924Board.org

[turbellion]

so im at a crossroads. i have a very nice and reliable early 77 924 that i drive everyday, and have no problems with. except for the lack of a blower motor. but i have the opportunity to get a nice all original 83 944 that comes with a stack of papers and only has 60k on it. all black inside and out with powder coated black cookie cutters. i can get it for 2,000 bucks! but i have to get rid of 924 to get it. i really want the 944 but as far as driving and performance is concerned is the 944 really worth it. yes they are more sexy than audrey tatou ( look her up if you dont believe me) but the extra 3 or 4 hundred pounds over my 924 which i have stripped down to a stock looking minimum, really seems null and void the extra 30hp the 2.5 makes over the 2.0.also i can maintain my 924 wiithout and hesitation but the porsche 2.5 is a little bit more daunting, and not to mentioin costly to repair.


what should i do? keep my perfectly fine 924 or go for the curvacious and all around more sexier appeal of the 944.


this


or

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1977 924 euro spec and no emissions equip

[9XX Girl!]

keep the 924

[Slam]

The heater upgrade for the early 924 requires cutting and welding - a big job just to get a better heater. Do a search here and you'll find the story. I did a complete factory-spec rebuild of Mandy's 924's heater and it still sucks. There's no easy way to put in the later heater assembly.

I'd go with the EARLY 944. They're just as easy to work on and have many of the same qualities as the 924. I like their looks and the parts network is a good one. Parts are cheap and plentiful - there's no waiting around for something to come from Germany because the US jobbers don't stock it. Once you've got the timing belt job under your belt you're home free. $2000 is a good deal on that car if the maintenance is up to date. Plan to spend about another $1000 over your first year, then just drive it.

Rasta will disagree about this, so I look forward to hearing from him! For some reason I can't fathom, he thinks the 944s are ugly...

If it was me, I'd be looking for a way to have both, though.
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'84 944 - kid blew motor
'83 944 - resting comfortably. For 12 years
'87 944 - sideswiped by trucker
'80 924 - gone
'78 924 - gone
'77 924 - rusting comfortably

[turbellion]

yes my stock supercharger blower motor is not workinng...... just kidding yeah i dont have heat in my car and it isnt very fun, i dont really mind the cold but the frozen windshield really sucks and is horribly annoying. i think im going to get the 944, please try your best to inform me off all of the strong points or downfalls of 944 ownership, as far as i understand as long as you know the life and tension of the timing belt your car should last forever. i really look forward to that 5th gear and heat!!!!
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1977 924 euro spec and no emissions equip

[Khal]

[Drizz]

I think this is the classic case of the grass is always greener on the other side. I'm going to be nerdy here, but it's practically human nature to always want something else. I think you should stick with what you know, if your 924 is perfectly fine there's no reason to change up. It'd be completely different if there was something drastically wrong with your 924. Stick with what you know bro.
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1979 924 Sebring Edition, "Claire"

[turbellion]

well by drastically wrong do you mean having a 4 speed trans that makes my engine spin at 4k at 80 mph, thats what i least like about my car. i travel alot and that 5th on the 944 sounds great, and the heat. also i should be a bit more honest, the 944 is owned by a friend of mine who has some serious car credentials, he used to be really high up at Hagerty insurance but he now does some sort of high end auction stuff , he took great care of this thing and is basically giving it to me at that price. it is know up here as the nicest 944 around and possibly the nicest early one in the state. i wanted a unbiased opinion of 944's compared to 924's
i think in the long run i will keep the 944 and get a 931 as well. i love 924's but i feel done with mine, i have had my fun and done my work, now i will let someone else have it and do a proper paint job on it and have a great 924!
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1977 924 euro spec and no emissions equip

[Drizz]

My opinion wasn't at all biased, I've driven both the 924 and 944, was just trying to get your mind working in the sense, "Do I really need this?" Sounds like you're pretty set on the 944 though. I'd make sure he's willing to hold onto the car while you can sell your current car though. I've been down the route of trying to make payments on a car while trying to get rid of the old one, and it SUCKS. haha. Best of luck with whatever you choose breh
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1979 924 Sebring Edition, "Claire"

[steve924]

In your situation i think a 944 would be the best bet for long distance driving etc shame you can't hang onto the 924 aswell they have more tuning potential IMO, watch for rust on 944's i've seen a few rotters over here but that 944 looks very cool in black
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Porsche 924 na
porsche 924 1.8t

[9XX Girl!]

