924Board.org

simsport · Joined: 06 Nov 2002 Posts: 573 Location: UK Warrington

What defines a great car is character and how at one with the driver it is rather than just performance or value. If you read the articles writtten by drivers its always the car that was a bit risky to drive, or the one with odd traits they enjoyed driving because they gave more and it gave more back.

I run in a speed championship here in the UK and I have competed aganst most models in the range. In truth all those drivers had nothing but respect for my car, perhaps because it was faster than some, perhaps because they were just good people but I suspect that in most cases because they know I prep'd it, I repaired it and I drove it.

The modern models just cant be run in the same way, hence the driver is detached from the process. When they win on merit its great, well done to them. If I win its not just about my driving but my car won on the day. I get to win in two ways and I am much closer to the whole experience as a result.

Yes the cars are much much cheaper, yes they are much more basic. But no, you will not have as many tales to tell 10 years down the road about your 993 or 996 as you will about 'your old girl' of a 924/931....

If I had the money to buy a new, modern race porsche would I?
Well perhaps I should but it would mean I would lose the connection , instead of which I think I'd do all the work I dreamt of doing on my 924.....that would be a very special first outing that season!!

Cheers
Simon
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Blown is always best!

Ozzie · Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:26 am Post subject:

Found this on another site
http://youtube.com/watch?v=q1ErFBq5hE8&mode=related&search=
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Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

B · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 487 Location: Ohio

HI Guys,
I know I'm still new to owning a 924 (a little over a year) but my experiences have all been positive so far. I did not get to have it out on the road much last year but when I did - what a blast! It's not in the best shape - but it still turned some heads. Probably one of the nifty moments was when I was going through a series of curves (kinda like an s) and a 911 was coming the other way. When we passed by each other he gave me a nod and a wave. I'm still smiling about that. It's moments like that and the good people on this board, their innovations, ideas and help they offer that inspire me to keep following that dream - to fix my car up the way wanted since I was about 10. Even the people I've talked to at the local cruises - 914's, 911's, 944's and domestic (usa) hot rodders have all been very nice and helpful. I think it's a lot like what some of you have been saying. They know you are out there trying to restore/maintain/upgrade a 20+ year old car yourself and on a "regular guy" budget. Kind of that we're all in this together sort of thing. well that's my thoughts - for what it's worth.
thanks
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1979 924 n/a
BAE turbo
5-speed snailshell

morghen · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 9102 Location: Romania

nah...i got seen by 911 drivers preety much...but nobody did anything. however 944 owners flash the lights and stuff.(they must think its a 944

)
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Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

dagabba · Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 73 Location: UK

Hey.

Just to say that almost all 944 drivers I have passed on the motorway have waved, and about a week ago I passed a fellow 924er in a residential area- he pulled alongside me and we chatted for about 10 minutes- seemed a very nice bloke. Never really spoken to many 911 owners, but I used to work for a classic car place- selling really nice things like 73RSs, Le mans cars, 250SWBs. Anyway, the other guys that worked there were always impressed with my car.

So, I guess I've only had positive stuff- except from non p-car people like my friend who is always saying it's a VW- but, that's just friendly ribbing. And, he's always the first to show off about my car when we are out. Also, I have had random people just walk up and say they thought it was beautiful... Though I have also had insults written into fogged up windows, etc... I guess people are just very opinionated about our cars.

Gab
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1986 924S Euro

StienbargerR · Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 1362 Location: Richmond, IN

Yeah, One time I was parked at a liberal Arts college, (emphasis on liberal) and I came out to my car in the late evening and found a phalise drawn in the fog on my back hatch. My car is still looking like a beater tho, that could have had something to do with it.

Ryan
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1978 924 NA
-250lb lowering springs, Euro Pistons

PDH 931 · Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 1 Location: UK

First post from me in cold damp UK, nice site, hope to contribute more when i can. I'm sure we've heard it all before, jealous, small minded little people who resent others apreciating what we've worked hard for - it will never change, as long as humans do their thing, Personally I'm into reverse snobbery nowadays, I love retro stuff, things that not everbody can get hold of to me have more worth than say a 997 etc. Thats not to say 997's aren't great pieces of kit I just smile when I see an up and coming salesman etc "trying" to drive his brand new company bought 997. Pedigree is the word, no matter what Porsche you drive they ALL have great pedigree. Peter
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Peter Delmar-Hall

'80 931 Sundays
'05 E55 AMG Work Days
'83 Lancia Beta Coupe Volumex - a thing of beauty!

billson · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 41 Location: UK

Never had experience (yet) of the snobbery thing!

Last time I checked my 924 had a Porsche badge on the bonnet - to me that makes it a Porsche. I bet the uncouth youth of today would still nick the badge though, 924 or not!

My other car is a Seat Leon, which has VW/Audi stamped all over it but I don't get snotty comments about that from anyone!
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1983 924 NA
Guards Red
Carrera GT bodykit
Larger VW throttle body

HEMBRANT12 · Joined: 28 Dec 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Grapevine Texas

I just bought my 1980 924, and thought it was funny that the guy I bought it from said "make sure you don't take that to any shows or club meeting they won't even let you in!" I haven't joined anything yet because I'm still fixing it up, but I find it annoying that the 924 is given such a hard time. I don't know how the club is in this area for sure but that's what I hear.

Why doesn't the 914 take as much abuse its mostly VW parts? and the original 356 is worth more than anything and we know where it began.

I don't really care if others call my 924 a VW/Audi because I'm a VW enthusist as well! I have a 70 Karmann Ghia that's well accepted" you'd be suprised how many people tell me how nice my "old Porsche" is Ha HA, but I also have a 71 Super Beetle. The funny thing about that is there's snobbery in the VW world. "Most" early model Beetle owners hate the Super Beetle! I love all my toys!

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

Personally, I've had absolutely NO issue with the local PCA members. I've interacted with folks from both the Rally Sport Region (which is the chapter I belong to) as well as the Metro Detroit club. All of them have been very nice and very helpful. In fact, most of the non-racer types are simply amazed at the amount of work I do on my own, since most of them are screwed into paying huge $$$ to take their garage queens to the dealer on a regular basis

Seriously, I've gotten lots of suggestions, comments, questions, and genuine interest in my water-cooled fleet, and one of the local (racing) members gave me a whale of a deal on helping me assemble my 931 snailshell LSD gearbox, remarking that it was almost identical to the 915 gearboxes he was used to repairing.

Unfortunately, outside of the club, on rare occasions, I have gotten the odd disparaging comment about my car not being a real Porsche. Two quick ways to put an abrupt end to that nonsense:
1) Did you know that the 911 flat fours and flat sixes, from which all modern flat sixes are derived, were originally designed specifically for Hitler's "People's Car", the original VW Beetle? In fact, contrary to popular belief, the purest vintage Porsche that ever was is NOT the 911 family, it's probably the 928, a front engined, water cooled, rear transaxle V8 that shares it's configuration with the 924/944/968 family, and was purpose built and developed from the ground up exclusively for and by Porsche engineers.

...and if that doesn't work, take the more direct approach...

2) Tell me, what would you be driving today if Porsche didn't re-purchase, complete development, and market the 924 to the US? Cuz I guarantee you it wouldn't be that 99x you're so smugly proud of!
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

Neil924 · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 4225 Location: Canada

2Fast · Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 459 Location: Klamath Falls, OR

Yes, I have read lots of books & litterature that say the 924 is "not genuine" or "not a complete porsche" or "VW/Audi". I have had lots of people rag on my car. I have never really had any trouble with porsche fans ragging on my car, because I dont know lots of them. As everybody has said, Its the People that dont own a Porsche that get upset and chew us 924 owners out. In my opinon the 924>914. I have to be honest and say I have never driven a 914. I have a familiy member that owns 4 914's and, they are broken down more than his 944's. Plus, I can honestly say that there is no volkswagon emblem on my Porsche.

