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'78 Porche 924 $600 Should I buy it?

30 messages,  Last post on Nov 01, 2011 at 6:35 AM

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#1 of 30 '78 Porche 924 $600 Should I buy it? by ridinonrails

Jan 02, 2010 (8:09 pm)

I'm looking at a '78 924 that's in fairly good condition. There are some very small surface rust spots here and there (around windshield and hatch) and an oil leak around the exhaust manifold that I couldn't pinpoint, but it runs with no tics or exhaust smoke. I read that these cars have galvinized sheet metal. Don't know if thats true but the body and paint are in very good cond.Clutch and tranny seem ok with no backlash and all electronics work. What do ya'll think?

#2 of 30 Re: '78 Porche 924 $600 Should I buy it? [ridinonrails] by burdawg

Jan 02, 2010 (11:54 pm)

Replying to: ridinonrails (Jan 02, 2010 8:09 pm)
I would turn around and run away as fast as I can.........

#3 of 30 Re: '78 Porche 924 $600 Should I buy it? [ridinonrails] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 03, 2010 (9:10 am)

Replying to: ridinonrails (Jan 02, 2010 8:09 pm)
I'd say just throw the $600 into a furnace while calling AAA, for the same basic effect.
 
I'm sorry, I don't wish to be discouraging to you, but a 924 is about the worst car in the world. I'd rather see you take on a project that had some prospect of success for you.
 
The story is that this car was originally commissioned by VW and they backed out of the deal. Porsche then decided, as an afterthought, to build it anyway with a VW/Audi drivetrain.
 
If you want a decent "starter" Porsche, buy a well cared for 944 that doesn't need anything. It's 10X the car and even clean ones are not that expensive to purchase (but very expensive to maintain).
 
The 924 has been described as "VW performance and reliability at Porsche prices".
 
It's not an attractive combination.
 

#4 of 30 Re: '78 Porche 924 $600 Should I buy it? [Mr_Shiftright] by isellhondas

Jan 09, 2010 (7:23 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 03, 2010 9:10 am)
Agree with the others. A glorified Volkswagen only a LOT more trouble.
 
A 944 is still troublesome but MUCH better. It may be hard to find one that "doesn't need anything"!

#5 of 30 Re: '78 Porche 924 $600 Should I buy it? [isellhondas] by mattc

Jan 28, 2010 (4:43 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Jan 09, 2010 7:23 pm)
Strictly speaking the only difference between a 924 and 944 are wide fenders and a different engine (the 944 has half a 928 V8). The 924 engine was a tough unit, not that refined, but cheap to tune up and there was a turbo version available in 1980-82 which is an easy swap.
 
  Yup, even early 924s had galvanised body panels, and carried a good anti rust warranty by '70s standards.
 
  924s are cheap project cars. Paint it metallic black, put a set of 18 inch aftermarket wheels on it, shine it up. All your neighbors will see is the gold Porsche shield and nice paint. That's a much cheaper way to impress folks than paying big $$$ for a fugly Cayenne. Live long and prosper, peace.
 
   
 
   Porsche babe

#6 of 30 Re: '78 Porche 924 $600 Should I buy it? [mattc] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 28, 2010 (5:53 pm)

Replying to: mattc (Jan 28, 2010 4:43 pm)
Nope, the 944 engine isn't half a 928. Virtually no engine parts are interchangeable.
 
The big complaint with the 924 was severe engine vibration, chassis vibration, very poor AC and ventilation, and no power.
 
Basically a 924 is put together with VW parts (like half shafts from a VW Thing) and the engine used in the AMC Pacer.
 
The 944, which is still quite affordable, is a much refined car over the 924 IMO.
 
The cars may bear similarities, as you say, but the driving experiences are very different.

#7 of 30 Re: '78 Porche 924 $600 Should I buy it? [Mr_Shiftright] by mattc

Jan 29, 2010 (4:49 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 28, 2010 5:53 pm)
I disagree, the Porsche 2.5 to 3 liter engine range is basically half the Porsche V8. The whole point of having it related to the V8 was to save on tooling costs and engine development, which was much the case when both the I4 and V8 were later converted to 4 valve DOHC layout. Porsche never had the money to develop 2 completely different engine lines. Although obviously the V8 didn't need the I4's counter rotating balancer shafts.
 
  The 2 liter I4 was used in the AMC Gremlin, Spirit and Concord, not the Pacer and when AMC used the motor it was with a carb, not fuel injection.
 
  Early 944s had the same dashboard as the 924, and the later 924S had the 944's 2.5 liter motor. 30+ years later I don't see that much difference between the two cars. Get a 914 and do a Chevy V8 conversion, now that's different.

#8 of 30 Re: '78 Porche 924 $600 Should I buy it? [mattc] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 29, 2010 (5:45 pm)

Replying to: mattc (Jan 29, 2010 4:49 pm)
Porsche used some development ideas from the 928 that's true but there isn't a major part on a 928 engine that you can put in a 944 engine. This is a common misperception that I myself used to believe as well.
 
Gremlin, Spirit and Concord, that's right. Not the Pacer.

#9 of 30 Wikipedia by hpmctorque

Jan 29, 2010 (9:31 pm)

Here's what Wikipedia says about these Porsche 4 cylinder engines:
  
"1985-1991 Porsche 944The Porsche 924 had originally been a project of VW-Porsche a joint Porsche/Volkswagen company created to develop and produce the 914 which was sold in Europe as both a Porsche and a Volkswagen. In 1972 a replacement for the Volkswagen version of the 914, code named EA-425 began development. The model was to be sold as an Audi as part of the VW-Audi-Porsche marketing arrangement. Although testing had begun in the Spring of 1974 Volkswagen decided to cancel the program due to the expense of production as well as the feeling that the recently released Volkswagen Scirocco would fill the sports coupe sufficiently. At the time Porsche was considering introducing their own water cooled front engine 2+2 coupe to replace the 912E and their model of 914 and Volkswagen's cancellation provided an opportunity. Porsche purchased the design and finished developmental. The vehicle drove and handled exceptionally well and received positive reviews, but was criticized for the Audi-sourced 2 litre engine; Porsche introduced a Turbocharged 924 to increase performance, but the price was considered too high for the time, which hampered sales. Rather than scrap the design , Porsche decided to develop the 924, as they had with generations of the 911; although model numbers would change, the 924 would provide the basis for its replacement.
 
Porsche re-worked the platform and abandoned the Audi engine, installing in its place a new all-alloy 2.5 litre straight-4 engine that was, in essence, half of the 928's 5.0 litre V8, although very few parts were actually interchangeable. Not a natural choice for a luxury sports car, a four cylinder engine was chosen for fuel efficiency and size, because it had to be fitted from below on the Neckarsulm production line. To overcome the unbalanced secondary forces that make other four cylinder engines feel harsh, Porsche included two counter rotating balance shafts running at twice engine speed..."
 
Of course, we know the information in Wikipedia is not official, and may contain errors, but it's on topic.
 
My problem with these cars, wonderful as they may be to drive and to be seen in, is that you have to practically be Bill Gates to maintain them.

#10 of 30 also.... by ghulet

Jan 30, 2010 (12:29 pm)

.....the resurrected 924S (MYs 1987-88, IIRC) had the 924 body and old steering wheel, seats, driving position, dashboard, etc. (I remember distinctly, cuz my mom wanted the 924S based on its $25k price, but purchased a 944 5-speed instead, in 10/86, which she STILL owns). The 944 was a big improvement, especially with the interior design, which came along in mid-year '85, I think.

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