I have one 924 memory that won't go away, perhaps because it almost cost me money.
I'm coming down I-35 out of Kansas, getting ready to gather some speed in my tired old Celica, when a 924 appears in the $50 lane and blows my doors off. I was grievously offended for some reason, pushed the stick up into third (I was already down into fourth), and resolved to pass him by, a rather dumb idea inasmuch as the 924 could do 125-135 without breathing hard and my car wouldn't do 120 unless you dropped it out of the International Space Station.
I caught up with him at somewhere in the upper 80s and we basically held that speed through the northern half of Oklahoma, neither of us getting more than a car length or two out of sync, for a good hour or so. Once into Oklahoma City, he disappeared off a ramp, and the gendarmes, their slumber disturbed, came after me.
For some inscrutable reason, they chose not to give me a ticket, on one of the few (well, not that few) times in my life when I felt I actually deserved one. "Sixty-nine in a 60 zone," they said, displaying either a gift for understatement or somebody else's radar reading.
Uhhhmmmm, "inasmuch as the 924 could do 125-135 without breathing hard" are you refering to the 924S which if I recall correctly was the turbo version?
If not, then you must have been around a much more powerful 924 than the one I owned. It was basically a glorified VW. Ok, it WAS a glorified VW. I loved it, well except for the time I bench-pressed the transmission.
The original 924 used the little Audi 4-banger coupled to a four speed box and would top out right around a buck fifteen. They briefly made a Turbo version with a five speed that would top out at about one thirty, and get there a lot quicker to boot. It can be spotted by a spoiler and a NACA duct on the hood.
The 924S was the old 924 bodywork & interior draped over 944 running gear. It'd run 135-140 and actually edge a 944 in acceleration, being narrower and lighter. It has a spoiler and five-lug wheels as visual cues to distinguish it from an older 924.
I always liked the 928 over the 924. About 10 or so years ago, I found one with a bad motor. I was envisioning dropping a smallblock into it, to keep it affordable. My insurance agent near fell off her chair when she looked up the rate for it. The quote sounded like a car payment. And it cost more if equipped with an auto trans!, although she didn't know why. Later on I found out the auto had a higher top end than the stick version. I didn't get the car. Bought a Ducati, instead. :-)
928 is nowhere near as fun to drive. They're rather ponderous.
I've owned a '78 924 and an '87 924S. The 924S remains probably the most fun-to-drive car I've ever owned, even though I've owned plenty that were quicker, faster, or could corner with more absolute gees, none felt as nimble or well-balanced.
It's that feeling that keeps selling Miatas to this day. :)
I have one 924 memory that won't go away, perhaps because it almost cost me money.
ReplyDeleteI'm coming down I-35 out of Kansas, getting ready to gather some speed in my tired old Celica, when a 924 appears in the $50 lane and blows my doors off. I was grievously offended for some reason, pushed the stick up into third (I was already down into fourth), and resolved to pass him by, a rather dumb idea inasmuch as the 924 could do 125-135 without breathing hard and my car wouldn't do 120 unless you dropped it out of the International Space Station.
I caught up with him at somewhere in the upper 80s and we basically held that speed through the northern half of Oklahoma, neither of us getting more than a car length or two out of sync, for a good hour or so. Once into Oklahoma City, he disappeared off a ramp, and the gendarmes, their slumber disturbed, came after me.
For some inscrutable reason, they chose not to give me a ticket, on one of the few (well, not that few) times in my life when I felt I actually deserved one. "Sixty-nine in a 60 zone," they said, displaying either a gift for understatement or somebody else's radar reading.
Uhhhmmmm, "inasmuch as the 924 could do 125-135 without breathing hard" are you refering to the 924S which if I recall correctly was the turbo version?
ReplyDeleteIf not, then you must have been around a much more powerful 924 than the one I owned. It was basically a glorified VW. Ok, it WAS a glorified VW. I loved it, well except for the time I bench-pressed the transmission.
This wasn't during the period when Porsche temporarily quit bringing 924s over here (middle 1980s, I think), but later, so it very likely was an S.
ReplyDeleteThe original 924 used the little Audi 4-banger coupled to a four speed box and would top out right around a buck fifteen. They briefly made a Turbo version with a five speed that would top out at about one thirty, and get there a lot quicker to boot. It can be spotted by a spoiler and a NACA duct on the hood.
ReplyDeleteThe 924S was the old 924 bodywork & interior draped over 944 running gear. It'd run 135-140 and actually edge a 944 in acceleration, being narrower and lighter. It has a spoiler and five-lug wheels as visual cues to distinguish it from an older 924.
Well, there WERE those people who thought it was okay to put a water-cooled engine into a Porsche...
ReplyDeleteAnd some even thought the 914 was a real car, for all that the sheetmetal looked like it had been designed by a Brit.
Bathtubs and 911s: All else is dross. (Snicker)
Art
Tam,
ReplyDeleteFunny that you spelled out the name the way you did.
Over in the land of the Krauts, they actually pronounce it similarly. At least they do in and around Swabia, that is. Kinda like saying "Poooorshay".
'Bout wet myself the first time I heard one them say it that way.
I always liked the 928 over the 924. About 10 or so years ago, I found one with a bad motor. I was envisioning dropping a smallblock into it, to keep it affordable. My insurance agent near fell off her chair when she looked up the rate for it. The quote sounded like a car payment. And it cost more if equipped with an auto trans!, although she didn't know why. Later on I found out the auto had a higher top end than the stick version. I didn't get the car. Bought a Ducati, instead. :-)
ReplyDelete928 is nowhere near as fun to drive. They're rather ponderous.
ReplyDeleteI've owned a '78 924 and an '87 924S. The 924S remains probably the most fun-to-drive car I've ever owned, even though I've owned plenty that were quicker, faster, or could corner with more absolute gees, none felt as nimble or well-balanced.
It's that feeling that keeps selling Miatas to this day. :)
I should point out here that I know better than to race Tam.
ReplyDelete