924Board.org

geddes66 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 129 Location: Bakersfield CA

Hello, I am new to this Porsche thing. I bought a 1977 924 for 475.00 and drove it home. It had a blown head gasket (between cyl 2&3). I bought it as blackmail for better grades from my 14 year old son. He is a GREAT kid just needs motivating. The head is now on now not torqued (tomorrow) The question I have is:

Is the near stock (header, head has been machined at least twice) '77 924 a good first car? Is it to fast? Will it break down way to much? If it turns out to be to fast I can always remove (for safe keeping) the arm that connects and opens the throttles secondary plate or make a restricter of some type. After all I want him to be cool, not end up at room tempurature. Another modification I am seriously thinking about is bolting the back seat in the down position to prohibit piling lots of kids into it.

By the way, is it me or does any one else out there agree that the stupidity of the typical teenager tends to rise at the cube of the number of teens in any close proximity.

Chris G. Bakersfield CA
_________________
The Porsche is now my son's, my car is cooler, slower but cooler.

924martinirossi · Posted: Sat May 10, 2003 5:12 pm Post subject:

Car is way under powered compaired to what I own. The 77 is about 95hp stock and don't worry about the backseat as that can only hold two five year olds with no seat belts. The car handles very good, and as long as the teenager is responsible I dont see any reason not to let them drive it!

There is no secondary throttle plate. To keep the car "teenagerproof" leave the tune-up specs stock.

I quote, "By the way, is it me or does any one else out there agree that the stupidity of the typical teenager tends to rise at the cube of the number of teens in any close proximity".

Hopefully this will mean that there are elementary school children in the backseat.

Michael

Vince Ponz · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3581 Location: Florida

In 1986 I bought a Austin Healey Sprite for my growing boys to use when they were old enough. Small car low horsepower. Maybe 40HP. I spent a small fortune painting, wiring harness, motor rebuild, interior, etc.
Well, they never drove it. It sat in the driveway for the past 16 years. A neighbor asked me for and I gave it to him. He put in a battery and with that old gas it coughed and started. We will repaint it today and a guy is coming over with a deposit for $3000. A lot less that I had in the car.
Reason for not driving it. "Dad you inspect the car everytime we come home to see if it has and chips of dents" We rather take Moms car.
They still do not drive any of the Porsches.
_________________
"Never let them see you sweat"
77.5 924 modified track car
79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock

Vince Ponz · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3581 Location: Florida

In 1986 I bought a Austin Healey Sprite for my growing boys to use when they were old enough. Small car low horsepower. Maybe 40HP. I spent a small fortune painting, wiring harness, motor rebuild, interior, etc.
Well, they never drove it. It sat in the driveway for the past 16 years. A neighbor asked me for and I gave it to him. He put in a battery and with that old gas it coughed and started. We will repaint it today and a guy is coming over with a deposit for $3000. A lot less that I had in the car.
Reason for not driving it. "Dad you inspect the car everytime we come home to see if it has and chips of dents" We rather take Moms car.
They still do not drive any of the Porsches.
_________________
"Never let them see you sweat"
77.5 924 modified track car
79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock

Stu2j · Posted: Sat May 10, 2003 11:58 pm Post subject:

Regardless of the fact that the early 924 had only 95hp and thus it isn't much of a drag racing threat, I think buying a sports car for a teenager learning to drive is a mistake.

A teenager car should be safe (modern frame, air bags, etc), virtually maintenance free (not 25 years old) and get excellent gas mileage. The body style should be that of economy rather than performance.

Now, I know a lot of folks will disagree (most certainly Lizard) but I'm speaking as a father who can remember his first car (an absolutely awesome 8 Cyl Chevy Nova 350) that got me into a world of trouble

_________________
-Stu
924 owner since 1988
924S owner since 2002
Click here to view them:

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

I am 21 now and my first car was a 1991 Mercury Topaz in good shape. My father bought it for a couple thou and I began learning how to inspect brakes, belts, tire condition and everything else. It was a good first car and parts, gas and mistakes were cheap. As for Stu2j

"A teenager car should be safe (modern frame, air bags, etc), virtually maintenance free (not 25 years old) and get excellent gas mileage."

