightly larger engine - 3.0, producing a whisker over 200bhp, as opposed to the S which produced (I think) 167. Or so.
Both the S and S2 engines are very capable of covering huge milages, but do need looking after. The one thing that everyone is twitchy about is cam belts, although why they are more twitchy on this engine than on any other interference engine I'm not sure. 35k miles is the usual change interval (although Porsche say 45K, I think.) Other than that, the usual applies. Look for rust (they do rust occasionally) and crash damage, and clutches can be expensive. But they cost very little to buy, are as pretty as a blank cheque, handle deliciously crisply and sweetly and are practical daily driver propositions. Not *that* fast (well, my 944 S2 isn't) but still a lovely drive.
Oli.
zcacogp said:
andy97 said:
My old 944 (same engine as the 924S, except mine was the 2.7 litre)
Someone more knowledgable than me will no doubt be here soon to correct me, but the 924S and the 944S had the same engine - both 2.7, 4-pot 16v. Although I think in the earlier versions of the 924S it was slightly de-tuned, to ensure that the 924 remained a little slower than the 'superior' 944. However, at the end of the production run, the 924S engine was supplied in the same tune as the 944S, making it a slightly quicker car (less frontal area therefore less drag and also less weight). The 944S2 had a slightly larger engine - 3.0, producing a whisker over 200bhp, as opposed to the S which produced (I think) 167. Or so.
Both the S and S2 engines are very capable of covering huge milages, but do need looking after. The one thing that everyone is twitchy about is cam belts, although why they are more twitchy on this engine than on any other interference engine I'm not sure. 35k miles is the usual change interval (although Porsche say 45K, I think.) Other than that, the usual applies. Look for rust (they do rust occasionally) and crash damage, and clutches can be expensive. But they cost very little to buy, are as pretty as a blank cheque, handle deliciously crisply and sweetly and are practical daily driver propositions. Not *that* fast (well, my 944 S2 isn't) but still a lovely drive.
Oli.
Someone who knows more comes along!
The 924S as others have said is a 924 body with the early 944 2.5 8 valve lump, detuned unil 1988 so it didn't compete with the 944 as the 924S would have been faster with the same lump as it's more aerodynamic & lighter! 944S is a 16V 2.5 & 190BHP, 944 2.7 is a 8V late model 944 from 87-88ish, although I know a G plate 2.7 this had 163BHP 1 more than the 2.5.
Official cambelt change is 4 years 48K but most do 3 years 40K.
Yup check cambelt history & budget £250-£500 depending on what else needs doing (idlers, water pump etc.) & check the clutch as it's around £600+ otherwise all the standard stuff applies.
tr7v8 said:
Someone who knows more comes along!
The 924S as others have said is a 924 body with the early 944 2.5 8 valve lump, detuned unil 1988 so it didn't compete with the 944 as the 924S would have been faster with the same lump as it's more aerodynamic & lighter! 944S is a 16V 2.5 & 190BHP, 944 2.7 is a 8V late model 944 from 87-88ish, although I know a G plate 2.7 this had 163BHP 1 more than the 2.5.
Official cambelt change is 4 years 48K but most do 3 years 40K.
Yup check cambelt history & budget £250-£500 depending on what else needs doing (idlers, water pump etc.) & check the clutch as it's around £600+ otherwise all the standard stuff applies.
Erm, I will smartly bow to this gents' greater knowledge of this matter. Believe him. Ignore me. The 924S as others have said is a 924 body with the early 944 2.5 8 valve lump, detuned unil 1988 so it didn't compete with the 944 as the 924S would have been faster with the same lump as it's more aerodynamic & lighter! 944S is a 16V 2.5 & 190BHP, 944 2.7 is a 8V late model 944 from 87-88ish, although I know a G plate 2.7 this had 163BHP 1 more than the 2.5.
Official cambelt change is 4 years 48K but most do 3 years 40K.
Yup check cambelt history & budget £250-£500 depending on what else needs doing (idlers, water pump etc.) & check the clutch as it's around £600+ otherwise all the standard stuff applies.
(Jim, you are saying that the 924S was an 8v lump. I thought it had the same engine as the 944S - hence 16v. Didn't know it was a 2.5, thought it was a 2.7. Amazing what you learn.)
Oli.
zcacogp said:
[Erm, I will smartly bow to this gents' greater knowledge of this matter. Believe him. Ignore me.
(Jim, you are saying that the 924S was an 8v lump. I thought it had the same engine as the 944S - hence 16v. Didn't know it was a 2.5, thought it was a 2.7. Amazing what you learn.)
Oli.
(Jim, you are saying that the 924S was an 8v lump. I thought it had the same engine as the 944S - hence 16v. Didn't know it was a 2.5, thought it was a 2.7. Amazing what you learn.)
Oli.
Dont't feel bad. Was watching a Channel 4 used car show yesterday, where someone with a budget of £7k was asked to choose between a 944 S2, AlphaRomeo GTV and Mitsu FTO. The Porsche, according to the expert presenters offering buying advice, was fitted with a 2.5 liter engine. Day time TV, eh?
Tam Lin said:
Dont't feel bad. Was watching a Channel 4 used car show yesterday, where someone with a budget of £7k was asked to choose between a 944 S2, AlphaRomeo GTV and Mitsu FTO. The Porsche, according to the expert presenters offering buying advice, was fitted with a 2.5 liter engine. Day time TV, eh?
Thanks for cheering me up! Daytime TV - I tend to avoid it. I knew there was a reason I have a job ...
Oli.
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