Erm, I appear to have made a slightly rash purchase...
Discussion
Well, I was a bit marginal on budget (allowing for insurance and a contingency fund) so I had to put in a very cheeky offer, which promptly got rebuffed. I did a bit of man maths and decided I could meet him in the middle. Not bad for £1,200. The clutch is a little high, but in all other respects it seems to be in very good condition. It was the third 924 the seller had owned and he was selling it to fund the rather nice 924 Carrrera GT recreation sat behind it on his driveway.
This is a 1983 924 - a Lux, I think. I've driven all the later four cylinder Porsches, but it's the first time I've ever driven one of the LT-engined examples, so it was quite an interesting comparison. The engine wasn't quite as I imagined. The performance was about what I expected (not a huge amount by modern standards...) but it was much smoother, revvier and more responsive than I feared it would be. My old 924S went well, but always felt a tiny bit stodgy - all torque and no revs - this is almost the opposite. Unassisted steering feels gorgeous too, providing you don't mind what feels like about 12 turns lock-to-lock!
This is a 1983 924 - a Lux, I think. I've driven all the later four cylinder Porsches, but it's the first time I've ever driven one of the LT-engined examples, so it was quite an interesting comparison. The engine wasn't quite as I imagined. The performance was about what I expected (not a huge amount by modern standards...) but it was much smoother, revvier and more responsive than I feared it would be. My old 924S went well, but always felt a tiny bit stodgy - all torque and no revs - this is almost the opposite. Unassisted steering feels gorgeous too, providing you don't mind what feels like about 12 turns lock-to-lock!
so called said:
Haha, snap.
I just bought this for winter in Germany
Nice work!I just bought this for winter in Germany
I'd like to say the Chimaera languishing in my garage was my winter car, but I'm still waiting for this fecking engine to be delivered (about three months now...) It's going to be months before it's back on the road again now and I just got bored of driving around in a 1.6 FWD eurobox.
I can't afford to run the Chim long term after it gets back on the road now (at least not with the sort of contingency fund I'd feel happy with after last time), so I was always going to downsize to a cheaper 2+2 or a hot hatch at some point, so thought I might as well go straight there. Should be able to run this and the TVR for a bit, though, if I'm sensible.
ETA That is a bit of a strange angle, this one is more representative:
snotrag said:
I presume you've seen this chaps series of videos Chris?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-1nYTEpDVc&fea...
You actually put me onto these, I regularly look at the state of these on the classifieds and see how prices are going. There were loads of nice S's for sale a few months back. That one looks great, good colour for it too.
I still really fancy a 2.5 version, more so than an 944. The clean early body looks great!
Can't say I have. Looks entertaining! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-1nYTEpDVc&fea...
You actually put me onto these, I regularly look at the state of these on the classifieds and see how prices are going. There were loads of nice S's for sale a few months back. That one looks great, good colour for it too.
I still really fancy a 2.5 version, more so than an 944. The clean early body looks great!
On a different note, I do want that steering wheel from the video. Not a fan of the original plastic lump and I don't think it'd be too sacrilegious to swap if I kept it safe for anyone who wants to return the car to standard. The steering is really light so a smaller wheel with a bit of extra weight and a bit more clearance for my knees wouldn't go amiss.
The S is undoubtedly a better car (despite the lazier power delivery!) and I would have got one of those given the funds, but I reckon the lux should be an entertaining runaround. I think I'd take an S over 2.5 na 944 as well.
As for the winter, well it's only 7 miles to work; I'm sure I could dig out a set of suitably knobbly tyres for my mountain bike.
Picking it up this evening.
markCSC said:
One other thing I have just remembered. Give the steering wheel a good shake. The welds aren't very good and sometimes they break giving a wobbley wheel. Not good in a crash. I had to replace mine becasue of this.
I think that's already been done. I read about the wobbly wheels in one of the buyer's guides (so I was aware of it when I went to see the car) and it had an MOT fail for a loose wheel in the history folder.LuS1fer said:
stuttgartmetal said:
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Pork.
You just can't beat it.
Though technically, it was developed as an Audi or VW originally IIRC before being adopted by Porsche though it came of age with the 944.You just can't beat it.
(Yes I've already reverted to a "it's not a real Porsche" apologist!
)ETA Just thought I'd do a last minute phone around to see if I could improve upon the insurance quote. And I did. Including 6,000 miles commuting and cover for my OH who hasn't held her license long it came to a whopping £219.25. I think we can say A-Plan has indeed quoted me happy!
Edited by Chris71 on Friday 14th October 13:04
300bhp/ton said:
Podie said:
Looking forward to the 80's interior photos.
70's surely.I know the original design dates back to, what, '77? But I'm fairly sure they had a facelift by the time mine came around in '83. By that point they were also galvanised, which is handy.
Ari said:
That's a fantastic car!!
Personally I'd keep to the original wheel, it suits it.
I do love that instrument pod. There's a hint of '70s supercar about it (visually!) and it doesn't look as plasticy in the flesh as the pics might suggest. The interior is actually remarkably clean for a 924. Doesn't even have any cracks on the dash.Personally I'd keep to the original wheel, it suits it.
If I removed the wheel I'd definitely keep the original. The stereo has already been changed, so it's not exactly a museum piece, though.
aka_kerrly said:
How would you describe the sensation of speed?
Well, the 924 is one of the lowest cars I've sat in so I guess that works in its favour. I didn't ring its neck with the seller sat beside me, but you definitely have to rev it - and that either makes it feel eager and racey or a bit low on torque depending on your perspective. One of the best things is it has a huge sunroof panel that lifts out completely to form a sort of targa roof, which probably enhances the sensation of speed.
At the end of the day, though, it still feels nippy rather than fast - a Fiesta Zetec S or something probably provides a similar sensation of speed.
I've got plans tonight, so had to take the short route home, but definitely does build more speed higher up the rev range. Surprisingly hushed in higher gears too.
The brakes are, erm, interesting, though. I'm hoping it's just because the car hasn't been used much recently and they're a bit rusty still, but we shall see. My 'S' wasn't great in that department either. Probably need to get onto the Porsche forums and find out what to expect.
Otherwise I was very chuffed with my first solo drive, though. It's quite softly sprung for a sports car (at least it is 28 years down the line - presume it started that way!) but feels very composed over ridges and stuff, feels like the bushes are fresh.
The brakes are, erm, interesting, though. I'm hoping it's just because the car hasn't been used much recently and they're a bit rusty still, but we shall see. My 'S' wasn't great in that department either. Probably need to get onto the Porsche forums and find out what to expect.
Otherwise I was very chuffed with my first solo drive, though. It's quite softly sprung for a sports car (at least it is 28 years down the line - presume it started that way!) but feels very composed over ridges and stuff, feels like the bushes are fresh.
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