924Board.org

[Pecci]

I've only driven the 924S and that was 26 yrs. ago. I'm looking at a 1980 now and I'm wondering if you guys could describe how this car compares in steering feel and handling ability, to some of the newer sport coupes of today.

Thanks!

[Grenadiers]

The power steering on a 944/924S is more of a power 'assist'. Not quite at all the same to today's cars. The 924 is manual, and works well when the car is moving. Parking, backing up, etc., not so much. But, they're sports cars! Not a Camry or similar.
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'83 944 Track car.
'88 924S Track car.
'89 944 Turbo
2004 Winnebago Vectra monster RV
2012 Jeep Wrangler
2014 Kia Soul
2001 Ford F350 powerstroke

[924RACR]

Much more direct and involved feeling of the road and car and what's going on. Also louder. The car feels a lot lighter, more nimble; I drive new cars that can far outperform the 924's and in fact nearly every Porsche (including the current crop), but they achieve mastery through being able to generate incredible grip and put it to use.

The 924's, like most older cars, are so much lighter they just don't need all that massive capability to be nimble.

One challenge is tires: finding a new tire that matches the original design intent of the chassis can be tricky, and in fact most high- and ultra-high performance modern tires are in fact far too stiff IMO for the 924/931 chassis. I had a set of BFG KDWS's and they made the car pretty obnoxious to be in. Current set is actually a set of much softer (sidewall) Sumitomo's, and the car rides and handles MUCH better, clearly was designed for a tire more like that. Now I have to replace 'em again, and am trying to choose a good replacement...

Anything specific you wanted to ask about?
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Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[musicalannette]

if your looking at a 1980 n/a without power steering, then yes, when parking the steering can be heavy, especially if your wife uses it.

amazingly, fir a car designed 40+ years ago there are no rattles but the wind noise and engine noise is much more than modern cars, probably similar to most 80's cars.

in fact they are probably similar to a lot of mid to late 80s cars in an awful lot of respects. just be aware that if the car you are about to buy hasnt been used much that it is still 35 years old, just be aware that it might need some money spending on it to either make it reliable or if you can figure out whats likely to go wrong with a 35 year old car, bettr to carry out some preventative maintenance on things likely to go wrong such as renewing the brakes, bearings fan blower motor, timing belt and anything rubber if it looks aged. if its been used daily then it may well have had parts replaced allready.

there are a good car, and very reliable, but they are 30 years old at the newest!!! an unused car can be the best, you just might have a few bills again after you buy it.
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I KNEW white wall tyres were invented by Americans .....just not at Boeing.... to be fitted on the 737.....

[morghen]

Regarding the wind noise, this can be improved with the addition of the factory rubber trim inside the windscreen aluminium trim(optional/late models only?). This has changed the wind level for my car drastically. Now i can go 100mph without any noticeable wind noise. Engine noise, road noise and gearbox noise on the other hand are still there and quite loud compared to modern cars.

I love the steering of the 924, it is precise at low speed, medium speed and hight speed. Modern cars are so dull that they are borderline to uncontrolable at high speeds. I dont know about modern sports cars as i never really drove one...but i suspect they are better than normal cars.

The 924 holds its own when it comes to driving pleasure...if you're into this type of cars you will love the 924.

Also, if you get a 924 , you can always add stiffer shocks, stiffer springs and bushings to refresh the feeling.
I have new poly bushings, stiffer shocks, stiffer springs but nothing drastic..and the car feels crisp but not harsh...perfect in my opinion.
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Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

[Fasteddie313]

I have found the steering feedback on the 924 to be greater than any other car I have driven. You feel everything.

But the steering is geared lower so you can physically put more torque into it, but it feels a bit weird in that you have to turn the wheel farther to get the same amount of steering vs a modern car. Something I haven't gotten used to yet.

The breaks are amazing, seating position is excellent, shifter feels like shit, the way the doors close with a thunk so solid and perfect is something to behold.

IDK just a noob's observations.
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80 Turbo - Slightly Modified

[morghen]

Shifter in my red 924 is crisper and nicer than in my 2000 Passat. It has to be firm and precise. If its not, its worn or damaged.
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Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

[Cedric]

Shifting in my 931 with shortshifter and tight bushings is extremely tight. One of the best i have tried. Doesnt beat my friends lotus europa though, super tight linkage with only uniballs. However a tired audibox 924 can be pretty damn sloppy..
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1980 924 Turbo
www.instagram.com/garagecedric/

[924RACR]

Oh, yeah, speaking of what I'm comparing with, among others - here are a few of my more recent other toys...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/q88/p180x540/10671325_10201999330619677_3877301239162522252_n.jpg?oh=a92f1013393269d5aaf9afbf7b43f0a8&oe=55AA851D&__gda__=1437956566_8049b83f5c225d16d19a7b716e875135

Edit: Sorry, couldn't get the image embedding to work, it seems...
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Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[Harm]

[musicalannette]

or you could try inflating the tyres to 35 psi....its alot cheaper and easier
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I KNEW white wall tyres were invented by Americans .....just not at Boeing.... to be fitted on the 737.....

[Pecci]

[Fasteddie313]

It is about as immediate as they come IMO.

I was referring to the gear ratio of the steering rack, or turns lock to lock. Its geared lower to give you more mechanical advantage physically between your hands and the front wheels. This lowers the amount of torque you have to input to the steering wheel but you have to turn it farther to turn the front wheels the same amount.

It's a trade off but this way you get more steering precision and the greatest feedback/feel VS the numbing effects of power steering systems.
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80 Turbo - Slightly Modified

[musicalannette]

the steering response is typically german, fairly large inputs are required in the straight ahead position, i think this is probably due to high speed autobahn driving, it also makes over correction of the steering less likely in the event of greasy or icy roads, if you were to compare it to a similar aged ford (escort/capri) the steering response is a lot slower (i had a capri for over 10 years), and it is an awfull lot less direct than say a mid seventies escort fitted with the "youth of the day special" quaife quickrack.

one thing that is unusual about the 924 steering is that the steerng links become parallel to the steering rack as the steering is turned, and the steering geometry should remain more stable in a corner than on a straight.

but to answer the original question, the handling is good, comparable with European cars probably 15 years+ later, the steering is slower straight ahead than similar European cars, especially non German , but in a corner, the car is very stable, probably more stable than most, due it its steering link geometry.
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I KNEW white wall tyres were invented by Americans .....just not at Boeing.... to be fitted on the 737.....

[Cedric]

One thing to factor in that different cars can feel way different from each other. These cars are 30-40 years old, and have been through a lot of owners, so depending och what care has been take, state of bushings springs and dampers, wheel alignment, general wear etc it can really make two similar 924s feel very different. Both steering and suspension.

Many tired standard cars can feel a bit soft, upgrading dampers and maybe the springs/ARB, fresh up the bushings makes lightyears of difference. Good thing to have in mind if you try cars that are for sale.


A used early boxster (which can be bought for little money) for example isnt a particulary exciting car, they probably can be after upgrades, but in standard form that generation of porsches is a pretty bland experience, and with crappy interior.
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1980 924 Turbo
www.instagram.com/garagecedric/