If you have the cash I agree, a newer car is safer. But also If I had a new car from the getgo I would have been harder on it. With my older car I had to be somewhat cautious. Making sure they know what a car can handle in everday driving is also important.

Stu2j · Posted: Sun May 11, 2003 1:13 am Post subject:

On the lighter side, the 924 really sucks as a "make out" car. That Nova with a front bench seat was virtually a bed on wheels

_________________
-Stu
924 owner since 1988
924S owner since 2002
Click here to view them:

Phogphire1 · Joined: 05 Apr 2003 Posts: 293 Location: Portland, OR

My dad sold me, my first car over time in 1986(81 Buick Regal 3.8 V6 ). I took much better care of it than some of my friends took care of the cars that thier parents gave them, after one year most of my friends had some minor or major fender bender. I think that having a personal stake in something makes you take care of something better. I had my licence 10 years before I was in an accident (got sideswipped) (motorcycles not included in this accident count 7years). It is personal responsibity it will pay off when he is older. I say sell him the Porsche, Grades plus a small amount of cash that he has to earn from a job that is not from mom or dad (mowing lawns or a PT job. Or just make him pay his own insurance (Ouch) Just compare how Habitat for Humanity homes are cared for Vs Section 8 houses.
_________________
Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of thoose that dare screw with it.

78porsche924 · Posted: Sun May 11, 2003 1:50 am Post subject:

I think it all depends on the kid. If they like to work on cars and put the time and effort into it, then they will be very very careful with it. I for my porsche when i was 17(18 now) and i take excellent care of it. My protege that my parents bought for me and my sister i will admit i messed around with that a lot. Has 114hp as apposed to my 924 which is turbocharged with about 8psi of boost and made i believe 110 stock (turbo is aftermarket). I refuse to race it because i would never want to do anything to jepordize my car.
_________________
90 944 S2
78 924 NA <---now sold and killed by new owner
snailshell trans
Bae turbo kit
to check out my 944 S2 http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=388139

geddes66 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 129 Location: Bakersfield CA

Thanks for all the input all. My son is helping me work on the car every day that it is worked on. the reason fpr the teenager comment was there have been several really horrible accidents around here that have involved teenagers and it SEEMS that they tend to occur when there are 4 to 7 teens crammed into the car. I think alot of that is trying to impress. Either way The steel Porsche beats the snot out of the Corvair powered fiberglass Bradley GT that only weighs 1575 lbs. (Yes, a very cool death trap) Please continue the discussion.

As for throttle plates, don't know what they are called, one is small and opens continuosly the other is large and opens all the way only at the end of the smaller ones opening. I thought they were primary and secondary. What are they called?

ps Really lousy make out car is a plus.
_________________
The Porsche is now my son's, my car is cooler, slower but cooler.

78porsche924 · Posted: Sun May 11, 2003 2:17 am Post subject:

About the lousy make out car, i will say, owning a porsche is definantly a chick magnet. Mine has a plaid interior but it still works its magic. If you want to cram a crapload of kids in the car, doesn't matter if it has a backseat or not. Kids will lay in the trunk. You can fit 2 kids in the front seat too. I have had 5 kids in my car while driving. no one will want to sit in the backseat which is a plus on your part. If he is putting the time and effort into the car, then i would say he is going to baby it. That is a good thing. If he wants to learn about working on a car, this one is great to do it. Nothing overly complicated and u do not(for the msot part) need super special tools. Just a lot of metric stuff.
_________________
90 944 S2
78 924 NA <---now sold and killed by new owner
snailshell trans
Bae turbo kit
to check out my 944 S2 http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=388139

1982Porsche924 · Joined: 14 Nov 2002 Posts: 679 Location: Cupertino, CA

My Porsche is my first car, I'm 16, and I think it's pretty cool, it doesn't actually drive yet, but yesterday it idled for the first time since i got it, big day, it actually ran until i turned off the ignition, used to only start and die after 5 seconds. Anyways, I think it's a fantastic first car, I got mine for 300, invested another 300-400 or so, and it's quite possible the cheapest transportation you buy, that and it's a Porsche. Good thing is, it's fairly easy to work on, the fuel injection system is a big more complicated than carbs, but it's still much simpler than electronic units. Engine compartment is a bit cramped, which makes some things hard to access (especially the starter, don't get me going on that one), but nothing too complicated. Pick up a Haynes Manual, and order the catalog from www.performanceproducts.com and it should be ok. Also, I only use the performace product catalog for books and interior restoration parts, I'd use www.thepartsbin.com for all engine parts, or www.autopartsworld.com Both cost about the same, but I like autoparts because you get "frequent flyer miles" with each purchase, and they shipping is cheaper and faster for me.
_________________
1979 Porsche 924 "S"
Engine: Euro pistons, Light Flywheel, Weber TB, Bursch Header, Cam Wheel
Suspension: Front coil-overs, adj sways, Solid bush. Thicker tors. bars, 5-bolt, BBS rims
Body: Fiberglass widebody kit, 931 Nose

Techno Duck · Posted: Sun May 11, 2003 4:06 am Post subject:

The 924 is a pretty kickass car for a kid. I am 17 myself and this was my first car. It handles amazingly well and is very forgiving if you get into a bad position (such as the rear spinning out..thats a long story though..read below). Just teach your son thaht the car is real wheel drive...and how it will handle different in the snow and rain if you give it too much gas around a corner. This car is not a powerhouse or anything, but it can defentley keep up. I went from wanting a VW GTI (the 16valve pocket rocket) to getting this car. I would take the 924 any day of the week now. Its a fun car too...i mean everyone knows who it is when your going down the street

.

As for packing in alot of passengers, if they are anything like me they will soon find how much of a pain in the ass it is to carry more than one other person. I ride with my see all the way back (im six feet tall, and its most comfortable for me) and i refuse to move my seat up when packing in another person. The passenger must have the seat all the way in the foward positon in order for anyone to really fit in the back with some degree of comfort. After a few rides in the backseat, i doubt anyone would want to sit back their again.

now for my story about my little spin around...it was a rainy day, at night around 11pm. I was driving a little fast (maybe 15 over) and was coming up on traintracks. Now the tracks have this really bad area towards the left of the lane where those panels rise up a little leaving a nasty 1-2 inch raise in the tracks which is hell on the car if you hit it. I noticed this at very much the last second. It wasnt raining at the moment, but the tracks were very slippery. I went over the tracks drifting over the right slightly as to avoid that nastybit and as soon as i passed turned the wheel left to straigten out again. I know now i was going a little too fast, and i turned the wheel a little harder than i should have. The car turned to the left no problem but the back began to slide out and oversteer. I compensated quickly and it came back around the other way ever so slightly and i compensated again finnaly straitening out. It could have been a potentially deadly situation as i could have easily spun the car right into the ditch to the right of the tracks or even into the crossing guards that i was no less than 4 feet away from. I learned my lesson that night...

im still working on taming my 3-speed '68 mustang. That car is a beast...
_________________
1987 Zermatt Silver Porsche 924S <-- Sold in Nov. '04
1987 Guards Red Porsche 944 <-- Sold in Jan. '08
1988 Guards Red Porsche 951 <-- Das Boost

-nick · Joined: 16 Nov 2002 Posts: 2699 Location: Cambridge, MA

depending on what kind of kid he is, i can see one of two things happening:

he beats the snot out of it trying to impress his friends in the porsche;

or he realizes that any minivan made after 1970 will kick his butt and he learns humility knowing he has a slow sports car. -then he can fool everyone into thinking it's fast porsche.

likely he'll do the first in private and the second in public. he is a kid, he'll make some mistakes. but he's not going to learn anything if you don't give him the ability to screw up a little.

good luck
-nick

Paul · Posted: Sun May 11, 2003 5:21 am Post subject:

924s are not a good car to learn to drive a stick (clutches and tranny repairs are expensive), so my advice is to make sure the kid learns on something cheaper.

When I gave my 16 year old a like new 88 Pontiac Fiero, she said, "But, dad, its so small and it has no airbags, what if I have a accident?"

I said, "Let's not have any accidents."

That was five years ago, no accidents yet!

I think all teenagers should have small 2 seat cars.