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924 impulse buy Y or N

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Old 02-03-2013, 07:05 PM
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sweet928
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Default 924 impulse buy Y or N

I've always toyed with the idea of weekend autocross, racing, etc. I'm a 928 guy but don't want to race my baby. I want to stay within the brand. So a newer 924 supposedly has 944 running gear and can be had relatively cheap. In short. I found the enclosed 87 for sale. $1500 bucks. Newer top end rebuild (+timing and waterpump) new tires, axles and new upgraded brakes. Clutch feels new. Drives straight and strong. Shifter a little sloppy but no grinding. AC doesn't work. Body and paint in good shape besides the big dent. Interior not too bad. Seats ok and doors and carpet good. Typical cracks on dash. Circular cack (size of bottom of a beer can) in windshield in the upper left corner outside of driving view.

I think 1500 is a fair price as other 87's in this condition seem to be worth closer to 3k++. Seller is firm. Going to schedual a PPI for next week before I commit. The idea is to just race it and have some weekend fun a few times a year and get involved in PCA events. I figure I can sell for my buying price if I get hooked and want to get serious down the road. Thought I would get a "reality check" here and sleep on it. This is afterall an impulse buy.
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Old 02-03-2013, 07:19 PM
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SMTCapeCod
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Default 924S

My first Porsche was a 924S.
Weight distribution is great, low end torque not so much, but I assume you've driven it and formed your own impressions. Underpinnings and drivetrain are 944, suspension should be amenable to aftermarket/competition 944 parts. Typical wear/cost points- tbelt, motor mounts, clutch, etc.

With the 924S, the limiting factor that comes to mind is the body- without the flared fenders of the 944, you'll have less room for stuffing wide rubber underneath.
Old 02-03-2013, 07:22 PM
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SeanR
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I say yes, and get the factory airbox back on it. Have a few around here that I work on and they are a fun little car to have around.
Old 02-03-2013, 07:25 PM
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sweet928
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It's not fast but it feels nice. I haven't raced before, but figure as a novice I don't need "928" power or speed on a track (yet). Is $1500 a "good"price as described? Seems there is nothing else I can think of that can be had this cheap. The seller claims to have 10k into it in repairs over several years. Headlights, windows, etc, all work t btw.
Old 02-03-2013, 07:27 PM
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SeanR
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I'd say that is a great price if the car is a good runner.
Old 02-03-2013, 07:37 PM
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sweet928
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Can anyone run the VIN for me? WPOAAO928HN452069. (The flash of my camera is covering the fourth to last # so it might be WPOAAO928HN453069.)
Old 02-03-2013, 07:41 PM
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928 at last
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This is all kind of taking the "impulse" out of the equation ....no?

If the rear hatch glass is in good shape, you're ahead already if the stuff I've read is near accurate......
Old 02-03-2013, 07:43 PM
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Default Hey, how did you manage to get the

Originally Posted by SeanR
I'd say that is a great price if the car is a good runner.
Hey, how did you manage to get the large economy size avatar thingy?????

And I agree with the mods...that last one was a little........

Think I might have a PM as well....
Old 02-03-2013, 07:45 PM
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LOL, outta my hands......for today.
Old 02-03-2013, 08:02 PM
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sweet928
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Originally Posted by 928 at last
This is all kind of taking the "impulse" out of the equation ....no?

If the rear hatch glass is in good shape, you're ahead already if the stuff I've read is near accurate......

The glass on the rear hatch is good. Hatch locks, but needs to be shifted to the side to unlock. There is a little moisture getting in through the leading edge of the hatch where it meets the roof. The seats and floors were all dry. (Car is stored outside and we have snow on the ground and melting so i presume there would be moisture on the seats and hatch and floor if the seal was very bad.

I know about 928's but NOTHING about 924 S's - so any key areas to check would and are appreciated.

It's an impulse buy, but I'm still "sleeping" on it. Seller agreed to PPI an deal at $1,500 if no hidden issues revealed. I think I should go for it if the PPI is good.

Could be some fun. Of course I have no place to park it but I will find a place somehow.
Old 02-03-2013, 08:03 PM
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a factory air cleaner will restore performance,
the one on there now is simply sucking in hot air .

The 924S is the fastest NA version,
yes its faster than a 944 due to the streamlined body
the only real pain in the driveline is the rubber mounted clutch disc,
swapping it out for a 951 Turbo disc cures this.
BUT its a 8 hr job to swap out the clutch.
The 924/944/951 cars are labor intensive and are very tightly packed
BUT once all of the worn parts are replaced then its a decent DD
the other issue is the #2 rod bearing going bad,
pull the dipstick and drip the oil onto a black cardboard if you see metal then offer 500.00
The next thing is the timing belts there are 2 of them one for the cam and one for the balance shafts,

NOTE look at the balance shaft covers if they have oil leaking then the engine has to come out to replace these seals,
the balance shaft covers covers are mounted under the engine motor mounting brackets.
the engine drops out the bottom
Old 02-03-2013, 08:07 PM
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Check for rust-through underneath the battery. Typically happens when leaves clog the water drains in the right cowl area. If this happens, water will run into the DME computer.
Old 02-03-2013, 08:10 PM
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The hatch is same as 944, interchangeable.
The glass is heavy, the frame very light, they leak.
There is a DIY process, though fairly intricate, for resealing them.

Looks like a great car at a good price. So long as some HS kid hasn't thrashed it, I'd buy.

Vast many of them have that bat box situation going on.
Old 02-03-2013, 08:23 PM
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sweet928
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Forgot to mention it started cold and was a little rough. Once it got up to operating temperature it ran fine. i.e. two minutes at idle and then a 1/4 mile of driving and that problem was gone.... I figure maybe old gas and not being driven much lately -- according to the seller. Still does get driven weekly and never sat for extended periods of time, but still thought I would mention that.

Pulled smoothly and no sputtering or problems besides the initial sputtering from cold start. Seller seemed like a nice guy and seemed honest. Said that was unusual and not typical of other cold starts FWIT.
Old 02-03-2013, 08:28 PM
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Our 944 behaved like that. GREAT car. Miss it. Prefer it in many ways to 928.


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