The Porsche 924 represents some of the best aspects of automobile enthusiasts, while simultaneously embodying two distinct and very different decades. From the 1970s comes the upright, modernist and simple dashboard, but while it nods to the decade that bore it, the exterior is immediately identifiable as the 1980s signature silhouette with a low-slung, long hood, pronounced bumpers and flip-up headlights. Quite a few cars in the late 1970s and 1980s attempted to mimic the design of the 924, including the notable RX-7 and you could even argue the 280/300ZX. You can even see influence of the groundbreaking 924 design in the Miata of the late 1980s as well as such modern GT cars at the AMG GT-S. For enthusiasts, though, it was the near perfect weight distribution, the torquey inline-4, the manual gearbox and the all-important Porsche badge of engineering and build quality that led to the 924 being a hit. It didn’t hurt that it was the most affordable Porsche, either, and arguably still is so today. I’ve rounded up a group of 3 distinct and neat 924S models from late in the run to see which offers the most bang for your buck:
Tag: 924s
Earlier this month, I wrote up a 1988 944 Turbo S in Silver Rose with a scant 7,000 miles covered since new. As with all Porsches, the “S” models have enjoyed a long history of being…well, “Super”. But it took a fair amount of discipline, vision and means to buy an example new and project that it was going to be a collector in the future; especially considering that in 1988 the market on collector Porsches was very, very different. It has only been very recently that watercooled examples have started to appreciate, and even then not all examples have trended upwards. Even with that Turbo model, factoring in inflation the seller would actually be losing money having held onto and not driven that example more than 250 miles a year. How about something more strange – a car that isn’t really considered a collector by many? A great example is today’s 924S – long forlorn by the Porsche community, a greater appreciation for them is only now growing. So what would you pay for an example that has only covered a even more outrageous 125 miles each year since new?
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1987 Porsche 924S on eBay
4 CommentsAs we’ve charted the demise of the 996’s residual value, it may no longer be accurate to say that the Porsche 924 is the best value for your money if you just want a Porsche crest. But with the rising prices of 911s, 944 Turbos and 928s, if you want a Porsche from the 1980s, there’s simply no contest – 924s represent the gateway into Stuttgart’s finest without obliterating your retirement fund. In fact, many nice Porsche 924s can be had for a song – even though we’ve also recently seen the elite 924 Carreras push well into 6-figure territory. As a lover of the Audi Coupe GT, which share a shocking amount of parts with it’s much more highly sought bulging brother Quattro but not the value, I can identify with the plight of the 924 enthusiast. Indeed, I consider the 924 to be a great design and love both the early, simple cars from the 1970s for the clean purity of purpose right through the upgraded 924Ss, one of which resides in my family and I’ve spent a considerable amount of time in, under and around. So it should come as no surprise, being a fan of the underdogs, that I ponder 924 ownership on a semi-regular basis. The question is, which 924 do I like more – the early, vented turbo models that were the homologation of much of Porsche’s racing technology, or the “real Porsche” 924S, replete with the underpinnings of the 944? I’ve found two pretty comparable models, so let’s take a look:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1980 Porsche 924 Turbo on eBay
1 CommentWhen I think of Porsche I think of the 911, then the Boxster and then the Cayman. I’d wager that much of the general public thinks the same way, perhaps with the Cayenne and Panamera thrown in there instead of the Cayman. For those folks who aren’t automotive enthusiasts, any name that isn’t 911 might not ring a bell when talking Porsches and that’s too bad because as we all know, there are a ton of other great models in Porsche’s historical lineup. The question I’ve been asking myself of late is if the 924 is one of those models.
I’ve never been a big fan of any Porsche with a front mounted motor. The Macan Turbo S and Panamera GTS have certainly softened my stance on the matter but overall, I like my Porsches with a mid or rear mounted power plant. The ever expanding bubble of the air-cooled 911 market has given 924 prices a bit of a bump as well and we’re seeing examples trading at premiums usually reserved for cars with a bit more, well, panache. I suppose that of all the 924 models out there, a red 924S with tan seats would be one worth the jacked up price of admission, especially with under 10k on the clock.
CLICK FOR DETAILS:Â 1988 Porsche 924S on eBay
2 CommentsI have to admit, when I heard that my father had finally bought a Porsche after years of contemplation, stopping by dealerships, test drives and dreams I was hugely excited. However, those dreams were dashed on the rocks of reality when the tatty Zermatt Silver 1987 924S pulled up. At that time, I didn’t really know what the 924S was – other than that it was clearly not a 911 or 928. It didn’t even really look like a 944, though there were several obvious similarities. I had a hard time wrapping my head around it, and I was brought back to when I was a much younger lad and my father’s friend invited us over to go for a ride in his then-nearly new 1982 924. Although the wheels were larger on my father’s example, it seemed that there was little different. I was further disappointed because this was my father’s new track car, replacing his 1988 M5 as the car of choice to head to the circuits. That seemed especially odd, and admittedly I didn’t get it until I got to drive the car on track a few years later. Those know Lime Rock Park before the repave will recall that at the bottom of “The Downhill” there was a compression mid-corner that if you hit wrong would result in some unexpected and unwanted turning. I found myself there at full throttle, 90 m.p.h. in the 924S; hitting the compression, the car was instantly pitched sideways to the point that I was looking down the straight through the driver’s side window frame. While I’d like to say that it was my supreme driving ability that pulled us out, I think the reality is that the 924S proved what made it a great driving car in that instance – a quick correction on the wheel, no lift and with little drama we continued down the straight. I finally got it – this car was all about driving: