924Board.org

staticsan · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 450 Location: Sydney, Australia

Sad, innit, when you're lusting after a car you haven't even seen in person, let alone been behind the wheel of. Well, I had a spare Sunday the other week and knew of a dealer in Sydney who had had a 924 for sale for a while. So I rang him up. Yep, open on Sunday morning. Cool.

I'm glad I can say that I did not have the same experience that James May had when he finally got to drive a Countach: i.e. massive disappointment. I quite liked the 924 in question. It was a '78 or '79 manual in white. Seemed to tick the major boxes, no body rust or seal leaks (it had been raining the prior week), didn't blow smoke, or splatter oil, didn't rattle or vibrate. Went very straight and not, in fact, all that hard to drive. The brake went all the way to the floor, though, so if I could've bought it the first thing I would do is service the master brake cylinder. And the odometer didn't work, and the centre console needed a little TLC and the carpet needed a good vacuum.

Compared to my '01 Lancer, it was quite a different drive. The lack of power-steering in particularl reminded me of my first car ('71 Mini) and I was a bit concerned it didn't have much grunt in 1st until about 2500 revs. But the clutch and gearbox were quite forgiving: I thought twice I was about to stall it, but no, it took the pedal fumbling quite well.

It also had some real character, something very much in common with my '71 Mini and something I was really pleased about. It also felt like it wanted to make sure I always knew it could be a dangerous car. The Lancer, like most modern cars, is very easy to drive in autopilot. The 924 probably would be, in time, as well, but I had to pay attention for far longer in a strange car than I normally need to.

Oh and I got a "cool car" comment from a passer by - even though the dealer stickers were clearly on the window!

I think I'm still going to get a 924, when finances permit (this is still looking like months away...). But it is not a "safe" purchase for a couple of reasons. I know it's a 30 year old car and thus will require constant and frequent work - that I can pick most of this up myself is the main attraction of a '924. I also plan it to be my only drive and to park it at the nearby railway station during the day. Sure, it's a reasonably safe area, but that does bring up the issue of security: how do you others fare on that score?

Wade.

pocketscience · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:51 pm Post subject:

I was worried about security, but 6 months ago I sorted that by removing all the fuel and air intake equipment.

RC had a different method - he installed a supercharger then blew a head-gasket.

924aussie removed the wiring loom from his.

So there's many ways to ensure random strangers don't drive away in your precious...

G.
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Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about Porsche!
81 924 N/A, GTS lights, Saratoga, interior, headers, Integral cam, EFI (sold)
95 993
69 911

CorsePerVita · Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 1992 Location: Redmond, Oregon

TOM087 · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 73 Location: Hobart, Australia

Mine spent a month getting rust fixed. Then a month at a mates place without wheels. Then it spend a month at the garage having gremlins chased out of it. Hmmm.......

The one time some bastards did try to steal it the battery was dead and i chased them when i heard voices.

So, to make sure it doesn't get stolen, make sure it's not drivable!

nb. hasn't had any problems in months and is being a very well behaved girl
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1977 Martini Rossi

Scorpio · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject:

There is a Brisbane driver who has the best security out there..

what he dopes is remove the fuel pump relay when parked for long periods of time....how many robbers carry a spare fuel pump relay for a 924??

p.s brake fade wont necessarily need a master cylinder rebuild....try adjusting the drums first...involves sticking a flat screwdriver into two holes at the back of the drums and levering it till thye adjusters spin and push the brake shoe against the drum....same for other side......takes 20- 30 min if youre slow

as for performance against the lancer....youre at the right place to find 1 million and 1 mods to leave any lancer tasting your tire smoke!....

welcome aboard!!...its great to have another aussie owner on!
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1979 NA
MS1..EFI..
GARRETT T25 TURBO
BILSTEIN SHOCKS
GT BASED CUSTOM BODYKIT

Brisbane , Australia
Think mean think fast
all youll see is
my Porsches Arse!!!