I forget sometimes that the 924 N/A was discontinued in the US after 82.

The 924 was available here up to 1985, the later ones having the same heaters as the early 944 and that much enjoyed 5th gear too. Not to mention, Bonnet/hood strut supports so the bonnet stays up without a stick to prop it up, plus a rear hatch remote release button, 5 speaker sound system, passenger heated door mirror, rear spoiler, etc....

Having both you rarely notice what production differences were made over just 3 or 4 years to the N/A 924
I fitted 911 heated front seats to my 84 924, the upholstery pattern is identical to the rear seats . with that, the heated mirrors, later heater, its as winter friendly as any modern car.

That said, i do like the shape of the 944......
but i like the shape of the 924 too....
And the 968!

what a dilemma, is there any way you could have both?
(im gonna vote for both anyup)
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924 (84) N/A 2 ltr - 5 Speed - BLACK - Project (looking for 200BHP, any ideas!)
924 (81) N/A 2 ltr - 3 Speed Auto - SURINAM RED (Metallic) - Near Original Spec (sticking with originality)
BOTH ON THE ROAD, BOTH USED EVERY-OTHER DAY

[turbellion]

i will own both........... someday.
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1977 924 euro spec and no emissions equip

[morghen]

i would get the 944...especially giving the condition the 44 is in.
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Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

[gohim]

If you can afford to keep the 944 up, then that's the way I would go, AS LONG AS THE SELLER HAS DOCUMENTED PROOF OF THE CURRENT FOES (front of engine service). The front of engine service must be done every 3 years or 30K miles, whichever comes first.

You don't want to buy that car, and then immediately get stuck with a bill for FOES ($1500-$2500 parts and labor if you don't do the job youself), or $700 for parts and $300-$700 for the specialty tools required to to the job yourself.

If the Seller says he had the work done, you're going to want to see the written documentation and receipts to see exactly what was done and what was replaced. Different people have difference ideas of what a FOES includes (should include timing belt, balance shaft belt, ball bearing pulleys and rollers, front of engine oil seals, and a waterpump).

A safe bet would be $3000-$5000 to catch up on past due maintenance and repairs the first year, then you need $1500 a year into a fund to cover repairs during the year, and put towards the next FOES.

[CorsePerVita]

Nice thing about the 924

- Parts are pretty cheap
- Parts are pretty cheap
- Parts are usually pretty cheap

One day I bought a 944. I thought "This car seems badass, and I always wanted one. Now I can have a 924 AND a 944, how cool would that be!"

Then things started to break. Then I had to fix the brakes. Then i had to replace the clutch. Then I had to replace the clutch hydraulics. Then I had to fix all this little crap.

On the 924 whenever that stuff gave me shit I didn't bat an eye, it wasn't all that bad. However, on the 944.... thousands and thousands of dollars later... it's finally where it "Should be".

Question for you...

Do you know what the most common issues to lookout for on the 944 are?
What is your budget yearly to take care of one?
If your clutch went out or you blew a head gasket tomorrow could you afford to fix it?

When the belts for my 924 were less than $20 i went "NO WAY!" and when someone quoted me almost $200 for the tools and belts for my 944 I thought they were joking.

Be prepared monetarily for a 944, even a nice one, for maintenance costs. Maybe not today, but down the road at some point.

I do not wish to deter you from doing what you wish to do. However, I think a lot of members are simply trying to bring to light the reality that they're different in cost than a 924 and if you already have a reliable 924 have you made sure that you're ready for a 944 and the costs of a 944.
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- 1977 Porsche 924 2.0 N/A (Trackday Project)
- 1979 Porsche 924 2.0 N/A (The other daily)
- 1980 Porsche 931 (Daily)
- 1987 Lamborghini Jalpa
- 1999 Ducati 900SS

[turbellion]

im actually considering finding a 931. i think the 944 deal fell through anyways, which may be a good thing.
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1977 924 euro spec and no emissions equip