. I do say that the 924 is definitly a better looking vehicle that the 914. If I remember correctly, the 914 wasnt accepted in the Porsche community till just recently. Hopefully soon, the 924 will be the same. Right know the 924 is a valueless Porsche.You can get a better moter in the 944, and a "genuine Porsche bolt pattern". In 10+ years, It might be more desirable than the 944's and 911's (fuel economy). The point im getting at is, if it came with the Porsche badge, its a Porsche. Just as much as the 944, 968, and Boxter. If it were not for the 924, Porsche probably wouldnt be arround to this day.

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=====>Alex<=====
1979 Porsche 924 NA 5spd
1979 Parts Porshce 924 NA 5spd

Mike924 · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 2601 Location: IoW UK

In some ways it's sad that the 924 is Porsche (*ducks*

).

Regardless of the badge, it's a damn fine car in almost every respect.

The 99x series are exceptional cars, but they're expensive. And that's the problem. Not because I can't afford one (well, partly

) But because certain people (not all, obviously) buy them just because they're expensive, to show off how rich they are. And the last thing they want is a sub-£2000 car sharing the same 'exclusive' badge as their swank-mobile.

Strangley, the most scathing comments I've had about getting a 'real' Porsche have come from people who don't even own a Porsche! "Your car is really just an Audi" they sneer and then rave about good the Audi TT is.

After that they drive off in a Ford.
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1985 Porsche 924 'Lux', Kalahari Beige (my ex)
1993 Porsche 968 Coupe, Midnight Blue, 6 spd

'There is no substitute for a little grease under your fingernails.' - Chrenan, 924board.org

Mike924 · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 2601 Location: IoW UK

Patrick · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject:

Interesting discussion! i dont know that much about porsche`s in general, especially 911`s(no offense meant to any 911 owners out there). My dad had a 356B or 356C in the 60`s. he was aware of the technical achievements of the 356 but eventually sold it coz he felt it was underpowered and reminded him of an upsidedown bathtub. He eventually got a 3.8 E-type and fitted a supercharger to it. He now regrets having sold it, and everytime he remembers it he raves on about the performance and looks of the jag. But he`s not lonely for car companionship as he still has some of his car "toys". Me, i USE TO hate 911`s(in fact i just hated porsche`s period) and much preferred the likes of a morgan +8 or a ferrari from the same era and other similar cars(cars i will never afford till the day i die) inspite of its not having the german character that we all love. I`ve always had a budget car for wheels. I drove a Model A for a few years back in college, and i LOVED it! Inspite of its lowly performance(relative to newer cars only of course). When my dad first feasted his eyes on the then new Porsche 924 in the U.S. he couldnt believe it was a Porsche and he just loved it! He just didnt have the funds then to buy the 924, so 20 years later i bought one for myself(to his delight). Now when he saw pictures of the Porsche GT-1 he finally said something like "now that is a better looking porsche(he was comparing it to the "standard" 911)". Its funny that to this day there still exists (even just a little bit) a 914-924 rivalry. I never raced cars but did tend to drive spiritedly with my 2L. 76 914 that i owned for a few very memorable years when i was stationed on Mcguirre AFB in NJ in the middle-late 80`s. Funny thing when i had my 914 is that i thought my car was ""more" Porsche than the 924 only because the VW engine was in the rear and was air cooled. I LOVED and still long for my 914 as much as i LOVE my present 924! Here in the Philippines though, because of generally bad roads i cant really enjoy my 924 as much as i`d like to, but regardless, i do enjoy it for every other reason, period! 924`s are rare over here so i at least get some occasional stares. And there is a good mix of old and new 911`s. It seems more enthusiasts here can be seen driving older 911`s vs. new 911`s which are usually driven by some yuppie who may not know anything about other Porsches or sports cars in general(not a sin of course, that is his/her choice).But now, what can i say, they can all snob me if they want, i love my 924, in fact i used it to my wedding and honeymoon. The 924 is here to stay!